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The Veggie Option: The Irish Heather

There are some really great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Vancouver, and as a vegetarian, I love them. My meat loving friends, not so much.

As the veggie, a lot of times when eating out you have to suck it up and hope that there’s more than a lame iceberg salad on the menu. If you’re a meat eater, it may be annoying to worry about the vegetarian in the bunch. So, let myself and my carnivorous friends eat out for you!

With the veggie option, my hope is to give you a review of the meat free options available at restaurants around the city.  A meat lover will weigh in on their dishes as well. Then we can be happy and eat together in harmony, give peas a chance, blah blah nom nom.

Please note, I am a food enthusiast, not a trained chef. I also may have a drink or 4 while eating these meals. User discretion is advised.

There are some really great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Vancouver, and as a vegetarian, I love them. My meat loving friends, not so much.

Restaurant: The Irish Heather 217 Carrall Street http://irishheather.com/

Eaters: Emily, a meat eater by day, bacon eater by night

Lana, a vegetarian who thinks avocados are nature’s mayonnaise

All work and no scotch can make for one angry February, so on this particular adventure, we head to The Irish Heather’s back room/ Whiskey House The Shebeen. It's usually questionable when a veggie heads to an Irish pub and assumes they will find more than fries, but The Irish Heather has some good and tasty veggie options. Vegans, try their vegetable pot pie (shown below). You'll have to skip the mashed potatoes however.

Though you may remember the ambiance of the old Heather, we have to let those times go. It’s like when your friends move into a condo, you can’t hold it against them that they have granite counter tops (well…you can). New place, new ambiance, same great whisky and beer list.

The service is great, and if you don’t mind making some new friends you might want to try their Long Table Series dinners where for $16 you sit at a 40 foot communal table for and enjoy a meal & artisan beer/beverage. Each week they have a vegetarian and vegan option, just try to give them 24hrs notice. 

What we ate:

Shared: Best Cheese Plate in the City

Emily: Steak & Guinness Pot Pie with Mashed Potatoes

Lana: Mushroom & Vegetable Pot Pie with Mashed Potatoes

Notable Beverages: Dalmore 12 yr, Smokehead Single Malt Scotch

Meat Eater Mentions: Emily, 'The cheese plate was delicious, and the honey was amazing. The pot pie was tasty, but needed a little more gravy.  Other than that it would have been the best one I’ve had in a long time."

Veggie Verdict: Lana, “I would like to start a Pot Pie Lovers group and come here weekly. It was comfort food at it's best. The cheese plate was also perfect to share."

Expect to Pay: around $25 - 35 for an entrée and a beverage.