France's reputation as a virtual buffet for the culinary epicure is, unfortunately, lost on vegetarians. In most restaurants, aside from the usual salads and cheeses, there is precious little choice for those who don't eat meat, as almost every dish, if not made almost entirely of beef, chicken, or fish, is almost always garnished with lardons (bacon), anchois (anchovies), or jambon (ham). That said, some of the newer, more innovative restaurants will often have one or two vegetarian dishes on offer. It's also possible to put together a vegetarian meal at even the most meat-oriented brasserie by choosing dishes from among the starters (crudités, for example, are nearly always available) and soups, or by asking for an omelette. Useful French phrases to help you along are Je suis végétarien(ne) ("I'm a vegetarian") and Il y a quelques plats sans viande? (Are there any non-meat dishes?).A salon de thé is often a good bet, as they are more Apt to offer lighter fare, such as soups and tarts (tartes), which tend to be vegetarian. Also, ethnic restaurants – Middle Eastern or Indian – usually offer a few vegetarian dishes. The few vegetarian restaurants that do exist tend to be based on a healthy diet principle rather than haute cuisine, but at least you get a choice. Aquarius 54 rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 4e; 40 rue Gergovie, 14e. Au Grain de Folie 24 rue de La Vieuville, 18e. Grand Appétit 9 rue de la Cerisaie, 4e. Le Grenier de Notre-Dame, 18 rue de la Bûcherie, 5e. La Petite Légume 36 rue Boulangers, 5e. Piccolo Teatro 6 rue des Écouffes, 4e. Les Quatre et Une Saveurs 72 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, 5e. La Victoire Suprême du Cœur 41 rue des Bourdonnais, 1er.
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