A List of Safe Restaurants

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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby Storym » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:10 pm

I know this might come as a big surprise but Brazilian Steak Houses are totally McDougall friendly!!!

I am Brazilian and back in my SAD days of eating I would go to those steak houses way too often :/ Last week Brazil was playing in the World Cup and a bunch of our friends invited us to go watch the game at a Brazilian Steak house. My hubbie and I were skeptic at first but decided to join them anyway since I remembered they have huge salad bars. No need to say that we had a blast and the food was delicious!

They had plain steamed brown rice in a huge rice cooker.....the salad bar was HUGE and had tons of different fresh veggies, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, asparagus, kale, zuchinni....all fresh with no oil/sauces added (the sauces are on the side of the salad bar) and they made us plain baked potatoes and steamed veggies to order on the side. You can't eat the bean there since they're cooked with meat but they had a lentil salad with cucumbers and tomatoes and no oil.

We spent over 3 hours there and ate sooooo much good food. I was really surprised since I thought that place was one kind of restaurant I would never go back to. If you're squeamish about seeing meat being served to your SAD eating friends then I wouldn't suggest this place but it doesn't bother us and I was so happy to see that they served so many McD approved foods :D

They can be found all over the US and here are some of the most famous ones:

FOGO DO CHAO
http://www.fogodechao.com/

TEXAS DE BRAZIL
http://www.texasdebrazil.com/

CHIMA BRAZILIAN STEAK HOUSE
http://www.chima.cc/
"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use; When diet is correct, medicine is of no need." - Ayurvedic Prover
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby DianeR » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:27 pm

Storym, can you pay for the salad bar by itself, or do you pay as if you are going to stuff yourself with meat? I looked at the websites and couldn't tell.

Did the smell of meat affect you? The last time I went to a Brazilian steakhouse was over 10 years ago (so I can't remember the pricing; then I ate meat). I don't know how I would react to smelling all that stuff as they carry it around :?

As a way to watch Brazil in the World Cup, though, I'm sure it couldn't be beat :D
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. --
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby Storym » Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:36 pm

Diane,

Unfortunately they don't give you a break on the price just for the salad bar so you'll have to pay full price weather you're having the meat or not :/ We went there for lunch and it was $28 per person. At dinner I know is more expensive....around $40 so not really worth it to go there for dinner unless you don't mind the hefty price for a salad :) Although if you think about it (at least at some more fancy restaurants around here in CA) the price for a dinner with appetizers and dessert would come to about $40 or more. At these steak houses I guess you can say we had appetizers, dinner and fruits for dessert.

It does smell like meat in there....you're literally in an open bbq restaurant but it didn't bother us a all. I actually like the smell.....I don't know why but I do. It makes me feel good too that I can smell it and not miss eating meat it at all. We also sat at the very end of the table so that the guys carrying the meat around wouldn't have to hover over us to serve our friends so that helped a bit lol
"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use; When diet is correct, medicine is of no need." - Ayurvedic Prover
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby somnolent » Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:38 pm

Gary Chu's in Santa Rosa has a whole McDougall menu, but you have to ask for it:

http://www.garychus.com/chuoverview.asp
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby Vegankit » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:51 am

In Washington DC - Georgetown area 1789 Restauranthttp://www.1789restaurant.com/main/index.shtml
Perfectly prepared and beautifully presented steamed vegetables and baked potato without any oil or salt. Included an appropriate amuse-bouche when serving others their SAD one. Meal looked very special and the service was impeccable so those eating McDougall were not singled out. I had called a couple of hours earlier to give notice of our requirements. Very elegant and expensive

In Philadelphia - Center City more towards South Philly Horizons
http://www.horizonsphiladelphia.com/about/
Stylish vegan restaurant, food typically prepared using lots of nuts, tofu and other fats/oils in their food prep as you can see on their online menu. Call ahead and they can prepare a meal without added fats/nuts/avocado/tofu. They told me when they were located in Willow Grove they had a regular customer for whom they prepared meals without any fat. Very accommodating - must have reservations for this busy place as they are small and fill up quickly.

In Pittsburgh - Theatre district area of downtown - Cafe Zaohttp://www.cafezao.com/menu.asp
Perfectly prepared and beautifully presented steamed vegetables and little purple potatoes without any oil or salt. Always includes some tasty but simple sauce - last time it was tomato paste mixed with balsamic vinegar that served as the base upon which the veggies and potatoes were artfully prepared. Very generous amount of food. Meal was very special, service was impeccable so that others at the table were not aware of our special requests. I usually call a few days ahead of time. Very elegant and expensive.

In general, ironically we've finding that the upscale steak houses are the most accommodating in providing steamed veggies and a oil free potato but their presentation is very plain and simple considering the price. Italian restaurants have been a real problem as there is oil in everything.

Edited to say that sadly Cafe Zao has closed - we truly enjoyed that restaurant.

Also the last meal we had at Horizons was specially prepared but did have some oil and there was their typical poor service. I had made reservations 3 weeks earlier and they sat us at a small table for 4 when we were 5 adults - while they sat another family of 2 adults with 2 children at a table for 6 after we had sat down and had requested being switched to the larger table only to see this family being led to that table after us. I don't know if we will go back again - too many problems at Horizons - also they were relocating to a new location, don't know if this will fix their poor service.
Last edited by Vegankit on Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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In vienna & falls church Va

Postby veggiecat » Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:13 am

Best wishes,Cat
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Wilmington, North Carolina

Postby Halima » Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:14 am

Wilmington, North Carolina

Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn (http://www.flamingamysburritobarn.com)

Many choices. As your main filling, you can opt for tofu, jerk tofu, eggplant or portobello mushrooms, and simply ask them to hold the cheese and sour cream, dressing/sauce on the side. They have a killer salsa bar as well as a collection of hot sauces from around the world known as the "Wall of Pain".

There are really too many McDougall-possible choices to list them all. Some good choices (all are ridiculously huge and delicious-I'm not kidding, these are almost the size of a roll of paper towels and between $5-$7):

The Big Jerk: Jamaican jerk chicken or jerk tofu, rice beans, cheese, roasted red peppers, pineapple jalapeno salsa and sour cream (hold cheese and sour cream)

The Thai Me Up: Grilled fillin’, rice, beans, cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions, carrots and Thai Peanut Sauce (hold cheese, awesome with portobellos as the fillin')

The Wok on the Beach: Grilled fillin’, rice, beans, cheese, broccoli, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, carrots and Teriyaki Sauce (hold the cheese).

The Tree Hugger: Grilled marinated tofu, rice beans, cheese, spinach, carrots, lettuce and tomato salsa (hold the cheese).

The Veggie Deluxe: Grilled marinated portabello mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini & squash, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sundried tomato dressing (Hold cheese, no dressing-eat instead with one of the many options from their expansive salsa bar).

It's a very eclectic place with a great staff, many of whom are committed vegetarians or vegans, and who will gladly run to the kitchen to read the label on the roasted red peppers for you to see if they contain any oil (they don't). If you go on Tuesdays and show your tattoo, you get a 10% discount.
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby frozenveg » Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:09 am

Oh wow! Not only do I have to drive 4,585 miles to get there, but I have to get a tattoo too!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
5'3", 74 YO. Started Jan. 11, 2010
Starting weight: 222.6
Current weight: 148.2.0


Success Story:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/articles/st ... -rockwell/
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby bcmike » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:35 am

Souen, macrobiotic in nyc
Angelica's kitchen, though one has to be more selective here.
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby seestorcoo » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:18 pm

In Portland, OR:

Papa G's - a vegan restaurant at 22nd/Division. They list all their ingredients on their food. The mashed potatoes and gravy have no oil, the steamed vegies have no oil, and they have a salad bar. Unfortunately, no non-oil dressings and their soups often have oil and/or coconut milk in them. They usually have brown rice and beans also. www.papagees.com Their website looks like its being revamped right now or my computer is having difficulties - not sure which.

New Seasons supermarkets - multiple locations. Their wok bar. If you get an oil free sauce off the grocery shelf, they will do your wok, with no oil (upon request) with the chosen sauce. You can also get a vegie sandwich there. http://newseasonsmarket.com/

Mongolian Grill - you totally control the ingredients. The one we go to in gresham uses water to grill. We haven't asked about the rice - I just eat the vegies. http://www.changsmongoliangrill.com/


Sweet tomatoes - I noticed the other night that they are adding more fat free options. And, now doing ww pasta which they will specially prepare cheese free. The sauce obviously has oil though.
They have books of ingredient lists if you ask.

Taco Del Mar - I stopped on vacation and got a vegan burrito. Bowls are available also. Their whole pinto beans are oil free. I have emailed them asking if the rice is oil free and will post if they answer me.
If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits.
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Cleveland, Ohio area

Postby landog » Sat Jun 26, 2010 7:43 pm

In Cleveland, we have a couple of the national or regional build-your-own stir fry chains.

Mongolian Grill http://www.gomongo.com/ and..
Stir Crazy http://www.stircrazy.com/.

We have been to Stir Crazy. You can build your own and have it with no oil. I think that some of the sauces are high in sodium. My wife had swollen joints after the last time we went there, and she says she gets that from salt (anyone else, or is she just strange?).

We have a favorite Thai place:

Mint Cafe - http://www.mintcafecoventry.com/

The "Green Garden" entree is steamed broccoli, carrot, sweet potato, green bean, snow pea, baby corn, yellow squash and tofu, severd with steamed brown rice (no oil). We order it with no tofu. It comes with a peanut sauce on the side, I substitute their hot sauce.

They have a "sister" restaurant with the same dish.
Peppermint Thai Cuisine - http://peppermintthaicuisine.com/

We just celebrated our 17th anniversary there tonight and I took a picture of my dinner (sorry - low quality cell phone camera). The vegetables are really fresh and the service is excellent (and friendly).
Low salt - no MSG.
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby DianeR » Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:20 am

The Vegetable Garden (Rockville MD) -- can make most dishes without oil. Just monitor ingredient list to make sure there is no coconut oil, tofu, etc. Serves brown rice, rather than white. http://www.thevegetablegarden.com/
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. --
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Re: Cleveland, Ohio area

Postby ETeSelle » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:20 am

Genghis Grill: http://genghisgrill.com/

We have a Genghis Grill (mongolian grill place where you build your own bowl and they cook it for you on a grill thingy) near us and I haven't been since I got back on the McDougall wagon. Went on Sat. w/ my niece (who is 11 and already a vegetarian!). I wasn't sure how "no oil" would go over, but they had no problem w/ it! I was afraid to have any of the sauces bc/ I didn't know what was in them, so I put on a little seasoning but no sauce. They cooked it w/ no oil and it was o.k. I missed the sauce, though. I got veggies only, on brown rice, and skipped the tofu. :)

Checked the website and WHOO HOO! There are SEVERAL sauces w/ 0 fat grams, including my fave, Ginger Citrus, which is also relatively low in sodium! I'm very excited!

You can see the nutritional info for everything by clicking on "Build Your Bowl" at the top of the page -- then click on each category for nutritional detail:

Their brown rice has no oil added--they cook it in rice steamers. If you have one near you, this is a great choice b/c you really do have near-complete control over the ingredients! There are locations in the SE, Midwest, and West (not coast).
Elizabeth
Weight now: 124 (20.0 BMI)
Weight in 2010: 207 (33.4 BMI)
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Trust me on this: One day you'll wake up and realize that it no longer feels like "being strict." It just feels GOOD. :)
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby SactoBob » Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:08 pm

Since Jeff asked for links, here is a link to the nutrition facts and ingredients for the Ginger Citrus sauce above for anybody who wants to check it out.
http://www.dietfacts.com/html/nutrition ... -44612.htm
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Re: A List of Safe Restaurants

Postby ETeSelle » Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:24 pm

On their website it says 170 mg sodium in that. ?? Wonder which one is correct?

Serving Size : 2
Total Calories : 50
Total Fat (g) : 0
Saturated Fat (g) : 0
Carbohydrates (g) : 12
Dietary Fiber (g) : 0
Protein (g) : 0
Cholesterol (mg) : 0
Sodium (mg) : 170

I think the diff is the serving size, but still confusing. The site you posted, Bob, has the serving size as 1 oz. The Genghis Grill website lists it as "2", whatever that means, and the amounts are almost exactly half of what they are on the dietfacts website. Huh. well, use as little as possible, I guess!
Elizabeth
Weight now: 124 (20.0 BMI)
Weight in 2010: 207 (33.4 BMI)
Star McDougaller Story
Testimonial thread

Trust me on this: One day you'll wake up and realize that it no longer feels like "being strict." It just feels GOOD. :)
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