5 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

Dining at Café Degas is like being at a sidewalk café in Paris. The outdoor seating overlooks picturesque Esplanade Avenue (as does some of the indoor seating), and the inside dining area even has a tree growing through the center. The fare here is a mixture of French-bistro cooking and what you might find at a countryside inn—homemade pâtés, onion soup, steamed mussels, steaks, and crème brûlée. Daily specials are always creative and ingenious, and an evening here is inevitably romantic. Every Wednesday and Thursday, diners can enjoy a happy hour with pâté, cheese, and appetizer and drink specials from 3 to 5 pm. Wednesday evening often features live music, and all bottles of wine are 30% off on Thursday during dinner.

Founded by filmmaker Aaron Walker and chef Yuki Yamaguchi, N7 is easily one of the most romantic dining experiences in town. Once you find this hidden gem, tucked behind a barely marked large wooden fence on a quiet street off of St. Claude Avenue, the adorable, candlelit courtyard and Parisian bistro interior will whisk you away to a dreamy evening. You will be able to find divine French classics like the French onion soup, bouillabaisse, and escargot, as well as delicious Japanese staples like chicken karaage and smoked mackeral. A small, carefully curated wine and cocktail list add to the charm of the experience.

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, with featured proteins like braised beef ragù, mussels in an apple and white wine broth, and pecan-crusted Gulf fish. 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.

Nestled in the Eliza Jane Hotel, Couvant offers a modern and creative take on French cuisine while staying true to the classics like duck confit and boeuf bourguignon. The upscale but approachable interiors with low lighting, crushed velvets, and black and white tile floor set the mood for a comfortable dining experience.

French chic for the budget-minded is the style at this welcoming neighborhood bistro, where during peak hours there might be a half-hour wait for a table. Woven café chairs on the sidewalk and awnings that resemble metro-station architecture evoke the Left Bank of Paris, and the Gallic focus is also evident in dishes like the filet mignon, served with a choice of several classic French sauces. Other good options are the seafood au gratin, the moules-frites, and the lavish dessert crepes.

The cheese plate is filled with fromage from beloved local cheese shop St. James Cheese Company.

Space is a little tight in the oddly configured dining areas, but the whimsical paintings and profuse greenery combine to create an inviting feel.