Em Trai Sandwich Co.
Em Trai Sandwich Co. had a very short trip from its initial location inside the St. Roch Market to its new home in the New Orleans Healing Center. The menu includes pho, bao, salads and both poor boys and banh mi sandwiches. Sometimes the lines are blurred, as with the pulled pork banh mi and the smoked brisket that ends up in both bao and as an option for pho. Em Trai Sandwich Co., 2372 St. Claude Ave., 302-7772, Mon. – Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen, a national restaurant founded by health guru Dr. Andrew Weil and dedicated to food that “makes you feel better,” recently opened its first Louisiana location on Julia Street at St. Charles Avenue. The menu is focused on seasonal eats and includes essential nutrition information for each (vegan, gluten free and calories). But although the items are indeed healthy, there’s something for everyone, including cocktails that pack a delicious punch. True Food Kitchen, 801 St. Charles Ave., 558-3900, Mon.- Thurs., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; TrueFoodKitchen.com/NewOrleans.
Nola Vegan Café
We have another vegetarian option in town now that NOLA Vegan Café has opened Uptown. The small menu includes salads such as chickpea “tuna” with onion, carrots, cucumber, and garlic dill dressing, and a fried oyster mushroom poor boy served dressed on French bread. There’s a brunch from 9 to 12 on Saturday and Sunday that includes fried “chick-un” and waffles with rosemary infused maple syrup. Nola Vegan Café, 1923 Leonidas St.,240-7106, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tues. – Fri., and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. and Sun.; Geauxnolavegan.com.
