Meat-eaters, stop reading!
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Vegetarians….hello. It’s hard for us, right? Not only do we have to deal with every family member, housemate, and partner’s family asking us why we do this (with a look that says “I couldn’t respect you any less for this”), but we have to order the worst food from restaurants too? Karen’s over there with the foie de gras and you’re stuck with the soggy bean burger with lettuce and mayo. Rubbish. Luckily, Essex has heard the plight of the vegetarian and has risen to the occasion. What follows is a list of the best veggie options on campus.
SU Bar: BBQ Quorn Chicken Pizza
The SU Bar is a hotbed for delicious, vaguely unhealthy food that you’ll crave on a cold winter night when your loan is down to the last £10 but you’ve still got 3 weeks left of term and rent due tomorrow. Mozzarella sticks to die for, incredible chili, the BEST mac & cheese. Having said that, by far my favourite thing on the menu is the BBQ Quorn Chicken Pizza.
Fusion: Halloumi and Mushroom Burger
Mmm, halloumi. Always the tastiest option on any menu, and a vegetarian’s fantasy. Fusion does a wicked halloumi and mushroom burger that will make all the meat eaters at your table green with envy, and is a little healthier than some of the other options as well. Honestly, Fusion has an incredible menu with so many different styles of food that it’s actually hard to narrow down (try the veggie hot dog and have your life changed), but for pure hedonistic pleasure, their stylish combo of halloumi and mushroom is unbeatable.
Buffalo Joe’s: Mushroom Fritter
Buffalo Joe’s has always been a brilliant late-night option, but this year they really kicked it into the highest gear. The falafel and houmous wrap that was a staple of my first and second year is still there, alive and kicking, but it’s been joined by some fantastic competitors. Chief among them is the glorious mushroom fritter burger. Literally a deep fried portobello mushroom, topped with smoked cheese and mayo, this will satisfy all your cravings in one go. The soft, chewy texture of the mushroom with the satisfying crunch of the batter is a heavenly experience, and I advise every vegetarian (and non-vegetarian) to try it at least once.
The Canteen: Full English (Veggie)
The Canteen’s menu changes every day, and the vegetarian option is always pretty good. Very well priced too. However, it would be lazy of me to just tell you to have “whatever the veggie option is”, so I’ve decided to plump for a Canteen staple: the breakfast. Rumour has it anyone who gets a canteen breakfast before their 9am exam gets a first. I’m not sure how true that is, but I’m willing to believe. You don’t even have to have the meagre veggie breakfast of mushrooms, egg and beans that many restaurants offer. The Canteen has a plethora of veggie options to choose from, including amazing vegetarian sausages.
Frango’s: Pulled Quorn Wrap
I’ll be honest, I haven’t visited Frango’s as much as I’d like to have this year. This has nothing to do with the quality of the food, and I’m extremely disappointed in myself for not eating there more. If you’re a fan of the Portuguese chicken restaurant that shall not be named, but wish they had more vegetarian options, Frango’s has got you! They have an astonishing variety of options for us, and they’re really interesting. The pulled Quorn wrap has got my vote, simply because I don’t know of anywhere else that does pulled Quorn. It’s delicious, too, of course.
Happy eating all you veggies!