We are planning to visit Europe in Summer, Italy and France in particular. I and my kids do not eat any meat, diary products are fine. I am wondering how difficult or easy is it going to be to find good vegetarian food. Thanks.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello Kalpana, Vegetarian restuarants or cafes in PARIS : L'Arpege. L'As du Fallafel. La Bastide Odeon. Maceo. Rose Bakery. Guen-Mai. -- In or near the Latin quarter, at 6 rue Cardinale. Near the Mabillon METRO station. A lunch restaurant, with a lunch counter and food market. The all-natural food products are made completely in-house.
Open Monday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Le Grain de Folie. -- In the 18th Arrondisement, at 24 rue de Lavieuville. Telephone 0142581557. Reservations recommended. Near Abbesses METRO station. Simple and wholesome, this cuisine is inspired by France, Greece, California, Turkey, and India. The menu includes an array of theme salads, cereals, tarts, terrines, and casseroles. The decor includes potted plants and exposed stone. This place may be a bit difficult to find, but it is worth the search. (inexpensive).
Posted by
Germany, Germany
813 posts
I would recommend learning (or at least have in writing) how to say "I'm a vegetarian" in the languages of the countries you're visiting. There's plenty of options and if you say it, then it may clear up any questions a server may have and in fact help them direct you to vegetarian options.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
Try Happycow.net and search for restaurants in the cities/towns you are going to visit in Italy and France. They have suggestions for both vegetarians and vegans, but as you all eat dairy products, your choices will be far more plentiful. Italy will be very easy as you can skip the meat courses during lunch or dinner and just have pasta without a meat sauce. In France you can always have crepes or salads. In major cities such as Rome or Paris, eating vegetarian is very easy as they have many ethnic restaurants dishing out everything from Indian to Thai, so you can mix up the local cuisine and enjoy something with tofu or seitan. If you don't speak the language, you may want to at least learn how to say that you are vegetarian so you don't end up with something you don't want (ie, a soup made from beef or chicken stock). The waiter should then be able to help guide you by pointing out what is vegetarian on the menu.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7900 posts
It depends how strict you are and what you will tolerate. Case in point: My wife does not eat meat, considers herself a vegetarian, but does eat Dairy and Fish. She does not eat eggs, but will eat things that may have egg in them (baked goods, custards, pasta, dishes where egg is a binder), and I suspect if a place happened to use a small amount of chicken broth in preparing a dish, she probably would not know or maybe even object. In her case, she gets along just great in just about any restaurant and country in Europe, picking easily off the menu. If you are stricter, maybe even a vegan, then you will need to seek out special restaurants to assure you get what you want.
Posted by
OP
Austin, TX, USA
2 posts
Thank You everyone for your suggestions ...
Posted by
Redlands, Ca, USA
358 posts
My wife and I are vegeterians and have no trouble eating in Paris or anywhere in Italy. I have been to a all vegeterian highly rated restaurant in Rome which was overpriced and the food was not good. Most restaurants have menu's in english and before sitting down will take a quick look. Just about everyone understands the word vegeterian in France or Italy. You should have no problem.
L'AS Du Fallafel in the 4th is my favorite lunch place in Paris and the fallafel is outstanding. They do serve meat dishes and are closed friday evening/sat as they are a Jewish restaurant observing the Sabbath.