New Orleans Restaurants Offer Lent Specials

NEW ORLEANS – While the season of Lent is about reflection, moderation and giving up indulgences, New Orleanians do not have to sacrifice good food and drinks to do so. Here is a list of some top restaurants, chefs and bartenders offering a variety of Lenten specials, certain to make your palate happy.

Charmant

This season, Charmant will be featuring a selection of Lent-friendly dishes. Guests can indulge in seafood specialties, such as Trout Gravlax Toast with house citrus-cured trout, beets, and a curry mousseline; Mom’s Crab Dip, served with everything crackers and pumpernickel Melba toast. Veggie-forward dishes include the infamous Fried Brussels Sprouts Salad with lima beans, golden raisins, sourdough croutons, cardamom yogurt, and an apple cider vinaigrette, and Grilled Cauliflower with capers, urfa chile, garlic, pimenton, and salsa verde. charmantnola.com

Commons Club

Throughout Lent, make your way to Commons Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans, where the culinary team will feature a selection of Lent-friendly dishes. Enjoy Citrus-cured Salmon with marinated shelling beans, shaved fennel, candied tomato, quail eggs; Warm Oysters & Nduja on a grilled baguette with spicy escabeche-style sauce, lemon, parsley; and Line-caught Gulf Fish paired with cauliflower, Castelvetrano olives, toasted pine nuts, brown butter vinaigrette. Vegetable options include Pan-Roasted Carrots with chestnut hummus, mint, seed granola, and Calabrian chile vinaigrette, and Rosemary Dusted Potatoes with salsa brava. virginhotels.com/new-orleans

Compère Lapin

Compère Lapin is featuring an array of Lenten-friendly dishes for the season. Start 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. Try the Tuna Ceviche, 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. Treat your taste buds to these vibrant, coastal-inspired offerings this Lent. The restaurant will also offer a variety of specialty Lent mocktails. comperelapin.com

Tujague’s

Tujague’s, the second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, invites visitors to enjoy Lent-friendly dishes such as the Shrimp & Artichoke Au Gratin Gulf shrimp with creamy béchamel, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan; Roasted Mushroom Crepes with herbed goat cheese, truffled mushroom salad, and balsamic reduction; Gulf Fish Orleans a pan-seared Gulf fish with crawfish étouffée, ‘after the boil’ fried fingerlings, along with brown butter haricots verts. tujaguesrestaurant.com

The Bower

At this LGD eatery, Executive Chef Marcus Woodham offers diners Lent-friendly dishes like Avocado Panzanella with garlic croutons, pickled shallots, sundried tomatoes, basil, spiced pepitas, hot honey vinaigrette; Crispy Cauliflower with napa cabbage, cilantro, green onion, chili oil, sesame seeds; Tuna Crudo with orange, Calabrian chili, cucumber, green onion, crispy rice, roasted rice powder; and Gulf Shrimp with sherry, farm cauliflower, shrimp butter, pangrattato, salsa verde, and Romano cheese. thebowernola.com

Good Catch

Good Catch offers a full selection of vegetarian (many also vegan) and seafood dishes prepared with depth, balance, care and lots of flavor. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy meat-free options without sacrificing on flavor. goodcatchnola.com

• To start, enjoy Good Catch’s Spicy Clams with fresh basil, garlic, and chili jam; Spicy Salmon Tsuke with chili sauce, mint, dill, fried shallots; Fried Calamari and so much more.
• All curry and noodle dishes at Good Catch can be made meat-free, enjoyed as a vegetarian option or with a seafood add-on including shrimp, scallop, crab and more.

Gris-Gris

Gris-Gris will run a Fish special every Friday, plus guests can enjoy the menu’s Southern-style meat-free dishes featuring seafood:

• To start, try Gris-Gris’ FLAMBEAUX SHRIMP (Crispy Gulf Shrimp, Crystal Honey Sauce, Carrot, Parsnip and Mirliton Slaw with Cajun Caviar Ranch) or Caesar Salad (with fried shrimp or oysters!).
• CATFISH CAJUN CAVIAR PO BOY (Crispy Catfish, Dressed with Cajun Caviar Ranch on French Bread)

Saint John

Saint John’s Haute Creole cuisine features a variety of seafood dishes perfect for a work lunch (M/F only) or moody dinner date. saintjohnneworleans.com

• To start, try Saint John’s BAKED MACARONI PIE with red gravy or MIRLITON CEVICHE (Hearts of Palm | Avocado | Cilantro | Leche de Tigre | Crisp Plantains).
• Popular meat-free entrees include the REDFISH MEUNIÈRE (Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Artichokes, Jumbo Lump Crab, Arugula & Tomato Salad), SHRIMP YASSA (Gulf Shrimp, Lemon, Garlic, Spicy Mustard, Stone Ground Grits, French Bread), GULF SHRIMP PASTA (Cappellini, Fava Beans, Artichoke, Calabrian Chilies, Parmesan Reggiano) and FRIED SHRIMP POBOY (Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, Leidenheimer French Bread).

Luke

Luke’s seasonal catfish special will run on Fridays from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. now through Good Friday, April 3. The offering features cornmeal crusted Louisiana catfish, roasted jalapeno grits, hot honey glazed cornbread, coleslaw and a malt vinegar aioli, all for $33.

Domenica

Domenica is offering up a handful of specials this Lenten season from pasta to pizza.

• Grilled Swordfish – Perfectly grilled swordfish, delicately seasoned and served with fresh parsnip purée and olive salad. This dish provides a unique seafood option for Lenten observers.
• Pizzas – Domenica offers a variety of delicious Lent-friendly pizza options, including their Clam Pizze, a Lenten top seller featuring garlic, olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano, as well as their White Pizze (ricotta, mozzarella, roasted garlic, basil) and Margherita Pizze (tomota, fresh mozzarella, basil).
• Anitpasti – Begin your meal with Domenica’s seasonally crafted antipasti offerings, including their Wood Roasted Shrimp(Louisiana Gulf shrimp, Calabrian chili butter), Shrimp and Squash Soup (Louisiana Gulf shrimp, delicata squash) and Roasted Cauliflower (sea salt and whipped feta).
• Pastas – For meatless pasta options, try Domenica’s Squid Ink Tagliolini (blue crab and herbs), Tagliatelle (crème al tartufo, black truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano) or Rigatoni (arrabbiata, basil, Parmigiana Reggiano).

Delacroix

In addition to the restaurant’s fresh-caught seafood offerings on their regular menu, Delacroix has crafted something special for Lent – an alligator pot pie featuring a buttery crust and crab boil potatoes, green beans and a side salad.

Willa Jean

At Willa Jean, you can find a variety of meatless options on the restaurants day-to-day menu, like their Avocado Toast (pickled onion, cilantro, spiced pepitas, chipotle aioli, tomatillo, house-made ciabatta), Shrimp Creole (Gulf shrimp, tomato gravy, heirloom grits), Crab Omelette (LA jumbo lump crab, mascarpone, pickled trinity, tabasco aioli, crispy potatoes), Veggie Omelette (leeks, mushrooms, mozzarella, crispy potatoes) and Grain Bowl (quinoa, farro, lima beans, cherry tomato, mushrooms, roasted carrot, poached egg).