Vegetarians and vegans are all too familiar with sitting down at a restaurant, excited for the amazing dinner they’re about to have only to scan the menu and find two options, plain fries/baked potato or the ever-present depressing side salad with tomatoes and oil-based dressing.

For non-meat eaters in the Birmingham area who are tired of the endless potato and bland lettuce combo dinners or for voracious meat eaters looking to try something new, below is a list of five local restaurants with some of the most diverse vegetarian/vegan selections.

The Purple Onion

The Purple Onion offers both authentic Mediterranean food and grilled American classics to diners throughout the Birmingham area.

There are five Purple Onion locations scattered across the metro in Lakeview, Hoover, Inverness, Irondale, and Hueytown. Each one offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options such as the vegetable kabob plate, the falafel plate (served with rice, hummus, salad, and hot pita), and an entire menu of “loaded bakers” that features massive baked potatoes filled with any variety of toppings including broccoli, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and BBQ sauce.