Looking for a vacation destination that is perfect for foodies? Slide on down to the "Big Easy" and have some amazing dining experiences in New Orleans. Located near the Gulf, one can find the freshest seafood around. The extremely diverse, multicultural influences can be tasted and tested in every spot. French, African, Spanish and other contributions result in some of the most amazing dishes. Cajun and Creole dominate much and the etouffee, jambalaya, po' boys, crawfish and oysters simply are too much to resist. The rhythm will bring the thrills to your visit to New Orleans!
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Check out the 10 best restaurants in New Orleans, according to Yelp reviewers, the next time you're in Louisiana — the heart of Cajun and Creole cuisine!
Commander's Palace
If you are in the Garden District, you can try dining at Commander's Palace. You can also dress up, as they have a dress code. It's a classy and amazing dining experience, ambiance-wise and food-wise.
Comment Review: I read good things about this place on Google and happened to be in the Garden district with a hungry stomach so I made a reservation online for an 11 jazz brunch and walked in at 10. Then I realized that this is kind of a white table fine dining place with lots of older people walking around in suites and women in dresses (yes they did mention some dress code when making reservations).
Workers are not as snobby as I'd imagined, in fact, they are super friendly and polite. They sat me down sooner than 11, and squeezed me in a small table facing the bathroom (ah I switched to face away eventually to stop entertaining myself by watching people in and out of it).
Food was of course delicious. I thought it was a great value for a 3 course brunch. Service was really good and eager, I was asked if I am doing alright by so many workers, I couldn't even keep count. I felt like I wanted to just be left alone when eating.
I love the interior decors, wall papers everywhere, probably old Victorian style with some southern charm. Looks like a place for locals, especially lots of families.
Click here to know more about the Commander's Palace
Cochon
Enjoy Creole, Cajun, and other Southern flavors. Cochon has a trendy place perfect for a get-together or casual hanging out with friends. They also have a cocktail bar where you can enjoy after-dinner drinks.
Comment Review: It was honestly overwhelming trying to pick restaurants when we were planning our trip to New Orleans because there are SO many great options. Cochon seemed like they had unique dishes and was within walking distance of our hotel. I luckily grabbed a Saturday night reservation.
When we got there, we were seated immediately. Our waiter was efficient and quick. We also had other waiters/food runners, and honestly, everyone was really great. They were all friendly and smiling.
For apps we got bread & butter (my husband will never not get bread and butter), the shrimp stew, wood fired oysters, a salad with shaved goat cheese and pecans, chili dusted chicharones and a shaved prime rib toast that was a special for the night.
Every single appetizer was AMAZING. The shrimp stew was incredibly flavorful, I'm not even sure how you pack so much flavor in there. We were making sure to sop up every single drop with bread or any other vessel. The prime rib toast had flavors that worked so well together. For something that sounds kind of heavy, it was honestly a refreshing bite with pickled veggies. The oysters were delicious, very different from all the chargrilled oysters we consumed over the weekend. Even the salad was fantastic (and very much needed after we barely ate a vegetable all day). I've never had shaved goat cheese but I loved it, more then the crumbles. The chicharons were of course delicious. My normally healthier sister even couldn't resist them.
For mains, we got the smoked & braised brisket with deviled egg potato salad, the lousiana cochon, and the Mac and cheese. The cochon was everyone's favorite. It was INCREDIBLE. I highly recommend everyone to get it. It came with collared greens that were so tender. The meat itself had great flavor. I'm honestly drooling think of it now. The brisket was delicious, but compared to the cochon, it just didn't hold on.
We were debating on getting dessert but seeing as how good the mains were, we absolutely had to get it even though we were stuffed. They had a root beer float with Abita root beer that my husband jumped on. We also got the strawberry shortcake type dessert and the banana pudding. The banana pudding was my favorite - the duck fat shortbread was SO good. The saltiness with the sweet banana. It was absolute heaven. The shortcake was good. My husband loved the root beer float. My sister snagged some as well and loved the float too.
It got really busy as the night went on. It's a pretty big restaurant, so it seems they could fit some larger groups. I would definitely recommend making reservations. And if you're also having trouble deciding where to go in New Orelans, but definitely make this place one of them.
Click here to know more about the Cochon
Cafe' Amelie
Experience courtyard dining like the one in the historic French Quarter with Café Amelie. They have indoor and alfresco dining options. You can enjoy brunch, dinner, and after-dinner drinks as they have a full bar complementing their flavorful offerings.
Comment Review: I had a stellar shrimp and grits - probably the best I've ever had, and I've had a damn good shrimp and grits in Atlanta. We sat at the bar and talked at length with the bartender, who was both skilled and personable. He made me an excellent cocktail - I don't know the name but it was vaguely margarita-ish, with two parts mezcal to one part tequila, and a miniature slice of what I'm guessing was blood orange. Very tasty, citrusy. My friend had chicken and waffles, which he said was excellent. The interior was small, but in a good way, with nice decor. Highly recommended.
Click here to know more about Cafe' Amelie
Mamou
Spend dinner at Mamou if you were in New Orleans. They have excellent steak and other dishes. It is a good place to have a romantic date night as they have a trendy and classy ambiance.
Comment Review: Absolute must. The food is great, the service is great, it feels cozy, and it's close to the quarter. So glad I came and looking forward to going back.
I ordered the tartare and the steak. It was a meat night. The tartare had so much flavor and loved the presentation. Not gonna lie, the steak was too much for me, but I'm going back with a friend to try again. Please put this place on your list.
Click here to know more about Mamou
Mambo's
You can have a great time in New Orleans, not only by enjoying its tourist spots but also by enjoying the authentic New Orleans flavors through Mambo's. It's the only rooftop bar on Bourbon Street, making it an excellent place if you like skylines and city lights.
Comment Review: This was our first stop in New Orleans. We were looking for some soul-satisfying, hallmark New Orleans cuisine, and we found it here.
Intrigued by the idea of Alligator meat and variety, we got fried alligator, BBQ shrimp and grits, and a "Taste of New Orleans" (a mix of chicken & sausage gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and Red Beans & Rice with Smoked Sausage).
Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. We liked the perfect crisp of the batter and chewiness of the alligator. As I am a sucker for crawfish, the Crawfish Etouffee was delicious. Red Beans & Rice were soothing, mild comfort food for the soul, and the sausage provided a nice, salty kick.
Service was efficient, precise, and professional. We personally like the quiet of the upstairs environment (they also have an awesome balcony overlooking the French Quarter).
Click here to know more about Mambo's
The Will & The Way
The Will & The Way is one of the most stylish and cozy bars in the French Quarter. Their menu has a wide range of dishes to choose from, all of which are flavorful and perfect for their laidback ambiance. This spot is excellent for a cozy date or casual night out.
Comment Review: We came here after reading all the good reviews online. We ordered the loaded Korean hot fries, double crunch salt n peppa wings and cocktails. I can see why the fries and wings are popular menu items. Both were great. True to their name the wings were very crunchy and salty. My favorite of the two was the fries. They have quite a few other menu items I'd like to go back and try. Service was quick. You can sit inside or they have a courtyard out back. It's definitely somewhere you want to check out if you're in the quarter.
Click here to know more about The Will & The Way
Ruby Slipper Central Business District
Brunch lovers, where are you? Ruby Slipper Central Business District has your back! They serve brunch all day, made from local and fresh ingredients. They also have cocktails that go well with their delicious dishes.
Comment Review: Maliyah was our server and she was fantastic! We were a part of a large group and everyone was very accommodating. Maliyah gave us great personalized recommendations and they were spot on. Hubby had a couple of morning margaritas while I had the mimosa flight. For starters we had the pig bacon candy and loaded tots & both were delicious. For our meals, we had the Costa Rican Breakfast and shrimp & grits.
The food was great, service was impeccable, and the place was a vibe on a Friday morning. If you're at the CBD location and get Maliyah as your server, then you're in for a treat.
Will definitely be returning the next time I'm in NOLA.
Click here to know more about the Ruby Slipper Central Business District
Jacques-Imo's Cafe
If you are looking for a place where you can have NOLA cuisine, Creole, and Cajun food, Jacques-Imo's Cafe is the gem you might be looking for. Its bold flavors take you to the heart of New Orleans with every bite.
Comment Review: Haven't been here in years but it lived up to the memories I had! The cornbread is the BEST, it is perfectly buttery and crisp on the outside but fluffy on the inside. Fried grits were fun, the sauce on the bottom makes it and the texture is nice with the crispy edges. The Brussels were also tasty, not too salty. Fried green tomatoes were also yummy, the breading was crunchy and the little dollops of sauce were a nice addition.
Shrimp etoufee is a classic, and there's plenty of shrimp in the bowl! The stuffed catfish is very indulgent with the creamy sauce, but it's so flavorful and worth trying.
If you're looking for classic New Orleans styled food, this place never disappoints! The price is worth it in my opinion because the servings are big and the service is excellent!
Click here to know more about Jacques-Imo's Cafe
Sucre'
Sucré is a jewel in the French Quarter that will take you to France with every bite of the French-inspired desserts they offer, such as macarons and gelato ice cream, which are handmade uniquely. They have an elegant and cozy ambiance perfect for their desserts.
Comment Review: his is a very popular place and had a long line when we went. We got the tart de caramel chocolat and two of the bananas foster macarons. The chocolate tart was really good. The macarons were good, but I don't know if I'd get that flavor again. The inside is nice, but they don't seem to have staff cleaning off tables. We just moved some dishes aside. It's definitely a pricier dessert place. I liked it, but I might go somewhere else on my next visit to NOLA.
Click here to know more about the Sucre'
The Apothecary
How about a beautiful bar and restaurant with a Bridgerton study vibe? The Apothecary is unique with its astrology and psychic services, and the food choices are excellent and delicious. It's an amazing place to hang out with your loved ones.
Comment Review: A must try and your soul will thank you!
If you're looking for a unique experience you must try The Apothecary.
It's everything you're looking to experience when visiting New Orleans all wrapped up in one incredible place!
Convenient location, the food is EXCELLENT, the staff are AMAZING, the bar is phenomenal with great cocktail options. Enjoy the relaxing courtyard, get a psychic reading, and browse the incredible artwork. The experience is pleasing to all five senses.
Don't forget to also visit their other unique places Vampire Café and Boutique Du Vampyre which are also just steps away.
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