Vegetarian Restaurants Serve Much More Than Salad

Vegetarian restaurants have gotten a bad rap over the years. Meat marketers denigrate vegan dining establishments for serving only “rabbit food,” saying that patrons leave hungry. But nothing could be further from the truth. Here are ten tasty, filling meals you can only find on a vegetarian restaurant menu.

#1. Grilled Seitan Sandwich – Seitan, a wheat-based meat replacement that has a texture very similar to poultry, is a delicious sandwich-stuffer popular with vegetarians and vegans alike. Try a barbecue seitan sandwich for a rib sticking treat.

#2. Real-Deal Veggie Pizza – Veggie mozzarella cheese replaces dairy cheese on the pizza at a vegetarian restaurant. Virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, veggie mozzarella melts and stretches with the same gooey goodness. Add peppers, onions and sun-dried tomatoes to make it really great.

#3. Tofu Scramble – A common feature on vegan restaurant Sunday brunch menus, the tofu scramble is a loaded jumble of tofu and fresh veggies. It has all the taste of a breakfast scramble at other restaurants without the fat and cholesterol. You leave your table full every time.

#4. Veggie Burger – Thick and juicy, veggie burgers have come a long way since they were introduced over 20 years ago. With variations such as spicy black bean and italian herb, you’ll be sure to find a veggie burger to suit you.

#5. Portabello Burger – Vegetarian restaurants take a burger-sized portabello mushroom, marinate it in savory herbs and spices, then grills it up and serves it on a bun. Meaty and filling, it is especially satisfying.

#6. Hummus with Bread – Hummus, a spicy spread reminiscent of bean dip, is fantastic on fresh pita bread. Many vegan restaurants make their own custom blend of hummus and bake the pita bread fresh daily. You can order it for your appetizer or make an entire meal of this Mediterranean favorite.

#7. Veggie Wrap – Packed with vegetables, vegan cheese and sometimes nuts, the veggie wrap makes a great companion to a bowl of soup or a salad. The veggie wrap has become so popular at vegetarian restaurants that some traditional restaurants have stolen the recipes for themselves.

#8. Vegan waffles with soy sausage – Vegetarian restaurant chefs have mastered the art of fluffy, delicious waffles without eggs, making them a favorite on the veggie breakfast menu. Couple the waffles with a smoky soy sausage and you’ve got yourself a home-style favorite.

#9. Fake Egg Salad – Once the chef finishes blending tofu with vegan mayo and his or her secret egg salad ingredients, it is extremely similar to the egg salad you’d order somewhere else. The only thing missing is the fat, cholesterol and calories loaded into traditional egg salad. You don’t really miss those, do you?

#10. Grilled Cheeseless Sandwich – By simply replacing the dairy cheese with vegan cheese, this old trusty drops 197 calories, 12 g of fat, and 85 mg of cholesterol. Add a cup of vegetarian soup at your favorite vegetarian restaurant for a hot, healthy lunch.

Vegan restaurants cook up healthy, hearty meals to appeal to a variety of taste preferences. Order one of these filling meals next time you visit a vegetarian restaurant and you won’t leave hungry.

Vladmir Grinberg has been involved in the natural food industry since 2001. He has made it his mission to promote healthy food choices by educating readers about the benefits of natural and organic foods. Mr. Grinberg’s organic, vegetarian restaurant, The Organic Grill , is popular with vegetarians, vegans and even meat-eating diners for its delicious, hearty entrees such as grilled pizza, veggie burgers, and especially, its barbecue seitan sandwich. The Organic Grill has been serving patrons in Manhattan’s East Village for over ten years. To learn more go to http://www.theorganicgrill.com.

To help make healthy food more convenient for busy people, Mr. Grinberg also started OrganicDirect, an organic food delivery service for the New York Metro area. For more information, visit https://www.OrganicDirect.com