Christmas dinner is built around one assumption so often that it's easy to forget it's an assumption at all: that the centrepiece is a roasted bird. If you're vegetarian, vegan, or just cooking for someone who is, that assumption tends to turn Christmas into a planning problem rather than something to look forward to. Herb's Christmas menu skips the problem entirely by starting from a different place.
Vegetarian by default, not as an accommodation
Herb's whole menu is vegetarian year-round, and the Christmas set menu follows the same rule - it isn't a modified version of a meat-based menu with the meat removed, it's built as vegetarian from the start. That distinction tends to show up in the food: dishes designed to be vegetarian usually taste more complete than dishes adapted to be.
What's on the vegetarian Christmas menu
The 3-course set menu includes a choice of starter (Herbed Kanthari Paneer, Crispy Okra Fry, or Herbal Kappa), a pre-plated thali of Kerala mains - including a Royal Paneer Mappas, Malabar Vegetable Ishtu, and a festive Beetroot Curry among others - served with herb rice, mini kallappam and Kerala paratha, and a coconut pudding with strawberry ice cream to finish. See our full Christmas menu breakdown for the complete list.
Vegan options
Alongside the vegetarian set menu, vegan options are available - let the team know when you book so the kitchen can prepare accordingly. Because a lot of Kerala cooking is coconut-based rather than dairy-based to begin with, this tends to be a more straightforward request here than at a traditionally meat-and-dairy-focused Christmas menu.
Good for mixed tables
If you're gathering a group where dietary needs vary - some vegetarian, some vegan, some with no restrictions at all - a fully vegetarian menu removes the usual need to arrange a separate dish for part of the table. Everyone is ordering from the same menu.
Where to book
The vegetarian and vegan Christmas menu runs at both Herb Leicester and Herb Leamington Spa, at £33.95 per person. A £5pp deposit is required to book - see our booking guide for the details.
FAQ
Is Herb's Christmas menu fully vegetarian?
Yes, the entire Christmas set menu is vegetarian, in keeping with the rest of Herb's year-round menu.
Are there vegan options on the Christmas menu?
Yes, vegan options are available - let the team know when you book so the kitchen can prepare accordingly.
Is this a good option for a mixed group with different diets?
Yes, since the whole menu is vegetarian to begin with, there's no separate "special" dish to arrange for vegetarian or vegan guests at a mixed table.
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Authentic vegetarian and vegan South Indian & Kerala food in Leicester and Leamington Spa.
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