New Orleans Restaurants

Chef Frank Brigtsen's intimate Riverbend cottage is a New Orleans institution. A James Beard Award winner, Brigtsen transforms Louisiana's larder — rabbit, redfish, Creole cream cheese — into dishes that feel both deeply traditional and quietly brilliant.

Clancy's is the kind of place that reminds you why New Orleans dining is unlike anywhere else. This Uptown neighborhood staple has been serving perfectly executed Creole cuisine since 1944.

Housed in a beautifully restored 1800s grocery on Magazine Street, La Petite Grocery is one of Uptown's most beloved dining destinations. Chef Justin Devillier's blue crab beignets are legendary.

GW Fins sets the gold standard for seafood dining in New Orleans. The menu changes daily based on what's freshest — sourced from docks and fishing boats across the Gulf Coast.

James Beard Award-winning Pêche is one of the most important restaurants in New Orleans. Chef Ryan Prewitt's wood-fired whole fish and Gulf seafood are transformative.

A cornerstone of the Brennan restaurant family, Mr. B's Bistro on Royal Street has been setting the standard for New Orleans BBQ shrimp since 1979.

There is no restaurant more essential to New Orleans than Commander's Palace. The turquoise Victorian landmark in the Garden District has launched the careers of Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse.

Chef Susan Spicer's Bayona is one of the most romantic dining rooms in the French Quarter, tucked inside a 200-year-old Creole cottage with a lush courtyard.

Irene's is one of those French Quarter secrets that locals guard jealously. The dimly lit, garlic-perfumed dining room feels like stepping into a Sicilian grandmother's house.

Pat Gallagher's 527 is the Northshore's crown jewel for upscale dining. Perched near Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, the restaurant delivers Gulf seafood with Creole flair.

Katie's is the heartbeat of Mid-City dining — a neighborhood restaurant that's been feeding locals since 1984. The Italian-Creole menu is a love letter to old New Orleans cooking.

Lilette channels a chic Parisian bistro on Magazine Street. Chef John Harris's menu walks the line between French and Italian with elegant confidence.

Doris Metropolitan brings an Israeli-American steakhouse concept to the French Quarter with dazzling results. The dry-aging program is serious — cuts are aged on-site.

Patois sits on a quiet Uptown corner and delivers some of the most satisfying French-Creole bistro cooking in the city. The charcuterie program is exceptional.

Gabrielle is a New Orleans resurrection story. Greg and Mary Sonnier reopened their beloved Treme restaurant after years away. The slow-roasted duck that made the original famous is back.

Trey Yuen has been a Northshore institution since the Wong family opened their doors. The Chinese-Creole fusion — lobster with black bean sauce, soft-shell crab Canton style — is unlike anything you'll find elsewhere.

Desi Vega's Steakhouse on St. Charles Avenue is New Orleans' premier power dining destination. The USDA Prime cuts are cooked to textbook perfection.

Mr. John's Steakhouse brings New Orleans flavor to the classic steakhouse format, serving impeccably dry-aged beef alongside Creole-inspired sides that you won't find at any other chophouse.

La Boca brings the Argentine asado tradition to the Warehouse District. Argentine-bred beef, cooked over live fire, arrives with chimichurri. The empanadas are the best in the city.

Mandina's on Canal Street has been feeding Mid-City since 1932. The trout meunière is a masterclass in simplicity, the turtle soup is legendary, and the Italian-Creole gumbo is a bowl of pure history.

Tucked down Exchange Place in the French Quarter, The Pelican Club serves contemporary Creole cuisine in an elegant two-story townhouse setting.

Gautreau's is Uptown's best-kept secret — there's no sign outside, just a former pharmacy on Soniat Street that transforms nightly into one of the city's finest dining rooms.

Donald Link's flagship restaurant on St. Charles Avenue is a blueprint for what New Orleans bistro cooking should be. The French-Southern synthesis feels effortless — housemade charcuterie, duck confit, legendary shrimp and grits.

Chophouse New Orleans delivers the classic steakhouse experience with a New Orleans sensibility on Magazine Street. The USDA Prime cuts are the centerpiece.

Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse is one of the French Quarter's finest dining rooms and the definitive expression of the New Orleans steakhouse. The wine cellar and cigar selection are world-class.

Del Porto Ristorante in Covington is the Northshore's premier Italian destination. Chef Chris Kerageorgiou's housemade pastas are extraordinary.

Rosedale has quietly become one of Lakeview's most treasured dining destinations. The seasonally driven Creole menu showcases Louisiana's finest ingredients with downtown-level refinement.

The Steak Knife on Harrison Avenue is Lakeview's beloved neighborhood steakhouse. The surf-and-turf combinations are the way to go — Gulf seafood paired with USDA-graded beef.

Lil' Dizzy's Cafe on Esplanade is the Treme's soul food cathedral. The Baquet family's legendary fried chicken, Monday red beans and rice, and smothered pork chops have fed this community for generations.

Domilise's is the po-boy shop that New Orleans locals point to when visitors ask where to find the real thing. Slinging fried shrimp, oyster, and roast beef po-boys since 1918.

Zee's Pizzeria on Baronne Street has become Uptown's go-to neighborhood pizza spot. The pies are generously topped, the crust has great char and chew.

Fausto's Bistro is Metairie's most reliable neighborhood Italian-Creole restaurant. The pasta dishes are hearty, the seafood specials showcase what's fresh from the Gulf.

Station 6 in Bucktown is Metairie's best-kept seafood secret. This neighborhood oyster bar serves some of the freshest Gulf oysters in the greater New Orleans area.

Crescent City Steak House has been sizzling butter-basted steaks since 1934. The steaks arrive at the table in a cast iron pan, still bubbling in clarified butter. A Mid-City treasure.

Jacques-Imo's on Oak Street is New Orleans dining at its most exuberant and joyful. The alligator cheesecake and fried chicken have devotees citywide.

Kabob House NOLA brings authentic Middle Eastern flavors to Veterans Boulevard. The charcoal-grilled kebabs, fresh hummus, and warm pita are the real deal.

Austin's Seafood & Steak is one of Metairie's most beloved dining institutions. The surf-and-turf combinations are legendary — Gulf seafood prepared with care alongside USDA-graded steaks in a warm, family-friendly setting. A staple for celebrations and Sunday dinners alike, Austin's has earned its loyal following one great meal at a time.

The Harbor Bar & Grill is a Metairie neighborhood staple where locals gather for cold drinks, fresh Gulf seafood, and no-fuss American comfort food. The casual, welcoming atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a weeknight dinner or watching the game with friends.

The Metairie outpost of the beloved Desi Vega brand brings the same commitment to quality beef and Gulf seafood to the suburbs. USDA Prime steaks, fresh Louisiana Gulf catch, and the polished Desi Vega hospitality make this a top destination on the Metairie dining scene.

Houston's on St. Charles Avenue is the city's most dependable upscale casual restaurant. The hickory burger is one of the best in the city, the french dip is legendary.