There is a particular moment every vegetarian knows.

Everybody opens the menu.

Everybody else starts debating burgers, curries, steaks and specials.

You scan down the page looking for the option.

Singular.

Thankfully, eating meat-free in Peterborough can be considerably more interesting than that.

Here are three places taking vegetarian and vegan food in very different directions.

Tacos and Flipflops: start with Mexico, then change the rules

Tacos and Flipflops describes its cooking as Mexican, Central and South American food with a plant-based twist.

And that's an important distinction.

Rather than vegetarian food appearing as the compulsory alternative to the “real” menu, plant-based cooking is part of the proposition itself.

It also gives you a completely different answer when somebody suggests a meat-free lunch or takeaway.

Not another worthy salad.

Mexican flavours.

Location: Peterborough,17 Godric Square PE2 7JL

Tacos and Flipflops

Kathmandu Lounge: momos make a convincing argument

Then we head towards Nepal.

Kathmandu Lounge combines Nepalese and Indian cooking, giving a mixed table considerably more to investigate than a token vegetarian main.

Curries and grills are part of the picture, but momos Nepalese dumplings are the sort of thing that can turn “Where shall we eat?” into “I've never tried those before.”

That's exactly what Taste Trail should be finding.

Not simply restaurants that accommodate somebody who doesn't eat meat, but food that gives them a reason to choose the restaurant in the first place.

Location: Peterborough, 10 Church St , Peterborough PE1 1XB

Kathmandu Lounge

Lotus: another route through India and Nepal

Lotus also brings together Indian and Nepalese influences, with vegetarian choices sitting within a much broader style of cooking.

This is particularly handy for mixed groups.

The vegetarian diner doesn't necessarily want to drag everybody to a specialist vegetarian restaurant.

They just don't want their own dinner to feel like the kitchen remembered them at the last minute.

A menu with different spices, dishes and styles gives everybody something to argue over which is generally a healthier restaurant problem to have.

Location: Peterborough, 53 Westgate, Peterborough, PE1 1QA

Lotus Peterborough

Vegetarian isn't the same as allergy-safe

One distinction really matters.

Choosing not to eat meat is very different from having coeliac disease, a serious allergy or another medical dietary requirement.

Ingredients, menus and kitchen practices can change.

 If eating something could make you ill, don't rely on any article or an old menu online speak directly to the venue about your requirements before ordering.

For everybody else, there's a much more enjoyable question to answer.

What's the best vegetarian or vegan dish you've actually eaten in Peterborough the one you'd happily order even if you weren't avoiding meat?

Tell us in the comments. That's the list we want to build next.