The Velvet Cactus Menu
Introducing The Velvet Cactus, a vibrant Tex-Mex and Mexican dining experience located in New Orleans. This casual spot offers a diverse menu with a focus on salads, providing vegan options and catering services. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, with indoor and outdoor seating perfect for happy hour or a family dinner. Customers rave about the fresh guacamole, unique flavors, and attentive service. While parking can be a challenge, the overall ambiance and tasty food make it worth a visit. With blanket-covered patio seating and heaters for cooler nights, The Velvet Cactus offers a cozy vibe that is perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a night out. If you're in the mood for Mexican cuisine with a twist, this is the place to be.
Starters
GUACAMOLE
Made fresh daily with Hass avocados, pico de gallo, lime, cilantro and roasted jalapeño
QUESO BLANCO - Small
A creamy blend of cheese, tomatoes, roasted onions, and jalapeños; topped with green onions
QUESO BLANCO - Large
A creamy blend of cheese, tomatoes, roasted onions, and jalapeños; topped with green onions
GET YOUR FREAK ON QUESO - Large
Our awesome queso with pico de gallo, guacamole, and Molida beef
FLAUTAS ()
Flour tortillas stuffed with Molida beef, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese and served with chipotle aioli
CRAWFISH BOIL DIP
Broiled queso filled with Louisiana crawfish tails, onions, corn, celery, garlic and lots of spice!
DIP TRIO
A combination of our refried beans, queso blanco and guacamole Sorry, no substitutions
TEX MEX EGGROLLS ()
Grilled chicken blended with fire-roasted corn, black beans and mixed cheese. Served with raspberry-chipotle sauce
COLD WATERMELON FRESCO SALAD (SEASONAL)
Fresh Watermelon chunks, banana peppers and red onions marinated in balsamic vinaigrette and topped with queso fresco
ISLAND CHICKEN SKEWERS ()
Chicken skewers marinated in spices, seared and served with honey lime sour cream (Please allow minutes to cook)
MEXICAN PIZZA
Two flour tortillas stuffed with our Molida beef and creamy refried beans; topped with Ranchero sauce, Monterrey Jack cheese, pico de gallo, black olives, green onions and sour cream
TAMALES
Two pork tamales topped with our robust Ranchero sauce and green onions
SMOTHERED TAMALES
Two pork tamales topped with our robust Ranchero sauce and smothered with Queso blanco, Guacamole and Pico de Gallo!
NACHOS SENCILLO
Crisp tortilla chips, fire roasted corn and black bean salsa, queso blanco, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, guacamole and black olives
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP - Cup
Roasted chicken, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro and topped with crisp tortilla strips, pico de gallo and sliced avocado
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP - Bowl
Roasted chicken, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro and topped with crisp tortilla strips, pico de gallo and sliced avocado
Soups
Salads
ENSALADA DE CASA
Lettuce, tomato, black olives, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese
TACO SALAD
Crispy tortilla bowl, chopped Romaine, tomatoes, fire-roasted corn and black bean salsa, black olives, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, guacamole and sour cream
TAMPICO SALAD
Wild lettuces, Romaine, sliced orange, mango, queso fresco, spiced toasted almonds and served with Agave-Creole Mustard dressing
CILANTRO-LIME SALAD
Spring mix, Romaine, sliced avocado, roasted red pepper, applewood bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese Served with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette topped with crisp corn tortilla strips
MANCHEGO CAESAR
Crisp Romaine, shaved Manchego cheese, crisp flour tortilla strips and tossed in grilled Green Onion Caesar dressing
DIEGO'S FISH
Grilled or fried tilapia, Creole slaw, pickled red onion, pico de gallo, cilantro and topped with chipotle aioli. Creole slaw is chilled.
SMOKED BRISKET
House-Smoked Brisket, fried onions, horseradish cream sauce and cilantro
VELVET STEAK
Diced Filet Mignon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeños, cucumber-mango salsa and topped with chipotle aioli
PORK PIBIL
Smoked pulled pork, char-grilled onion & red peppers, cilantro and topped with chipotle aioli
DEEP SOUTH
Fried chicken strips, diced avocado, applewood smoked bacon, Monterey Jack & cheddar cheese and topped with Agave-Creole mustard
CORONA SHRIMP
Grilled or fried shrimp, Creole slaw, pickled red onion, pico de gallo and topped with chipotle aioli. Creole slaw is chilled.
VEGETARIAN ESTRICTO
Portobello mushrooms sautéed in garlic, smoked Queso Fresco, truffle oil, almonds and topped with salsa and green onions (Remove Queso Fresco for vegan)
THE GRINGO (BEEF OR GRILLED CHICKEN)
Molida beef, Romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, black olives, mixed cheese and topped with chipotle aioli
CHEFS' TACO
Ask what we've been cooking up in the kitchen!
Taco Plates
Quesadillas
MAYAN
Pork Pibil with jalapeño and Pepper Jack cheese and grilled pineapple relish. Served with a side of BBQ dipping sauce
BAJA
Diced Filet Mignon, fire-roasted corn and black bean salsa, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese
COWBOY
Grilled Chicken, applewood bacon, and Monterrey Jack and cheddar cheese; served with Chipotle Ranch
CABO
Grilled gulf shrimp, applewood bacon, fire-roasted corn, mango, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese
CHEESE
Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese
EL BIG BURRITO
Our Stewed Black Beans, Mexican yellow rice, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with sour cream and green onions with your choice of Ranchero Sauce or Jalapeño Cream sauce
Burrito
Protein Bowl
Fiesta Protein Bowl
Our Stewed Black Beans over Mexican yellow rice and topped with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, pico de gallo, sour cream and green onions. Choose Ranchero or Jalapeno Cream for your sauce.
CHEESE
Topped with mixed cheese and queso
SHRIMP
Topped with mixed cheese and Jalapeno Cream Sauce
CHICKEN
Topped with mixed cheese and Jalapeno Cream Sauce
BEEF
Topped with mixed cheese and Ranchero
SMOKED BRISKET
Topped with mixed cheese and Jalapeno Cream Sauce
COMBINATION
Choose any enchiladas and choose your sauce: Ranchero, Jalapeno Cream Sauce or Queso Blanco.
Enchiladas- all served with sides or a cup of tortilla soup.
Fajitas
Chicken
Grilled onions and bell peppers on a sizzling skillet, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and jalapeños, Romaine lettuce. Served with two sides or cup of soup or chili. Served with warm flour tortillas
Shrimp
Grilled onions and bell peppers on a sizzling skillet, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and jalapeños, Romaine lettuce. Served with two sides or cup of soup or chili. Served with warm flour tortillas
Portobello
Grilled onions and bell peppers on a sizzling skillet, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and jalapeños, Romaine lettuce. Served with two sides or cup of soup or chili. Served with warm flour tortillas
Steak
Grilled onions and bell peppers on a sizzling skillet, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and jalapeños, Romaine lettuce. Served with two sides or cup of soup or chili. Served with warm flour tortillas
Mixed (Choose Any Two)
Grilled onions and bell peppers on a sizzling skillet, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and jalapeños, Romaine lettuce. Served with two sides or cup of soup or chili. Served with warm flour tortillas
FAMILY GRILL PLATTER
Steak and chicken fajita, jumbo gulf shrimp, smoked jalapeño and cheese sausage served on a sizzling skillet with onions and peppers with pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, whipped garlic butter, Creole slaw, grilled pineapple and choice of sides (feeds to )
MIXED GRILL
Fajita chicken and steak, pulled pork, jalapeño cheddar sausage (Sorry, no substitutions) served with BBQ sauce. Served with sides or a cup of Tortilla Soup
SHRIMP & GRITS
Jumbo shrimp and Chipotle cheese grits sautéed with garlic, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and jalapeños. Served with warm tortillas
CHICKEN PABLO
Mesquite smoked Chicken Breast topped with roasted Portobellos, grilled onions, pico de gallo and topped with jalapeño cream sauce. Served with sides or a cup of Tortilla Soup
HEART HEALTHY CHICKEN
Grilled honey-soy marinated chicken breast, roasted onions and peppers with a grilled pineapple slice on top. Served with sides or a cup of Tortilla Soup
CHIMICHANGA
Deep fried burrito filled with house-smoked brisket, rice, black beans and topped with queso. Served with horseradish dipping sauce. Served with sides or a cup of soup.
Smoke & Grill
Sides
PREMIUM SIDES - Sweet Plantains
PREMIUM SIDES - Fried Brussels Sprouts
(Fried Brussels sprouts tossed in sweet chili glaze with almonds and bacon)
SIDES - Stewed Black Beans
(Vegan)
SIDES - Mexican Yellow Rice
SIDES - COLD! Watermelon Fresco
(seasonal)
SIDES - MEXICAN STREET CORN
Topped with Chipotle Aioli and Queso Fresco
SIDES - COLD! Creole Slaw
(Low Carb)
SIDES - Refried Beans
Chipotle Cheese Grits
CINNAMON CHURROS
Served with Chocolate Dipping Sauce and whipped cream
BANANA CHIMICHANGA
Sweet banana cheesecake rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with salted caramel sauce and powdered sugar
DAILY CHEESECAKE
Please ask your server.
ICE CREAM NACHOS
Perfect for the whole table! Cinnamon Sugar tortillas, two scoops of vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce, powdered sugar, whipped cream, cherries and Sprinkles
