Where to eat when you are looking for locally sourced products, cooked in a healthy way…and aren’t just sandwiches? Which restaurants offer great vegetarian or vegan options in Bordeaux? There is a great movement by local chefs to offer seasonal dishes with lots of local ingredients, often times using farms just outside of Bordeaux or using ingredients from less than 100 kilometres away. These restaurants are not exclusively vegetarian, but many offer those options and can equally work with those with dietary restrictions.
BORDEAUX RESTAURANTS WITH HEALTHY, SEASONAL PLATES
Lauza continues to be a favorite with many of my clients looking for local and seasonal cuisine. Laid-back, fresh dishes with plenty of color to stimulate all your senses, you can even book the chefs table to watch chef Romain Schlumberger in action. Lauza / Bistronomie / Bordeaux / 5, Rue du Hâ, 33000 Bordeaux
Les Recolants is one of my favorite places to bring clients and to have lunch at when I’m working in Bordeaux. The owners and staff are so friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the environment is really charming. They also have their own farm just outside of town, so their produce is found on the menu but also for sale in their shop! Plenty of vegetables adorn the plates! Located on Rue Sainte Colombe, which is a really picturesque street near Saint Pierre. Closed Sunday and Wednesday, book in advance / Les Récoltants (lesrecoltants.fr) / 18 Rue Sainte Colombe, 33000 Bordeaux
Casa Gaia is in the Chartons off a side street and has a very lively, eclectic dining room and serves vegetarian and seasonal dishes in an inspiring space! Casa Gaïa | Restaurant | Épicerie | Bio | Bordeaux (casagaia.fr) / 16 B rue Latour, 33000 Bordeaux
Atelier des Faures near the Palais de Justice in Bordeaux, is a chef-owed restaurant, headed by Chef Roman Winicki. Bright, fresh plates with plenty of vegetables and seasonal proteins. You might even see chef in the covered market in Bordeaux, Marche des Capucins, searching for inspiration! Le petit Atelier des Faures / Bar à manger / Bordeaux / 48 Rue Des Faures, 33000 Bordeaux
There is a website dedicated to ‘Greenlabel‘ for responsible cuisine and chefs, but while the options are good it’s very limited Bordeaux – Green Food Label – Le label éco responsable (greenfood-label.com). Same for ‘Ecotable‘ https://ecotable.fr/. Both sites look like they had a great idea and not the manpower to continue.
My biggest advice to anyone who is a celiac or vegan is to send the restaurant your reservation at least 48 hours in advance and be sure to mention your dietary needs. They will do their best, but also be sure to remind the server when you sit down. France is getting better at helping individual diners requests and needs, but please don’t take it personally if a chef is unable to accommodate. They have small kitchens and often limited menus that reflect their cooking style and they would rather you eat elsewhere than serve you something that is not reflective of their cuisine.