-
$$$ | Uptown |
Hidden on a quiet residential corner, this bustling bistro could have been transported directly from Provence. The menu continues the French theme, but with a Louisiana attitude. Featured proteins often include crispy quail, mussels in tomato broth, duck confit, and Royal Red shrimp. Chef Aaron Burgau developed close connections with growers and fishermen while managing a local farmers' market, so his kitchen is stocked with the best. He knows what New Orleanians like to eat, and his Uptown neighbors, a mix of affluent young and older couples, have rewarded him with a full house nightly.
6078 Laurel St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
Known For
- Romantic date night
- Local produce
- French delicacies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun. No lunch Sat., Wed., and Thurs., Reservations essential
-
$$ | Uptown |
You may think you’ve been transported to sexy Tel Aviv in this softly lighted but thoroughly modern dining room set on a hopping stretch of Magazine Street. Here, the inventive Israeli cooking shines: picture copper trays bedecked with small plates of classic Israeli foods, like hummus with soft-cooked eggs, red onions, pickles, and harissa; avocado toast with smoked whitefish and pink peppercorns; and grape leaves stuffed with rice and shiitake mushrooms (plus there’s puffy, made-to-order pita from Shaya’s signature wood-burning oven). Don't miss the eclectic wine and spirits list with authentic touches from the motherland, including mint tea and arak (an anise-based spirit).
4213 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Lamb ragu hummus
- Pita bread from the wood-burning oven
- Wine and spirits list with Israeli options
-
$$$$ | Central Business District |
With its elegant table settings and canvases depicting the lives of British nobility, the Grill Room on the second floor of the Windsor Court has always been a beacon of class and an elegant setting for special occasions (keep your eyes peeled: celebrities in town for local film shoots often snag tables here). The creative Cajun- and Creole-influenced dinner menu allows guests to customize a three- or five-course tasting dinner, with insightful and unusual wine selections by sommelier John Mitchell, who draws from a deep cellar with an extensive Bordeaux collection. There's also a $23 plate special offered at lunchtime weekdays, and jazz brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. If you're looking for a splurge meal in town, this is it.
300 Gravier St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Elegant dining room
- Splurge-worthy tasting dinners
- Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
-
$$$ | Uptown |
For more than 25 years, this gaily colored cottage filled with a museum's worth of regional art has defined New Orleans Creole bistro fare, combining traditional items like dark gumbo or étouffée with enough elegance to be worthy of white tablecloths. Boisterous regulars know their orders before the cocktails even arrive: perhaps fried green tomatoes with shrimp rémoulade, spicy local shrimp with jalapeño corn bread, or duck with ginger-peach sauce. Order the $48 "Taste of New Orleans" menu to sample seven classic dishes. Owner and local character JoAnn Clevenger presides over Upperline like the hostess of a party, and her work has not gone unnoticed: the resturant has been a finalist for a James Beard award multiple times.
1413 Upperline St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Fried green tomatoes with shrimp
- Historic gem
- "Taste of New Orleans" sampler menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential
-
$$ | French Quarter |
A rough-edge classic in every way, this no-frills eatery is a prime source for briny, chilled Gulf oysters; legendary shrimp, oyster, and roast-beef po'boys; and tender, expertly seasoned red beans and rice. Even locals can't resist, although most opt for the less crowded, if less charming, suburban branches (there's one in Metairie). Expect lengthy lines here in the French Quarter, often a half block long. Crowds lighten in the late afternoon, making Acme a choice respite for a mid-afternoon snack of a dozen on the half shell washed down with an Abita beer.
724 Iberville St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Some of the best and freshest oysters in the French Quarter
- Long lines
- Local specialties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$$ | Faubourg Marigny |
Rustic and charming, this cramped dining room lords over Frenchmen Street and serves big plates of classic Italian-American cuisine with a Creole twist. Decadent seafood sauces are especially pleasing for garlic lovers. There are no reservations, it's cash only, and the food and service is a little mixed, but it's always an experience here (and usually lots of fun). Put your name on the list and then head downstairs for some music and drinks at the Apple Barrel, which usually has live music, or wander Frenchmen Street as you wait for a table.
611 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Cash-only policy
- No reservations so be prepared to wait
- Lively and fun atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
-
$ | Uptown |
Every dish on the short menu here shows an obsessive attention to detail. The main attraction are the pizzas, which follow Neapolitan rules and use only flour, water, yeast, and salt for their dough; they enter an 800°F oven—imported from Naples—and emerge a minute later charred and fragrant. The starters prominently feature the sausages and other cured meats that hang inside a glass-walled room in the back. Despite the seriousness of the kitchen, the vibe out front is casual and contemporary. This welcoming pizzeria, like many other places on burgeoning Freret Street, suits the needs of neighbors but turns out food worthy of a visitor's attention.
4508 Freret St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Authentic Italian pizza
- Casual neighborhood vibe
- House-cured meats
-
$ | Mid-City |
Traditional Sicilian gelato, spumoni, cannoli, pastries, and candies are the attractions at this quaint little sweetshop, now over a century old. The crisp biscotti, traditional Sicilian desserts, and the lemon and strawberry ices haven't lost their status as local favorites. The shop closes at 10 pm weekdays, at 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and at 9 pm on Sunday. Plan to stand in line and chat with locals (and many smiling kids). On your way out, look for the brass plaque on the door that marks how high the water reached after the levees broke during Katrina in 2005.
214 N. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119, USA
Known For
- City's best tiramisu
- Authentic gelato
- Local clientele and long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
-
$$$$ | French Quarter |
Though some people believe Antoine's heyday passed before the turn of the 20th century, others wouldn't leave New Orleans without at least one order of the original oysters Rockefeller—baked oysters topped with a parsley-based sauce and bread crumbs. Other notables on the bilingual menu include pommes de terre soufflées (fried potato puffs), poissonamadine or meuniere (fish prepared in toasted almond or brown butter-and-lemon sauce), and baked Alaska. Tourists are generally shown to the front room, but walking through the grand labyrinth is a must. Be prepared for lackluster service. A jacket is preferred, but casually dressed diners can order most of the classic menu at the adjoining Hermes Bar.
713 St. Louis St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Old-school charm
- Historic oysters Rockefeller
- Slightly stuffy atmosphere (dress up or sit at the adjoining Hermes Bar)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
-
$$ | Uptown |
Even with reservations, expect to wait for weekend brunch at this Uptown institution, but your taste buds will thank you later. Locals tend to linger over sultry Creole creations like étouffée omelets and house-made sausage, a DIY Bloody Mary bar, and jumping live jazz on Saturday and Sunday. At dinner, the food is just as delicious, but the vibe is more romantic. The shrimp and grits are a standout, but there are plenty of other excellent choices. As a bonus, the expertly cultivated wine list shows plenty of options for under $50.
901 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Bloody Mary bar
- Jazz brunch
- Excellent shrimp and grits
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues. and Wed., Reservations essential
-
-
$ | Uptown |
Eat in an airy dining room overlooking Audubon Park golf course, or relax with a drink on the veranda.
6500 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
-
$ | Faubourg Marigny |
Hand-pulled noodles and fluffy steamed bao are the specialties at this local favorite. Sichuan and Cantonese dishes pack the occasional punch (the Mixed Sauce noodles are pleasantly mouth-numbing), and everything is full of flavor. It's best to go with a group so you get to try a few affordable dishes (or just order a lot).
2266 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Spicy dan dan noodles with pork
- Steamed bun appetizers
- Family-style dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
-
$ | Carrollton-Riverbend |
At Bellegarde Bakery, far from the popular tourist sites, Graison Gill and his team freshly mill all of their flour on-site, producing bread and baked goods for some of the top restaurants in New Orleans. A commitment to local and single-origin ingredients embodies the ethos of the whole operation. In 2019, they opened their first storefront and customers can now purchase these baked delicacies for themselves, as well as get a glimpse into milling and baking process as they drink a cup of fresh-brewed coffee.
8300 Apple St., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Known For
- Sourdough bread
- Quality ingredients
- Baking classes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
-
$ | Mid-City |
Originally a popular pop-up at music venue Chickie Wah Wah's, Blue Oak BBQ has finally got its own storefront, and with pitmasters Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley at the helm, it consistently ranks as some of the best BBQ in the city. The beef brisket and pulled pork are both crowd favorites. Located just a few blocks away from City Park, Blue Oak is a perfect place to end a warm day in New Orleans, especially if you are hoping to catch a Saints game.
900 N Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Known For
- Excellent pulled pork sandwich
- Sports-friendly neighborhood crowd
- Location near City Park
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$$$ | Central Business District |
Bon Ton's opening in 1953 marked the first appearance of a significant Cajun restaurant in New Orleans, and the now-famed crawfish dishes, gumbo, jambalaya, and oyster omelet continue to draw fans. The bustle in the dining room peaks at lunchtime on weekdays, when businesspeople from nearby offices come in droves for turtle soup, eggplant with a shrimp-and-crab étouffée, and warm, sugary bread pudding with whiskey sauce (it packs a serious punch). If you can sacrifice the afternoon for pleasure, try a Rum Ramsey cocktail. The veteran servers are knowledgeable and fleet-footed.
401 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Crawfish, gumbo, and turtle soup
- Rum cocktails
- Business lunches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends, Credit cards accepted
-
-
$$$ | Central Business District |
In a spacious dining room accented by nautical touches, floor-to-ceiling chalkboard panels, and local artwork, you'll find rustic Louisiana seafood dishes with a touch of city sophistication. Named after Lake Borgne in eastern Louisiana, the restaurant honors that area's many Spanish settlers with tapas and fish à la plancha along with more traditional renditions like the BBQ shrimp with cheesy jalapeño grits. Diners on a budget should note the $15 plate lunches and $5 tapas at happy hour, 3–6 pm daily.
601 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70113, USA
Known For
- Happy hour tapas
- Business lunches
- Raw oysters
-
$$$ | French Quarter |
On one of the French Quarter's busiest corners is Dickie Brennan's biggest and flashiest restaurant yet (he also owns Palace Café and Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse), and it's a solid hit with seafood aficionados and—you guessed it—bourbon lovers (there are five flights to choose from and a vast selection of 90 American whiskeys to boot). The raw bar is prime real estate, with its sterling oysters on the half shell, chilled seafood platters, and antique, decorative oyster plates, but the elegant main dining room is more appropriate for digging into the Creole catalog—charbroiled oysters, boiled shrimp, and Gulf fish "on the half shell" with lump crab meat. Take your frozen bourbon-milk punch in a go cup.
144 Bourbon St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Bourbon-milk punch
- Classy raw bar
- Diverse bourbon flights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
-
$$$$ | French Quarter |
This luxuriously appointed restaurant, located in a gorgeous, salmon-pink, circa-1795 building, serves lavish breakfasts, served by pink-bow-tied waiters, that include "eye openers" like Caribbean milk punch to start the day, alongside hearty but elegantly prepared dishes such as eggs sardou with crispy artichokes and accoutrements such as coffee-cured bacon and house-made English muffins. Don't miss sumptuous desserts, like the flaming bananas Foster, which was reportedly created here.
417 Royal St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Tourist-heavy atmosphere
- Creole brunch
- Legendary bananas Foster
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
-
$$$ | Carrollton-Riverbend |
Chef Frank Brigtsen's fusion of Creole refinement and Acadian earthiness reflects his years as a Paul Prudhomme protégé, and his dishes here represent some of the best south Louisiana cooking you'll find anywhere. Everything is fresh and filled with deep, complex flavors, and the menu changes daily. The butternut shrimp bisque defines comfort food. Rabbit and duck dishes, usually presented in rich sauces and gravies, are full of robust flavor. But Brigtsen really gets to unleash his creativity on the "Shell Beach Diet," a nightly changing seafood platter that might include grilled drum with shrimp and jalapeño-lime sauce and shrimp cornbread. Trompe-l'oeil murals add whimsy to the intimate spaces of this turn-of-the-20th-century frame cottage. Ask for a table on the enclosed front sun porch.
723 Dante St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
Known For
- Creative seafood platters
- Whimsical dining room
- Excellent butternut shrimp bisque
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
-
$$$ | French Quarter |
If local restaurants were judged solely by the beauty of their courtyards, Broussard's would certainly be a standout, but the food here is also outstanding. Expect dishes like crispy shrimp toast with pickled okra slaw; Creole crab croquettes; and broiled redfish with a rosemary-and-mustard crust. Fight the good fight for an outdoor table close to the fountain, and don't skip dessert. A three-course Sunday brunch features live jazz.
819 Conti St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
Known For
- Charming courtyard
- Sunday jazz brunch
- Excellent broiled redfish
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues.–Thurs., Credit cards accepted
