Okay y’all… plant-based eating tips are literally the only reason I can still go out to eat with my carnivore friends in 2026 without crying inside. Plant-Based at Restaurants
Hi, I’m currently sitting in my messy apartment in the US (well, mentally I’m there — physically I’m probably stress-eating hummus straight from the tub again), and I’ve become that person at the table. You know the one. The one who makes the server stand there for 87 seconds while I interrogate them about whether the mashed potatoes have butter or “just a little chicken stock, maybe?”
My First Big Plant-Based Ordering Fail (and Why I Still Cringe) Plant-Based at Restaurants
Last month I went to this bougie Italian place in my city — think exposed brick, $18 pasta, the whole vibe. I was feeling cocky. I’d been eating plant-based for almost 14 months at that point.
I ordered the “seasonal vegetable risotto” and very politely asked, “No cheese or butter, please — just olive oil if possible.”
Server smiles. “Of course!” Plant-Based at Restaurants
Food comes. It’s beautiful. Creamy. Velvety. Suspiciously creamy. Plant-Based at Restaurants
I took one bite and immediately knew. That was not olive oil doing the heavy lifting. That was dairy. A lot of dairy.
I ate half of it anyway because I didn’t want to be that guy twice in one night, then spent the next 36 hours hugging the toilet like it was my long-lost lover.
Lesson learned the hard way: sometimes you gotta push harder than “if possible.” Plant-Based at Restaurants
Here are the plant-based ordering tips I actually use now (most of the time… I’m still human):
How to Scan a Menu Like a Vegan Detective Plant-Based at Restaurants
- Look for the red-flag words first: “creamy,” “rich,” “braised,” “velvety,” “house-made” (especially if it’s soup or sauce), “traditional”
- Immediately check for the vegan/vegetarian section — even steakhouses have started putting one sad Impossible Burger on the menu in 2026
- If there’s nothing labeled, go for any dish that is already naturally plant-based and then customize it downward (more on that in a sec)
- Pro move: scan for side dishes. Roasted vegetables, grilled asparagus, plain rice, beans — these are goldmines
My Go-To “Safe” Ordering Phrases That Actually Work Plant-Based at Restaurants
I swear by these little scripts — say them with a smile and zero attitude:
- “Can you tell me if the [dish] is made with any butter, cream, cheese, or animal stock?”
- “Would it be possible to make the [dish] with olive oil instead of butter and leave off the cheese?”
- “Do you happen to have any plant-based milk I could swap in for the cream sauce?”
- The Hail Mary (use sparingly): “I eat completely plant-based — what would you recommend that could be easily modified?”
Bonus embarrassing true story: at a chain steakhouse last week I asked for the grilled vegetable plate “without the bacon bits they usually sprinkle on top.” The server looked at me like I’d personally insulted his grandmother. Still got the plate. Still no bacon. Small victories.
For more science-backed reasons why I keep pushing through the awkwardness, I really like this article from Harvard’s Nutrition Source on plant-based diets — it’s one of the few places that doesn’t make me feel preached at.
When They Say “We Can’t Modify Anything” — What I Do Next Plant-Based at Restaurants
Sometimes they flat-out say no. Sometimes the chef is having a day. Sometimes the menu is just a landmine.
In those cases my backup plan is: Plant-Based at Restaurants
- Plain baked potato (no butter/sour cream) + side salad (dressing on side — usually oil & vinegar exists)
- French fries or sweet potato fries (ask if they’re fried in separate oil from meat — many places do)
- Any bean side dish or rice
- If it’s a brewery/pub type place → giant pretzel with mustard + side of pickles. I’ve survived on worse.
Final Thoughts From a Very Imperfect Plant-Based Eater Plant-Based at Restaurants
Listen. I still slip up. I still accidentally eat honey in dressings sometimes. I still get grumpy when my friends order the 72-oz ribeye and I’m over here with steamed broccoli and a prayer.
But most days? I can walk into almost any restaurant in America in 2026 and leave having eaten something green(ish) and feeling pretty okay about it.
You’ve got this too.
Next time you’re out, try one of the phrases above. Even if it feels awkward as hell. Even if the server sighs.
Start small. Mess up. Learn. Keep going. Plant-Based at Restaurants
What’s your worst plant-based restaurant ordering disaster? Drop it below — I need solidarity 😂
Love you mean it, Your chaotic plant-based friend who still doesn’t know how to pronounce “quinoa” correctly half the time
