Back To the Garden

New Orleans, United States

4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 504-299-8792
Address:
833 Howard Ave Ste 100, New Orleans, LA, 70113
Warehouse District
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.8 miCanal Street Station
0.9 miBienville Station
1 miToulouse Station
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (New Orleans) 20:15 Thursday, 5 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Back to the Garden is a casual, friendly lunch spot specializing in lighter, more wholesome fare than the typical New Orleans menu. Anyone interested in a refreshing lunchtime alternative can easily find something to appreciate.

Menu selections include a Char-​Broiled Chicken Salad with Avocado, fresh stir-​fried Veggies on Brown Rice, and Club Sandwiches on Wheat toast wth Sliced Turkey, Tuna Salad or Chicken Salad dressed with Swiss Cheese, Avocado, Sprouts and Tomato. Homemade soups are prepared daily, and the Seafood Gumbo is a customer favorite.

Vegetarian options include zesty Red Bean Chili, a Tahini-​rich Hummus,

and a variety of fresh vegetables available for customized salads or plates.

Just a short walk away from popular venues like the World War II Museum, Contemporary Arts Center, Ogden Museum, New Orleans Arena, and Louisiana Children’s Museum, Back to the Garden is a convenient and affordable option for both visitors and locals. Please give us a try.

History

Established in 1975.

Originally a strictly vegetarian café, the menu has been expanded over time to include more options for diners to choose as alternatives to traditional local cuisine.

The restaurant has occupied the 1st floor of the historic Howard Triangle Building since 2001. Because of an extensive renovation project involving the upper floors and exterior of the building the location may be obscured by construction activity, but the business continues to operate normally.

Meet the Business Owner

Evan W.

Business Owner

A resident of New Orleans for 30+ years, Evan spent 10 years working in the French Quarter and had the opportunity to experience the most fabulous cuisine in the world, from fine dining to the casual sandwich shops, but there were few options to balance the the richness of typical local fare. He acquired Back to the Garden in 1989 and expanded the menu to include more appealing, lighter alternatives.

As a hands-​on Owner/​Operator he is always interested in the questions, concerns, and suggestions of customers who believe a balanced approach is worthwhile.

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20 reviews of Back To the Garden

No registration required
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
always enjoy their food: salads, sandwiches, soup and more!
Place rating: 1
Hamden, CT
Price is right but buyer beware. If you know anything about food prep you will be astonished at what they don’t do correctly. No gloves, hand to mouth eating by prep staff, no hand washing, silverware in open containers where you just grab whatever silverware you need. Need I say more. Quality of product is questionable. Food temps questionable and saw products being reheated in microwave. If you go look first then decide. BTW, not really a lot of vegetarian items to choose from. The term is used loosely. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
I love this place, it’s it’s a hidden gem! The food is always fresh and delicious. I used to explore different items on the menu, but for the past 3 years or so all I’ve gotten is a chicken salad salad or a chicken salad sandwich! The chicken salad is to die for. I love the tamari & oil dressing too. They deliver and you can write a check for your delivery or pay be credit card on the phone.
Place rating: 4
Metairie, LA
Very first time ordering from them! I got the Veggie Stir Fry and was very satisfied. The portion size for a half order was huge! I think that their customer service could be better, but their food will keep me coming back.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
This review should actually be three and a half stars. Cafeteria-​type vibe, very no frills, with healthy offerings. I got a glass of fresh squeezed juice and the stuffed avocado salad and paid about $ 15 including tax and a small tip. I’m sure there are more innovative options (menu and flavor wise) for comparable prices nearby. That being said, the food is basic, good, and yes, affordable. The descriptions on Unilocal were accurate — I had some food left over for another meal.
Place rating: 4
Ashfield, MA
Place is a hole in the wall simple, affordable, friendly place with nice healthy options. This part of NOLA it’s hard to find decent affordable lunch. I came here twice and enjoyed their offerings.
Place rating: 4
Metairie, LA
Very small and casual. Wasn’t busy at all so food was relatively fast coming out, though seemed they were constantly taking phone orders. Half veggie stirfry with cheese was amazing. Barely any rice which was perfect b/​c more room for the perfectly seasoned cauliflower! Just under $ 10 and i was stuffed. Had a few bites of the side potato salad. Very good, wish it weren’t quite so cold. I’ll be back for sure.
Place rating: 4
Harvey, LA
I used to eat here all the time when I worked around the corner. I’ve recently started doing more work in the area and found it again. I’m not the type for super fancy, complicated food. This place is very causal and comfortable. My favorite is the egg salad stuffed avocado. I also enjoy the vegetarian tacos. The staff has always been pleasant. I’m glad I’ve rediscovered this tiny gem.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
A great lunch spot in downtown NOLA! The prices are very reasonable and the portions are huge!
The owner himself took our order, made it and served it to us. Very nice man.
It’s not a fancy place but the food does all the talking.
I look forward to visiting this fresh food lunch spot next time I’m in town.
Place rating: 3
Garden District, New Orleans, LA
The prices are a bit higher and the portions a bit smaller than I would like but they sling out some generally healthier than average food here. Mostly this is a simple sandwich, salad and soup spot that offers lunch and breakfast. They are located in one of the more interesting buildings in the CBD so its fun to visit just to see how everything fits inside.
Everything I’ve had here has been pretty good but the seafood gumbo is on the bland side for my taste. Vegetarians and Vegans will find their strange and quirky ways catered to but they also offer some good old fashioned omniivore options. This is generally a nice spot to grab a quick meal as it is far enough way that most tourists never find it.
Place rating: 3
Garden District, New Orleans, LA
NOT REALLY VEGETARIAN: many items, even the salads, include cheese & eggs;
CAFÉ COUNTER SERVICE: expedient given the high number that lunch here;
AFFORDABLE: Large bowl of flavorful seafood gumbo & fruit salad, $ 9.58 after-​tax.
Funny, many of my vegetarian friends don’t even like vegetables, and I finally realize why so many are fat: they load-​up on sugar, grains, & dairy! Of the 31 or so items at «Back to the Garden», only 3 ½ were truly healthy: the side & fruit salads, veggie stir fry, and to a degree the seafood gumbo. The rest of the menu teems with eggs, cheese, breads, cream based condiments, even corn chips & tortillas. I’m on day 15 of a 21 day cleanse that not only bans those three categories but also red meat, alcohol, caffeine & preservatives. Finding interesting healthy restaurant options has been a Herculean labor. Even my «go to» favorite «Carmo» uses white not whole grain rice in it’s signature salad, why? Coincidentally while in line at CC’s today for a decaf, I overheard a portly schoolie refrain from the ham & Swiss croissant, opting instead for a cinnamon roll because, as she quite superciliously declared, «I’m a vegetarian»…
:@ink
:@ink
:@ink
Place rating: 2
New Orleans, LA
Had the hummus pita sandwich. Nothing special– no seasoning or anything… Just store-​bought hummus stuffed in a dry pita pocket with a couple pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Probably won’t go back there…
Place rating: 4
Albany, NY
Healthy food options in New Orleans! Our group of seven all enjoyed our meals, including gumbo, salads, and sandwiches. Nice people, too.
Place rating: 3
Baton Rouge, LA
Back for a 2nd try and afraid I just can’t concur with the effusive reviews from other visitors, but to each his/​her own for sure!
Today’s lunch was a very nice but run of the mill gazpacho with big chunky veggies,
The open-​faced chicken salad sandwich w melted cheese on top is surely a nice concept – it’s what brought me back actually. Nicely presented with sprouts and cucumber, it was utterly devoid of flavor, I fear. Once again, the store bought spice blend on the table was put to effective use, but really.
The homeless mission environment was reinforced today by a most unfortunate event involving an indigent roaming through the place and rummaging through the trash until escorted out by an employee, all the while protesting vehemently. The restaurant can hardly take responsibility for this, but it didn’t phase me at all that such a thing would take place here.
An incongruity of an eatery, maybe it will grow on me the way the eccentric neighbor lady grows on you over time.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
I’m absolutely obsessed with this place, I want to eat through the whole menu. It’s one of only fresh sandwich and salad lunch place in the city, and they have tons of great veggie options. I like getting the avocado club (not on the menu), a double decker sandwich with lots of avocado, sprouts, tomato and swiss cheese. I’m also a huge fan of the spinach salad, stuffed avocado salad with shrimp or egg salad inside, the gumbo and always get their delicious southern style potato salad on the side. Their portions are fairly large, often more than enough for one meal. They also have a big selection of salad dressings that they make themselves, a huge plus.
Overall, this is one of your best bets for a simple meal in New Orleans that won’t make you feel bloated and heavy. Check it out when you can’t take any more of the deep-​fried-​with-​cream-​sauce food!
Place rating: 5
Bothell, WA
Their Tamari dressing is so outrageously good that I now literally crave salad.
Repeat: So good… I crave salad. !!!
That alone deserves all 5 stars. Besides being a generally humanitarian operation for that fact alone, it’s really a quintuple-​win situation — I get 1) lots of 2) inexpensive 3) healthy lunch, 4) delivered, to me, 5) within about 15 minutes.
The Tamari dressing is where it’s at – the stuffed avocado salad is literally the perfect hangover cure, both fresh and extremely satiating, especially if you get it with a piece of toast, or your preferred poison-​absorbing starch. Tacos and gumbo are other go-​tos. Daily lunch specials are reliably good, and sometimes include mac n cheese — and while I haven’t tried a smoothie yet, I quiver with delight thinking about the morning hangover (damn NOLA) where I can have a fresh smoothie and toasted croissant delivered to my desk.
Just remember to half your salad before dressing it, because it’s DEFINITELY two days’ portions.
Side note: can we address the fact that degree of hangover-​assistance has apparently become a criterion for judging lunch delivery services in the CBD? This city is having its way with me, and I think it’s a good thing.
Also — you can purchase a bottle of dressing for ~$ 5. If you’d like the challenge of deconstructing it so I can make it from home, get in touch. I challenge you to a sauce-​off.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
After a few years of living here, I’ve found that this is the single only place in New Orleans that you can get a healthy, well-​priced meal. It is my dream to open a salad restaurant uptown. 1000 places to eat and not one of them can you walk out of not wanting to go home and take a nap.
Back to the Garden has fresh and delicious food (Outstanding salads, sandwiches, and soups), great service, and a strange sterile ambiance that is pure WTF New Orleans. Plus, parking is very easy and I’ve never had to wait long
Really really good. Five stars as it peerless. I mean that literally, there are no other salad restaurants in this city.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I’M SO ANGRY THAT I DIDN’T DISCOVER THIS PLACE EARLIER! Cheap and so many vegetarian-​friendly options. I got an avocado, egg salad, cheese, sprouts, and tomato sandwich on 7-​grain bread as well as a strawberry smoothie for $ 9.42. It was delicious. I will be back. Often.
Place rating: 4
Metairie, LA
This review is for their deliveries only. I’ve been having their food delivered the last 4 years I’ve been working in the CBD. I’ve never actually been in their restaurant.
They offer healthy lunch choices for a good price. It’s not the «typical» New Orleans foods. It actually reminds me more of back in California. Some of their sandwiches have avocado and sprouts… yum!
My favorite things to order are: any of the sandwiches or melts, the turkey burger, turkey tacos, stuffed avocado salad and the veggie stir-​fry.
The one thing I do not care for there is their corn chips that they give you on the side with the sandwiches. I don’t know what kind they are, but they always taste stale.
**Get your order in early for lunch, as they can get very busy with deliveries.
Place rating: 4
New Orleans, LA
I love their Turkey Burgers, Turkey Chili, Garden Salads etc. The owner works behind the register daily. They fax menus to your job and if you live/​work in the CBD area, they will deliver. I think this place is well needed in New Orleans, it should be well deserved and frequented if we want to keep it open.
This is a great place for vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians, flexetarians etc etc etc