Calling all Vegetarians - What are your favorites, what where the biggest surprises?

[iankh]

I'm looking for recommendations from other vegetarians as to what are your favorite places to eat in WDW.

Also what restauarants had you thought would not be very good for a vegetarian and surprised you?

 

[bavaria]

- Trail's End was a big surprise - they will usually go WAY overboard and make pasta and/or veggie burger (but it's Boca, which I don't like), and/or veggie sandwich, and the sweet server who usually serves me always brings me a huge box with fruit to take back to my resort

- Raglan Road - I've been there many times since opening; they just added an excellent veggie risotto and the sides are great

- Yachtsman's Steakhouse is excellent for veggies; lots of sides or they will do something special

- Garden Grill - huge serving and they seem to want to make any and everything

- Tony's - will make a huge plate of gnocchi with tomato sauce; far too much for one person

Most of the ones listed above are items not on the menu. After years and years I have learned where I can go for a somewhat flexible meal. Remember that not every kitchen has a wide range of ingredients, and/or the ability to make something different. I also find that a lot of the veggie dishes at WDW have way too much dairy for my taste. A lot of times it does depend on the chef who is working, though....

Sorry, brain is full right now but if you have specific questions you can PM me and I'll be happy to answer! (or if you search my past posts, I used to be very active on the veggie posts!)

 

[bavaria]

Sorry, I thought that you only wanted 'surprising' places. Other favourites of mine are Boma (on the right day of the week; they rotate out items), the Mara for hummus and pita chips, Everything POP for veggie sides, Olivia's, Spoodles (sometimes hit and miss), Chefs de France, Matsunomura Lounge, Nine Dragons, Akershus before the princess invasion, San Angel, Tony's, Garden Grill, California Grill, Yachtsman, Concourse (but not lately though....), Trails End, House of Blues, Raglan Road, Le Cellier depending on menu, Jiko, Mama Melrose's.....

Do you need me to go on? Things have improved vastly over the past few years - I think that they needed some input as to what constituted a veggie meal and to be a little more adventurous than just pasta with tomato sauce. And you can look at the menus at Deb's site, but be aware that they do change so don't have your heart set on something.

 

[iankh]

Sorry, I thought that you only wanted 'surprising' places. Other favourites of mine are Boma (on the right day of the week; they rotate out items), the Mara for hummus and pita chips, Everything POP for veggie sides, Olivia's, Spoodles (sometimes hit and miss), Chefs de France, Matsunomura Lounge, Nine Dragons, Akershus before the princess invasion, San Angel, Tony's, Garden Grill, California Grill, Yachtsman, Concourse (but not lately though....), Trails End, House of Blues, Raglan Road, Le Cellier depending on menu, Jiko, Mama Melrose's.....

Do you need me to go on? Things have improved vastly over the past few years - I think that they needed some input as to what constituted a veggie meal and to be a little more adventurous than just pasta with tomato sauce. And you can look at the menus at Deb's site, but be aware that they do change so don't have your heart set on something.

Boma is a HUGE favorite of ours too! The food is so good that we always eat way too much! But it is just so good.

Our normal favorites are San Angel Inn (the secret vegetarian menu), Marakesh, Tangarine Inn.

We are looking to branch out and try places we normally would look at and not go in. I think I read a posting somewhere on DIS that one vegetarian had a surprisingly excellent meal at the Biergarten of all places. The chef whipped up a special dish.

 

[bavaria]

Ha! I forgot Biergarten! I usually avoid it as I've had enough German food to last a lifetime, but had a great lunch in Dec 2005 there. Didn't have a special meal, jsut foudn enough in the salads/potatoes/bread/veggie section...

 

[LisaS]

In addition to what has already been mentioned, I would definitely go back again for either of these two meals:

50's Prime Time: Roasted Pepper - stuffed with vegetarian rice and smoked ratatouille

Columbia Harbour House: Lighthouse Sandwich - hummus with tomato & broccoli slaw

In particular, just lately I've been craving that hummus and broccoli sandwich. Good thing we're going back to WDW in few weeks!

 

[westjones]

Columbia Harbour House: Lighthouse Sandwich - hummus with tomato & broccoli slaw

In particular, just lately I've been craving that hummus and broccoli sandwich. Good thing we're going back to WDW in few weeks!

This is our favorite! I am looking forward to having it again in June. We always make sure we eat here at least once.

DJ

 

[LisaS]

This is our favorite! I am looking forward to having it again in June. We always make sure we eat here at least once.

DJ

The description of this sandwich always sounded good to me but we didn't get a chance to try it until this past January. And now that I've actually tasted it, I can't wait to have it again! The description really doesn't do it justice. It is one very tasty sandwich!

 

[jiminy14]

A side note to vegetarian dining at Boma. Just speak to one of the chefs and they will be happy to walk you through the various pods and point out the vegetarian dishes for you. My DD is a vegetarian and when we ate there this past January when of the chefs did this for her. It was extremely helpful especially with the soups as some of them were chicken stock based.
Most of the TS restaurants will let you speak to the chef about preparing a veggie meal. Chef Dan at Spoodles made a wonderful veggie pasta dish for my DD which everyone at our table tasted and loved.
Earl of Sandwich in DTD has a delicious sandwich called the Caprese which is made with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. We always stop here first before we check-in to the hotel.
The Plaza restaurant in the MK recently changed their veggie sandwich. My DD said that the new sandwich is much better than the previous veggie wrap they served.

 

[iankh]

Our last trip we went to the Tomorrowland Noodle Station and loved it. Some really great vegetarian choices.

 

[bavaria]

I love the noodle bowl at the Noodle STation, and yes, the new veggie sandwich at the Plaza is pretty good...... Frankly, it's a complete turnaround from about 10 years ago, when it was sometimes almost impossible to find something other than penne pasta in tomato sauce.

 

[bavaria]

BUT must add that recently I tried to order a lunch from Rm Service at BWV; I don't like the Boca burgers and it took 4 ppl to figure something out, even though I gave numerous suggestions. I even offered to take something off the bfast menu. It took 1 hr 15 min to get my lunch and was very frustrating!

 

[chamonix]

I'm not veg anymore, but my dh and I do eat veg most of the time.

My absolute favorite veg dish at WDW is:
Thai Noodle Bowl - With coconut-crusted tofu, edamame, snap peas, bok choy, and Shiitake mushrooms in red curry broth. - $14.59 (lunch, dinner $17.49--prices according to the DIS dining guide)

You can also order the orecciette without the shrimp:
Orecciette with Florida Rock Shrimp - Served with spinach, zucchini, portobello mushrooms, tossed in a truffle basil cream, and parmesan wafer. - $17.29
They have some awesome appetizers:
Portobello Mushroom, Goat Cheese Tortelloni with tomato-fennel sauce and sweet basil $6.59 (really could make a meal with the salad)

Mesclun and Arugula tossed with fresh oranges, feta, and cabernet vinaigrette $6.49

Our other favorite Jiko, has great veg dishes:
Apps:
Maize and Sweet Potato "Tamales" - herbed maize pudding and truffled sweet potato mash with shredded goat cheese in corn husk boat $8.00

Kalamata Olive Flatbread - with four cheeses, and Laura Chenel's soft goat cheese $9.00

Bacon-Arugula Tomato Flatbread - with Midnight Moon goat cheese and cilantro yogurt drizzle $9.00

Taste of Africa - Kalamata Olive Hummus, Malayan Spinach Lentil dip, Moroccan Chermoula, with Pappadam, whole wheat lavosh, and flaxseed Naan bread $9.00
(Our favorites: the tamales and the Taste of Africa.)

Entree:
Grains, Peas and Vegetables - black garbanzo peas, kamut, quinoa, pearl and black barley, wheat berries with roasted vegetables and seared tandoori tofu $19.00



Kona has noodle or rice bowls that can be made veg that are yummy too.

I would recommend ordering the cheese plate at California Grill, it is to die for. Incredible cheeses paired with fruits and nuts. OMG, it was wonderful.

 

[bavaria]

Just bw aware that at Kona, the noodle/rice bowl is served in a tortilla shell which is deep fried in the same oil as chicken fingers (as are their fries). You can ask for no shell, or shell to be cooked in fresh oil but that will take extra.

Also the shell at POR for the taco salad is cooked in the same oil as chicken fingers.........

 

[LisaS]

My favorite appetizer at Jiko is this one:

Lentil "Pastilla" - Lentil filled phyllo pockets with a sweet and sour sauce $7.00

The combination of flavors and textures is wonderful. I could make a meal out of a couple of orders of those and this salad:

Cucumber, Tomato and Red Onion Salad - with organic arugula, cottage cheese and watermelon vinaigrette $8.00

and then there is the bread with the seasoned butter, the wonderful South African wines and those desserts!

 

[chamonix]

Just bw aware that at Kona, the noodle/rice bowl is served in a tortilla shell which is deep fried in the same oil as chicken fingers (as are their fries)

I'm sorry my previous post may not have been clear:
The rice bowl comes in the deep fried bowl, but the noodle dishes do not. I like the Pan Asian pasta (veg only, they will make it without the chicken no problem).
"Stir-Fried Asian Noodles with sliced chicken, seasonal vegetables $12.19; available as a vegan entree for $10.19
Pan Asian Pasta - Asian noodles with sliced chicken, seasonal vegetables, and a housemade vegetarian stir-fry sauce $15.49."
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_kcd.htm

(good point about the deep fried bowls though )

 

[barbeml]

Although I am not a vegetarian, I enjoy vegetarian dishes often. Two of the best grilled veggie sandwiches I have ever had were from Tusker House in AK and Starring Rolls at Studios.

 

[pezpam]

Columbia Harbor House - the sandwich mentioned before is YUMMY. I get the combo of 1/2 sandwich and a cup of veggie chili.

I also really liked the pasta at Akershus (minus the chicken) but it looks like it may be slightly different now. Of course, when pesto is good, it's really good, so I'll try the new one.

I do get tired of Boca burgers after a whlie (not my fave to begin with) but I can't stomach the veggie burger at Rainforest Cafe. Second worst I've ever had, sadly.....

I've also never had a chef refuse to make something veg when necessary - and their 'creations' are usually very delicious.

 

[Laura]

These are great tips on this thread!

 

[bavaria]

Although I am not a vegetarian, I enjoy vegetarian dishes often. Two of the best grilled veggie sandwiches I have ever had were from Tusker House in AK and Starring Rolls at Studios.

That Tusker House sandwich is HUGE! plus a giant bunch of grapes. Sadly much of the rest of AK doesn't cut it for veggie food - I am holding out hopes for the new restaurants to come there . How about a nice veggie curry?

Also someone asked about veggie eggrolls - they are on again/off again in MK Adventureland - they are back on the menu, but I have yet to see the stand open (even on a busy day a few weeks ago)