Jazz Fest is here, and while it’s common knowledge that there are plenty of food options on the grounds, sometimes it’s nice to venture out and experience some of the other fantastic food that New Orleans has to offer. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining or a breakfast that will get your day started on the right foot, we have you covered in this months installment of OffBeat EATS with some “can’t miss” food spots that are sure to satisfy your hunger.

OffBeat EATS: New High-End Restaurants

Dakar NOLA: 3814 Magazine St., 504-493-9396
Chef Serigne Mbaye’s Dakar NOLA offers a beautiful and unique Senegalese tasting dinner menu. The menu changes daily but is always authentic Senegalese food. Past dishes include Akara, Gulf Fish a la Senegalaise, and Thiebou niebe.

MaMou: 942 N. Rampart St., 504-381-4557
Chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier opened this French brasserie on Rampart Street late last year. Here you’ll enjoy exquisite French dishes in a cozy space. The menu includes Gulf Fish ‘Court Bouillon,’ Escargot Tartlet, and Poisson a la Florentine.

Yakuza House: 2740 Severn Ave., 504-345-2031
Chef Huy Pham delicately molds and shapes nigiri and hand rolls right before your eyes at Yakuza House. With traditional practices and a menu to match, Yakuza House is as close as you can get to authentic sushi in New Orleans, and your meal here will be memorable.

OffBeat EATS: New Casual Restaurants

Devil Moon BBQ: 1188 Girod St., 504-788-0093
Pitmaster Shannon Bingham is cooking up barbecue with a Louisiana focus. You’ll find some classics here, like brisket and sausage, with uniquely New Orleans sides like dirty rice, sauce piquante, and white beans and rice.

Miss Shirley’s: 3009 Magazine St., 504-354-2530
Formerly the owner of Royal China with her husband, chef Tang Lee, Shirley Lee has brought her beloved menu of Chinese classics to Magazine St. The menu includes Dim Sum and Noodles as well as other favorites such as Moo Shu, Fried Rice, and Sesame Chicken.

Mucho Mas Mexican Eatery & Lounge: 8201 Oak St., 504-324-1616
At Mucho Mas, Chef Julio Machado has created a fun space where “Mexican meets modern.” With a menu that includes ramen with a Mexican flair, Mexican favorites such as tacos and enchiladas, and an extensive cocktail menu, you will surely get a taste of something delicious on Oak St.

OffBeat EATS: Old Standbys, High-End

Clancy’s Restaurant: 6100 Annunciation St., 504-895-1111
Clancy’s has served the people of New Orleans since the late 1940s. This restaurant is one of my absolute favorites and is a must for any special occasion or visit to the city. The menu includes New Orleans classics such as Crawfish Étouffée, Gulf Fish Almondine, and Crawfish Gumbo. And you can’t miss the bread pudding for dessert—I think it’s one of the best in town!

Pêche Seafood Grill: 800 Magazine St., 504-522-1744
Chefs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski, and Ryan Prewitt designed Pêche Seafood Grill with the cooking of South America, Spain, and the Gulf Coast in mind. The menu includes Baked Drum with Mushroom Broth and Calas; Grilled Tuna with Lentils, Carrots, and Kumquats; and Grilled Hanger Steak with Salsa Verde.

La Petite Grocery: 4238 Magazine St., 504-891-3377
Chef and Owner Justin Devillier puts a creative spin on traditional New Orleans cuisine with dishes like Gulf Shrimp and Grits, Panéed Rabbit, and Alligator Bolognese. One of the restaurant’s signature dishes is Blue Crab Beignets, served with malt vinegar aioli and lemon.

OffBeat EATS: Old Standbys, Casual

Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar: 5240 Annunciation St., 504-899-9126
Domilise’s was founded around 1918 by Peter and Sophie Domilise as a neighborhood bar with a friendly and welcoming vibe. This spot has fed generations of New Orleanians. The menu here is classic, with an assortment of po-boy options such as fried shrimp, hot smoked sausage, and, of course, roast beef.

R & O Restaurant and Catering: 216 Metairie-Hammond Hwy., 504-831-1248
If you’re in the mood for some Italian classics, look no further than R & O Restaurant and Catering. Founded in 1980 by Ora and Roland Mollere, R&O has an extensive menu that includes lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and soft-shell crab parmesan. The restaurant also serves a variety of po boys and pizzas.

OffBeat EATS: Breakfast and Brunch

3rd Block Depot:316 Chartres St., 504-552-4095
Executive Chef Nick Ocheltree serves brunch in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Located in the W New Orleans hotel in the French Quarter, 3rd Block Depot’s menu features dishes such as Bananas Foster French Toast, Boudin Benedict, Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish, and a wide selection of fun cocktails. Every Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant hosts “Legs and Eggs” featuring burlesque dancer Bella Blue, who performs with live music while guests dine on two creative courses and bottomless bellinis and mimosas.

Birdy’s Behind the Bower: 1320 Magazine St., 504-302-2992
Chef Graham Wolfe has created a menu of brunch classics with a New Orleans flair at Birdy’s Behind the Bower. Menu selections include Fried Chicken Biscuit, Bubble Waffles, Birdy’s Burger, and a Brunch Board. The atmosphere is fun, with bright colors and outdoor seating.

Saint John: 1117 Decatur St., 504-581-8120
Chef Eric Cook brought the magic he stirred up at his Uptown restaurant Gris Gris to his restaurant on Decatur Street. Saint John has become a brunch destination in the French Quarter in just over a year. Brunch menu selections include Catfish Amandine, Grits and Grillades, and Pain Perdu. This spot also offers daily bottomless Mumm Mimosas with a choice of Mumm Napa Brut Prestige or Brut Rose for only $45.

OffBeat EATS: New Orleans-Style Food

Gabrielle: 2441 Orleans Ave., 504-603-2344
Since 1992, Chef Greg Sonnier has served his take on Cajun food with New Orleans flair at Gabrielle. The restaurant’s Duck, Rabbit, and Guinea Hen Gumbo is considered one of the best gumbos in town. Other menu highlights include Slow Roasted Duck, Seafood Cassoulet, and Filet of Gulf Fish.

Lil Dizzy’s Café: 1500 Esplanade Ave., 504-766-8687
Founded by Wayne Baquet, Sr., in 2005, Lil Dizzy’s is a family-owned restaurant famous for its fried chicken and gumbo. Other menu selections include po boys, seafood platters, and delicious sides such as mac and cheese and southern greens.

Rosedale Restaurant: 801 Rosedale Dr., 504-309-9595
Since 2016, Chef Susan Spicer has been serving her take on Southern cuisine in a building that used to be a police station. The menu here includes a cochon de lait po boy, shrimp creole, and my personal favorite, fried chicken with mac ’n’ cheese, smothered greens, and Tabasco honey.

Vaucresson’s Creole Cafe & Deli: 1800 St. Bernard Ave., 504-727-3653
Vance Vaucresson is a 3rd generation sausage maker who has been making sausage since he was eight. Vaucresson’s Creole Café and Deli is a nod to Vaucresson’s father, Robert “Sonny” Vaucresson, and Vaucresson meat markets, which have been a staple in the neighborhoods of the seventh ward for 122 years. The menu here includes a selection of sausages such as Creole hot sausage, crawfish sausage, and Italian sausage served on platters or po boys.

OffBeat EATS: Seafood and Crawfish

Crabby Jack’s: 428 Jefferson Hwy., 504-833-2722
Owner of Crabby Jack‘s chef Jacques Leonardi opened Crabby Jack’s because he wanted to own a restaurant that served fresh seafood and po boys at the lowest prices in town. Crabby Jack’s is famous for its overstuffed shrimp po boy and gumbo. You are guaranteed to leave this restaurant full.

Salvo’s Seafood: 7742 LA-23, Belle Chasse, 504-393-7303
Salvo St. Philip opened Salvo’s Seafood in 1984. Located just across the river in Belle Chasse, Salvo’s is known for its down-home feel and fresh seafood. The menu includes seafood plates, overstuffed po boys, daily specials, and more unusual selections such as fried frog legs and Cajun-fried alligator. Salvo’s is also known for its “all you can eat” seafood special after 5 p.m.

Seither’s Seafood: 279 Hickory Ave., Harahan, 504-738-1116
Chef and owner Jason Seither opened the seafood destination Seither’s in 2004. Since then, his name has become synonymous with fresh, local seafood made to order and spiced to perfection. Seither’s went national when featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Menu selections include fried and boiled seafood platters, soft shell crab, and crawfish.

OffBeat EATS: Restaurants with Music

Buffa’s: 1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038
Buffa’s is a New Orleans institution known for its live music and late-night kitchen. This spot hosts all-ages shows every night and serves a Sunday brunch and a menu packed with delicious food like red beans and rice, boudin balls, and the famed Buffa burger.

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro: 626 Frenchmen St., 504-949-0696
Snug Harbor has been hosting jazz musicians on Frenchmen Street for 40 years. Charmaine Neville, Ellis Marsalis, Germaine Bazzle to name a few have taken the stage here. Not only that but this spot has a restaurant, so you can have dinner before seeing a show. Menu highlights include a seafood platter, a fried oyster platter, and BBQ shrimp and of course the famous hamburgers served with a fully loaded baked potato, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles.

Three Muses: 536 Frenchmen St., 504-252-4801
Miss Sophie Lee serves up music and dinner in a relaxed, casual atmosphere on Frenchmen St. Three Muses‘ menu is inspired by Lee’s Korean heritage and includes Pork Belly Bao, Korean Fried Chicken, and Tempura Shrimp. A customer favorite is Ms. Moon’s Bulgogi Rice Bowl, a dish of thinly sliced marinated beef, kimchi, bean sprouts, spinach, and ssamjang created by Lee’s mother.

OffBeat EATS: Late Night

Cleo’s Mediterranean Cuisine: 940 Canal St., 504-522-4504
Owner Tarek Madkour offers more than your typical late-night fare at Cleo’s Mediterranean Cuisine. A firm believer that delicious food shouldn’t just be an option during working hours, Madkour’s menu includes fried chicken, hummus bowls, sautéed vegetables, and grilled fish, all inspired by his Egyptian culture.

Dat Dog: 601 Frenchmen St., 504-309-3362
Constantine Georges founded Dat Dog in 2011 as a simple hot dog stand. Today Dat Dog has multiple locations throughout New Orleans and boasts a menu packed with over ten varieties of hot dogs, including a gator dog, a crawfish dog, and a Chicago dog. They even have a vegan option (and that’s nothing to bark at!).

Melba’s: 1525 Elysian Fields Ave., 504-267-7765
Scott Wolfe and Jane Wolfe own this 24-hour po boy and breakfast spot that has been feeding the late-night crowd since 2012. Dubbed “America’s Busiest Po Boy Shop,” you can get more than just the famous sandwich here. The menu includes chicken wings, hot plates, desserts, and even daiquiris!