When you aren’t chowing down at the Fair Grounds, you’re going to want to see what other amazing food New Orleans has to offer. Here’s a guide to make the decision on where to eat a little easier.
New High-End Restaurants
Bijou Restaurant and Bar, 1014 N. Rampart St., 504-603-0557
Chef Eason Barksdale has created an elegant, sophisticated space where you’ll feel welcome whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite or looking to make an evening of it. Menu highlights include squid ink spaghetti, curried cauliflower, and Tom Yum chicken.
Jewel of the South, 1026 St. Louis St., 504-265-8816
Owned by famed bartenders Chris Hannah and Nick Detrich, Jewel of the South honors the legacy of 19th-century bar owner Joseph Santini. This restaurant and bar serves a menu of buttermilk fried sweetbreads, bone marrow mousse, and roast pork belly. Of course, the drink selection is otherworldly.
Zasu, 127 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-267-3233
Owned by James Beard Award-winning chef Sue Zemanick, Zasu is a cozy restaurant tucked into a converted shotgun house. The menu’s highlights include wild mushroom and potato pierogies, sauteed halibut, and Ōra King salmon.
New Casual Restaurants
Fritai, 1535 Basin St., 504-264-7899
Chef Charly Pierre serves up Haitian cuisine at this restaurant that got its start at St. Roch Market. Pierre keeps it authentic with a menu of Creole chicken, griyo (fried pork), and a plantain sandwich. The cocktail menu has a tropical edge and offers sweet mixed drinks with rum.
Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 504-381-0045
What was once a famed theater is now a fine restaurant. Chef Seth Temple combines a farm-to-table restaurant with a menu of assorted oysters, vegetables, seafood, and an inspired cocktail menu.
Saint John, 1117 Decatur St., 504-581-8120
Chef Eric Cook brought the magic that he stirred up at his Uptown restaurant Gris Gris to his restaurant in the Lower French Quarter. Not only is Saint John making a name for itself in brunch circles, but the dinner menu here has been getting some much-deserved attention. Menu highlights include oysters Saint John, chicken Clemenceau, and River Road shrimp étouffée.
Old Standbys, High-End
Brigsten’s, 77 Dante St., 504-861-7610
Frank Brigsten has been serving New Orleans favorites from his Riverbend restaurant since 1986. Menu highlights include pan-roasted pork chop, broiled gulf fish with crab crust and lemon crab sauce, and New Orleans barbecue shrimp.
Gabrielle, 2441 Orleans Ave., 504-603-2344
Gabrielle first opened its doors in 1992 to acclaim. Forced to close after Hurricane Katrina, the restaurant made a triumphant and overdue return in 2017. Chef Greg Sonnier serves his take on Cajun food with New Orleans flair. Menu highlights include slow-roasted duck, seafood cassoulet, and barbecue shrimp pie.
GW Fins, 808 Bienville St., 504-581-3467
If you’re looking for perfect seafood in a date-night atmosphere, GW Fins is your place! The French Quarter restaurant brings seafood to a decadent level with menu offerings like lobster bisque, snapper ceviche, and buttermilk fried oysters.
Old Standbys, Casual
Casamento’s, 4330 Magazine St., 504-895-9761
If you’re looking for oysters, look no further than Casamento’s. Here you can enjoy them raw, charbroiled, in a stew, or fried on a loaf of bread. If oysters aren’t your thing, the menu includes other seafood dishes and spaghetti and meatballs.
Napoleon House, 500 Chartres St., 504-524-9752
This 200-year-old landmark put the Pimm’s Cup on the map and is known for its fantastic muffuletta. But, if you’re looking for something else, the menu offers red beans and rice, gumbo, a selection of po-boys, and even a Reuben sandwich.
Parkway Bakery and Tavern, 538 Hagan Ave., 504-482-3047
Parkway Bakery is a New Orleans neighborhood staple. Here you will find po-boys of all kinds, from shrimp and oyster to roast beef. Naturally, the crowds gather here, but the food is worth the wait.
Breakfast and Brunch
Commander’s Palace, 1403 Washington Ave., 504-899-8221
When you think brunch, you should be thinking Commander’s Palace. The venerable dining establishment is famous for its weekend jazz brunch, an experience that should be on any visitor’s itinerary. Menu highlights include Creole gumbo, shrimp and tasso Henican, and cochon de lait eggs Benedict.
Elizabeth’s, 601 Gallier St., 504-944-9272
“Real food done real good” is the motto at Elizabeth’s, and the breakfast and brunch menu doesn’t disappoint. Chef Bryon Peck serves classics like fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, eggs Florentine, chicken and waffles, and fried grit cakes in this down-home restaurant with a Southern flair.
Up & Adam Eatz, 3903 Canal St., 504-708-7237
Owners Christopher and Adam Ford opened this coffee shop and restaurant during the pandemic and it has already become a Mid-City favorite. This spot boasts its own specialty coffee brand and a menu full of Southern favorites. Some tasty breakfast selections include catfish and grits, Uptown chicken sandwich, eggs Benedict, and a Tchoupitoulas omelette filled with shrimp, crawfish tails, peppers and green onions.
New Orleans-Style Food
Dooky Chase, 2301 Orleans Ave., 504-821-0600
Chef Leah Chase put Dooky Chase on the map with her unique style of Creole cuisine. Open for lunch Tuesday through Thursday and for dinner Friday and Saturday, Dooky Chase offers such New Orleans classics as red beans and rice, chicken Creole, and stuffed shrimp.
The Original Fiorella’s Café, 5325 Franklin Ave., 504-309-0352
This neighborhood joint is small but mighty. Fiorella’s got its start near the French Market but moved to Gentilly in 2016. If you’re looking for home cooking, this spot has you covered with fried chicken and Italian classics like veal parmesan and stromboli.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House, 2401 St. Ann St., 504-822-9503
You can’t get the entire New Orleans experience without visiting Willie Mae’s. There’s usually a line, but the food is worth the wait. This spot is famous for its mouth-watering fried chicken, but don’t sleep on the fried catfish, butter beans and fried okra.
Seafood and Crawfish
Bevi Seafood and Co., 236 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-488-7503
Whether you’re looking for seafood by the pound or po-boys that can’t be beat, Bevi is a place you shouldn’t miss. Bevi works with the highest quality seafood suppliers to ensure its catch is fresh and delicious.
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 739 Iberville St., 504-522-4440
Since the 1940s, Felix’s has been serving tasty seafood to hungry New Orleanians. The oysters here are served fresh and are shipped straight from the oyster bed to the restaurant. Here you’ll find every kind of seafood that you could want served in po-boys, seafood platters and gumbo. They even have alligator.
Mukbang Seafood, 8312 Oak St., 504-345-2695
Owner Kim Nguyen grew up in the restaurant business and opened her first restaurant, Magasin, on Magazine Street. Mukbang serves up tasty Vietnamese-style boiled seafood of all kinds, including crawfish and crabs. The seafood is coated in a garlic-butter sauce that makes each bite irresistible.
Late Night Eats
Buffa’s, 1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038
Open until 1 a.m., Buffa’s is where you can get a good burger and see live local music. The shows here are for all ages, and the food is served to the table or as takeout. Gator balls, salads, chicken wings, and a large selection of burgers will satisfy any late-night craving.
Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 504-598-1010
You can’t mention New Orleans late-night eats without including this staple. Since 1939, Clover Grill has satisfied those after-hours cravings with its 24-hour service. Whether you’re in the mood for a burger or breakfast, Clover Grill has you covered with a selection that includes a classic two-egg breakfast, sandwiches and omelets.
Verti Marte, 1201 Royal St., 504-525-4767
Sure, you could drop by Verti Marte 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and order your choice of breakfast, sandwiches, meatloaf, lasagna and more, but the biggest reason to choose this French Quarter corner market is the free delivery. With menu highlights like Philly cheesesteak, roast beef po-boys, and a muffuletta, you can’t go wrong with this spot. Be prepared—they only accept cash.
