If your
budget or expense account doesn't include Commander's Palace or Galatoire's, or you can't get a reservation for Emeril's,
kick back in one of these neighborhood restaurants. To really
sound like a local, be sure to order a regional beer, like Abita
or Dixie. When you order a po'boy sandwich, you'll be asked "Do you want that dressed?" This means with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles
and mayo.
-
ACME
Oyster House, 724 Iberville Street, French Quarter. Serves
up great oysters and yummy New Orleans favorites at a value
price. If the line is too long and you just want to slurp
down some raw oysters, go across the street to....
-
Felix's
Oyster House, 739 Iberville Street, French Quarter. Belly
up to the raw bar, tell the man how many you want and order
a beer. While you wait, grab the catsup, horseradish and hot
sauce and mix up your our cocktail sauce.
-
Coop's
Place, 1009 Decatur Street, French Quarter. All the New Orleans
favorites in a neighborhood joint.
-
Clover
Grill, 900 Bourbon Street, French Quarter. For a burger or
breakfast at 3:00 a.m. or at any hour.
-
Central
Grocery, 923 Decatur Street, French Quarter. Home of the muffuletta
sandwich: soft round loaf of bread stuffed with ham, salami
and mozzarella, topped with a chopped olive salad. Split one
with a friend or two, grab a handful of napkins and a beer,
and have a picnic in Jackson Square.
-
Mother's,
401 Poydras, CBD. Stick to the gumbos, jambalaya and po'boys —especially
the "Debris" or "Ferdie Special"—since other items can
be just OK.
-
Café
Atchafalaya, 901 Louisiana Avenue, Garden District. Southern
and Creole cuisine. Try the fried green tomatoes and stuffed
pork chop or one of the daily specials. Now REOPENED after renovation. New chef & owner. (Magazine Street
bus stop: Louisiana.)
-
Mandina's,
3800 Canal Street, Mid-City. Italian and Creole-style cuisine.
Try the turtle soup, trout meuniere or any other the other
seafood dishes. Cash only. (Canal Streetcar) NOW REOPENED.
-
Jaques-Imo's
Café, 8324 Oak Street, Riverbend. A bit more expensive
than the others listed here. It has become very popular with
both locals and tourist (reservations accepted only for parties
over 5). The atmosphere is casual and fun and the food is
to die for (and might kill you if you ate it every day). It
is a decadent, culinary delight of Creole and Southern delicacies.
Home of the battered, deep-fried, roast beef po'boy and the
shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake. Excellent New Orleans-style
BBQ shrimp as well. (St Charles streetcar stop: Oak Street)
-
Dante's Kitchen, 736 Dante Street. (504) 861-3121 It's gotten so hard to get into Jaques-Imo's I had to find a new favorite. This is it! (Streetcar stop-where St. Charles Ave. meets Carrolton Ave.)
- Dick & Jenny's - Along the lines of Jaques-Imo's, I had been wanting to try this place for a while. I finally did and it's gooooood. 4501 Tchoupitoulas. (504) 894-9880. Contemporary Creole.
Casamento's Restaurant - 4330 Magazine St. (504) 895-9761 - Oysters all ways and only open during oyster season. Cash only. (Magazine Street
bus stop: Napolean)
- Ignatius Eatery. 4200 Magazine. (504) 896-2225. Named after the character in John Kennedy Toole novel A Confederacy of Dunces, this casual restaurant does all the New Orleans staples - red beans, gumbo, etc. - really well.
-
Savvy Gourmet - 4519 Magazine Street - Not originally slated to be a resturant, but the need was great after Katrina so they serve lunch. Most food is excellent, service sucks. They also have guest chefs and cooking classes and tons of great cooking gagets. A very unique concept. (Magazine Street
bus)
-
Joey K's - 3001 Magazine St. (504) 891-0997 -Typical neighborhood place with typical New Orleans fare. Very casual. Great daily specials. (Magazine Street
bus)
Other cuisine:
-
Taquaria
Corona - cheap, fresh and deeelicious.
Uptown - 5932 Magazine St (near State St)
-
Juan's
Flying Burrito - also cheap and delicious. Funky atmosphere.
2018 Magazine St.
-
Middle
Eastern - Mona's Cafe- once again, cheap and delicious. BYOB.
3 locations:
4126 Magazine St (near Napoleon Ave)
1120 S Carrollton Ave. near Oak St
Mid-city - 3901 Banks Street
French Quarter - 504 Frenchman St. (across Esplanade St from
the French Quarter)
-
Indian - Nirvana - 4308 Magazine Street (one block east of Napoleon
Ave.) Excellent all you can eat lunch buffet. NEW expanded menu.
-
Sushi
Kyoto - 4920 Prytania (cross street - Robert, off of St.
Charles)
Sake Cafe - 4126 Magazine Street - (504) 897-0054 - very swanky and hip
-
Pizza
places
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen - 615 Carrollton (at St.Charles)
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen - 95 French Market Place
Reginelli's Pizzeria - 741 State St. 899-1414; 3244 Magazine St. 895-7272
Slice - 1513 St. Charles Ave. 525-7437 - great wine selection for a casual place.
Theo's Pizza - 4218 Magazine St. 894-8554 (near Napolean Ave.)
-
Inexpensive
French
La Madeleine Cafe - Uptown - 601 Carrolton (at St.Charles)
-
Expensive
French
Cafe Degas - 3127 Esplanade Av - reservations (504) 945-5635
Lilette Restaurant - 3637 Magazine St. (504) 895-1636 Tres cher
Le Petite Grocery - 4238 Magazine St. (504) 891-3377 I personally have not eaten here yet but have heard many good things.
La Crepe Nanou - 1410 Robert Street @ Prytania Street - (504) 899-2670 - French Bistro
-
Vincent's Italian Cuisine - 7839 Saint Charles Ave - 504-866-9313 Great service, food and atmosphere. Now that's amore!
- RioMar. 800 S. Peters. 525-3474. Spanish. Amazing food and awesome tapas.
- Breakfast
Slim Goody's 3322 block Magazine - Breakfast and lunch only. Diner. Cash only.
Surrey's Cafe and Juice Bar, 1418 Magazine St. 504-524-3828 - breakfast
- If you are craving some really good, artisian cheese, St. James Cheese Company - 5004 Prytania. 899-4737 - is the place to go. Grab a bottle of wine at the shop next door to wash the cheese and bread down.
This list is my no means exhaustive, and are mostly places uptown, downtown and mid-city; the parts of the town I frequent. Food critic Tom Fitzmorris has a web site devoted to food and restaurants. He's been cataloging and rating restaurants that have (re)opened after Katrina. He also has The Food Show 2-5pm weekdays on 1350AM and Noon-2 p.m. Saturdays on WWL 870 AM/WWL-FM 105.3 where he talks about food and only food. |