𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Review: Tarpon Turtle Waterfront Grill – Tarpon Springs, Florida

I have been a frequent diner at the Tarpon Turtle in Tarpon Springs. I love that it’s a local Marina Bar and Grill field on beautiful Lake Tarpon. In the past, their menu has been very well developed and designed, catering to all food options.

In September, for health reasons, I decided to do a Vegetarian diet for 6 months. It simply means cutting out all meats, chicken and fish. I recently met some good friends at Tarpon Turtle for lunch, and to my displeasure and dismay, they have no good vegetarian options. Our waiter Jason B – who was amazing AND who happens to be Vegan- told me they recently got rid of the Beyond burger, and for an entrée, it was limited to salads. He did mention two vegetarian appetizers, but they were Fried. (really healthy)

As a home chef, I took offense to the idea of a lack of vegetable dish options. For someone like me who strives to make ethical and health-conscious choices, the absence of any vegetarian dishes was disappointing and downright infuriating.

I’m baffled by this. Why? Do you know what the most expensive food cost to a dish is? Meat, Chicken, and Fish. You could easily offer things like their Turtle Bowls with Tofu, Mushrooms, or Squash. I know they have mushrooms because it’s all over the menu. There are also many dishes on the menu; you can make vegetarian alternatives without having to change much of your menu.

Instead, the owner, who clearly has no clue, is not offering anything. Again, this is surprising because the cost of a vegetarian dish is generally much less than that of a meat dish. You can still charge a similar price.

I did end up having a salad, and after replacing the meat on the salad with other vegetables, it came out fine. But it certainly still gave me a bad taste in the mouth. With plenty of other restaurant options becoming available within the Tarpon area, I recommend exploring food options catering to all types of people.

It’s sad – I used to love going there. Jason – If you read this, hit me up. As you have the ability to bring excellence in customer service, there are plenty of options out there that also support your lifestyle. I have a lot of connections.