Hal8999

My partner was in New Orleans on Friday and he and several associates went to eat at Emeril's.

Jack is a vegetarian. Eating out with him can be a challenge but we have never found a restaurant that would not cater to him, even though the choices were limited.

He requested that the chef prepare him a meatless pasta dish. The chef refused.

Keep this in mind if you're a vegetarian thinking about eating at Emeril's. Actually, with this sort of 'service' you might keep this in mind even if you're not a vegetarian.

He did not experience this problem at any other restaurant he has eaten at in a week there.

SAnParis2

In lieu of it having to anything to do w/your friend being a vegan, perhaps it had to do w/him ordering something that was not on the menu ??

SAnParis2

It baffles me when people want 'special service' or something done for them 'above & beyond' the call of duty & somehow that makes the person who denies the request a 'bad guy'. The title to your post is erroneous & your assumption is faulty. Particularly when you your self state "...Eating out with him can be a challenge..." Perhaps the Chef didn't feel up to being challenged that day ?

gmoney

I once went to a vegetarian restaurant and asked for a big ole juicy steak and was promptly shown the door.

I guess they just didn't like me!

Hmmm, food for thought (vegetarian of course).

gmoney

I love Emeril's and will definitely go back again. The service was impecible.

Gretchen

Could he not have ordered a salad? Is he vegan or vegetarian? Maybe the chef could not prepare the dish because his stocks, etc. were not vegetarian?
I think we might need more info IF we are to believe this. We often order buttered pasta for our grandkids at lots of places.
And, was pasta ON the menu anywhere?







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nytraveler

I think almost every restaruatnt will be able to find a dish that a vegetarian can eat. Not sure if you can expect them to have a vegetarian pasta though - depends on their menu and ingredients of the day.

(I once worked with a vegetarian that was a huge problem. Not the vegetarian - but the other things she didn;t like part. Didn;t like tomatoes (there goes a lot of pasta), mushrooms (no portobello dishes), eggplant or eggs. She often ended up with just a dish of vegetables - and always complained.

IMHO if someone has that many foods they wn;t or can't eat they shoud check out the restaurant in advance - and ask what they can do.

Hal8999

We have NEVER been to a restaurant that refused to make a vegetarian meal until Emeril's. SP2 you seem to have a real chip on your shoulder, maybe you should brush it off.

Our neighbors own a successful restaurant, they said that they would always accomodate a customer if there was any way to do it.

I can make a vegetarian pasta sauce in 15 minutes that people ask for the recipe. A professional should be able to do better.

Just wanted to advise any potential customers that Emeril's does not offer the service he pretends to on tv.

november_moon

Emeril's motto is "Pork fat rules". I guess he doesn't like Jews either.

SAnParis2

From what I see, or don't see on the menu is any pasta dish even listed - http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/1/...ns/dinner-menu

Perhaps YOU said it best "... Eating out with him can be a challenge but we have never found a restaurant that would not cater to him..." cater to him ?! Really ?! Because someone wouldn't fix something that doesn't even appear on the menu in any way, shape or form ? I don't think the chip is here..at all.
Don't blame Emeril because 'Jack' couldn't take the time to look up the menu online. Perhaps Jack should take responsibility for his poor dining experience. Or just stay home w/you, so the poor employees of other fine dining establishments aren't forced to deal w/him.
Next time have him try Cochon...

Brian_in_Charlotte

Haven't been to Emeril's, but I'm guessing it's a very busy place and that the kitchen is tuned to efficiently produce the items on that night's menu. A special request which asks the cooks to produce an entirely new dish could certainly throw a wrench in the works, and I'm not surprised it was denied. I'll bet that the same request for a pasta dish with chicken it in would have received the same response.

gmoney

Hal,

Again I ask, would you expect a vegetarian restaurant to cook me a steak?

annesherrod

that's a good point Brian.

gmoney

Did you ever think that maybe Emeril's did not want to compromise their standards by just throwing something together?

GeorgeW

George Orwell didn't like them either. I can see why.

wtm003

I'm not a picky eater or a vegetarian but I always check out restaurant menus before making a dining choice just to get an idea if it is going to be a good fit for my current mood or craving. I don't think you are being fair criticizing Emeril's for their service. Just a quick look at their menu indicates it would be a poor choice for a vegetarian. Maybe call ahead next time to see if the restaurant can accommodate him with a vegetarian pasta dish.

FrankS

Aunt Voula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding
upon learning Ian is a vegetarian] What do you mean, you don't eat no meat? That's okay. I make lamb.

Last week we tried a new Greek Restaraunt for lunch, and my wife ordered the Salad w/Lamb because she wanted a 'light' lunch(to her dismay-lb of lamb, 10 tomatoes and a few pieces of lettuce)

Aduchamp1

The Veggie Person and the chef were both wrong. There are few people as insufferable as veggie people. Most people with disabilities that life imposes upon them try to make life easier for others. But veggie people, with a self-inflicted disease, must make it known to all that they are some form of elevated life form.

Ackislander

Something wrong here. I just looked up the Emeril's menu, and there are two vegetarian appetizers, several salads, and orecchiette, and grilled vegetables as a main course. Plus a number of vegetables listed as sides.

Now if your partner is a vegan, it might be more trouble, but that isn't what you wrote. But no one can expect a busy restaurant to cook a dish that is not on the menu on Friday night.

mlgb

I wonder why the partner didn't call ahead and ask if he could be "catered to?" I do see salads and pasta dishes on the menu, but why do I have a feeling that partner wanted a busy restaurant with a well publicisized menu, to create something particular and special for him on the spot.

I say good for them.