Silver Diner Adds Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Options

June 20, 2013 - PRLog -- ROCKVILLE, Md., April 22, 2013—Silver Diner has just launched a new menu that’s very unusual for a diner.  The new menu includes more than 25 vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as some additional items that are locally sourced from area farms.

“We are redefining the term ‘flexitarian’,” explains Silver Diner Executive Chef and co-founder Ype Von Hengst.  “At Silver Diner, flexitarian means there’s flexibility to make healthier choices.”

The new Silver Diner menu will appeal to flexitarians as it contains many vegetarian and vegan dishes that also use fresh produce from local area farms.   New vegan entrees include a warm roasted veggie salad, black bean hummus, pesto veggie pasta and Santa Fe roasted veggies.  Vegetarian side items include quinoa, sautéed spinach with garlic, and roasted vegetables.  There are also vegetarian appetizers and entrees as well as vegan appetizers, and desserts.

Flexitarian is a trend that’s sweeping the country as those who were vegetarians return to eating small amounts of meat and those who are not vegetarian are cutting back on the amounts of meat they’re eating.

“We’ve worked extremely hard on this new menu to deliver on feedback we’ve received from customers,” chef Ype continues, “while still keeping long-time favorites on our menu.” Silver Diner has always kept pace with customer demand.  In 2007, Silver Diner became the first chain restaurant in the D.C. region to eliminate the use of trans fats from all of its menus.  Following that, the restaurant launched its “Fresh and Local” menu and, most recently, its expanded menus with additional healthier items.  

Silver Diner has also added more entrees under 600 calories, lactose-free desserts as well as new local beers.

And, Silver Diner has one of the most (if not the most) extensive and healthiest kids menu in the country—unusual for many restaurants but even more unusual for a diner.  Silver Diner features 17 kids’ menu items with over 50% qualifying as a National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell item.  The kids menu recently won the National Restaurant’s Association 2013 Menu Masters National Healthful Innovations Award.

For more information and to see the new menu, visit www.silverdiner.com.

About Silver Diner
With restaurants throughout Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey, Silver Diner is the preferred local restaurant for families seeking high-quality and healthier choices. Built on the values of integrity, quality and putting people first, the first Silver Diner was established in 1989 in Rockville, Maryland. Since then, Silver Diner has grown to own and operate 15 restaurants, serving three million customers yearly throughout the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst ensures that food quality is a top priority, incorporating local ingredients wherever possible. By purchasing fresh and local ingredients, such as hormone free, all natural meats, milk free of bovine growth hormone and free-range chickens, Chef Ype keeps menu items chef-driven and customer-focused. In addition to an updated Fresh & Local menu, Silver Diner is engaged with local communities, schools and organizations. From Kid’s Nights to fundraisers with local schools, Silver Diner continues its mission to give back to its customers. The restaurant’s Eat Well, Do Well not-for-profit program donates a percentage of its sales to enrolled schools to improve nutrition and fitness programs. Schools may also host "Run the Diner" Fundraisers, where school volunteers help "Run the Diner" the night of a school’s fundraiser to help earn money for the school. For more information and to view the complete directory of locations, go to www.SilverDiner.com. Visit Silver Diner on Facebook or follow @Silver_Diner on Twitter.