When friends heard I was visiting New Orleans for business and pleasure, the nearly universal response was, “Oh, the food there is wonderful! Oh, wait, you’re a vegetarian. You don’t even eat fish? Too bad.” The exception was my coworker Jill, who is also a vegetarian and was traveling to NOLA as well. She said, “Last time I went, I ate nothing but beignets.”

And it’s true, there’s little else of traditional Cajun cuisine to satisfy the herbivores among us. No gumbo, jambalaya, etoufee, fried shrimp or pulled pork po’boys… “If nothing else, I’m sure I can find some pasta primavera,” I told people resignedly.

So, it was much to my delight that I discovered that, with a little research and planning, a vegetarian can find great food in New Orleans, albeit not at exclusively veg restaurants. Here are the restaurants that get a hardy thumb up from yours truly.

• Green Goddess
  My colleague Angie suggested this little gem months ago, and it delivered. Located in the French Quarter, off the main drag, it specializes in fusion cuisine. I came here with Jill and our coworker Steve; the tasting menu makes it ideal for group dining. Honestly, I didn’t love everything we tried, but it was clear that everything was very well-prepared with fresh ingredients, and I appreciated the creativity of the dishes. The food isn’t super-cheap (we got away with about $25 per person), but I felt like I got what I was paying for.

  We tried mint-edamame bruschetta, golden beet ravioli (beets instead of pasta), muhamarra, and Indian lentil pancake. For dessert, we shared a “Sultan’s Nest,” pistachio gelato topped with a nest of shredded phyllo, honey sauce, and whipped cream; a black sticky rice pudding with mango puree; and a “flight” of three ice creams: Mexican chocolate, Mission fig, and absinthe. The beet ravioli was the runaway winner for savory, and the desserts were exquisite.

• 13
  This little bar is just over the border from the French Quarter into the Faubourg Marigny — a pleasant but longish trek if you’re walking all the way from Canal. The bar may be open seven days a week, per the website, but a sign on the door warns that the kitchen is not. Another thing to be aware of is that there are gambling machines inside, so people under 21 are not allowed in.

  Steve and I came here after the itty bitty Pride parade and shared an adapted po’ boy made with barbecued tofu and a spinach salad, both delicious. I can’t say I understand what the fuss about po’boys is — is a sandwich on French bread with lettuce and tomato really that unusual? — but it was a good sandwich, and the place has a nice neighborhood vibe.

• Rotolo’s Pizzeria
  It was nine-thirty on Sunday night, and the phone book had already directed us to a French Quarter pizzeria that was shuttered and padlocked and obviously out of business. Thanks to an iPhone and Google, however, we ended up at Rotolo’s, the official pizza of the Saints! The place didn’t look like much, but the pizza — pretty standard thin crust — was quite good and reasonably priced. We shared a Primavera (your basic veggie) and a Specialty (spinach, artichoke, and feta). I especially liked the Specialty, myself.

• Bennachin Restaurant
  Bennachin specializes in cuisine from Gambia and Cameroon (which, I was told, have similar foods albeit with different names). It’s not vegetarian, but it has a sizable vegetarian section on its menu. I ordered the Kone ni Makondo, which was black-eyed peas in onion and tomato stew, coconut rice, and fried plantains. The portion was so generous that I didn’t, to my disappointment, have room for dessert. I’d been eyeing the Shakari — couscous in yogurt sauce with various fruits.

• Carmo
  Carmo bills itself as a “tropical cafe,” but it also has a number of menu items that are standard sandwich shop fare. The most exciting thing for me was the daily special. The day I went, it was Feijoada, Brazil’s national dish. They sold it in both meat and vegan form. I opted for the vegan variety, obviously, and it was delicious. Again, generous portion, reasonable price.

  Carmo is in shooting distance from the Morial Convention Center and a bit of a hike from the French Quarter, but it’s an easy walk from the St. Charles streetcar. It’s important to note that Carmo is only open for lunch, and it’s not open every day.

• Gumbo Shop
  This restaurant near Jackson Square serves traditional cajun cuisine, but they do serve a vegetarian gumbo and a daily vegetarian special. The day I went, it was white beans and rice. I ordered the gumbo, and while the food seemed fresh and of good quality, it was a bit bland. Then again, I’m not sure how gumbo is supposed to taste; perhaps it’s simply not my “thing.”

I also, of course, partook of the mandatory beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. And an especially hot day called for strawberry and Aztec chocolate gelato at La Divina Gelateria. Bon appetit!