Your expectation matches my general experience. I only eat those vegan options, and I rarely enjoy them. It’s not because vegan food can’t be good or because I don’t like vegan food; the restaurants and the people working them simply don’t care to make those options shine like other dishes.

It’s not always true. It’s a safe guideline though. I’d say 4/5 cases it’s fair to expect the vegan menu option to be mediocre at best.

This varies by locale too, though. It’s a little easier to find okay options in places with more vegan restaurants in general.

I guess locale is a big part of it. I'm maybe spoiled in the Netherlands where quite a lot of people limit their meat intake and vegan options are plentiful.

I'm not sure why my comment above deserved all the downvotes though, I was only sharing my own experience and asking a question.

Gracias Madre may be the restaurant you're thinking of. I unfortunately heard it has closed recently