NOLA Restaurants
New Orleans is one of the most incredible places in the world. Growing up, my parents constantly told my brother and I about their amazing time living in Shreveport, Louisiana. While they had quite a few run-ins with difficult politics, they found some wonderful people, food, and culture, that lit up their lives. When I was a freshman in high school, my parents decided to sell our rental home in Shreveport for a small double shotgun home in Uptown New Orleans. Since then, we’ve spent holidays and summers in our humble abode in the Black Pearl, trying restaurants, cafes, boutiques, bars, and music clubs all over the city. While many come to New Orleans for the French Quarter, you can find even more enriching culture all around the city. Below are our favorite restaurants we always make sure to visit, from classic Creole diners to upscale Louisiana fare to hidden Tex-Mex gems, you can find all of it here. Some of these are classic must-hits for every tourist and others are more local restaurants you might not find listed on a typical tourist blog.
PSA: these are NOT listed by preference. It would be literally impossible to rank these amazing establishments. It would be like asking a Catholic to rank their favorite entities of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); they are all mind-blowing miracles of God, Herself, that stand alone in their power, but all contribute to a greater good. You’re welcome in advance.
Del Fuego is a little gem tucked away on Magazine Street. My friends and I stumbled upon this incredible restaurant on a particularly hot day in June while walking down Magazine, sweaty, tired, and hungry. We went in to find the cutest outdoor seating patio in the front and back along with a charming, darkened interior. The New Mexico enchiladas were quite literally the best enchiladas I have ever had in my entire life. The chicken inside is tender and seasoned perfectly. It’s all baked off with a verde sauce and chihuahua cheese. I would literally fly to New Orleans just to eat these again. Their guacamole is customizable, allowing you to add unique toppings of pomegranate seeds, cheese, spices, and more. Instead of typical tortilla chips, you’re served warm tostadas that pair perfectly with their complementary salsa. As a plus, they can fry their massive burritos like a chimichanga. Yeah. Doesn’t get much better than that. **Highly recommend booking a reservation here, especially on the weekend.
Vincent’s is a classic New Orleans staple in Uptown (where it’s rumored through much conspiracy that the Italian mafia planned JFK’s assassination…) Its darkened décor is filled with a classy Italian elegance. While the waiters wear white button ups, black vest, and bow tie, and it feels very fancy, the staff could not be more accommodating and charming. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming and a great place for conversations without roaring loud music or guests. It’s situated just off the streetcar line, so you can watch them go by while enjoying a gigantic bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, grilled redfish, steak, or my personal favorite, the manager’s version of the crusted trout (changes every time you go!). **Reservations are not completely necessary if you go around 6:00 on a weekday, but on weekends or busier tourist spikes, if I were you, I would call ahead of time.
High Hat Cafè is a fun little family fare restaurant on Freret street with a menu wide enough to accommodate everyone’s tastes. We usually start with an appetizer of fried okra and marinated crab claws, followed by their fried fish plates, hush puppies, and pimento mac and cheese, which are enough to keep you coming back for more. They have fun mixed drinks and a great bar with quirky family friendly décor and atmosphere. **Reservations are not completely necessary, but helpful! They fill up quickly after 7:00, but before then you should be okay. If you have to put your name on a list, it’s in a really cute area you can walk around while you wait for your table to be ready.
Commander’s Palace is an absolute must for anyone coming to New Orleans. It is fairly pricey, so be prepared for that, but this establishment is probably the most famous restaurant in the city. While they have a strict dress code stipulating no flip-flops, not too casual wear, men must wear jackets, etc., the atmosphere is incredibly welcoming and accommodating. I think this is potentially the best customer service/dining experience you can find in the city. The waiters are light-hearted and fun while they present insanely good food you’ll dream about for weeks. Bonus points if you’re celebrating something: you get balloons on your table secured to plastic sticks so they’re not flying around getting in the way AND you get a chef’s hat to take home with you while they sing happy birthday or congratulate you on your celebration. **You absolutely NEED to book reservations ASAP. Do NOT wait until you get there to book. It’s important to book at least a week or two in advance. These fill up so quickly and the line often wraps around the block for walk-ins. I also really highly recommend having an early dinner around 5:00 or 6:00 right when they open to ensure you can get in easily and have a really enjoyable experience.
BOIL Seafood House is such a unique and incredible dining experience. While they have an array of delicious fried plates, po-boys, salads, and more, their unique seafood boils are fun for everyone. You can choose the seafood, seasoning, and sides, so each meal is made to order. Their frozen margaritas are just the right balance, and their waiters could not be kinder, especially during COVID. **Reservations are nice to have here as they can get busy, but you can do walk-ins as well.
Gris Gris is an incredible restaurant far down Magazine street, situated on the corner of a fun block filled with boutiques and unique attractions. I’ve only done brunch here before, and it was so incredible we came back another time. They offer carafes of mimosas (cranberry, grapefruit, or orange juice in a cup and a full bottle of sparkling white wine so you can make your own) and Bloody Mary’s (or a Bloody Maria with extra spices and tequila instead of vodka). Their shrimp and grits is just the perfect amount of food and the flambeaux shrimp starter is IMMACULATE. **Highly recommend getting reservations, especially for brunch on the weekends as they fill up very quickly.
Mandina’s is a local restaurant with an adorable family-friendly atmosphere. Their portions are huge so consider sharing or be ready to take home some incredible leftovers. Their fried eggplant sticks are the perfect appetizer, while the catfish almandine, grilled shrimp salad, pasta bordelaise, and red beans and rice, all make for perfect entrées. Their bread pudding is served warm as a classic New Orleans dessert while the praline cheesecake makes for a perfectly sweet little slice of heaven at the end of an incredible meal. **I would call ahead for reservations as their system for taking names is really outdated and often will leave you waiting for exorbitant amounts of time. If you go when they open, you should be fine, but otherwise call ahead!
Tartine in an adorable bakery situated between some quaint shotgun homes in Uptown. The bakery opened by a couple who met in culinary school in France, serves stuffed baguettes, fresh scones (flavors change daily and range from figs and almonds to white chocolate cranberry to blueberry, etc.) Their poached egg brioche topped with melted gruyere is my favorite item they offer, along with their classic tartine and flaky crusted quiches stuffed with vegetables, cheeses, and meats (flavors also change daily and there’s usually a vegetarian option). **Reservations are not necessary as this is a very local business with little to no tourists. Coming here for a quiet breakfast or casual light lunch is perfect and their outdoor seating patio is really lovely).
Mahony’s Restaurant has a fun casual atmosphere with incredible waiters, delicious po-boys, redfish Atchafalaya, and crawfish etouffee. My mom and I came across it on our first trip to New Orleans after purchasing the house and haven’t stopped going since. While they are known for their po-boys, all their dishes make for the perfect entrée. Their crawfish nachos and fried pickles are incredible appetizers, while their po-boys and New Orleans classic entrees will make your taste buds have a little dance party. **Reservations are not necessary.
Superior Seafood and Oyster House is one of my favorite places in New Orleans. While it might seem fancy, feel free to dress casually or formally and go eat some incredible food! As someone who doesn’t enjoy oysters, their charbroiled ones are an incredible appetizer as well as their crawfish beignets. Order a frozen rose or a frozen French 75 off their extensive list of mixed cocktails and wines. Under most entrees they list an appropriate wine pairing which is incredibly helpful. I usually go for their grilled salmon salad with roasted zucchini and squash, or their herb crusted flounder with creamy whipped potatoes and asparagus. Each entrée is served with an incredible fresh, light salad with a creamy vinaigrette, however, if you aren’t a salad fan or are ordering a salad for an entree, I highly suggest getting their crab and crawfish bisque as a substitute. **Reservations are highly recommended. This place is really popular as it’s right off the streetcar line and in a fun area. I would book online a day or two in advance!
Jack Dempsey’s is an incredible restaurant in the Bywater, serving the best mac and cheese and fried catfish you’ve ever had. It’s a family owned gem with as much history as flavor in their meals. This is a really casual setting with a fun atmosphere. If you’re a bit more adventurous, try their frog leg platter, or stick to the basics and go for some incredible fried fish combos, Redfish Pontchartrain, or Gumbo. **Normally reservations are probably not necessary, but in the era of COVID they are only seating those who have a reservation. Please refer to their website (linked above) or their social media for the most up to date information.
While this only comprises a fraction of the incredible food you can find down South, these are definitely some of my favorites. I highly recommend supporting these businesses, especially in the wake of Hurricane Ida and COVID, which both have left insurmountable difficulties on families in Louisiana and small businesses. Louisiana is such a beautiful state with so much history, culture, and life. When it’s safe to travel, I recommend you give it a shot! New Orleans is a different world and I guarantee you will fall in love with it.
