I would suggest (like some others) to take guests to vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurants. Check out happycow.net for listings of vegan/vegetarian restaurants all over the world. Most restaurants these days can substitute meats for vegan/vegetarian alternatives. Some places would customize a vegan/vegetarian dish for you. Some dishes you can just ask them to not include things you don’t want. I found being vegetarian is much much easier than being vegan. I have been vegan for 8 years and I love in rural cattle country. I still manage though. It takes a bit of ingenuity.

There are a lot of sites and apps that will show you where vegan friendly restaurants are.

I just don't go out to eat much. There are about a dozen things I'd rather do. Thank goodness you can get non-dairy creamer at just about any coffee shop now.

I also don't mind drinking coffee or water while other people enjoy a meal.

Many people have trouble customizing an order and sometimes get grief over doing so. I have always been the person that asks to hold this, add that to a meal when I'm out even before my change of diet. So stop eating salads and just customize your order. If you must, say you are allergic to a particular item, ask don't tell, be appreciative and most restaurants will gladly accommodate you. You are paying for a meal, you should be able to have it prepared to your specifications. If anyone at the table gives you grief, just laugh it off and own your quirkiness.

Some places are more vegetarian/vegan friendly than others. I know from past experience that Atlanta has tons of spots. (I miss that town). I’ve been told Austin was pretty high up there too. I have a theory that the bluer the constituency, the more veg-friendly the area.

I find it preferable to eat at my house....the costs is less and I can make exactly what I like and, usually, introduce my dinner guest(s) to a whole new way of eating and/or a specific dish.

That said, you will generally find vegan options at places that offer Asian inspired dishes...and even Middle Eastern such as Pakastani and Indian. I have also noticed that a few Mexican restaurants are offering a vegan option with guacamole substituted for cheeses (also caters to the lactose intolerant crowd).

Remember, there is nothing wrong with asking to "alter" items at a restaurant too. I've made a complete meal out of refried beans, guac, and the lettuce/tomatoes generally used to top tacos.

Calling ahead to speak to the kitchen manager is fine too...but don't call during meal-time rushes! Try calling mid-afternoon...after the lunch crowd and before the dinner crowd.

Also, check Yelp.com for places to go and reviews.

This brings back so many funny stories. The big thing is that a lot of restaurants have vegetarian items. Mexican, Chinese and especially Thai all have a lot of vegetarian items. One Thai restaurant in Seattle was vegan and they had a huge selection. Also, more and more restaurants are becoming vegetarian and/or even gluten free items on their menu. It's called looking for niches to fill and profit.

I live in an area where it’s almost blasphemous to be vegetarian/vegan. However, it is slowly getting better. Do your homework and determine what restaurants have vegetarian alternatives on their menus. Amazingly, if you tell your server that you are vegetarian/vegan, many times they will offer suggestions or offer to substitute with meat alternatives. Think about people who are diabetic, gluten intolerant, or have other dietary restrictions. More restaurants are seeing the benefits of providing alternative options to accommodate needs and/or preferences.