When one comes to New Orleans and thinks about dining they are met with almost instantly the tourist traps and the flashy advertisements of all those restaurants whose names get thrown around in the New York Times and Washington Post as the ‘Best Restaurants’. Any local will tell you these are not the places to go if you’re looking for authentic cuisine, whether Creole, Cajun, American or something else.
It’s time to look past the bright lights of the French Quarter and well-known names because sometimes it’s the hole-in-the-wall places, down on the side streets and off the beaten path that happen to be the best New Orleans restaurants.
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13 New Orleans Restaurants You Don’t Want to Miss
Here’s a short list of where to eat & what to eat when you’re in New Orleans (from a local’s perspective).
1 – Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco
Tito’s is a unique place serving Peruvian cuisine on both Magazine Street and St Charles. With a variety of menu items to choose from it is sure to impress your taste buds with its citrusy hints and unique combination of Asian, New Orleans and Latin American flavors.
For lunch or dinner order the Shrimp Ceviche or the Ceviche Criollo to get a unique and delightful spin on local seafood. For brunch their version of Shrimp and grits is a must try.
2 – Joey K’s
Right in the middle of the historic Garden District, Joey K’s resides on the corner of Seventh & Magazine Street right down along side the boutiques. coffee shops, and eclectic shops. This casual spot boasts indoor and outdoor seating and a wide variety of the best New Orleans classic dishes to choose from.
Dig into the traditional dishes like fried Catfish, red bean and rice, fried green tomatoes or the fried oyster plate for a real treat. Or go big with the Trout Tchoupitoulas to sample the true flavor of the city. Finish it off with some bread pudding and you should be good to go for a few hours of strolling Magazine Street.
3 – Frankie and Johnny’s
This little-known uptown spot just off of Tchoupitoulas Street in the heart of Uptown is often more frequented by families looking for lunch after a long game of soccer or baseball down at the fly than tourists. Opened in 1942 this restaurant is well known for serving some of the best po’ boys, boiled seafood and fried seafood in the area.
Start off with some fried onions rings and Seafood Gumbo. Then indulge in a seafood platter (enough to split between 2 people!) or boiled crawfish when in season along side some local beer, and you just might see why some people never leave Nola.
4 – Commander’s Palace
At 132 years old Commander’s Palace has had a long history in the city of New Orleans serving authentic Creole dishes such as turtle soup and classic gumbo. Executive Chef Meg Bickford combines modern New Orleans cooking with Haute Creole for a perfect blend at this well-known brunch and dinner spot.
Dinning at Commander is truly fine dinning at its best. The Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish and the Creole Spiced Texas Redfish are must try entrees for dinner, along with the Turtle Soup. But the Jazz brunch really shines here with numerous delights like Bananas Foster Pain Perdu (French toast!), Eggs Sardou, Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé and of course Bloody Mary’s.
5 – Arnaud’s
This fine dining spot is one of the oldest in the New Orleans French Quarter. Known for its brunch specials such as eggs benedict and flambeaux banana foster Arnaud’s is the New Orleans French Quarter Restaurant worth trying when you’re in town.
Reserve ahead a table in the main dinning room for a step back into history. To get the full experience start your night with drinks in the iconic Richelieu Bar before moving to your table. Give the Oysters Arnaud or Crabmeat Prentiss a try for appetizers. For entrees the Fish Meuniere, Duck Ellen, or the Filet Mignon Au Poivre are good choices along side an order of their famous Souffle Potatoes.
And if you go to Arnaud’s you must enjoy the quintessential dinning experience in New Orleans and order the the Bananas Foster for dessert. They bring out a little cart and cook it at the table for dramatic effect. Ask your server ahead to get this, you’ll be happy you did.
6 – Café du Monde
No trip to New Orleans is complete without beignets! This iconic New Orleans coffee house is a great place to just sit and enjoy yourself with a warm cup of coffee and a sweet, crispy beignet. Whether it be under the great oaks of City Park or the bustling 24-hour birthplace of the franchise on Decatur Street this cafe is a must-try.
While there are 3 beignets in a order, 1 person can easily eat a whole order. This is a great quick breakfast option as it’s fast service and easy to take to go.
7 – R&O’s
Located just off the lakefront in Bucktown, this little-known family-friendly spot blends together quintessential Italian dishes and Cajun food. If you want to go where the locals eat and avoid the tourists, this is the place.
Get the R&O Special – it’s a local favorite poboy, or try the Roast Beef Debris Fries, Stuffed Artichoke, or one of the many fried seafood options. You will surely not leave this place hungry.
8 – Parasol
Parasol’s is centered in the heart of New Orleans’ Irish Channel just blocks away from Magazine Street’s antique shops and an enchanting streetcar ride from the historic French Quarter. Parasol’s kitchen is known for preparing some of the best Roast Beef Po-Boys in the city and also serves some great New Orleans cuisine and fried seafood plates.
If you happen to be in town for St Paddy’s Day this is also the hot spot to be.
9 – The Camellia Grill
An unassuming white building on the St Charles streetcar line is the host of this landmark diner. This uptown restaurant has been around since 1946 and despite temporarily closing after Hurricane Katrina it has come back better than ever serving a simple menu of classic American and Cajun dishes such as red beans and rice, hot sandwiches, and their iconic pies.
Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the charm of the old time counter style service at Camilla Grill will have something to satisfy your belly. You’ll find an assortment of dishes from omelets to simple yet tasty sandwiches, poboys and burgers to award winning pies. And on a hot day their chocolate freezes hit the spot!
10 – La Crepe Nanou
This quaint little cafe located just off of Prytania is a romantic location serving traditional French fare. Perfect for any special occasion, this neighborhood bistro specializes in crepes, escargot, and fondue and is one of the best French restaurants in the whole city.
While the Steamed Mussels are a must try, so are the various crepes stuffed with seafood like shrimp, crab or crawfish. And for dessert the Crepe Nanou!
11 – The Blind Tiger
Located on the beaches of Bay St Louis an hour from the Crescent City this open-air restaurant has a great view of the bay and good food to go with it. Serving fresh gulf seafood and raw oysters along with tacos and burgers this is a place to visit on the Gulf Coast.
You can’t go wrong with the Gulf beach vibes and the Mahi-mahi Tacos or the boiled Shrimp.
12 – Los Primos
This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is located in an unsuspecting shopping center in Hammond Louisiana. A bit outside the Big Easy but the place to go if you are looking for delicious Latin American dishes.
The Carne Asada is the best around and the Gorditas are also a good choice.
13 – El Valle Latino Grill
If you like pupusas this is the place to go. Situated just off the interstate in Gulfport this restaurant serves authentic Honduran and Central American fare and is perfect if you’re passing through 1-10 on the way to Nola and looking for lunch.
No matter where you choose to eat in New Orleans you are likely to find some some good food and good times. Venture out and try some local favorite restaurants while you are in New Orleans and your stomach will thank you!
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