150 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

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. 

Barbecue shrimp is an addictive regional specialty that involves neither a barbecue nor barbecue sauce, and Pascal's is considered the iconic dish's birthplace. The original recipe, introduced a half century ago, remains unchanged: jumbo shrimp, still in the shell, are cooked in a Worcestershire-soaked garlicky-butter pool enhanced with just the right amount of Creole spice and pepper. The rest of the menu here is taken up with regional seafood and Creole-Italian specialties, with the turtle soup, oysters Rockefeller, and eggplant Dryades all making for excellent starters. Arrive early to enjoy the atmospheric old bar---one of the best spots in the city to slurp raw oysters---and when it's time for dinner, don't turn down the bib: those barbecue shrimp can get messy.

The name implies fish, and that's what you'll find at this modern temple to seafood, the brainchild of nearby Cochon proprietors Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski. In addition to an airy, modern space enhanced by exposed beams and a wood-burning grill, the dining room has a fascinating history: the building was a former mortuary that claims to have embalmed Confederate president Jefferson Davis. If that doesn't give you something to talk about, the crowd-satisfying fare will: there's head-on, coal fire grilled whole fish; smothered catfish with pickled greens; and excellent nonfish options. The small plates offer inventive options such as spicy ground shrimp with noodles, a raw bar menu featuring the best of local oysters, and an excellent seafood salad.

Sassy New York flourishes permeate the menu of chef Richard Hughes's smartly decorated, eminently comfortable restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter, but there's still evidence of Hughes's Louisiana origins. The Maine lobster with shrimp and diver scallops is decadent, while the rack of lamb with rosemary-pesto crust is almost a spiritual experience. There is even a children's menu for budding gourmets.

Families, lifelong Bywater residents, and visitors all flock to "Pizza D" for its New York–style pizza in New Orleans. A tall can of PBR and a slice of cheese will satisfy most, but delve into the specialty pies, pastas, and surprisingly pleasing salads for the full experience. There's plenty of room to eat in this converted garage (and yard out back) with a decidedly divey ambience, but expect long lines at the counter during weekends.

Every night, no matter the weather, people wait for more than an hour outside Port of Call for fist-thick burgers made from freshly ground beef, served with always-fluffy baked potatoes (there are no fries here). For the classic Port of Call experience, drink a Neptune's Monsoon (their mind-bending house grog) while you wait, and order your potato "loaded" (with mushrooms, cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, chives, and bacon bits). A juicy filet mignon is also available. In the afternoon and early evening, it's a fun stop for kids. Port of Call is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1 am 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

The seasonal five-course menu changes constantly at this romantic Parisian-style bistro, which is one of the finest dining experiences in New Orleans. Optional wine pairings and a lovely courtyard add to the romance of this special, date-night spot. The food is exciting, the dining room is small, and reservations go quickly. If you aren’t lucky enough to get a dinner spot (book as far as a month in advance), the chic front bar and courtyard are just for walk-ins, with a menu of natural wines, cocktails, and bar bites. Dinner is $145 per person (without wine) and is chef's choice. The kitchen does not accommodate dietary restrictions.

In setting that evokes a luxury wooden schooner’s cabin, Seaworthy in the Ace hotel delivers an intimate evening of pristine seafood. Try oysters raw and grilled, caviar crudo, snapper collar, and fish-and-chips made with local fluke. Service is attentive and informed.

What started as a funky little spot in a ramshackle building on St. Claude Avenue is now a Bywater go-to for new American fare with an emphasis on vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Try the scrumptious buffalo tofu wrap; for meat-lovers, the wagyu burger is juicy and filling.

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.

This revamped food hall offers visitors a chance to sample from a wide array of flavors. Expect a mosaic of local food artisans dishing both local favorites as well as global cuisine, ranging from Malaysian and Burmese to Mexican and Italian. There's also a chic oyster bar, bottles of wine, and a generous happy hour.

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.

Husband and wife duo, Jonathan and Megan have turned their adorable and popular Bienville street bakery and coffee shop into a special gathering place. He handles the coffee while she takes care of the food. Sandwiches, quiche, meat pies, yogurt, and a variety of sweet and savory pastries all populate the menu.

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. 

Devotees of this unassuming neighborhood spot wait with bated breath on Friday afternoon, when a new menu is posted online (and outside the restaurant) showcasing the offerings for that week. The space is intimate and funky, and the food is the same, where ingredients from local farms inspire risottos, curries, house-made ice creams, slow-roasts, and marinades and spices from around the globe.

This Thai restaurant fits into its artsy neighborhood with servers wearing all black and a trendy, art-gallery approach to decorating. You can't go wrong with any of the curries, but the fried whole fish with three spicy chili sauces is a showstopper. Creative homemade desserts take the form of "dragon puffs" (think Thai-style beignets) and black-rice pudding. A full bar includes cocktails with Thai-influenced ingredients like lemongrass simple syrup and a bloody Mary with Thai chili-garlic infused vodka.

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.

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 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.

With locations close to the Convention Center and in the heart of the CBD, Two Chicks dishes rib-sticking breakfasts and creative sandwiches.

Pick up a sandwich or a hot lunch to-go from this distinctly New Orleans take on a deli, open 24 hours, and a prime refueling point for the late-night bar crawl. If you're really hungry, try the All That Jazz po'boy (ham, turkey, shrimp, and two cheeses with grilled mushrooms and tomatoes).

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.

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."

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.