Eating out with friends can be one of the best weekend pastimes, whether sharing a plate of nachos, splitting a beer pitcher or laughing over the latest football woes. But for the vegan or vegetarian friend, it also creates a mealtime challenge: Where’s the veg?
Moscow restaurants house some of the most delicious food — or so I’ve been told.
From Gambino’s Chicago Pot Pie to Nectar’s burger with caramelized onions and sweet pickle aioli, from Blue’s Brew and BBQ’s pulled pork sandwich to La Casa Lopez’s Mole Poblano, this little town sure knows how to cook meat right.
But as for vegetarian options, an iceberg salad with cheddar cheese just doesn’t top the charts. Hold the cheese please, local vegans say. And don’t even get started on bar food options: fries, fries and more fries. Vegetarians are better off cooking at home.
This isn’t to say that Moscow should stop cooking meat and throw some veggies on the grill — restaurants just need to get more creative. They’re stuck in a meat grilling rut.
Some of these restaurants are going in the right direction, though. NY Johnny’s introduced a grilled veggie sandwich to their menu, which is unfortunately grilled in the same area as the meat. And some nights, Nectar’s featured soup is a vegetable broth base. Add some bread and salad and your meal isn’t half bad. The new food shack, Vlad’s Souvlakia, offers meat, as well as tofu, on a stick. “A” for effort, guys. Almost every restaurant has one meatless option and the guest can always request their meal without the chicken, pork or beef.
But one or two items on each menu gets tiresome. You’re friends want to go to their favorite restaurant? Looks like it’s a side order of fries again.
Moscow restaurants are doing their job. They’re feeding the masses and pleasing them. Most college kids like meat. Love it, actually. But it would never hurt to try something new, introduce it to the menu and see it take off. Meat eaters like vegetables too.
Lindsey Treffry can be reached at [email protected]