Eat Like a New Orleanian . . .

New Orleans isn’t just a city — it’s a feast.
We spend our meals talking about the next one.

Whether you’re dressing up for a special night out or grabbing a po’boy with gravy dripping down your elbows, every meal here makes a memory.
Here are a more than a few of my favorite spots — from fine dining to casual bites — where you can taste the real soul of New Orleans.

Fancy, Schmancy

1. Commander’s Palace
(Garden District legend — iconic Creole, white tablecloth, and turtle soup.)

2. Gabrielle Restaurant
(Hidden gem — Creole fine dining, intimate, personal.)

3. Brennan’s
(Famous for breakfast at Brennan’s, but dinner is stunning — classic French Creole.)

4. GW Fins
(Seafood at its absolute best — elegant but relaxed, specializing in fresh Gulf fish and seasonal perfection.)

5. Restaurant R’evolution
(Inventive takes on Louisiana traditions, upscale but very New Orleans at heart.)

Nice but Not Stuffy

1. Herbsaint
(Upscale bistro — refined but relaxed, James Beard winner, always delicious.)

2. Saba
(Fresh, lively Israeli-inspired food in Uptown — vibrant and modern.)

3. Coquette
(Neighborhood spot in the Garden District — Southern, seasonal, always creative.)

4. Paladar 511
(Hip Marigny restaurant — gorgeous Italian/Southern fusion, beautiful space.)

5. Pêche
(Seafood-focused, rustic and lively, James Beard award-winner — fresh, bold, and some of the best bites in the city.)

Come As You Are

1. Parkway Bakery & Tavern
(Best po’boys in town — roast beef or fried shrimp, dressed, messy, perfect.)

2. Toups’ Meatery — Big, bold Louisiana flavors — famous for their meat board, cracklins. Try a bunch of small plates.

3. Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
(Classic New Orleans soul food — fried chicken, red beans, good people.

4. Mandina’s
(Casual neighborhood joint — Creole comfort food, big plates, old-school atmosphere.)

5. Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant & Catering
(Laid-back, local crawfish, boiled seafood — real New Orleans backyard boil feel.)

Must-Experience

- Jazz Brunch at Commander’s Palace
(Get dressed up a little. Eat turtle soup, sip 25¢ martinis, listen to a jazz trio stroll by your table.)

- Crawfish Boil (Seasonal: March–June)
(If you can find a local boil — go. Otherwise, try Clesi’s or Bevi Seafood Co.)

- French Market Food Stroll
(Grab pralines, gator sausage on a stick, hot sauce samples — a snacking adventure.)

- Eat Late at Coop’s Place
(No reservations, a little scrappy, a lot of flavor.)

- Bakery Morning at La Boulangerie
(The best croissant in the city. French Quarter is amazing, but this Uptown spot is magic.)

Must-Eat

1. Gumbo
Where: Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
(Classic Creole gumbo that tastes like the the family tradition that it is.)

2. Jambalaya
Where: Coop’s Place
(Casual, packed with flavor, not too touristy.)

3. Crawfish Étouffée
Where: Jacques-Imo’s Cafe
(Funky, colorful Uptown favorite — rich, buttery étouffée with that unmistakable New Orleans soul.)

4. Po’Boy (Fried Shrimp or Roast Beef)
Where: Parkway Bakery & Tavern
(Legendary. Get it “dressed” — lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickle.)

5. Red Beans and Rice
Where: Joey K’s on Magazine Street (or Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe)
(Especially on Mondays — tradition!)

6. Muffuletta
Where: Central Grocery
(The original. Olive salad heaven.)

7. Chargrilled Oysters
Where: Drago’s Seafood Restaurant
(Garlicky, buttery, addictive.)

8. Beignets
Where: Café du Monde
(Iconic — but go early or late to avoid the crowd.)

9. Bananas Foster
Where: Brennan’s
(Tableside drama with a torch — worth it.)

10. Turtle Soup
Where: Commander’s Palace
(Only-in-New-Orleans kind of luxury.)

Must-Drink

1. Sazerac Cocktail
Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt Hotel
(The official cocktail of New Orleans.)

2. French 75
Where: Arnaud’s French 75 Bar
(Light, bubbly, glamorous — very MCM vibes.)

3. Frozen Irish Coffee
Erin Rose
(Dive bar gem — the ultimate walking-around drink.)

4. Pimm’s Cup
Napoleon House
(Refreshing, classic, European-Creole fusion.)

5. Chicory Coffee
Where: Morning Call (or Café du Monde if you’re doing the full experience)
(Earthy, rich, a must-try.)

Other Local-Musts

- Hot Stuff Meat and Three — Southern comfort food feels like Sunday at granny’s

-Sun Ray Grill — Bright, relaxed, and full of flavor — global comfort food with a Louisiana twist, on the Best Bank.

- Tan Dinh — Vietnamese powerhouse on the Westbank — that locals swear by.

- Banana Blossom — Sleek, modern Thai with fresh flavors and beautiful plating — worth crossing the river for.

- Company Burger — Classic, juicy burgers done right — housemade everything, simple, craveable, local fav.