If you’re looking for a cheat meal, I-Tal is your place! We’re not just food critics, we’re food enthusiasts and this is why! Let us take you on a journey to one of the best vegan soul restaurants in New Orleans, where we had the pleasure of dining not once, but twice. I-Tal Garden is the name, and it’s a must-visit spot for all foodies out there.
The menu is predominantly battered and fried, but don’t let that fool you. I-Tal only uses premium ingredients and no seed oils, making you feel full, light, and nourished after your meal. We started with the crabless crab cakes made from chickpeas, hearts of palm, and artichoke hearts, grilled to perfection and fried with a light batter. The sauce complemented the dish well, but honestly, it didn’t even need it. It was that tasty! The cauliwings were addictive. We couldn’t stop munching on them, and we even had to try them with every sauce available. The honey mustard sauce was the clear winner, though. It was so good that it could make anything taste great, even celery! Next up, we tried the mac and cheese, which we ended up having twice. The cheese was amazing, the noodle was cooked perfectly, and the seasoning was perfectly executed. The cornbread was FIRE. Not many restaurants can pull off vegan cornbread — this was expertly seasoned and moist.
The Ra pasta, named after the owner, was a real winner. The smoked jackfruit, grilled veggies, and coconut milk-based sauce made for a heavenly dish that had us rethinking our life choices.
We also tried the Rodeo Burger, a house-made plant-based patty topped with vegan American-style cheese, seitan bacon, crispy fried onion rings, and veganaise. Messy but delicious, it was one of the best burgers we’ve ever had — and let me tell you, we are burger snobs to the highest degree.
The Filet Mushroom Burger was another winner, with crispy oyster mushrooms dressed in vegan tartar sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and vegan cheddar cheese. The Shrimp Sandwich was also a hit, with panko-fried mushroom bites dressed in veganaise, lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup on a sprouted bun. Despite being stuffed to the gills, we tried the coconut chickpeas and the jackfruit ribs, which were succulent and satisfying.
Lastly, the Fluffy double stack buttered spelt pancakes, chickpea scrambled, seitan sausage, and quinoa jambalaya were divine. The moist pancakes paired perfectly with the sweet sausage and delicious scrambled chickpeas. Although we’re not the biggest fan of quinoa, the jambalaya was outstanding.
Each dish was cooked to perfection and left us feeling satisfied and happy. Overall, I-Tal is top-notch and we can’t wait to go back for more. It’s a cheat meal that won’t leave you feeling guilty and the flavors are out of this world!