Vegan Dining at Doolittle’s? Not a Problem!

By Alice Christianson
Staff Writer

Recently, I was invited to dinner at Doolittles to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Of course, I wanted to attend, but I was uneasy about whether I would be able to eat a meal there. Typical American chain restaurants offer very little to eat for those who are vegan. I’ve had disappointing experiences at some local establishments when all I could eat was a plate of French fries, or worse, a small bowl of iceberg lettuce and difficulty finding plain oil and vinegar to make my own dressing. While my focus remains on spending time conversing with friends, lack of a good meal detracts from the fun of getting together. Rigid menus, a lack of creativity, servers and cook staff not trained to know what a vegan request means, and harried dinner rush time, all contribute to those disappointing food experiences.

I have to admit that I called Doolittles ahead of time, wanting to give them a heads up that a vegan would be joining a group for dinner. I was surprised when the hostess who answered the phone assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem, the chef wouldn’t need to be warned ahead of time. I joined my friends for the dinner, and the server who took our orders also assured me the chef would be able to accommodate me. She talked to the chef, returned to assure me that he would create a vegan entree for me, and wanted to know if I could be comfortable in letting him decide on the selection. I easily agreed to that request.

When the server brought out our entrees, mine surpassed the others in terms of visual appeal. There was a mound of spaghetti, with a very thick sauce, more like a ragout or tapenade than a sauce, and at the top was a fresh basil leaf. The ragout consisted of roasted (and probably sun-dried) tomatoes, garlic and basil, with a pleasant amount of spice. It was fabulous. I appreciated the quality of customer service that went into my overall experience there. I would like to see Doolittles add that creation to their menu, and tag it as vegan.

I certainly will return to Doolittles with confidence, knowing that I will have a very pleasant dining experience.

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If You Go

What: Doolittle’s Woodfire Grill
Where: 2112 25th St S
When: Open daily 11am-11pm
Info: 701.478.2200