New Orleans offers many great culinary alternatives for those who avoid meat but gladly eat seafood. However, eliminating fish and shellfish from the menu makes it a *lot* tougher to make any recommendation at all.

There's one excellent vegetarian restaurant in town, called "Old Dog New Trick Cafe." They used to be located in the French Quarter but have moved a few blocks uptown into the Central Business District.

Also, I believe the Middle-Eastern ethnic cuisine includes a number of strictly vegetarian dishes; Mona's, which has two or three locations, is excellent.

Bennachin's, an African (Ehtiopian?) restaurant, runs a concession at the Jazz Festival offering excellent vegetarian dishes, so one would assume that the same fare is available at their regular restaurant address.

Also, there is a large Vietnamese population whose markets and restaurants offer vegetarian meals. The two centers of Vietnamese culture are on the West Bank (not far from the center of town, but across the Mississippi River Bridge) and New Orleans East (more remote, well beyond the High-rise bridge out I-10 East, but within the city limits).

There are still a few po-boy outlets that serve an old-time favorite, the fried potato sandwich. This is normally a cheaper alternative to the classic New Orleans roast beef sandwich, a loaf of French bread stuffed with French fries swimming in brown gravy and dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. A strictly vegetarian out-of-town guest a couple of years ago discovered this sandwich and ate one every day, substituting red gravy (marinara sauce, i.e., Italian tomato sauce) for the usual brown (beef) gravy.

By the way, his favorite source for this sandwich was Danny & Clyde's, a chain of gas station/convenience stores found in all the surrounding suburbs. Despite appearances, these guys produce really excellent, authentic New Orleans food for a very reasonable price.

For yourself and anyone else in your party willing and able to ingest seafood, I suggest you indulge in a lunch at Uglesich's, a wonderful little spot just outside the business district on the edge of a sdomwhat more downscale neighborhood. Originally a very ordinary working-class lunch spot catering to the employees of the large dairy operation across the street, this place turns out the most original versions of traditional local dishes, using the absolute freshest ingredients. Mr. Anthony, the owner/chef, is approaching retirement age and has no younger generation ready to take over. He closes for a nice long vacation every August, and each year we don't know whether or not he'll ever reopen. The place does not serve dinner, only lunch on weekdays, and there are only ten tables. Show up before noon to be sure to get in, and show up before August or you might never have the chance again.