There are so many
great places to eat in this town we decided to offer up our
favorite 5 restaurants in several different categories. This
is insider information from sources that have done their gastronomical
research, so use it wisely.
Fine Dining
1. Cuvee - Elegant and refined
describes the food and atmosphere this fantastic CBD Restaurant.
Get the satsuma glazed pork belly!
2. Emerils - Trendy and expensive,
but the food and service are top notch. Find out for yourselves
why Emeril is such a culinary celebrity.
3. Commander's Palace - Brennan's
most famous establishment requires a coat, tie, and fat pocketbook,
but the fantastically rich cuisine and impeccable service will
knock your socks off. This place is legendary for its bananas
foster.
4. Bayona - Perhaps the top restaurant
in New Orleans, it offers brilliant French Quarter food and
wine to epicureans from near and far. Make this your favorite
spot for a special occassion meal.
5. Galatoires - A culinary institution
like no other in New Orleans. Don't miss out on the opportunity
to dine at this French Quarter landmark. It's ritzy, and boistrous,
and you just may feel like Southern Aristocracy before you leave.
Bistro
1. Lilette - This Magazine Street
restaurant is trendy and delicious. Great food and decor are
appreciated by chic elite for luch and dinner. The elegant bar
offers a diverse menu of unusually unique cocktails.
2. La Crepe Nanou - What a great
place to take a date...It's sooo French. Ths stylish bistro
offers great escargot and a broad menu of wonderful crepes and
gallettes. Great spot for a light meal with a date.
3. Alberta - This restaurant
has created the biggest buzz of any that I've heard in my7 years
in New Orleans. The owners are gracious, and the ambiance is
very appealing. This one's expensive, but worth it.
4. Herbsaint - How do I love
thee..let me count the ways...I've gotten the best duck that
I've ever eaten at Herbsaint. The wine list and drink menus
are impressive. This restaurant is trendy without being ostentatious,
and situated in the heart of the CBD. It looks out on the streetcar
line and LaFayette Square Park. Classy and accessible, it's
one of my top picks in town.
5. Cochon - Vegetarians beware,
Cochon serves up a twist on great Louisiana/French cuisine with
a focus on...you guessed it...Pork. Delicious preparations,
marinades, and glazes, unusual menu, and beautiful interior
design make this new restaurant a very appealing choice for
a dinner Downtown.
Casual
Dining
1. Cafe Rani - Great place for
big salads. Great place to bring kids. Great place to stop for
a little respite after some high impact Magazine Street shopping.
2. Fellini's Cafe - This little
Mid-City cafe is near City Park on Carrolton and has a nice
menu and relaxed atmosphere. It's tasty and easy on the pocketbook.
3. Crabby Jack's - This place
is so casual that you may not want to stay to eat your sandwich.
On the other hand, ordering ahead for takeout will save you
a ton of time anyway. Panneed rabbit and duck po-boys will knock
your socks off. The seafood is great and a lot more reasonably
priced than Jacque-imo's, Crabby's heavy-hitting older brother.
4. Fresca - Quick pizzas and
sandwiches are a nice option here at Fresca. Clean, unadorned,
inexpensive, and tasty are why this maple street cafe makes
this list
5. Angeli's - A great late night
option in the Quarter, Angeli's often has live music to accompany
it's eclectic menu. Great little stop off for a meal on Decatur,
Angeli's is open until about 3 o'clock serving up pastas, pizzas,
sandwiches, and hummus for all those revelers searching
for a midnight snack.
Cajun/Creole
1. Jacque-imo's - Oh Jacque-imo's,
I can't say any more than if you haven't eaten at this restaurant,
you haven't properly taken advantage of what this city has to
offer. Shame on you. Awesome food, awesome atmosphere, totally
unique to this city, long, long waits for a table, but well
worth it. Grab a bloody mary or two at the bar while waiting
for your table, and when you're done, stop in at the Maple Leaf
to catch whatever great band is playing next door.
2. Coop's Place - Coop's place
was Bob Dylan's favorite joint when he moved to the city. It's
and unpretentious divey little eatery with great cajun offerings
such as Jambalayas, Gumbos, and Crab/Jalapeno poppers.
3. Dante's Kitchen - Dante's
is nestled away in the Riverbend neighborhood and offers up
a killer sunday brunch replete with mimosas, marys, and brandymilks.
It's dinner menu is a rich and delicious take on creole cookin'
done in a sophisticatedly cozy way.
4. Fiorello's - Ain't much to
look at, but the rumors are true. Best damn fried chicken
we've ever eaten!
5. The Asian Cajun - Unusual
pairing, yes, but, this restaurant is pretty darn good, and
an interesting variation on the theme. Variety is the spice
of life, so Ganbei! Drink up.
Seafood
1. Rio Mar - Rio Mar, serving
tapas lunch and traditional dinner, is a great pan-latin restaurant
which serves exceptional seafood. It's boistrous, fun, and their
daily specials are out of sight. Make sure you start any meal
with a bottle of unusual Basque Tzakolina wine and a fresh ceviche.
2. G.W. Fins - More of an upscale
French Quarter offering, Fins offers fantastic Oysters Rockerfeller
and great fresh fish. This one's a little pricey, but really,
can any price be put on a phenomenal filet of blackened redfish?
We don't believe so.
3. Deanie's - Deanie's raison
d'etre is to satisfy your cravings for heaping platters of fried
seafood of every description. Crabs, Oysters, Catfish, Shrimps,
and Crawdaddies simply make up the garnish on their seafood
platters. Bring your appetite, 'cause this place ain't for lightweights.
4. Drago's - To visit Drago's,
you need to travel to a little neighborhood called Fat City
in a NOLA suburb called Metairie. I personally spend as little
time there as possible, but a trip to Drago's for the BEST oysters
in the city is one exception I'm always glad to make.
5. Pascal's Manale - This New
Orleans landmark took a beating from Karina, but has bounced
back and is still offering the best bar-b-que'd shrimp in the
city, which they originated so many years ago.
Budget
1. Taco's San Miguel - This little
taqueria is my new favorite pit stop for a quick lunch on the
fly. It's as authentic as it gets this side of the border, and
is purely the result of our burgeoning post-Katrina latin population.
Gracias, Amigos. It's located at the corner of N. Claiborne
and Elysian Fields right outside the Quarter.
2. Yang's Chinese - We were sorry
to see our favorite take-out under 9 feet of water after the
storm and never expected to see it return, but recently it's
risen from the ashes. You'd nver believe how much good Kung
Pao and fried rice you can buy for $6. Yang's will make a believer
out of you.
3. The Quartermaster - Great
24 hour sandwich offerings in the Quarter to satisfy anybody's
munchies. These guys also offer entrees aplenty. Fast, cheap,
and always available is oftentimes just what the doctor ordered
in the French Quarter.
4. Verdi Mart - If the line's
too long at The Quartermaster, head a block away to the Verdi
Mart. Same setup. Similar menu. Good Fare. Doppelganger's who
do most of their business satisfying late-night cravings and
helping to fend off early morning hangovers.
5. La Boulangerie - Best croissant
that I've had this side of the Atlantic. La Boulangerie is a
very authentic french bakery with delicious breads and oftentimes
surly French service. Their olive fougasse is one of my favorite
snacks of all time.
Bar-B-Que
1. VooDoo Bar B Que - VooDoo
offers up decent bar-b-que as fast as you can say, "MMmm,
MMMmm, chere." Go with their jerk chicken and corn pudding.
Ambiance leaves a little something to be desired, but the bar-b-que's
tasty
2. Ugly Dog Saloon - This place
is cheap, and the portions are ridiculous! I really like this
bar located in the CBD. It's rarely packed, and it's a nice
place to watch some sports or shoot some pool. The draft's often
seem a little flat, but a plate of slow smoked brisket, stuffed
baked potato, and cup of hommade chili for $7.50 can't really
be beat, now can it?
3. The Joint - If you figure
out the hours of operation at this restaurant, then please call
up NolaWebmasters headquarters to inform us. If you are lucky
enough to make it inside, then prepare yourselves for the best
bar-b-que in town. The Joint is located next door to the navel
base in The Bywater neighborhood. Come on down, and see what
you've been missing.
4. Bywater Bar B Que - This place
is a trip--drag queens by day serving up bar-b-que to an eclectic
mix of Bywater bohemians and hipsters while Diva 92.5 is playing
early 90's club-pop tunes on the radio. I don't know.....food's
alright. Kitsch appeal is there. Kind of twighlight zoney.
5. ZydeQue - French Quarter cajun
bar-b-que. Standard bar-b-que fare dressed up in a nice location
just off of Bourbon Street. Pretty reasonable prices for this
highly touristed location and a nice little variation on the
bar-b-que theme. Check it out.
Soulfood
1. Mother's - Those in the know,
know that mother's does it nothing like my mother and probably
yours. That's why it does such damn good business. The gumbo,
jambalaya, and roast beef po-boy with debris rank very
highly among my favorites in the city. Don't even think about
trying to dine here during special events, because the line
will extend around block and then some.
2. Tee-Eva's - This little hand-painted
sno-ball stand on Magazine and Napolean has been faithfully
serving up delicious crawfish and meat pies, gumbos, jambalaya,
and fresh pralines since way back when. Tee-Eva has been running
this little spot for years and has a really loyal following.
She is easygoing, down to earth, and quick to smile. Despite
her unsderstated demeanor, she has a very storied background,
and maybe if you make friends with her, she'll tell you a tale
or two.
3. Dizzy's - coming soon
4. Praline Connection - coming
soon
5. Two Sisters - coming soon
Po-Boys
1. Parkway Tavern - This po-boy
shop in Mid-City serves up great fried shrimp and oyster po-boys.
They are situated right next to Bayou St. John, and oftentimes,
they offer up live music to complement their tasty fare.
2. The Grocer - The Grocer is
located on St. Charles in the Garden District and is owned by
a lovely young couple who make up inventive po-boys and great
soups. Here you can relax, sit down, eat some lunch, and watch
the parades pass by during carnival time. Very soon, you'll
be able to see the streetcar pass by again, as well.
3. Zara's lil' Giant Supermarket
- This little neighborhood grocer with two uptown locations
makes some delicious po-boys, and has affordable, ready to eat
muffalettas. The location on Josephine makes my favorite fried
shrimp po-boy in the city--dressed of course, and spicy.
4. Guy's Po-Boys - This Magazine
Street po-boy shop has always made exceptionally giant overstuffed
sandwiches which could really feed three. They are good, but
Guy's, what happened? Please bring back your boiled shrimp po-boy.
Your killin' us.
5. Jimmie's Po-Boys - The best
local Bywater po-boy shop. I'm sorry that in my excitement to
eat my smoked sausage po-boy I knocked over a few jars of marinated
clams in tomato sauce last time I visited. Please don't hold
it against me.
Asian
1. The Basil Leaf - A highly
underappreciated player in the pantheon of New Orleans culinary
offerings. This Thai restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants
in the city. It's understated exterior belies a deliciously
fresh approach to Thai fusion cuisine and casually elegant interior.
The tom kar is the best that I've had. The lightly seared sushi
grade tuna appetizer will blow you away with a wonderful sesame-ginger
dressing and bed of fresh greens. If you're up for spending
the money, you must try their special shrimp and scallops red
curry in baby coconut. You'll never look at Thai the same way
again.
2. Nirvana - Nirvana has THE
BEST buffet lunch in the state. Good atmosphere created by nice
decor, comfortable furniture, mythologically fantastic paintings,
and great music complement a very nice buffet with fresh salad
and entree offerings. In the afternoon, Nirvana always tries
out new dishes that are not typically offered on the menu, and
if variety is the spice of life, no one does it better than
Indian cuisine. Much better for lunch than for dinner in my
opinion.
3. Sukho Thai - This Marigny
restaurant offers a diverse and delicious menu of Thai offerings.
It's Thai off the beaten path, and well worth it to trailblaze
here.
4. Sake Cafe - While quite expensive,
this is consistently the best sushi in New Orleans. Have a pitcher
of Sake and grab a bento box for lunch. I guarantee that you'll
enjoy the rest of your day.
5. Kyoto - Great neighborhood
Uptown sushi bar. The ambiance is intimate and familiar. The
sushi is fresh, resonably priced, and tasty.
Middle
Eastern/African
1. Lebanon's Cafe - My favorite
Lebanese in New Orleans. The food is great. The atmosphere is
casual and inviting. The waitresses always hail from all corners
of the world, bringing a cosmopolitan flavor. Did I mention
that the Lebanese iced tea, replete with a liberal handful of
pinenuts, is delicious. The eggplant sandwich is the star offering
at this fine restaurant, but you can't go wrong with anything
on the menu.
2. Byblo's - This is the most
upscale of the Lebanese options in town, and the food is very
good. The quality and presentation of the cuisine, and the space
in which it is served all suggest a little higher price point,
and so it is. A full bar is available in addition to the dining
room though, and consequently, alcoholic drinks are offered,
further setting this one apart from its contemporaries.
3. Jamila's Cafe - Ah Jamila
and Moncef...When you eat at Jamila's, you are eating at the
table of the Tunisian family you never had. I've never been
welcomed with a bigger, warmer, more genuine smile than at this
Maple St. restaurant. Oh, the foods great, too.
4. Bennachin - This West African
restaurant in the French Quarter offers a deliciously unpretentious
menu of fish, chicken, and vegetarian offerings at reasonable
prices. Bennachin is known for it's great non-alcoholic drinks
and fresh ingredients.
5. Mona's - With locations all
over the city, no matter where you are, a Mona's will be close
at hand. Every item is reasonably priced and reasonably tasty.
Not much for ambiance, Mona's is a good choice for a cheap,
healthy meal on the fly.
South of
the Border
1. La Boca - Adolfo Garcia, New
Orleans 2006 Chef of the Year, opened up this brand new Argentine
Churrasco (steak house). If you're craving red meat, this is
the spot for you. La Boca offers over 10 cuts of steak grilled
to perfection along with other Argentinian delecacies and a
great selection of reasonably prices wines.
2. Juan's Flying Burrito - This
little restaurant with a Magazine St. and Carrolton St. location
is great for reasonably priced, hearty food. It's casual, hip/anti-hipster
scene and overstuffed burritos make it a great stop, anytime.
Check out their Tilapia tacos. Fishes? Delicious.
3. Taqueria Corona - Uptown's
best Taqueria is a family owned bustler that serves authentic
Tex-Mexican fare and top-shelf Margheritas. Ah, ci!
4. Taqueria Coyacon - coming
soon
5. Liborio's - This restaurant,
an upscale New Orleans-Cuban classic, serves the best Cuban
Pork sandwich in the Gulf South, guaranteed.
