1. Morgan M, London

A French fine-dining restaurant that takes veggie food seriously? Surely there must be some mistake. Morgan M is quite a find – not least in terms of its location, at the unfashionable end of Islington, just off Holloway Road. The six-course vegetarian tasting menu isn't cheap (£36), but it's not often veggies get to feel so pampered. The super-attentive staff will take time to explain each course to you and the fare is a far cry from lentil stew. (Try instead the chilled gazpacho, with aubergine croutons, and a tomato and olive oil sorbet.) There are plenty of creative options for carnivores too, so everyone's in for a treat.

morganm.com
489 Liverpool Road, Islington, London; +44 (0)20 7609 3560
Open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday (from 7pm) and for lunch from Wednesday to Friday and Sunday (from 12pm).

2. Vegetarian Food Studio, Cardiff

Cardiff is a bit of a blackhole when it comes to vegetarian food, which makes it even more of a surprise to be automatically asked if you'd prefer the vegan option when entering this highly accommodating, family-run eatery. Lying outside of the city centre on a less-than-picturesque residential street, it's well worth a short detour. The friendly service has earned it an army of devotees. Among the Gujarati specialities, you'll also find an extensive range of pan-Asian dishes at prices so low you might double-take (£2 - £3). And if you can't handle the heat, the staff are on hand with a serving of cooling homemade yoghurt.

vegetarianfoodstudio.co.uk
109 Penarth Road, Grangetown, Cardiff; + 44 (0)29 2023 8222
Monday - Closed.
Tuesday to Wednesday, 10am to 9.30pm.
Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm.

3. Café Maitreya, Bristol

Maitreya chefs have won so many awards they could easily become complacent, and yet they continue to churn out great modern veggie cuisine. Ok, so the dishes are can be a bit obscure on paper (samphire and jack-by-the-hedge beignet anyone?), but they're surprisingly non-pretentious in the flesh – so to speak. Maitreya also prides itself on using organic and seasonal products from local suppliers, encouraging staff to bring in herbs and vegetables from their own gardens or allotments. All food is freshly prepared on site, right down to the bread and ice cream.
Two courses £17.50; three courses £20.95

cafemaitreya.co.uk
89 St Mark's Road, Easton, Bristol; + 44 (0)117 951 0100
Evenings only Tuesday to Saturday from 6.45pm

4. Café Mauresque, Canterbury

This is a good choice for veggies that want to eat out with their meat-loving friends without anyone having to compromise. There are plenty of options on a menu that fuses Moroccan and Spanish cuisine. The delicious butterbean and braised greens tagine with aubgerine and manchego fritters (£9.50) has built up quite a fanbase and rightly so. Meanwhile the décor – authentic lamps, heavy wood tables – provides a side order of escapism. If you phone ahead, staff are happy to cater for vegans (ensuring their couscous stays butter-free), along with other dietary requirements.

cafemauresque.com
8 Butchery Lane, Canterbury, Kent; +44 (0)1227 464300
Open daily, 12pm til late

5. Mildreds, London

This is a godsend for vegetarians who want choice – and ones with an appetite that a salad won't satisfy. There's a range of hearty dishes on offer – including burritos, tagines, bangers-and-mash, teriyaki stir fries, and mushroom-and-ale pies (porcini mushrooms, of course – this is Soho). And if it's a decent homemade burger you're craving, rather than a fresh-from-the-freezer beanburger, try their daily special. A leek, fennel and sweet potato creation was a recent offering, served with fruit relish and homemade chunky chips. The downside is Mildreds, despite being on one of the area's quieter streets, is always packed and you can't book.

mildreds.co.uk
45 Lexington Street, London; +44(0)20 7494 1634
Monday to Saturday, 12pm-11pm

6. Hendersons, Edinburgh

With a self-service restaurant downstairs, a shop upstairs and a bistro around the corner at 25 Thistle Street, the choice is yours whether you swing by for quick takeaway or a leisurely lunch. With 40 years of experience behind it, Hendersons is a master in its field. The self-service section offers a fantastic value set lunch for around £7 to £10. Meanwhile the vegetarian haggis (£5.55) is a favourite among the locals and the cheesecakes come highly recommended. It's also situated in a great location, minutes from Princes Street.

www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk
4 Hanover Street, Edinburgh; +44 (0)131 225 2131
The Salad table: Monday to Saturday, 8am-10.45pm
Bistro: Sunday to Wednesday, 12pm-10pm; Thursday to Saturday, 12pm-10:30pm

7. Paskins, Brighton

If a vegetarian were to die and go to heaven, they'd end up in a place that looked very much like Brighton. Unfortunately, most of the town's numerous veggie specialists tend to lie in the shadow of the hugely popular and highly creative Terre à Terre. Now is the time to let the little guys step into Brightonian sun. If you're looking for an exceedingly cheap, down-to-earth vegetarian guesthouse, try Paskins. Situated in a Grade II listed townhouse, its hearty vegetarian breakfasts are the stuff of legend (£9.95 – or included in the room price). Try their homemade sausages made from sun-dried tomatoes, paprika and tarragon, alongside a nutty fritter topped with a corn and mango sauce.

paskins.co.uk
18-19 Charlotte Street, Brighton; +44 (0)1273 601203
Rooms from £27.50 per night.

8. The Waiting Room, Stockton-On-Tees

This is a homely vegetarian restaurant with vegan options. The menu changes seasonally, but a sample meal could start with honey roast shallots with crusty French bread (£4.25) and move on to a roast sweet potato, applewood and pecan plait (£10.95). If you've still go room you can finish up with a homemade dessert (options vary daily), while washing it all down with organic wines and beers. Turn up on a Sunday and your meal could be accompanied by jazz, pop, poetry, folk, film or cabaret. Their Waiting for Sunday World night covers everything, they say, "from the sublime to the ridiculous".

the-waiting-room.co.uk
9 Station Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees; +44 (0)1642 780465
Monday from 6.30pm
Tuesday to Friday, 11.30am-2.30pm, Evening meals from 6.30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9am-2.30pm, Evening meals from 6.30pm

9. Al Faisals, Birmingham

If you like your veggie food with a kick, the Balti Triangle shouldn't be missed when in Birmingham. This cluster of restaurants lies just a short taxi ride out of the city centre and is the birthplace of what is now one of the countries best-loved dishes. The Balti was invented by the area's Kashmiri immigrants in the 1970s and Al Faisals claims to have served it first - although so do many of the other 50-plus restaurants in the area. Al Faisals has, however, recently had a sleek makeover and occasionally hosts the city's popular Balti-making weekend breaks. A veggie balti will set you back just £5.50 and the BY0 alcohol policy keeps the cost down even further.

alfaisal.co.uk
136–140 Stoney Lane, Birmingham; +44 (0)121 449 5695
Open seven days a week, from midday to midnight.

10. Demuths, Bath

Tucked away on a pedestrianised side street just moments from the Roman Baths, Demuths has the feel of a serene hotel spa. It's all pastel walls and candles. There are plenty of decent options on the menu, including some great soups, and it has accrued quite a following over the years. Unfortunately as its popularity has grown so have its prices. Quality of food and ambience has this one hanging in at number 10 on but they need to up the game in the value-for-money stakes. The roast vegetable and goat's cheese tart is lovely, but do they really think a slice can command a £10 price tag? Even if they do chuck in a few mixed leaves.

demuths.co.uk
2 North Parade Passage, off Abbey Green, Bath; +44 (0)1225 446059
Monday to Friday, 10am-10pm
Saturday, 9am-10pm
Sunday, 10am-10pm