Vegetarian

So, one of my staff members is vegetarian.  I asked him to go to lunch this week for a touch base.  I told him to pick the restaurant (since I know he's vegetarian, so that just makes it easier for everyone).  He told me to pick, but somewhere with vegetarian options.  I respond with the following:

"Nah, you’ve been in this neighborhood longer, it’s up to you.  :)  I’m all about salads, so really wherever you want to go is fine for me.  I would even like to try a cool vegetarian place if you know one."

He responds back with a burger joint.  WTF?!  Am I missing something?  Is he trying to accomidate me, while I'm trying to accomidating him?

Is there a better way I should have handled this, or is he just weird?

Have you looked at the menu?  Maybe they do offer some vegetarian options (veggie burger?).  If not, that is pretty strange, but my guess is either he feels intimidated or is trying to pick somewhere to "please" you.

From you've said, it sounds like you handled it just fine.  At this point I suppose you could ask him if they have anything he can eat since he had originally told you he was looking for a place with vegetarian options.  Or make it lighthearted and say awwww, a burger joint?  I was really looking forward to that salad.

We are not so weird.  :)  Think of it like a friend who told you she wanted to have a light lunch and then when asked to pick a place, she picked a steakhouse.  What would your reaction be?  Maybe something along the lines of - Ummm... OK, but I thought you wanted a light lunch...??

How funny! I think the person is intimidated and trying to please you. Or lacks knowledge in planning events that are theme based...ex. vegetarianism.

I think that you were nice in giving him the opportunity to express himself while giving you a new experience.  I love how you handled it. Perhaps the burger joint has veggie burgers. Check the menu out while encouraging him to come up with a place. 

Good luck.

it's not very nice of me, but i get really irritated when social-ish plans hinge on my decision. i get the "you pick because you're the one who can't eat anything" spiel ALL THE TIME, and it drives me crazy because no matter where i go, i can find SOMETHING vegetarian. i feel that if i force others (carnies) to go somewhere of my choosing (i.e. a mostly-vegetarian place or something like that) and they don't like it, it'll be all my fault.

maybe this person is just like me. we know you're trying to be nice, so it's not like we're ungrateful. it just starts to feel like we're a burden. but i wouldn't ask him to pick again.

I looked at the menu, they do have vegetarian options.  I still think it is a weird choice though.  It is actually going to be a lot more difficult for me to find something to eat at a burger joint, than it would be at a vegetarian restaurant.  I barely even eat meat, and I'm definitely not eating something on a 300 calorie bun.

I was hoping he'd introduce me to some tasty raw food or vegan place for me to try out on the company dime.  C'est la vie.

Next time I'm choosing, and I'm going to the salad restaurant my boss was supposed to take me to (it was too crowded, so we went to a brew pub instead).

maybe he wanted a veggie burger, or wanted to prove to you that being a vegetarian is all about the salads - maybe he doesn't even like salad.  Pretty much every restaurant has vegetarian options. :)