16 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

Nathanial Zimet's gutsy, down-home cooking, a unique blend of Louisiana and contemporary southern styles, fits right in at its cozy location in a converted Uptown home. The menu here is updated monthly, but it always kicks off with small plates, including multiple iterations of grits and memorable boudin balls. Large plates pack big flavors—smoked scallops, Wagyu brisket, and multiple duck dishes all deliver. Try the Krispy Kreme bread pudding, even if you haven't saved room for it. Next door is Bourrée, the restaurant's casual sister establishment, specializing in chicken wings, meat-based snacks, and gourmet daiquiris, like the top-shelf Hurricane and frozen gin and tonic.

Around the corner from its big brother Cochon, Butcher packs its own Cajun punch with an upscale sandwich menu that dials up the flavor on local classics. With house-cured meats and olive salad, the muffuletta reveals exactly how delicious Italian-Creole can be, though the pork-belly sandwich, with refreshing mint and cucumber, also brings customers back. In addition to sandwiches, there are meaty small plates and a rotating selection of wines, beers, and well-made cocktails. There are a few tall tables for dining in, or you can get your sandwich to go. Before leaving, stock up on boudin, bacon pralines, and other to-go Cajun delicacies—all much better souvenirs than anything for sale on Bourbon Street.

"Real food, done real good" is the motto at Elizabeth's, where the vinyl-print tablecloths look just like grandma's and breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The menu offers everything from po'boys to a stellar seared duck, but the highlight is the lively weekend brunch served from 8 am to 2:30 pm that includes "lost bread" (also known as French toast), "redneck eggs" (fried green tomatoes with poached eggs and hollandaise), and a traditional country breakfast with a smoked pork chop (there's also bottomless mimosas, if you want to start the party early). The fried-oyster po'boy is huge and irresistible. The staff is spunky, and so is the Bywater neighborhood clientele. The praline bacon is a must. Breakfast is served every weekday as well, also from 8 to 2:30, and has almost the same options.

If you're looking for an opportunity to converse with a top New Orleans chef, then Gris-Gris is your best bet. The first level of this Magazine Street restaurant is a wraparound chef's table where you can watch all the action in the kitchen while enjoying homey and refined classics like shrimp and gris-gris grits and chicken gizzards served with grit cakes, carmelized peppers and onions, and gravy. On the second floor, you can sit at a lively indoor bar or on the balcony. Reservations are recommended.

Chef Donald Link (whose restaurant group includes Cochon, Gianna, Pêche, and La Boulangerie) turns out a menu that sparkles with robust flavors and top-grade ingredients at this casually upscale restaurant. Comforting small plates like the daily gumbo, fried oysters, and homemade pastas are mainstays. Don't overlook the rich and flavorful Louisiana shrimp and fish ceviche. Also irresistible is the Muscovy duck leg confit with dirty rice and citrus gastrique. For dessert, banana brown-butter tart will ensure return trips. The plates provide most of the color in the lighthearted, often noisy, rooms. The wine list is expertly compiled and reasonably priced.

Flower shops sometimes bloom into intimate fine-dining establishments in New Orleans, and this one, with just-bright-enough lighting and a sturdy mahogany bar, has caught on in a big way with the locals. In the kitchen, chef-owner Justin Devillier draws on contemporary American tastes, using Louisiana raw materials whenever he can. He's been quietly developing a reputation across the country, winning a coveted James Beard Award in the process. Standout items include the blue-crab beignets, the Gulf shrimp and grits with smoked bacon, and the creative (and extraordinary) alligator Bolognese, though many locals return to the red-leather banquettes for the signature burger and a round of cocktails.

Classic and hearty New Orleans-fare dominates at this casual eatery, where chef-owner Manny January---formerly the sous chef at Galatoire's---cooks up a storm with fresh ingredients and abundance of flavor. Grilled lamb chops, marinated and cooked with just a hint of char, became a crowd favorite, something not seen at most restaurants along this gritty stretch of Claiborne Avenue.

The rustic interior, reminiscent of 1920s and '30s Louisiana fish camps, sets the stage here for the likes of shrimp gumbo, crawfish beignets, fresh Gulf fish, hearty fisherman's stew, and a lemon icebox pie that will make you fall in love with New Orleans all over again. Except for freshwater catfish and Canadian mussels, all the seafood comes from the Gulf of Mexico and often straight from the fishermen. Produce and pork are also local, and salad dressings are homemade. Near Caesars Casino, Grand Isle is generally packed, but it's worth the wait (which gives you an excuse to spend some time at the elegant mahogany bar).

Pimento cheese plates, boudin balls, gumbo, grits, black-eyed peas, and banana pudding rule at this vibrant, southern-inspired restaurant on the busy Freret Street corridor. Choose from hearty entrees like catfish plates, barbecue shrimp, and a fried oyster rémoulade po'boy. Locally famous cocktails like the Hurricane, Sazerac, and Pimm's Cup are available at the bar

You can't miss this bright, yellow-striped building, but it's the smell of the meat—pork shoulder, pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken—cooking in the custom-made smoker that will draw you in. In a town not generally known for barbecue, the Joint is an exception, which is why it draws hungry patrons from far and wide. The meat is the thing, but don't skip the side dishes, which go above and beyond in concept and execution, particularly the sweet-and-spicy baked beans and the crispy-on-the-outside mac 'n' cheese. Pecan, key lime, and peanut butter pies are fitting country desserts.

It doesn’t get more downhome than Li’l Dizzy’s, a generational soul food staple in the neighborhood that offers some of the best fried chicken in town. You can also find grilled catfish and eggs, shrimp and grits, and all kinds of po'boys on the menu.

This lively French Creole brasserie is a popular go-to on game days, given its proximity to both the French Quarter and the Superdome. The Gulf-centric seafood lineup includes oysters, boiled shrimp, Peruvian scallops, and Maine lobster. The dark chocolate mousse with toffee is a treat.

This carry-out-only spot closes early (5 pm, except Sunday when it closes at 2 pm), but it's a great place to pick up a large order of fried chicken and sides for a party or group. The chicken is some of the best in the area, and the mac and cheese is also excellent. On a nice day, pick up an order and walk to Bayou St. John for a picnic.

Along with po'boys, you can find just about every type of grilled, fried, and gravied specialty famous in New Orleans here, served with plenty of sides, 24 hours a day. Not everything is the best in town, but the food is cheap and fresh at any hour. Late night, you’ll be in good company among locals coming in for a hot plate.

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."