9 Best Restaurants in The Garden District, New Orleans

No restaurant captures New Orleans's gastronomic heritage and celebratory spirit as well as this grande dame of New Orleans fine dining. The menu's classics include a spicy and meaty turtle soup; shrimp and tasso Henican (shrimp stuffed with ham, with pickled okra); and a wonderful pecan-crusted Gulf fish. The bread-pudding soufflé might ruin you for other bread puddings. Upstairs, the Garden Room's glass walls have marvelous views of the giant oak trees on the patio below. The weekend brunch is a not-to-be-missed New Orleans tradition, complete with live jazz—the band takes requests, so come armed with tip money. Jackets are preferred at dinner; shorts and T-shirts are forbidden, ripped jeans are not allowed, and men must wear closed-toe shoes.

Every neighborhood needs a hangout, and the dwellers of the Garden District's elegant mansions tend to spend their time at this fabulous corner bistro, enhanced by elaborate chandeliers and a gleaming white-tile floor. The relentlessly creative chef changes the menu almost nightly, making every meal here a new adventure. The long bar downstairs fuels the lively scene, and the window seats here, looking out on Magazine Street, are always in demand. Those seeking a quieter evening head to the upstairs dining room, where chef Michael Stoltzfus has created a menu of seasonal modern-American offerings. The seafood dishes, in particular, are stellar. The kitchen opens at 5:30 pm, but the bar gets started at 4:30 pm.

If you're looking for an opportunity to converse with a top New Orleans chef, then Gris-Gris is your best bet. The first level of this Magazine Street restaurant is a wraparound chef's table where you can watch all the action in the kitchen while enjoying homey and refined classics like shrimp and gris-gris grits and chicken gizzards served with grit cakes, carmelized peppers and onions, and gravy. On the second floor, you can sit at a lively indoor bar or on the balcony. Reservations are recommended.

Once you find the place---tucked behind the other businesses in this complex---it's easy to see why Birdy’s is a local favorite for brunch. The covered outside patio is perfect for large groups, and there’s something for everyone: from a long list of specialty coffees, juices, and cocktails, to satisfying egg plates and several salads that are anything but boring. In front of the building, its sister restaurant, The Bower, serves locally sourced New American cuisine for dinner.

You'll find some of the best locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks in this bright, pint-size space.

In this second restaurant from Turkey and the Wolf chef Mason Hereford, attention is turned to the classics of breakfast food. Decorated with '80s and '90s pop culture memorabilia, Molly's Rise and Shine feels like a trip down memory lane, and so do its riffs on McMuffins and bagel bites. Though there is ample seating, be prepared to wait in line. Come early since the restaurant does sell out of its most popular dishes.

This Jewish and Italian deli serves the "Muphuletta," a Philly take on a New Orleans muffuletta with sopressata, ham, provolone, and olive salad on ciabatta. 

A young, energetic team adds gourmet touches (all meat is cured in-house) to over-the-top comfort foods at Turkey and the Wolf: towering fried bologna sandwiches, deviled eggs with crispy chicken skins, and cheesy melts with peppered dressing. The vibe is pleasantly divey, a cross between grandma's kitchen and a hipster's haven. The small sandwich shop surprised gourmands by becoming Bon Appetit's 2017 Best New Restaurant of the Year. As a result, there are still lines out the door on most days, especially weekends, and the kitchen often sells out before closing at 5 pm.

On a residential corner off Magazine Street, this 40-seat restaurant focuses on southern Louisiana produce at its best. Chef Michael Stoltzfus builds a seasonal, oft-changing tasting menu that reliably draws inspiration from the local seafood bounty---including the likes of crab, oysters, fish, and shrimp---and turns out dishes cooked with fresh, hearty flavors. The sommelier is a joy; add on the wine pairing and he'll walk you through each choice with a narrative zest.