I have read here many times that people often need to go to some trouble to find restaurants where they can get program-friendly food. And then they have to convince friends and colleagues to agree to go to these places with them.

I'd like to post a joy dot -- I live in Israel, and I must say that program-friendly restaurants are the rule here rather than the exception. This goes to the credit of the dietary mindset of people here

Not that they don't eat junk food in these parts.......of course they do.
But the overriding genre of food served here include a healthy variety of just the foods I'm looking for.
The browns are sometimes tricky, like everywhere else, and one might need to bring from home (but freshly-made hummus / legumes / quinoa are often available).

Middle Eastern cuisine is wholesome and fresh, and I feel blessed to have all this goodness at my fingertips.

Now, all that said, I must say that I almost never eat out, lol
We have always placed a heavy emphasis on good ol' home-cooked meals

Sarit