Viennese menu over 100 years old sparks vegetarian discussion!

Viennese menu over 100 years old sparks vegetarian discussion!

On November 1, 2025, a menu from Vienna that is over 100 years old will cause excitement in the culinary scene. The historical document shows that plant-based dishes such as green kernel schnitzel, spinach schnitzel and mushroom schnitzel were served in the vegetarian restaurant “Zur Wohlfahrt” in the past. This discovery was brought into the spotlight by an Instagram post from the Vienna Museum and reignites the discussion about today's vegetarian movement. Mercury reports that in October 2025 the EU Parliament voted to ban terms such as “veggie sausage” and “soy schnitzel” for meat substitute products. This has drawn attention from both consumer advocates and manufacturers of meat alternatives.

The historian Sarah Pichlkastner explains that the first vegetarian restaurant in Vienna, “Ramharter”, was founded in 1877. In the 1920s there were around ten vegetarian restaurants in Vienna. However, the Second World War and the post-war period saw a decline in vegetarian restaurants, while regular meat consumption only became popular after the war. At that time, the vegetarian movement was often laughed at and not taken seriously. Visitors to such restaurants were often perceived as tired and listless, while the movement itself had primarily male and middle-class roots, rather than animal protection.

A look into the past

The variety of plant-based dishes in the old menu shows that the trend towards vegetarianism is by no means a new phenomenon. On the contrary, Vienna has a long tradition of vegetarian gastronomy, even if it came under pressure in various historical phases. The cultural background and social stigma previously associated with vegetarian diets are reflected in this discussion. For a long time, vegetarian food was not a serious issue for many people.

In today's world, when awareness of a healthier lifestyle and protection of the environment is growing, taking a renewed look at the roots of vegetarian cuisine in Vienna - and the challenges associated with it - seems extremely relevant. Especially since the competition between classic meat dishes and modern vegetarian alternatives is becoming more and more important.

Today's debate

Current developments in EU policy, such as the ban on certain terms for plant-based products, are ensuring that the topic of vegetarianism is being discussed strongly again. What's next for the manufacturers of meat substitute products, and how are consumers reacting to these challenges? Canada is taking a different approach by planning major investments in its own infrastructure to strengthen the economy and communities. Such developments could also have an impact on the vegetarian movement and the associated product innovations in Europe.

Whether the past will help shape the future of vegetarian cuisine in Vienna remains to be seen. The beautiful city has once again proven that it is diverse and creative when it comes to gastronomy. Let's be surprised at what new dishes and initiatives await us in the next few years.

For anyone interested in historical places in Vienna or culinary discoveries, it might also be worth taking a look at Madrid, where a lively food culture and numerous sights such as museums and theaters also await discovery. Madrid offers an interesting mix of tradition and modernity that could also please gourmet fans.