NEW ORLEANS - Recognized throughout the world as a great place for food, New Orleans doesn’t disappoint when it comes to meat-free dishes that cater to those observing Lent.
PALM&PINE
Chef couple Jordan and Amarys Herndon of Palm&Pine offer Lent-friendly dishes like Shrimp Rampart Royale with chipotle red remoulade, guacamole, iceberg, and fried saltines; Sumac Bronzed Gulf Fish with cashew saffron rice, roasted carrots, LA Blood Orange Citronette; Butter Beans with lima bean cavatelli, speckled butter beans, dried tomatoes; and Corner Store Crudo with yellowfin tuna, pineapple big shot nựớc chấm, daikon, fresh herbs, shrimp chips.
COMMONS CLUB
Throughout Lent, Commons Club at the Virgin Hotels New Orleans Executive Chef Chris Borges will feature Lent-friendly dishes like Moules Marinieres with mussels, french fries, shallots, Urban South Paradise Park beer, and pistou; Moroccan Spiced Red Snapper paired with braised chard, hominy succotash, and saffron vinaigrette; and Swordfish with grilled cabbage slaw, celery root, field peas, pistachio, and Calabrian chile vinaigrette. Veggie-forward dishes include Stuffed Squash filled with sunflower tahini, baby carrots, hearts of palm, quinoa, kale, and brassica; Fried Cauliflower with chickpea batter, pea masala, and mint; and Wild Mushrooms with Gumbo z'herbes with puffed rice 'krispies'.
COMPERE LAPIN
Compère Lapin is featuring Lenten-friendly dishes starting with the Smoked Fish Dip, paired with seeded crackers and smoked trout roe, followed by the bold and flavorful Fried Fish Collar with passionfruit glaze and pickapeppa salsa. The Tuna Ceviche is enhanced with coconut, lime, and jerk peanuts for a light yet satisfying bite. A refreshing Green Papaya Salad with mirliton, tamarind vinaigrette, and sesame adds a zesty touch, while the Broiled Shrimp with Calabrian chili butter brings a spicy, savory finish.
ALMA CAFE
At Alma Café the 2024 & 2025 James Beard: Best Chef South semifinalist Melissa Araujo invites guests to enjoy Lent-friendly dishes like Camarones a la Diabla – grilled local Louisiana jumbo shrimp topped with Calabrian chile butter and Japanese panko breadcrumbs; the vegan Moros Y Cristianos - small red beans and local Louisiana jasmine rice cooked in coconut milk and herbs; Brussels Sprouts Bowl - Louisiana jasmine rice bowl with spicy peanut butter and avocado; and Louisa Toast– Louisiana Blue Crab, soft scramble eggs, mushrooms, herbs, onions, and chive cream cheese served on rye bread.
GOOD CATCH THAI URBAN BISTRO
Good Catch Thai Chef Aom specializes in authentic Thai cuisine featuring fresh Gulf seafood, with a menu that offers limitless meat‑free and vegetarian options. Among the meat‑free dish highlights are Spicy Clams with basil, garlic and chili paste; Pineapple Fried Rice with Gulf Shrimp; Salmon and Scallop Ceviche; and Panang Curry, perfectly balanced with broccoli, sweet peppers, pea eggplant, and kaffir lime leaves—with tofu available as an optional add-on for vegetarians.
SAINT JOHN
The Saint John brunch and dinner menu boasts an array of meat‑free options including Redfish Meuniere with roasted fingerling potatoes, artichokes, arugula and tomato salad; Mirliton Ceviche with hearts of palm, avocado, cilantro, leche de tigre, and crisp plantains; Baked Macaroni Pie with old‑school New Orleans red gravy; and Shrimp Yassa with Gulf shrimp, lemon, garlic, spicy mustard, and stone‑ground grits served with French bread, and a Shrimp Poboy Lent dish every Friday during Lent.
GRIS-GRIS
Gris-Gris presents an Oyster Pie featuring poached Gulf oysters, sautéed leeks, oyster cream, whipped potatoes, charred artichokes, and fresh tarragon; Catfish and Cajun Caviar Poboy; Cast Iron Seared Fish accompanied by stewed green beans, tomatoes, caramelized onions, and charred lemon; Flambeaux Shrimp; and Sugarcane Seared Duck paired with roast sweet potato and pecan casserole drizzled with sugarcane demi‑glace. For an elevated dining experience, their Caesar Salad is also a popular choice, with the option to add fried oysters for a perfectly complete meal.
OSTERIA LUPO
Osteria Lupo offers Lent-friendly dishes starting with Marinated Mushrooms with chili, garlic, and oregano; Black Truffle Arancini; and Wood-Fired Oysters, then moving on to a variety of pastas and mains including Campanelle with a Porcini, Shiitake, and Oyster mushroom ragu; Radiatori with Louisiana Blue Crab, basil and Parmesan; and Gulf Fish with sun-dried tomato tapenade, Hakurei turnips, and hazelnut.
COSTERA
Costera Chef Kathryn Searcy offers special White Bean Salad with charred corn, cherry tomatoes, pickled Fresnos and salsa verde served atop a Poblano tahini puree. Other Lent-friendly dishes include seared Yellowfin Tuna with pistachio romesco and shaved fennel; Louisiana Blue Crab Salad with charred Creole tomato, buttermilk, and green olives; and seared Gulf Fish a la plancha with herb aioli, blistered tomato, fennel, and hazelnuts.
BEGGARS BANQUET
Beggars Banquet offers Lent-friendly dishes like the crispy Sriracha Cauliflower with Tajin and cucumber chips; Fried Green Tomatoes with burrata, chow chow, balsamic reduction, and baby arugula; and Fresh Gnocchi with Shiitake, Cremini, Oyster and Portabella mushrooms in a truffle cream sauce. Plus seafood options such as Oyster Stew served in a puff pastry with oysters, shiitakes, garlic, ginger, and tarragon and Pan Seared Shrimp with chili butter and crab rice and Pan Seared Red Fish with corn maque choux.
TUJAGUE’S
Tujague's, under the direction of Executive Chef JD Eubanks, invites visitors to try Lent-friendly dishes such as the Gulf Shrimp Decatur with herbs, lump crab meat, lemon beurre blanc, brown butter fingerling potatoes; Roasted Mushroom Crepes with herbed goat cheese, truffled mushroom salad, and balsamic reduction; Crab au Gratin a traditional gratin with jumbo lump crab, béchamel, finished with breadcrumbs, freshly grated parmesan, and lemon.
THE BOWER
Executive Chef Marcus Woodham at The Bower offers Lent-friendly dishes like Spicy Scallop Arancini with red vinegar cucumbers, and lemon creme fraiche; Peppered Conchiglie with Louisiana blue crab, sweet corn, roasted fennel, pecorino, lemon and dill cream; Tuna Crudo with cucumber and sweet pepper relish, avocado, and satsuma vinaigrette; and Gulf Shrimp with sherry, farm cauliflower, shrimp butter, pangrattato, salsa verde, and Romano.
Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine, serves inventive, almost entirely vegan comfort food—ranging from buffalo tofu wraps to smoked tempeh Reubens—paired with an evolving cocktail program.
Small Mart is a neighborhood vegetarian deli in New Orleans known for its diverse plant‑based offerings like bagel sandwiches, salads, and po’boys in a relaxed, community‑oriented setting.
Trilly Cheesesteaks specializes in vegan cheesesteaks made with seitan, prepared on dedicated equipment to ensure pure, animal‑free flavor that rivals traditional versions.
Bearcat Café provides an eclectic menu designed to cater to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten‑free diners, serving innovative breakfast staples like tofu scrambles and a variety of creative dishes.
All Plant-Based
If you’re looking for establishments where the entire menu is plant-based, New Orleans has several to choose from.
Sweet Soulfood offers innovative vegan soul food with organic and dairy‐free takes on classic Southern dishes including mac‑n‑cheese, jambalaya, fried cauliflower, mushrooms and gravy, collard greens, and bread pudding.
I‑tal Garden, a family‐owned restaurant, reimagines traditional New Orleans soul food into healthy, plant‑based dishes such as coconut curry black‑eyed peas, jackfruit ribs, crabless crab cakes, avocado fries, and Cajun pasta with seitan hot sausage.
Original Thought NOLA is a plant‑based eatery that creatively transforms comfort foods into vegan versions of hot dogs, burgers, loaded nachos, and breakfast burrito, emphasizing holistic, restorative ingredients.
Breads on Oak serves organic, artisanal breads and vegan pastries along with all-day breakfast and lunch items like biscuit sandwiches. In 2016, VegNews recognized the Breads on Oak Boston Cream Stuffed Brioche as one of the 50 Best Vegan Desserts in America.
Botanicals NOLA is a trendy juice and smoothie bar that complements its vibrant beverage program with wholesome vegan breakfast and lunch items like avocado toast and Belgian waffles, all made with organic ingredients.
Meals from the Heart Café, nestled in the historic French Market, reinvents New Orleans classics by offering vegan and gluten‑free versions of gumbo, po’boys, and crab cakes with a strong focus on allergen‑friendly, made from scratch ingredients.
Thaihey NOLA fuses Thai culinary influences with local Southern flavors, offering standout dishes such as their signature butterfly tea poached pear.
Killer PoBoys delivers a creative vegan twist by using plant‑based proteins like seitan or jackfruit to create hearty, satisfying po’boys.
The Daily Beet is a health‑focused café that energizes its guests with an array of cold‑pressed juices, smoothies, and light vegan breakfast and lunch options such as avocado toast and acai bowls.
Lamara Coffee & Kitchen is a charming plant‑based café housed in a renovated century‑old home, offering a diverse menu of vegan breakfast items like La Brea burritos and bagels alongside organic coffees and nutrient‑rich superfood smoothies.
The HappyCow app can also be used to find plant-based options. HappyCow, which specializes in vegan food discovery, hosts over 220,000 businesses in more than 180 countries, including restaurants, cafes, and food trucks that are either fully vegan or offer vegan options.
