Louisiana - New Orleans has some of the best restaurants, from local seafood restaurants to classics from the past. Visitors are treated like royalty by New Orleans's unique cuisine.
You can enjoy a variety of cuisines, including African, Caribbean, French, Spanish, Italian, Creole, French, and Spanish. The iconic New Orleans dishes, which include gumbo and jambalaya, red beans and rice, and raw oysters, are all extraordinary. New Orleans' best restaurants honor the old using modern techniques and flavor combinations.
1. Commander's Palace
This landmark Garden District restaurant is the crown jewel of Brennan's food empire. It has been a beacon for fine dining since 1880. This is not a place to rest on your laurels. Chefs Emeril Lagasse and Jaime Shannon, Meg Bickford, and Tory McPhail have all contributed to the Creole menu. The turtle soup is a must-have, while the bread pudding souffle makes a great ending. And everything else will be a hit. The Victorian mansion is ideal for a small dinner, a large celebration, or relaxed 25-cent martini lunch.
2. Herbsaint
This Central Business District's spot is always packed with local families, tourists, and after-work workers. The seasonal menu, which combines Southern, French, and rustic Italian flavors, is well-represented by local farmers and fishermen. The daily lunch and dinner menus and standard dishes like spaghetti made with chicken egg and duck confit are always a hit.
3. Brigtsen's
The Riverbend's Victorian cottage is a century-old gem offering some of the city's finest Creole cuisine. Frank Brigtsen is a master of modernizing classic dishes and creating delicious new ones. It's a great place to sample New Orleans cuisine after a walk through the neighborhood. Every dish is made with love and flavor, from rabbit gumbo, maque choux, shrimp remoulade, and trout meuniere.
4. Coquette
This Garden District gem is a great place to eat. It has the feel of a local restaurant but the innovative menu of an adventurous kitchen. This small menu frequently changes to reflect what's new and local and what creative twists Michael Stoltzfus and Kristen Essig have created. Some entrees are black drums with vegetable sauce, fennel sausage, and Mexican street-style okra. Red snapper has been served with butter beans. Can't decide? You will always find surprises in the five-course blind-tasting menu.
5. Cochon
Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski have created a bright and welcoming space that elevates Cajun country's Boucherie, flavors, and savors with sophisticated takes on boudin and andouille. Locally sourced pork, seafood, and other produce are prepared in-house. You can pair your meal with moonshine cocktails, including cochon with cracklings and rabbit with dumplings. The Warehouse District setting is reflected in the rustic yet modern setting anchored by heavy wooden tables. You can also stop by Cochon Butcher next door for meaty treats.
6. Gris-Gris
Many restaurants in New Orleans serve classics. But Gris-Gris elevates them with modern twists and innovative takes on the traditional. An oyster BLT is made with smoked pork belly, tomato jam, and arugula. The duck breast is topped with local maple syrup and a sugarcane demi glaze. It's served with pecan and roasted sweet potato casserole. Eric Cook's mother's recipe for chicken and dumplings is also trendy. The location--downstairs is an open-concept kitchen with counter seating, and upstairs has a dining area and bar. There's also outdoor seating on the balcony that overlooks lower Magazine Street. This has helped Gris-Gris become a favorite spot for neighborhood regulars and special occasion diners.
7. Saba
Alon Shaya is a chef who serves modern Israeli cuisine. He pays attention to technique, ingredients, and the well-being of his staff. Uptown's bright, airy restaurant offers a welcoming setting for sharing delicious dishes like Shaya's grandmother's lutenists. The pita is delicious, freshly baked in the wood-burning oven. Perfect complements to this cocktail are creative cocktails and a wine selection that includes Slovenian and Israeli wines.
8. La Petite Grocery
Chef Justin Devillier has creatively enhanced New Orleans classics at Magazine Street for over a decade. La Petite Grocery, refined but vibrant, is the place to go if you want something a little different from the usual. The beignets are filled with blue crab and served with malt vinegar. The gumbo has chicken confit and tasso. Turtle Bolognese comes with bucatini and a soft-boiled egg. Another crowd favorite is the LPG Cheeseburger with house-made pickles and onion marmalade. It also comes with a gruyere on top of a brioche bun. Although Chef Devillier has been working with Justine recently, this Uptown location remains his favorite.
9. GW Fins
This French Quarter restaurant is known for its fresh fish. Tenney Flynn, a keen fisherman, is meticulous when selecting only the freshest products from his sources. Each day, Tenney Flynn changes his entrees to reflect the freshest catch. Whatever the preparation--wood-grilled, parmesan crusted, blackened--the flavors of the fish shine through. The classics include lobster dumplings, New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp, and lobster dumplings. Keep your eyes peeled for the "Scalibut," a unique halibut/scallop combination. You won't want to eat too many biscuits.
10. Fritai
Fritai, a restaurant specializing in authentic Haitian cuisines, has been a hit since its opening in Treme. This Caribbean-influenced city is home to traditional Haitian food and spirits. Begin with a cocktail with clairin, then move on to the fritai sandwich with pulled pork between two fried plantains with avocado, mango, and pikliz. Or a mirliton salad featuring grilled carrots and candied plantain. These bright flavors will take you on an unforgettable culinary journey to Haiti.
