25 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

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.

At Dat Dog, the sprawling stand is painted in primary hues, as if the work had been outsourced to a talented kindergarten class, and the Hawaiian shirt–clad staff bustle about with the enthusiasm of amateur actors staging a musical. The menu is all about hot dogs, and frankfurter options range from standard German wieners to Louisiana alligator sausages. Even fish eaters and vegetarians have options (the apple sage "sausage" is deceivingly meaty). The long list of toppings includes guacamole, wasabi, and andouille sauce. And what goes better with a brat than an ice-cold brew? Luckily, the menu offers an exhaustive list of domestic and international beers. There are additional Dat Dog locations at  3336 Magazine Street and  601 Frenchmen Street.

With its elegant table settings and canvases depicting British nobility, the Grill Room on the second floor of the Windsor Court is a beacon of class and a lovely setting for special occasions. Keep your eyes peeled: celebrities in town for local film shoots often snag tables here. The creative modern American dinner menu features seasonal dishes including lamp chops with curry aioli and grilled squid with romesco sauce. Expect insightful and unusual wine selections from a deep cellar with an extensive Bordeaux collection. There's also a $35 plate special offered at lunchtime weekdays, and jazz brunch on weekends. If you're looking for a splurge meal in town, this is it.

What owner Elizabeth Hess started as a coffee shop and bakery has evolved into a full-on café that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Besides a robust coffee program and baked goods, you'll be able to find well-made salads, cheese plates, sandwiches, and pastas. There is a happy hour every Tuesday to Saturday, from 4 to 6 pm.

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.

Chef Nina Compton---Top Chef contestant, James Beard Award winner, and owner of popular Compère Lapin in the Warehouse District---is at the helm of this friendly, yet refined bistro that offers hearty, approachable dishes. Expect comforting, but flavorful dishes like branzino with puttanesca, eggplant Parmesan, and saucy, herby pastas.

There's no shortage of charming courtyards in the French Quarter, but the candlelit, ivy-covered stone carriageway at Café Amelie is one of the most romantic places to get a gourmet meal. The Louisiana-inspired entrées feature hearty portions of lamb steak, pork chops, and fresh seafood. While it's hardly a tourist trap, it's no secret to visitors so book your reservation far in advance. 

This lofted space has great vegetarian options and hearty sandwiches that skew creative; think a BLT with kimchi and thick-slab bacon or smoked cauliflower, broccoli falafel, and braised beef with Bloody Mary seasoning. Cocktails are equally unique, utilizing shrubs, fresh juices, and kombucha. At night, the industrial space and romantic rooftop is used for private and community events.

The retro Commons Club at Virgin Hotel is a fabulous setting to experience an enticing menu of southern and Mediterranean-influenced plates. Ask for a seat in the Shag Room and bar area, where a riot of colors and textures mingle. There is an occasional drag brunch, though without set dates.

At the Company Burger, your order is simple: the amazing signature burger comes with two fresh-ground patties, bread-and-butter pickles, American cheese, and red onions on a freshly baked bun. No lettuce and no tomatoes, but you can load it up with homemade condiments like basil or roasted-garlic mayonnaise and Creole honey mustard. Other options include lamb or turkey burgers and hot dogs from Nueske's Meat. A weekly burger special and monthly milk shake and frozen cocktail specials add variety to the menu. Owner Adam Biderman grew up in New Orleans, but first earned burger fame in Atlanta. He's part of the wave of young transplants and returning natives not beholden to local traditions, who have reenergized New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

The team behind popular Bywater wine garden Bacchanal operates this chic bar and restaurant at the Hotel Peter and Paul, where you’ll find dizzying walls of chartreuse and ochre, a generous apertivo hour, and a cavernous back bar that seems carved out of a fairy tale church. Large plates like the chicken confit and grilled Gulf shrimp are perfect for sharing with a date, but plant-based small plates, like whipped ricotta with preserved mushrooms, are particularly satisfying.

Celebrity-chef Emeril Lagasse revamped his urban-chic flagship restaurant in 2023, installing his son E.J. at the kitchen's helm. The 12-table dining room is now served by two seven-course tasting menus, with selections like Grand Isle shrimp with caviar, crawfish pie with andouille, and barbecue lobster gumbo. The Wine Bar at Emeril's---now with its own entrance on Julia Street---is a wine lover's dream, with more than 30,000 bottles spanning the globe and delectable small plates like raw oysters, barbecue shrimp, and crab gumbo.

A true neighborhood institution, this friendly breakfast and lunch spot is the perfect place to stop for a cold drink and a delicious carry-out po'boy.

This elegant Italian-influenced American bistro draws a steady crowd of locals for its swell happy hour, intriguing menu, and sophisticated setting. The menu is slim, but expertly pared down: try the crispy fried frog legs or lambchop lollipops, followed by the chicken parm.

A coastal Mediterranean menu unfolds in a stylish, Instagram-worthy setting in this Kimpton Fontenot flagship restaurant. Expect modern, seafood-heavy takes on classics, like the sea urchin carbonara and crawfish risotto. There is a thoughtful selection of wines and beers to accompany your meal.

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.

Here the house specialty Pimm's Cup can be enjoyed in the lush courtyard or in the cool interior, along with bites like pulled-duck po'boys. The residence was built in 1797 and was purportedly chosen as Napoléon's would-be New World residence in an escape plan hatched for the exiled emperor.

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.

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 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 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).