Why Do Vegetarians Get Such A Bad Deal If They Want To Eat Out

[gollob]

I am not a vegetarian but they get a terrible deal if eating out. For Christmas day lunch the local Beefeater is offering a four course lunch for £52.99 which includes a 8 oz fillet steak with lobster or for a veggie mushroom, spinach, truffle tart . How can they justify charging the same price

[mikey4444]

I think you will find that its not the cost of the food that matters to Pubs at this time of year, but the fact that its a busy period and you will be occupying a number of places.

If that veggie tart is made with care, I am sure it will be delicious.

[ummmm]

Truffles are expensive.

Otherwise they shouldn't be charged the same.

[Baldric]

Because if it wasn't a Vegetarian sitting there it would be another full Xmas Lunch being knocked out at full price, why reduce profits?

[ummmm]

The ingredients don't cost as much and tarts can be made well in advance, if they're even made fresh, so profit margin would be the same.

[douglas9401]

I'm not sure a business has to justify it's price structure re alternative lifestyle and foibles.

[ummmm]

Vegetarianism is hardly an alternative lifestyle.

[Jackdaw33]

//Vegetarianism is hardly an alternative lifestyle\\

Really? It is to me.

[douglas9401]

It's not the norm ergo alternative.

[ummmm]

It's just someone who doesn't eat meat. No one bats an eyelid at someone who doesn't eat salad/veg/fruit/fish.

[jackthehat]

The Vegetarian option always appears to be so unimaginative; a mushroom-this or a nut-roast-that.....

[douglas9401]

It's just someone who doesn't eat meat.

And goes on to explain how wrong normal are and how meat is murder before complaining about a lack of choice then confessing to reeeeally wanting a bacon sandwich.

Anyway, I'm off to pick up my veggie sister from the airport, she's normal, I'll ask her.

[Jackdaw33]

To respond to the OP, you might as well ask why decaffeinated coffee or non-alcoholic drinks cost the same or more as the real thing.

[Mamyalynne]

Just had a look at the Menu, two of the starters and all the desserts are suitable for vegetarians.

Hungry now.

[gollob]

mikey do you live in the real world. these price differences apply all the year round not just at Christmas The biggest cost of a meal eating out is meat or fish. The cost of vegetables would struggle to cost wholesale a pound

[emeritus]

I used to fly a lot in my professional life and played a game to while away the time by trying to spot who was getting the vegetarian meal. I would say I had around a 80% hit rate.. it’s in the palour !

[ummmm]

Douglas - I didn't eat meat for years for the simple reason that I didn't like it. Not all veggies are anti meat.

[JJ109]

The largest costs to a restaurant are not so much the ingredients as the overheads (rent, heat etc) and staff costs - wages of the staff. These are identical whether the meals use cheaper ingredients or ot and have to be split between all covers. On Xmas Day staff will probably be on double or treble wages and that alone should justify the price.

Vegetarians are paying for the service they get more than the ingredients.

[hc4361]

And the labour costs of making the vegetarian options which will probably account for less than 15% of total meals.
It would cost more in labour to make a few fancy veg tartlets than to bung a huge joint of beef in the oven for a carvery.

You've got to feel sorry for the restaurant that is expected to provide a meal for the vegan that has a nut allergy.

The real rip off is the cost of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs and restaurants.