35 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

"New World" is the label Louisiana native Susan Spicer applies to her cooking style, the delicious hallmarks of which include goat cheese croutons with mushrooms in Madeira cream, a Bayona specialty, and delightfully flavorful vegetable soups, like Caribbean pumpkin or cream of garlic. The imaginative dishes on the constantly changing menu are served in an early-19th-century Creole cottage that glows with flower arrangements, elegant photographs, and trompe-l'oeil murals of Mediterranean landscapes. A legendary favorite at lunch is the sandwich of smoked duck, cashew butter, and pepper jelly. Don't skip the sweets—a changing menu of homemade ice cream, panna cotta, and pastries.

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.

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.

Chef-owned restaurants are common in New Orleans, but this one builds on owner Donald Link's family heritage as he, working with co-owner Stephen Stryjewski (who received a James Beard Award for his work here), prepares Cajun dishes he learned to cook at his grandfather's knee. The fried boudin with pickled peppers is a must—trust us on this one—as well as the wood-fired oysters with chili garlic butter. Then move on to the rabbit and dumplings, and a hearty Louisiana cochon (pork) with turnips, cracklings, and cabbage. Despite the pork-centric reputation, all the vegetable sides, especially the braised collard greens, are excellent.

This vine-covered neighborhood bistro doesn't have a sign, but that hasn't stopped the national food media from finding it. Lauded chefs cook with elegant confidence in a classic French style, but with surprising bursts of understated creativity, which can be seen in dishes like seared scallops with pomegranate beurre blanc and the foie gras torchon with vanilla roasted pineapple. At Gautreau's, even the simple roasted chicken satisfies, and everyone should indulge in the caramelized banana split at least once. An older crowd of well-dressed regulars monopolize most of the tables in this dark, quiet space that once housed a pharmacy, but if you can get a reservation, you'll feel like you've gained admittance to an elite club. 

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.

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.

Renovated and under new ownership by famed restauranteur Dickie Brennan, visitors in Audubon Park can eat in an airy dining room overlooking the park's golf course, or relax with a drink on the veranda.

If local restaurants were judged solely by the beauty of their courtyards, Broussard's would certainly be a standout, but the food here is also outstanding. Expect dishes like crispy shrimp toast with pickled okra slaw; Creole crab croquettes; and broiled redfish with a rosemary-and-mustard crust. Fight the good fight for an outdoor table close to the fountain, and don't skip dessert. A three-course Sunday brunch features live jazz.

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. 

Understatement characterizes the mood at locally beloved Clancy's, and the classy but neutral decor reflects this, though the scene can get lively. Most of the dishes are imaginative treatments of New Orleans favorites. Some specialties, like the several renditions of veal on the menu, are exceptional. Other signs of an inventive chef are the fried oysters with brie, and a deviled eggs rémoulade. The small bar is usually filled with regulars who know one another—and tourists who wish they were regulars. On more festive nights the volume of conversation might leave you yearning for earplugs. The expansive wine list has many New World and French options, with quite a few bottles available for under $100.

Those in need of a break from the traditional New Orleans white-tablecloth Creole restaurants that feature the same menus of shrimp rémoulade and redfish amandine will be pleased with Compère Lapin, a unique and distinctly contemporary fine dining experience. At the root of James Beard Award--winning chef Nina Compton's cooking are the comforting flavors and spices of her native St. Lucia. Notable favorites are the jerk pork belly, curried goat, and glazed crispy snapper collar. The ambience of the airy dining room, with lofted ceilings and minimalist decor, is romantic and quiet at times, but loud and clubby when the popular craft cocktail bar is busy.

This downtown outpost of the original Cvitanovich family restaurant in suburban Metairie serves the same famous charbroiled oysters in a hotel lobby setting. The oysters are an absolute must-order (you'll want extra bread to mop up the toothsome sauce), but the other local specialties on the menu like barbecue shrimp, gumbo, fried seafood, and shrimp and grits are also delicious. Families love the place, especially because of the kids' menu.

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.

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.

Despite its white tablecloths and refined menu, this small, family-run bistro in its cornflower-blue cottage setting has a wonderful neighborhood feel to it. The Cajun-Creole kitchen originally opened in 1992 and after a brief closing due to Hurricane Katrina, its elevated Cajun fare and friendly service has quickly made its way back into the heart of local diners.

An evening at this corner restaurant combines a sophisticated night out with nourishing, down-to-earth food. Expect Italian classics like pastas, pizzas, and prime meats, with a respectable wine list. Try the spaghetti fra diavolo with gulf shrimp, or the spicy rigatoni amatriciana---and say yes to the panna cotta for dessert.

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).

The walls here are festooned with enough snapshots, garlic braids, and crockery for at least two more restaurants, but it all just adds to the charm of this cozy Italian-Creole eatery. From Irene DiPietro's kitchen come succulent roast chicken brushed with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic; delicious, velvety soups; and fresh shrimp, aggressively seasoned and grilled before they join linguine glistening with herbed olive oil. Waits here can stretch to the 60-minute mark during peak dinner hours, which is just enough time for a bottle of wine in the convivial little piano bar.

Here Verona-born chef Samantha Castagnetti turns out sumptuous, authentic northern Italian pasta dishes, like fusilli with peas, shallots, and Italian prosciutto in an elegant white cream sauce, alongside meaty mains, such as veal osso buco over decadent polenta. This is the kind of place that turns first dates into lifelong affairs; you'll feel like you're dining at nonna's house. The all-Italian wine list is surprisingly affordable, with many glasses at $10 or less.

As the Bywater dining scene has largely shifted toward the new, trendy, and exploratory, this historical location on Poland Avenue has stood its ground, remaining one of the only classic New Orleans dinner joints in the area. Expect large portions of fried and boiled seafood favorites, like catfish, redfish, oysters, and shrimp, as well as po'boys, stuffed flounder, and surf-and-turf plates. It's a fun, casual spot, and you will not leave hungry.

Named after former Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, who went by the nickname "Kingfish," this stylish French Quarter restaurant pays homage to the Jazz Age, with its pressed-tin ceilings and suspendered bartenders (the excellent craft cocktail list was written by local legend Chris McMillian). Drinks do not disappoint, and as for food, expect southern-inspired comforts with local twists: po'boys with chipotle remoulade, Louisiana Blue Crab-stuffed grilled cheese, and duck breast glazed with sweet satsuma.

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.

This restaurant goes beyond the traditional Indian staples like butter chicken and chicken masala to mine India's regional specialties like pani puri (deep fried breaded shell with fillings) and chili gobi (spicy roasted cauliflower). The craft cocktail menu is innovative, with ingredients like mango lassi, garam masala, and curry leaves.

This sophisticated Southeast Asian, Cajun, and Italian-fusion restaurant offers house-made pasta, tender cured meats, and local seafood powered by flavors like ginger, turmeric, and coconut. On weekdays, there is a happy hour from 4 to 6 pm that features flavorful bar bites like roasted sweet potato. The dessert and drinks menus are compact but finely curated.

This flagship of the Morrow Restaurant Group, which now has restaurants in the French Quarter and Mid-City, draws a huge brunch crowd. Look for hearty southern specialties like shrimp and grits, crawfish pasta, and lobster mac-and-cheese from chef and co-owner Lenora Chong.

Those who wonder if there really is a New Orleans restaurant that can properly cater to both tourists and locals need look no farther than Mr. B's. Using as many Louisiana ingredients as possible, the chef offers a hearty braised Louisiana rabbit, an irresistible honey-ginger-glazed pork chop, and one of the best barbecue shrimp dishes in the city. First-timers must try the "Gumbo Ya-Ya," a rich chicken and sausage gumbo, and no meal here can end without the hot buttered pecan pie. Upscale yet accessible, Mr. B's is still on the map because of its just-right seasonings, its windows on the French Quarter world, and its dedication to service. Don't miss Sunday brunch, featuring a live jazz trio and "eye openers" (also known as brunch cocktails).

Among Jackson Square's many dining spots, Muriel's is easily the most ambitious, in both atmosphere and menu. In the large downstairs rooms, architectural knickknacks and artwork evoke the city's colorful past, while diners indulge in hearty updates of old Creole favorites. The upstairs balcony has views of the square, with the occasional sounds of street music wafting in. The menu is diverse, ranging from shrimp and goat cheese crepes to pecan-crusted drum (a popular local fish also known as "red drum") with Louisiana crawfish relish, and offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner or à la carte options. Sunday brunch is accompanied by live jazz.

Occupying what used to be New Orleans's oldest music store, this Dickie Brennan stalwart is a convivial spot to try some of the more imaginative contemporary Creole dishes, such as andouille-crusted fish, crabmeat cheesecake, and pepper-crusted duck breast with foie gras. Desserts, especially the white-chocolate bread pudding and the homemade ice creams, are luscious. Drugstore-tile floors and stained cherrywood booths set the mood. The wraparound mezzanine is lined with a large mural depicting the city's famous musicians, like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Aaron Neville. The Parisian-style sidewalk seating bespeaks small plates, wine, and people-watching (though sights of Canal Street aren't always picturesque). The Sunday jazz brunch is New Orleans all the way, while the daily happy hour, offering half-price drinks and snacks till 7 pm, is one of the best in town.