44 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

This flagship of the Morrow Restaurant Group, which now has restaurants in the French Quarter and Mid-City, draws a huge brunch crowd. Look for hearty southern specialties like shrimp and grits, crawfish pasta, and lobster mac-and-cheese from chef and co-owner Lenora Chong.

Those who wonder if there really is a New Orleans restaurant that can properly cater to both tourists and locals need look no farther than Mr. B's. Using as many Louisiana ingredients as possible, the chef offers a hearty braised Louisiana rabbit, an irresistible honey-ginger-glazed pork chop, and one of the best barbecue shrimp dishes in the city. First-timers must try the "Gumbo Ya-Ya," a rich chicken and sausage gumbo, and no meal here can end without the hot buttered pecan pie. Upscale yet accessible, Mr. B's is still on the map because of its just-right seasonings, its windows on the French Quarter world, and its dedication to service. Don't miss Sunday brunch, featuring a live jazz trio and "eye openers" (also known as brunch cocktails).

Among Jackson Square's many dining spots, Muriel's is easily the most ambitious, in both atmosphere and menu. In the large downstairs rooms, architectural knickknacks and artwork evoke the city's colorful past, while diners indulge in hearty updates of old Creole favorites. The upstairs balcony has views of the square, with the occasional sounds of street music wafting in. The menu is diverse, ranging from shrimp and goat cheese crepes to pecan-crusted drum (a popular local fish also known as "red drum") with Louisiana crawfish relish, and offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner or à la carte options. Sunday brunch is accompanied by live jazz.

Occupying what used to be New Orleans's oldest music store, this Dickie Brennan stalwart is a convivial spot to try some of the more imaginative contemporary Creole dishes, such as andouille-crusted fish, crabmeat cheesecake, and pepper-crusted duck breast with foie gras. Desserts, especially the white-chocolate bread pudding and the homemade ice creams, are luscious. Drugstore-tile floors and stained cherrywood booths set the mood. The wraparound mezzanine is lined with a large mural depicting the city's famous musicians, like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Aaron Neville. The Parisian-style sidewalk seating bespeaks small plates, wine, and people-watching (though sights of Canal Street aren't always picturesque). The Sunday jazz brunch is New Orleans all the way, while the daily happy hour, offering half-price drinks and snacks till 7 pm, is one of the best in town.

This airy, industrial space has two identities, depending on the time of day. Weekend brunches are bustling and lively and feature their popular boozy brunch drinks and the to-die-for lemon ricotta pancakes; at night, dinner unfolds under chandeliers and pendant lamps when the open kitchen serves up house-made pastas and pizza. Tables of locals and dates unwind over wine and sophisticated comfort foods. Whichever you choose, it's best to make a reservation. Expect a lively, loud atmosphere.

At Palm & Pine, the cocktails are strong and the vibe is young and local. A rotation of southern and Latin American-inspired plates---with seasonal ingredients from local purveyors---come out of the open kitchen, and even simple dishes are impressive, like the P&P salad with local lettuce, dressed in a house-made Worcestershire sauce. The chef-owner team was James Beard (Best Chef South) semifinalists two years in a row. The kitchen is open until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. 

Louisiana culinary renaissance man John Folse first hooked up with Celebrity chef Rick Tramonto, of Chicago's Tru, in 2012 to create this lavish, multi-million dollar venue, combining Folse's deep knowledge of Cajun and Creole food with Tramonto's modern techniques. A decade later, Folse took over as the sole owner and the restaurant continues to impress with its pomp and circumstance, impeccable service, and dramatic dishes like butter poached lobster and black gnocchi, turtle soup with deviled quail egg, and the option to add bone marrow, lobster tail, blue crab (or a combination) to any dish. Diners can explore the restaurant's deep wine cellar via an iPad. Request a corner booth looking out over the muraled dining room for optimal people-watching.

Seasoned restaurateur Ralph Brennan has matched this beautifully renovated historic building with a menu that features innovative twists on contemporary Creole cuisine. The culinary staff excel with full-flavored seafood dishes like cornmeal-fried oysters with bourbon-tomato-bacon jam, Shrimp Skully dancing in a hot sauce and pepper jelly reduction, and a variety of fresh fish. For Sunday brunch, which even has a kids' menu, the BBQ Shrimp and Grits and the Pork Dirty Rice Benedict are just two of many entrées that will remind you you're way down in Louisiana. And don't skip dessert: at brunch, the 11-layer Blackout Doberge Cake is a Ralph's on the Park spin on a special New Orleans sweet. Don't be shy to order at the bar, where you can enjoy the full menu and look out on the oaks of City Park in what has become a virtual public clubhouse for nearby residents.

James Beard Foundation Award-winner Alon Shaya helms this lively Israeli restaurant dedicated to his grandfather, using fish, meat, and produce sourced from local area farms to create dishes influenced by the tastes of the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. Rich Bulgarian lutenitsa, unforgettable Moroccan carrots, and blue crab hummus flavored with lemon and butter are just a few of the restaurant's winning options

This sleek venture (whose name is short for "South of Bourbon Street") from the Commander's Palace team puts cocktails, beer, and wine front and center. The menu includes Louisiana-style snacks, such as grilled alligator sausage or cracklings with pimento-cheese fondue, and the cocktails are a mix of pre-Prohibition classics and crowd-pleasing originals. A row of self-service machines dispense wines by the taste or the glass, and a few coveted tables even have personal beer taps. The chef grew up in Puerto Rico, so Latin flavors creep into many dishes, like the oyster tacos or shrimp and tasso pinchos.

When chefs across America started ditching white tablecloths and applying fine-dining flair to burgers and bar food instead, chef Scott Boswell attempted to do the same with the rich, homey comfort food of Louisiana. Though some grumble about paying a premium for what is, at heart, New Orleans neighborhood fare, this crisply decorated café sits on a coveted corner of Jackson Square—and that view is priceless. At breakfast, pancakes are covered in Louisiana cane syrup and eggs Benedict are topped with homemade Cajun boudin. At lunch, oyster po'boys get an extra zing from rémoulade dressing with a touch of heat, and the Club Stanley is topped with spicy pesto Caesar dressing.

The menu at this Uptown seafood specialist reads like a greatest hits collection from the New Orleans culinary canon: from po'boys and fried green tomatoes on the casual end to shrimp andouille brochettes and blackened catfish topped with crawfish etouffée on the fancier side. The cavernous space mimics a Parisian bistro, with a tad too much polish to feel authentic. But who cares about the inside, when the many windows offer views of streetcars rolling by on St. Charles Avenue. The owners also run the nearby but not terribly exciting Superior Grill (3636 St. Charles Avenue).

This sleek gastropub nestled within an 18th-century carriage house celebrates the new and old with an elegant but light touch. Begin your meal with the Champagne and Fries starter, where a crispy pile of spuds pairs with a bottle of Premier Cru or a six pack of Miller High Life, depending on your mood and budget. Entrées feature expert chef renditions of hearty comfort foods like pappardelle bolognese and buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich with house-made pickles---the Sylvain Burger is a crowd favorite. The team here manages a slew of locally approved venues, including The Will & The Way on Toulouse Street.

A quick coffee and snack from this popular, sunny locale is just as enjoyable as their long, decadent brunches. Try any of the epic "biscuit situations."