I'm just curious, what special entree did you get? I'm vegetarian, too, and when we went last month, I told them I was vegetarian when we made the reservations (and confirmed it when I confirmed the res), then told our server I was vegetarian, expecting to be offered something that maybe wasn't on the menu. Instead, she suggested I get one of the salads, with the meat off. Not really the special meal I was looking forward to.
I ask because we're going back in January, and despite the lack of options, we really do want to visit Carthay Circle again. It would be great to know that they have SOMETHING other than a salad for me to eat.