If I went to a restaurant that advertised itself as being a vegetarian restaurant, but then I found out that they also served meat, and fish, and fowl, I would consider that to be fraudulent advertising.

I have been to plenty of restaurants that have advertised themselves to be “vegetarian friendly” which is something that I always appreciate, because they are making an effort to serve some items that are not made with dead animals.

I understand that most people are not vegetarians or vegans, but I appreciate when people understand what it means to be a vegetarian or a vegan. I also appreciate when people who eat meat, try to eat less meat, and I appreciate when people who can’t choose to eat any vegetarian or vegan items, understand why we need to.

What do your details add to the question (other than the lecture you insist you aren’t interested in giving)?

It explains what it means to be a vegetarian, and how simply eating less meat, and claiming to be a vegetarian, makes it difficult for vegetarians and vegans. Why? Because if non vegetarians think it’s fine to serve meat, and fish, and fowl, and call it vegetarian, it causes a lot of problems for everyone.

How is giving a definition a lecture?

Everyone is free to eat what they want, but for me and others that need to avoid meat for ethical reasons, it makes sense to have a clear definition of what that means. Similar in the way that it makes sense to understand what it means to have celiac disease, or food allegies, or to be kosher. Definitions help people to understand.

There’s a difference between vegetarian and vegan.

What is the problem with a restaurant that specializes in vegetarian food, and calls itself vegetarian, but also serves meat dishes? As long as you can order a vegetarian meal, does it matter that others can order non-vegetarian meals?

I agree with @LostInParadise. So what? If it is predominantly vegetarian, but has options available for non-vegetarians, I like it, as it means more diverse groups can eat their, like entire families, a bunch of friends, etc.
Certainly not knicker-twistworthy.

Don’t go there, by all means, but why would you assume that any vegetarian restaurant sources its food responsibly? Unless they are a very small venue that can prove they grow and harvest all the ingredients in a fashion that doesn’t harm any animals, I imagine that even going out would be fraught.

Is this a real question or a lecture? Why would people that are not true vegetarians make your life harder? If you have to ask so many questions when you go out to eat, maybe you should steer clear of those places.

I am referring to restaurants that are describing themselves as vegetarian restaurants, not other restaurants that happen to have vegetarian items.

Would it be OK for a restaurant that bills itself as a Kosher restaurant, to serve non Kosher food? I’m not referring to other restaurants that happen to serve some Kosher items.

What about a restaurant that bills itself as being a peanut-free restaurant, that also sells some dishes that include peanuts? It defeats the purpose of having places where people can eat and avoid these particular items.

I’m not suggesting that other restaurants do this. They already don’t.

@chyna the reason I said that people who are occasionally eat vegetarian food, but claim to be vegetarians, make it harder for me, when people decide to put chicken broth, or meat, or gelatin, or fish into dishes, and call them vegetarian, when they really aren’t.

Do you then assume that the restaurants are lying to you about the ingredients in the vegetarian dishes because they might have tainted them with the non-veg stuff?
Are you being forced to go to these heinous places?

Do you also think something that labels itself a “steakhouse” should have no other entrées than steak? Or that a seafood restaurant should have no land-based offerings? (Ack! Get rid of the chips in the Fish and Chips!)

Your examples of the kosher and peanut free restaurants are not comparable.
And really, are there peanut-free restaurants?

@Kardamom I doubt that any so-called vegetarian restaurant that serves some meat dishes is trying to trick you. They should be sophisticated enough to know how the vegetarian dishes should be prepared. It’s not really the same as kosher restaurants where everything needs to be kept separately – the dishes, the dishwashers, the stoves, etc. There are kosher style restaurants where people know the food isn’t really kosher,; I don’t think that it is the case here. It might be good if they labeled themselves “vegetarian style” but if they don’t and you have doubts, as @chyna said, don’t eat in those places.

We can all acknowledge you as the Queen of Vegetarians but my dear, you are sounding a bit self-righteous. Hence the “lecture” remarks.

As long as non-Kosher dishes are clearly indicated I see no problem with a Kosher restaurant serving non-Kosher items. Just as I see no issue with a Chinese restaurant serving hamburgers and chicken strips. It’s a free market, you don’t have to spend your money there if it’s that bothersome to you.