33 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

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.

An eclectic mix of music, food, and people can be found on Frenchmen Street, and Three Muses captures everything that makes this vibrant stretch of the Faubourg Marigny worth seeking out. The small-plates menu spans the globe, with charcuterie, cheese plates, and standout delicacies like the Korean-style steak bulgogi. The kitchen devotes special attention to vegetarian offerings, too, and there's excellent live music most nights. Reservations are for large parties only, but Three Muses is worth a wait.

A stalwart neighborhood joint, the age-old College Inn now occupies a newer building after decades in an older, now-razed structure next door. The menu is full of all-stars, but the po'boys are stand-outs: one filled with fried oysters, havarti cheese, and bacon; another with fried green tomatoes and shrimp rémoulade; and even a dessert po'boy featuring fried bread pudding all get rave reviews. The menu has changed quite a bit since the restaurant first opened in 1933, but certain items, like the veal cutlet entrée, have remained—and for good reason.