New Orleans has many distinct, diverse neighborhoods filled with even more distinct, diverse restaurants. Choices range from basic sandwiches and boiled or fried seafood served on newspaper, or raw oysters served at the bar, to some of the finest dining experiences to be had in the world.

 

We at Louisiana Kitchen & Culture have put together a selection of some of our favorites from around town, and invite our visitors to give them a try. Here's a basic map of the different neighborhoods. For your convenience, our friends at the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation have downloadable, detailed maps of each neighborhood available for free off their website.

 

 

Feel free to add your favorites in the comments section below.

 

$: Meals under $20 per person; Casual attire

$$: Meals $20 - $50 per person; Upscale casual attire usually accepted

$$$: Meals likely over $50 per person; dressier attire often expected

 

Please click any restaurant link and web site with more information will open in a pop up window.

 

Marigny/Bywater

 

$  Elizabeth’s is out in the Bywater neighborhood, and is a great place for brunch, with breakfast items on the menu most days until mid-afternoon. Also for lunch and dinner; closed Mondays.

 

$$ Marigny Brasserie has a beautiful dining room and a great bar area. The menu specializes in New Orleans and Creole dishes.

 

 

French Quarter

 

$$ Cafe Giovanni offers traditional Italian dining in the French Quarter—embellished with live opera! 

 

$$ Sylvain is dubbed a "gastropub" and has a wide-ranging menu. Opened in the fall of 2010, reviewers are raving.

 

$$ Galvez offers a long bar, a wide selection of tapas and other Spanish food, and an incredible view of the Mississippi River.

 

$$ Bayona is Susan Spicer's flaghip restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter, offering Mediteranean, Asian, and Indian cuisine.

 

$$ Muriel's Jackson Square is a beautiful restaurant right in the heart of the French Quarter; it's reputed to be haunted.

 

$$ GW Fins' menu changes daily, always with a selection of seafood at its seasonal peak.

 

$$ Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House is all about fresh, seasonal Gulf seafood—and bourbon!

 

$$ Criollo is in the historic Hotel Monteleon; new in 2012, the historic venue has undergone a beautiful renovation.

 

$$ Ralph Brennan's Redfish Grill offers fresh in-season Gulf seafood, including LK publisher Susan Ford's favorite barbecue shrimp.

 

$$ Palace Cafe has a wide-ranging New Orleans menu. Call now and ask to sit upstairs by the windows so you can watch the world go by on Canal Street.

 

$$$ Dinner at Antoine’s has been famous since the restaurant opened in 1840. Classic New Orleans dining.

 

$$$ Arnaud's Restaurant offers Dixie Land Jazz in the Jazz Bistro, and classic New Orleans dining in the main dining room.

 

$$$ Brennan’s, opened in 1946, is known for Breakfast at Brennan's, and Bananas Foster.

 

$$$ Galatoire’s serves authentic French Creole cuisine; rely on your waiter to make excellent recommendations.

 

$$$ Le Meritage's menu is unique—you may order "small plates" for tasting or full portions if you're not into sharing. Wine suggestions are presented with each dish.

 

$$$ Restaurant R'evolution by chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto is new in 2012 and is getting rave reviews.

 

$$$ Stella! received a rare "five bean" review from the Times Picayune, and offers "Global Modern Cuisine" influenced by the chef's Louisiana roots.

 

 

Mid City

 

$ Katie’s is a casual restaurant featuring sandwiches, soups, and other family-friendly fare.

 

$ Crescent Pie and Sausage has a great dining room, daily specials, house smoked meats, and a board full of wines by the glass.

 

$ Ralph Brennan's Cafe NOMA is located inside the New Orleans Museum of Art, and overlooks one of the lakes in beautiful City Park.

 

$ Parkway Bakery and Tavern is hidden away on Bayou St. John and has some of the best po-boys in town. Seating is communal.

 

$ Liuzza’s offers down-home Louisiana, Cajun, authentic Italian, and seafood dishes. Plus, the coldest beer in town!

 

$$ Mandina’s offers casual Italian and Creole dining in Mid-City, and made news earlier this year when they finally started accepting credit cards.

 

 

Central Business/Warehouse District

 

$ Cochon Butcher is a butcher shop, a sandwich shop, and a wine market all rolled into one, known for house-cured meats and charcuterie.

 

$ Rouses is a regional, family-owned supermarket and a one-stop-shop for stocking up on authentic Lousiana flavors for your pantry. Lots of hot meal options featuring local favorites.

 

$$ Grand Isle lets you experience seafood the ways it's served at family fish camps all along the Gulf. Fried, boiled, sautéed or grilled, it's delicious.

 

$$ Cafe Adelaide in the Loews Hotel offers modern New Orleans, Cajun, and Creole cuisine, and has one of the best bartenders in the city.

 

$$ Dragos good Italian American food, but they're known for their char-grilled oysters.

 

$$ ROOT  From Chef Phillip Lopez, the menu is unlike anything else you'll find in New Orleans. The restaurant won numerous awards in 2012, including Top 50 New from Bon Apetit

 

$$ Rio Mar  Specializes in the freshest seafood.

 

$$ Manning’s features casual dining in a sports bar atmosphere

 

$$ Cochon is Donald Link's ode to Cajun Southern cooking.

 

$$ A Mano offers fresh handmade pasta in a variety of presentations; open for lunch on Friday.

 

$$ Luke is one of John Besh's restaurants; the back room looks into the open kitchen.

 

$$ Borgne restaurant is a collaboration between chefs John Besh and Brian Landry, and features great local seafood.

 

$$ Mulate’s has, in addition to great Cajun food, great Cajun music and dancing.

 

$$ Domenica is one of John Besh's restaurants, and is located in the beautifully renovated Roosevelt hotel.

 

$$ Mike’s On the Avenue has an eclectic menu with an Asian influence; the walls of the restaurant are covered in art.

 

$$$ August is John Besh's flagship restaurant.

 

$$$ The Grill Room at the Windsor Court is a classic, elegant New Orleans dining experience.

 

 

Lower Garden District

 

$ St. Charles Tavern is open 24 hours a day and is on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line.

 

$ The Trolley Stop Cafe serves inexpensive food starting at 6:00 a.m. Thursday - Saturday they're open 24 hours. 

 

$ Irish House From Chef Matt Murphy, there's a vast array of beers and authentic Irish cuisine.    

 

$$ Jackson Contemporary Louisiana cuisine, located on bustling Magazine Street

 

$$ Zea Rotisserie and Grill  The St. Charles Avenue location is on the streetcar line; go for the cheese grits. Don't think about calories.

 

$$ Eleven 79  Classic Italian food, neighborhood feel. Check the website for daily specials.

 

$$$ Emeril’s Delmonico  Need we say more? Located on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line.

 

$$$ Mr. John’s Steak and Seafood  

 

 

Garden District

 

$ Sucre has the most heavenly desserts imaginable.

 

$ Balcony Bar and Cafe very casual, with the usual bar food selections.

 

$ Reginelli’s Pizza Award-winning, with two locations.

 

$ The Bulldog Bar and Grill Casual neighborhood hangout, with a heated outdoor patio.

 

$ Superior  Bar and Grill Mexican, with great margaritas.

 

$ Tracy’s Po-boys, sandwiches, seafood plates.

 

$ The Grocery Po-boys, pressed sandwiches, chicken & sausage gumbo.

 

$ Joey K’s combines home-style cooking (meatloaf, turkey and stuffing) with New Orleans classics such as jambalaya and red beans and rice, all in a relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere. 

 

$ Magazine Po-Boy Shop Po-boys, sandwiches, seafood plates.

 

$ Stein’s Market and Deli Combo deli and market; sandwiches and bagels.

 

$$ Cafe Atchafalaya True Louisiana flavors. Try the shrimp and grits.

 

$$ Coquette Beautiful bar, great New Orleans and Louisiana flavors.

 

$$ Salu Spanish-style tapas, inexpensive wines by the glass. 

 

$$$ Commander’s Palace The grande dame of the Garden District. The chef's table is the place to be, but reservations are required months and months in advance. 

 

 

Uptown

 

$ Casamento’s combines traditional Italian with New Orleans seafood and is one of the classic restaurants of the city.

 

$ Cure is very much the hip cocktail scene uptown—so don't expect staid bar food.

 

$ Domilise’s New Orleans po-boy institution that looks like a hole in the wall, neighborhood dive. 

 

$ Mahoney’s Po-Boy Shop Po-boys with a modern twist.

 

$ La Boulangerie Gourmet sandwiches, great sourdough bread.

 

$$ Pascal’s Manale Many claim the barbecue shrimp here is the best in the world.

 

$$ Dick & Jenny’s Fresh, modern Louisiana flavors.

 

$$ La Petite Grocery A beautiful restaurant in the heart of Magazine Street. Don't miss the blue crab beignets.

 

$$ Patois Southern Louisiana cuisine, great charcuterie.

 

$$ Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar is on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line in uptown New Orleans. Beautifully renovated, Chef Justin Ferguson offers great Louisiana seafood.

 

$$ The Upperline offers contemporary Creole cuisine.

 

$$ Vincent’s Italian Cuisine Many say this is the best Sicilian-style food in New Orleans.

 

$$ Vizard’s Classic New Orleans cuisine.

 

$$$ Clancy’s Classic old-school New Orleans and Creole cuisine.

 

$$$ Gautreau’s Modern Louisiana flavors.

 

 

Carrolton

 

 

$ Oak is an upscale wine bar with delicious small plate choices on the menu.

 

$ Camellia Grill Classic, iconic New Orleans.

 

$ Cooter Brown’s Great neighborhood bar and restaurant. Keep an eye out for John Goodman.

 

$ Squeal Bar-B-Que Delicious, smokey barbecue.

 

$$ Jacques-Imo's Cafe Huge portions, long waits, great times. Iconic New Orleans restaurant.

 

$$ Boucherie Affordable, South Louisiana flavors.

 

$$ Ye Olde College Inn is an iconic New Orleans restaurant with fresh, modern Louisiana flavors.

 

$$$ Brigtsen’s Restaurant Chef Frank Bristsen routinely turns out some of the best food in the city.