Does the rice contain a bit of melted butter? Did the split pea soup simmer with a ham bone in it? Is there fish sauce in the Thai noodles? 

These are the kinds of questions that vegan diners frequently ask when they go out to eat. A vegan diet avoids all animal products, including eggs, milk, and honey.

Newton Centre data engineer Ryan Volpi is trying to take the guesswork out of ordering vegan fare from restaurant menus with Farro, an interactive website he developed and rolled out in July. The site combs menus from restaurants within 30 miles of Boston, listing vegan dishes available at each one. A $15 fee gives users access to all the data.

One of Volpi’s goals in starting the site as a side project was to avoid “pain points” in vegan dining. He and his wife Julia eat out once or twice a week. She has been a vegan for 10 years, though he eats a wider diet. Vegans don’t always find many choices at restaurants, he said. 

“If there’s nothing else, you order a side salad and fries,” he said. “That’s the worst possible outcome of eating out.”

Ryan Volpi at the Newton Centre Plaza. Photo by Clara Silverstein

The data available on Farro is relevant to vegans as well as family and friends who eat out with them. About three percent of Americans identify as vegans, according to a Vegetarian Resource Group 2026 survey conducted by the Harris Poll. Though people have been following this kind of diet throughout history, the term vegan was not coined until 1944, when the Vegan Society formed in the United Kingdom.

In the Boston area, some of the vegan options listed on Farro come from surprising places. 

For instance, the avocado toast and hash browns at Dunkin’ contain no animal products. A complete Dunkin’ menu is available for browsing on Farro, with check marks next to confirmed vegan offerings, including coffee drinks (made with dairy milk alternatives). Items with a circle and no check mark are likely to be vegan but need to be confirmed with a staff member. Other restaurants are listed in a similar way on the site.

Newton does not have a fully vegan restaurant, but the Volpis have found local eateries with extensive vegan options. Ryan sent us information about some of their favorites. 

Shiva’s Kitchen (Newton Centre) has almost 20 vegan entrees clearly marked on their menu, including various dosas, which are like South Indian crepes. Their menu even includes vegan carrot cake and cheesecake for dessert.

House of Tandoor (Newton Centre) offers a selection of 18 Indian and Nepali vegan entrees featuring chickpeas, lentils, peas, and more. A lunch buffet gives you a chance to try some of them; ask a server which ones are vegan.

Volpi calls Olivia’s Bistro (Nonantum) “probably the best example of a place you would never guess has vegan options, since Italian food traditionally relies heavily on meat and cheese.” The vegan menu here includes pizzas featuring plant-based mozzarella cheese.

The Friendly Toast (Chestnut Hill), has what Volpi describes as “a great atmosphere in addition to an excellent selection of vegan dishes.” There are even vegan and gluten-free pancakes.

A separate vegan menu is available at Pressed Café (Needham Street) and includes smoothies, burritos made with tofu, and the vegan Reuben sandwich. “Their vegan smash burgers are good as well,” Volpi said.

If you’re in search of a smoothie or an acai bowl, the 11:11 Health Bar (Newton Centre) offers both.

In general, Volpi said, certain types of cuisine, especially Indian and Middle Eastern, are likely to have good vegan options. Asking a server can help confirm which selections to make. “Most restaurants will work with you. They take it seriously,” he said. 

Sometimes, leaving out a cheese or sour cream topping can make a dish vegan. In other cases, a veggie burger is a good option.

As Farro continues to build its customer base, Volpi is thinking of it as a prototype for sites in other cities. “Right now, I want to make it as solid as possible in Boston, making sure it has the right features and that users are finding it valuable,” he said. 

Eventually, he might create a mobile app to make it even easier for diners to use. In the meantime, he and his wife will continue looking for memorable vegan meals in Newton and beyond.

Clara Silverstein is a cookbook author with extensive knowledge of Newton history. She can be reached at clara@clarasilverstein.com.