Non Cajun food, on the healthy side, in New Orleans

I will be in New Orleans for 4 days next week on business. I have been there before and am not a fan of the food. I prefer no sauces, no rouxs, no butter in my food and am looking for healthier options.

We are at the Loews and will not have a car.

Any recommendations for sushi, asian in general, fresh fish prepared simply, Italian or similar are much appreciated.

Non Cajun food, on the healthy side, in New Orleans

I can%26#39;t personally recommend any of these, but I found these on N.O. Menu - the rating system is that of the site%26#39;s owner, critic Tom Fitzmorris.

Maybe someone else can comment on some of these:

5*-Among the best restaurants in the New Orleans area.

4*--Excellent and ambitious.

3* - Good enough to go out of your way to try.

2*--Recommended.

1*--Acceptable.

No symbol--Not reviewed.

3* - Rock %26#39;n%26#39; Sake. 823 Fulton. 581-7253. Japanese. Sushi Bar.

Hipstix. 870 Tchoupitoulas. 581-2858. Asian.

Grand Isle. 575 Convention Center Blvd. 520-8530. Seafood.

1* - Ernst Cafe. 600 S Peters. 525-8544. Seafood. Neighborhood Cafe.

2* - Deanie%26#39;s. 1016 Annunciation. 250-4460. Breakfast. Neighborhood Cafe.

4* - 7 On Fulton. 700 Fulton. 681-1034. Contemporary American.

4* - Windsor Court Grill Room. 300 Gravier. 522-1994. Eclectic.

2* - Singha Thai. 413 Carondelet. 581-2205. Thai.

3* - Eleven 79. 1179 Annunciation. 569-0001. Contemporary Creole-Italian.

4* - Tommy%26#39;s. 746 Tchoupitoulas. 581-1103. Creole Italian.

Panasia. 500 St. Charles Ave. 299-8004. Thai.

Obee%26#39;s. 920 Gravier. 589-0077. Sandwiches. Soups. Salads.

3* - Horinoya. 920 Poydras. 561-8914. Japanese.

3* - Drago%26#39;s. 2 Poydras (Hilton Hotel). 584-3911. Seafood.

Apple Seed Shoppe. 201 St. Charles Ave. 529-3442 . Vegetarian.

Non Cajun food, on the healthy side, in New Orleans

USE YOUR WAITER! He/she can always suggest options or tell you wish dishes can be prepared without sauces, butter, etc. I have vegetarian friends and they have absolutely no problems getting great food nearly everywhere they go in New Orleans.

Thanks for the specific recommendations.

I really prefer to dine at restaurants that are interesting to me as opposed to asking a waiter to adapt Cajun or French dishes to my personal taste. Vietnamese cuisine, good Italian, etc. give me lots of options as opposed to ordering fish without sauce, etc. I enjoy fresh herbs and spices and fusion cuisine especially.

Gambit just posted the Best Of New Orleans readers%26#39; poll results. bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2007-08-28/cov… Recommendations for all your categories (except the simply prepared fish) are listed. Asking the waiter for the fish served without sauce should be no problem: however, I am curious as to how one does Italian food without sauce.

Soulcat, it is the rich, butter and cream based sauces that I find totally unappealing.

And Italian food is far more than pasta, though I love pasta and choose sauces made with tomatoes and basil rather than creams and butter. A nice dish of cioppino, a plate of clams and mussels, all these are wonderful IMO.

Fusion would be my top choice for New Orleans as that type of cuisine relies on fresh herbs and light flavors as opposed to rouxs and sauces.

Thanks for the info and I will check out the reviews.

From your hotel (which happens to be right next to my office building), you will be able to walk to: (ask your hotel for a small map of the area - these places are just a few blocks away, and even at night, you should be perfectly safe)

Rockin%26#39; Sake: pretty good sushi

Tommy%26#39;s: Very good Italian, though you say you prefer no sauces, and the food is generally served with at least a marinara, though I am sure you can get the sauce on the side.

Rio Mar: Specializes in seafood, some of which is cooked very plainly.

Herbsaint: This is one of the premier lunch spots - they are also open for dinner. The atmosphere is lovely. They always have a light fish option, and there are many healthful items on the menu.

There is a thai restaurant nearby, but I do not recommend it.

You can take a ten minute cab ride to Cafe Rani which specializes in all sorts of salads, soups and very healthful chicken dishes. Also by cab is Sake Cafe, another sushi restaurant, though I find the quality of fish at Rockin%26#39; Sake to be higher.

I hope this helps.