New Orleans, a city synonymous with vibrant culture and even more vibrant flavors, is a culinary playground where every meal is an event. From the iconic beignets dusted with powdered sugar to the rich depths of a steaming bowl of gumbo, and the satisfyingly messy po’ boys, New Orleans offers a taste of history in every bite. This is the birthplace of Creole cuisine, a fascinating fusion born from the influences of Native American, West African, Haitian, French, Spanish, German, and Italian immigrants – a true melting pot long before America even formally existed.
It’s a city where planning your day around your meals is not just acceptable, it’s encouraged. Imagine scheduling your jazz sessions on Frenchmen Street, or a contemplative stroll through City Park’s sculpture garden, perfectly timed to precede or follow your next unforgettable dining experience. In New Orleans, the line between a casual walk and a spontaneous food and drink adventure blurs delightfully. Bourbon Street beckons with its hurricanes and frozen daiquiris, streetcar rides turn into impromptu bar crawls, punctuated by delicious pauses for char-grilled oysters, succulent cochon de lait, or a refreshing snowball.
Yet, just like the city itself, New Orleans cuisine is a living, breathing entity, constantly evolving. Today, the culinary landscape is just as likely to feature a Vietnamese-inspired po’ boy or innovative braised-greens street tacos as it is to serve up classic eggs Sardou, comforting turtle soup, or airy soufflé potatoes. From Danish aebelskivers with a local twist to Vietnamese flavors infusing Mardi Gras king cakes, and whole pompano roasted asado-style over an open flame, the sheer variety can be exhilarating, and perhaps a little overwhelming, for anyone seeking the best “Food Near Me New Orleans”.
Fortunately, some of the city’s most respected culinary voices are here to guide you. We’ve tapped into the expertise of chefs like Michael Gulotta, the creative force behind Maypop and MoPho, restaurants that are redefining Creole cuisine with Southeast Asian influences; Nina Compton, chef-owner of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro, celebrated for her innovative and deeply flavorful cooking; Hieu Than, the chef-owner of Kin, the beloved Gert Town ramen spot known for its inventive dishes; Ana Castro, a rising star in the New Orleans culinary scene; and Joaquin Rodas, the long-time chef of Bacchanal, the iconic Bywater hangout that helped put the neighborhood on the dining map.
These chefs share their personal favorites, from late-night snacks and perfect brunch spots to special occasion destinations and quintessential New Orleans must-tries. Read on to discover where the culinary masters of the Big Easy choose to eat and drink when they are looking for the best “food near me”.
Best Late-Night Eats Near Me in New Orleans
When the night deepens in New Orleans, the city’s culinary spirit doesn’t dim – it simply shifts gears. Forget standard late-night fare; here, you can find a NOLA-style quarter-pounder alongside refined crudo in a buzzing new restaurant, savor cheesesteaks tucked away in a locals’ bar, or even grab authentic chicken Creole from a humble convenience store. These are the late-night New Orleans food destinations that chefs themselves crave, proving that deliciousness knows no clock.
Palm & Pine
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
“Palm & Pine is owned and operated by Jordan Herndon and his wife, Amarys Herndon. Before opening this restaurant, they’d been doing pop-ups since 2015, which I’d been to religiously, almost every week,” shares Hieu Than of Kin. His loyalty speaks volumes.
Palm & Pine caters to the late-night crowd, especially those in the service industry, staying open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends. “I’ve been going always at the same hour (after midnight), and there’s a pretty refined, chilled-out crowd. You see restaurant people there, for sure, but the ambiance is definitely low-key, and there’s not really a lot of tourists. And they’re staffed up at night, ready for action. It’s fantastic for New Orleans, and for cooks and bartenders who get off late.”
The food at Palm & Pine isn’t a simplified afterthought; it’s a thoughtfully curated menu featuring both lighter and indulgent options. “There’s crudo, and other healthier stuff that won’t kill you. But their main thing is this burger that Jordan and Amarys have been working on for, like, five years—just kind of chipping away at it—called the Upper Quarter Pounder.”
Hieu Than raves about this signature burger: “It’s pretty fantastic: an in-house-ground patty with house-made pickles, banana ketchup, and even from-scratch American cheese, which is something they totally undersell. You know when you get the sliced processed cheese, the one that’s nice and pliable and melts all beautifully, and the textures are all like, “Oh, this is straight from my childhood,” sort of thing? That’s what they did, combining different cheeses and stabilizers and emulsifiers to create a sliceable version that really has that American, melty cheese taste.”
The Upper Quarter Pounder is not only delicious but also a great value. “The burger is $10, and I don’t think that’s a bad deal at all. You’re going to be pretty full eating this thing, and it comes with a good helping of fries,” concludes Than.
— Hieu Than, Chef-owner of Kin
Palm & Pine, 308 N Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-814-6200
Verti Marte
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
“Verti Marte is a counter in the back of a convenience store in the French Quarter, and it’s open 24 hours. Even though they’re a convenience store, they still have good food,” says Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro. This unassuming spot is a favorite for those in the know. “Everything is prepared super simply, grab and go. The best thing about the place is that you can just get something good and quick in your stomach—po’ boys, omelettes, and chicken Creole, a half-braised, half-roasted chicken—and there doesn’t have to be anything fancy about it. That’s why I love it.”
For a quick and satisfying late-night meal, Compton has her go-to orders. “I usually order the shrimp po’ boy when I want something quick and really good. The roast beef is amazing, too, though. You get all the little crispy ends in the po’ boy, and the meat isn’t dry. I find this one nice and juicy.”
Verti Marte embraces its no-frills nature. “Verti Marte is totally no-frills. There’s absolutely nowhere to sit, so you’ve got to take your food and go. A lot of people end up sitting outside and munching on their po’ boy at 2:00 in the morning. It’s crazy. But, you know, everybody is on the same page, and there’s no judgment,” Compton adds, highlighting the uniquely New Orleans charm of this late-night institution.
— Nina Compton, Chef-owner of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro
Verti Marte, 1201 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-525-4767
Best Brunch Spots Near Me in New Orleans
Brunch in New Orleans is more than just a meal; it’s a weekend ritual, a leisurely affair, and a celebration of flavors that range from decadent to delightfully comforting. Whether you’re seeking the fluffiest pancakes imaginable, flaky biscuits piled high with buttery lobster, or hearty Creole-inspired dishes to kickstart your Sunday, New Orleans’ brunch scene offers a diverse and delicious array of options. These are the spots where chefs themselves head for their weekend brunch fix.
Bearcat Cafe
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
“Bearcat is a nice, beautiful space: From the outside, it looks really modern, and inside there’s a lot of windows, so it’s bright and open, and you feel good,” says Hieu Than of Kin. The ambiance is just the start of Bearcat’s appeal. “The restaurant attracts mostly a college-age crowd, and older—not a lot of kids. It’s got table service, and they do brunch every day. Sundays are obviously the most crowded, but it’s worth the wait time.”
For a truly indulgent brunch experience, Than recommends a signature dish. “If you go there and have to eat just one thing, there’s this seafood-and-biscuit dish you have to try. They call it a Crab Daddy if you get it with a soft-shell crab, or a Lobster Daddy if you get it with lobster. The setup is always the same: a house-made biscuit and a crawfish cream sauce, plus the fried seafood of the day. It’s just fantastic comfort food. It’s at least a pound and a quarter of seafood.”
Bearcat also caters to diverse dietary needs. “They’re also very vegetarian-friendly, and there’s a whole menu with just vegan food. I forget what they call it on the menu—they have this dish kind of similar to elotes, creamy Mexican street corn. It’s fantastic. You can’t go wrong with just sweet corn, spices, butter, and mayonnaise. The food here is definitely what you want to eat after a night of drinking. They have a great selection of coffees, juices, and kombucha, too,” Than concludes, highlighting Bearcat as a brunch spot that truly has something for everyone.
— Hieu Than
Bearcat Cafe, 2521 Jena Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, 504-309-9011
Paladar 511
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro praises Paladar 511 for its simplicity and flavor. “Everything they do at Paladar 511 is so simple and so good, and when you take a bite of their food, all the flavors come together wonderfully. The restaurant’s right down the street from my house, in the Marigny Faubourg neighborhood, and I end up going there quite a lot. The space is beautiful, but still sort of industrial, with weathered, painted brick walls, high ceilings, and large windows that let in good light.”
For brunch, Compton has two must-order dishes. “I love the lemon ricotta pancakes. They’re thick, fluffy, and massive. They make a big batch of pancake batter and basically fold ricotta into each batch to order, so they’re so moist and so light. They change the fruit seasonally, and you can get whipped cream on top as well. But you have to pour all the syrup on top.”
She is equally enthusiastic about their savory offerings. “I also get the tuna crudo every time I go. They change the style of the crudo seasonally; the last time I went, they made it with pistachios and avocado. The dish is mainly tuna, diced in big chunks—not fine—so it has this meatiness when you take a bite. And the avocado is also in big chunks, incorporated in every bite, with crispy pistachios on top. Then, the seasoning is so simple: just really good olive oil, sea salt, and lemon zest. The quality of the tuna is so good, and the ratio of the ingredients together is perfect,” Compton concludes, emphasizing the restaurant’s focus on quality ingredients and balanced flavors.
— Nina Compton
Paladar 511, 511 Marigny Street, New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-509-6782
Toast
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Joaquin Rodas of Bacchanal recommends Toast, a French-leaning café with multiple locations. “Toast is a French-leaning café with three locations across the city, owned by the same guys who own Tartine, a popular bakery uptown. Their location in the French Quarter is by far the busiest. There are no reservations, and on weekends the wait can be 45 minutes, easy. But they have a wait-list app, so you can get on their queue, and when you’re next, you have 15 minutes to get there and check in. It’s a really cool location, close to Molly’s at the Market, and so cozy. The floors are old New Orleans tile, and the banquettes are all natural wood.”
Toast is particularly known for a unique Danish treat. “Toast is known for these Danish puffed pancakes, aebelskivers—and has a whole menu of them. They come with six different jams or sauces, like lemon curd and Nutella. They’re kind of like a cross between a pancake and a beignet. The restaurant also has a whole crepe menu, and my son always gets the banana-Nutella kind; they have French toast on the menu as well.”
While sweet options abound, Rodas and his wife prefer savory dishes. “But my wife and I always go for a savory option, and share a classic fines herbes omelette with Gruyère cheese. Beyond that, the savory sides are all perfectly made, too: The Lyonnaise potatoes and the ratatouille are really spot-on, and they make their own bread in-house. The food’s all very tasty,” Rodas concludes, highlighting the consistent quality and variety at Toast.
— Joaquin Rodas
Toast, 1035 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-300-5518
Pêche
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Ana Castro, a rising culinary talent in New Orleans, recommends Pêche for a seafood-focused brunch experience. “What Pêche serves barely counts as brunch—it’s more like lunch—but I love going there on a Sunday. It’s a seafood restaurant, and it’s the kind of relaxed place where you can go from cocktails to mimosas to just crushing bottles of Miller High Life. If you need a little hair of the dog, Pêche is the place to get it.”
Pêche’s cooking style is a major draw. “A lot of Pêche’s cooking is asado-style, roasted over fires and open flames. Chef Ryan Prewitt has this cauliflower cheesy casserole that is amazing, and the hanger steak is fantastic. But there are fresher dishes with seafood, too. I like to order the Seafood Plateau, which has peel-and-eat shrimp along with a fish dip and oysters. Somebody else has to eat my oysters because I’m allergic, unfortunately, but all my friends are always happy to have my share. It’s a big, beautiful plate of seafood.”
Sustainability is also a key factor for Castro. “I also love getting whatever market-price fish they have. They always serve it very rustically—recently, I got a whole roasted pompano with salsa verde. And one especially important thing is that they work a lot with bycatch—fish that get caught by accident—and it’s hella sustainable, which I love,” she concludes, emphasizing Pêche’s commitment to both flavor and responsible sourcing.
— Ana Castro, Sous-chef of Thalia
Pêche, 800 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-522-1744
Best Drinks Near Me in New Orleans
New Orleans is a city that knows how to celebrate, and its drink scene is as diverse and spirited as its culture. From tropical bars serving expertly crafted cocktails and ceviche to hidden Cuban gems and sophisticated Uptown lounges with curated vinyl collections, New Orleans offers a drinking experience for every mood. These are the bars and lounges that New Orleans chefs frequent when seeking the perfect drink nearby.
Cane & Table
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Joaquin Rodas of Bacchanal names Cane & Table as a personal favorite. “Cane & Table is a bar in the French Quarter with a Caribbean, colonial, old-Cuba vibe. It’s from the owners of Uptown bar Cure. The courtyard is super-lush, and they did a really good job of making the bar look old—exposed brick and beams and lots of candlelight—but not down and drab. Even in the daytime, it’s always kind of dark in there, in a good way. It’s one of my favorite spots in New Orleans, period.”
Beyond the atmosphere, Cane & Table excels in its drink offerings. “They change their cocktail menu too much for me to have a favorite drink, but I will say they have really great wine, and a lot of sherries. Sometimes you go to cocktail bars and they have really crappy wine, but Cane & Table has a very interesting selection.”
The food menu is equally impressive. “Cane & Table serves food, too, and it’s phenomenal. The chef is Alfredo Nogueira—he’s responsible for the menu at Cure and Cane & Table, and has developed both really well. Chef Alfredo is Cuban-American, and he’s doing a lot of recipes inspired by his mom’s food. He’s got a shrimp ceviche that’s a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail—there are tomatoes in it—that nobody else does in this city. It’s tomatoey and citrusy, and he serves it with deep-fried saltine crackers, and you wouldn’t believe how good they are.”
Rodas also highlights a standout dessert. “And he’s got the best flan I’ve ever tasted in my entire life. It’s as dense as cheesecake; maybe he puts actual cheese in it, maybe it’s just the cream. But I think it’s the way he cooks it, for a long time, that allows it to set up that way. Several of my relatives are going to be pissed I’m saying this, but it is the best flan ever,” Rodas declares, making Cane & Table a must-visit for both drinks and food.
— Joaquin Rodas
Cane & Table, 1113 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-581-1112
Manolito
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Ana Castro appreciates Manolito’s authentic Cuban cocktail experience. “I’m from Mexico City—I enjoy lots of fresh citrus, tequila, and mezcal. So I like clear and refreshing drinks, and usually tiki-inspired ones, you know? That’s my style.”
Manolito aligns perfectly with her preferences. “At Manolito, in the French Quarter, the main focus is rum, but they do have more spirits. They pay homage to true Cuban cocktail-making. The mojitos and daiquiris are old-style, and they also do a Hotel Nacional, with rum, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and apricot brandy, and other really classic Cuban cocktails.”
Castro’s drink of choice is a classic daiquiri with a twist. “I get the Papa Doble, a daiquiri with grapefruit and two different types of rum, which I think they make in an old-school Hamilton Beach blender. So the ice is more chunky, not smooth like it would be from a New Orleans daiquiri machine. It’s $18, but it’s made with expensive rum—Paranubes and Don Q Cristal—and served in a big, big, big hurricane-style glass. I always share it with my partner.”
Manolito’s intimate setting adds to its charm. “Manolito is a really small bar. There are just five seats at the bar, three tables downstairs and three upstairs, as well as a tiny kitchen. And the tables seat about two each. So it’s usually pretty chill, and even more so since it’s a little hidden, near the French Market. I think maybe people walk by it not knowing what it is. For now, we’re so lucky that it’s still a New Orleans secret,” Castro shares, highlighting Manolito as a hidden gem for Cuban cocktails.
— Ana Castro
Manolito, 508 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-603-2740
Bouligny Tavern
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Michael Gulotta of Maypop and MoPho favors Bouligny Tavern for its atmosphere and consistent quality. “Bouligny Tavern is a great place to go most nights of the week. If you go late on Friday or Saturday night, or on a holiday, you can’t get in because there are so many people trying to get a table. But I’m usually working on the weekends, so if I’m going to meet a friend out, it’s usually during the week anyway, making Bouligny a great spot for me.”
The ambiance is a key element of Bouligny Tavern’s appeal. “The bar itself is a nice, comfortable space. It’s got a cool feel to it, like a retro “man den” vibe, with mid-century modern furniture and lighting, wood paneling, and tufted banquettes. The only sound system they have is a turntable, and they only play music off of vinyl. They have good vinyl, too; everything from old Dylan to Flaming Lips to ‘80s music that I really love. And you get to listen to the whole record.”
The drinks are equally well-curated. “The cocktails at Bouligny Tavern are always good, too. I like to get whatever mezcal cocktail they have going. It changes, but it’s always simple, like a Paloma with fresh grapefruit, lime, and soda water. They have a great selection of mezcal, including Alipús San Andrés. And there’s table service, so you don’t have to go to the bar to order,” Gulotta concludes, highlighting Bouligny Tavern as a reliable spot for both ambiance and drinks.
— Michael Gulotta, Chef-owner of Maypop and MoPho
Bouligny Tavern, 3641 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, 504-891-1810
Bacchanal
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro recommends Bacchanal for its wine selection and relaxed atmosphere. “I really enjoy drinking wine and hanging out at Bacchanal. It’s a great outdoor space in the Bywater, and they have a terrific selection of under-the-radar wines. It’s not stuffy. When you go there, they ask, “Hey, what do you want to drink today?” They have something for everybody’s budget, and they recommend all different types of wine, from all different regions. Everyone who works there is so approachable, but also has so much wine knowledge. I pretty much get a history lesson on wine when I drink here, which I appreciate.”
Bacchanal’s wine program is nationally recognized. “Bacchanal was nominated for a James Beard for Outstanding Wine Program two years in a row—2018 and 2019. Inside, you can get the wine and also choose your own artisanal cheeses from a reach-in cooler, if you want a cheese board. They’ll set it up and bring it out to you. Or, you can order food at the window in the backyard, and there’s also a full-service bar on the second floor. The kitchen does all sorts of tapas, like bacon-wrapped dates, patatas bravas, house-made cultured butter with ciabatta, and the sandwich special they always have at lunch.”
For a more tranquil experience, Compton suggests visiting during off-peak hours. “I like to go to Bacchanal on Mondays for lunch, when barely anybody is around—it gets really crowded at night; it’s crazy. I have my cheese board, my bottle of wine, and nobody is there. There’s a French musician, Raphaël Bas, who plays every instrument, and his voice is so angelic—he really transports me every time I hear him. You feel like you’re somewhere in the south of France, in somebody’s backyard,” Compton concludes, highlighting Bacchanal’s transportive atmosphere and exceptional wine program.
— Nina Compton
Bacchanal, 600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-948-9111
Best Splurge Restaurants Near Me in New Orleans
For those special occasions or moments when you want to indulge in a truly memorable dining experience, New Orleans offers a range of splurge-worthy restaurants. From long-established fine-dining institutions steeped in history to the new wave of chef-driven destinations pushing culinary boundaries, these are the restaurants where New Orleans chefs go when they want to savor the best the city has to offer, regardless of price.
Galatoire’s
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Michael Gulotta of Maypop and MoPho points to Galatoire’s as the quintessential New Orleans fine-dining experience. “If you’re going to take somebody to something fancy, show them Galatoire’s in the French Quarter. Bring them to the Friday lunch, and order so many things: the pommes soufflées (crispy twice-fried potato wedges); the café brûlot (a boozy hot coffee drink, served flaming in a chafing dish); and the trout amandine (fried with a butter, lemon, and almond pan sauce)—all super-traditional New Orleans. And if the restaurant has the soft-shell crabs on the menu, you’ve got to get them. If not, get the crab cakes.”
Gulotta shares a personal anecdote about his evolving appreciation for Galatoire’s. “When I was 18 years old, and the most obnoxious little culinary kid, my mom brought me here. I had on a blazer—I went to school at St. Martin’s Episcopal School, so of course I was wearing a blazer. My mom and stepfather have a preferred server—most regulars do—and he was our server that night. We ended up eating upstairs, because they were remodeling the downstairs, and my mom could see the disappointment in my face. We ordered the trout amandine and the pommes soufflées, but I wasn’t that into the food or the vibe. It seemed too old-school and fussy.”
However, his perspective has shifted over time. “But now that I’ve been cooking for 20 years, I have a much greater appreciation for the classics. It’s so weird: The era of fine dining in New Orleans is kind of dying, and nobody seems to want it anymore. It’s a little heartbreaking to me, because I’ve spent my life dedicated to fine dining.”
Gulotta emphasizes the importance of the full Galatoire’s experience. “The moral of the story is that you have to eat downstairs at Galatoire’s to get the full experience, more than anything else,” he concludes, highlighting Galatoire’s as a must-visit for experiencing classic New Orleans fine dining.
— Michael Gulotta
Galatoire’s, 209 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-525-2021
Justine
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Joaquin Rodas of Bacchanal recommends Justine, a French brasserie in the French Quarter, for a splurge-worthy yet approachable fine-dining experience. “Justine isn’t necessarily fancy, but it’s definitely a splurge, because it’s in the French Quarter. Really, it’s a brasserie. When you walk in, there’s a front café room, with a sidewalk-café feel to it. That opens up to the restaurant, where there’s a giant bar that runs the length of the room. And the place is big—I want to say it seats over 200, and it gets really packed. There are banquettes and freestanding tables, and more high-top communal tables along the kitchen pass, and then it opens up to another intimate dining room and a courtyard.”
Justine’s menu focuses on classic French techniques and dishes. “The food is awesome, based on French and French-driven techniques, and can be very traditional. They’ve got classics like cote de boeuf and French onion soup, and even a foie gras torchon—foie gras cooked in cheesecloth in a tube shape, then cut into rounds for serving—on brioche toast points. The torchon is served cold, with a little bit of sea salt and mustard on the side. It’s creamy and warms up and melts in your mouth.”
Rodas also highlights the daily specials and seafood options. “They also have a special of the day, a plat du jour, typically a traditional dish like a bouillabaisse (rich seafood stew) or duck breast à l’orange. On Wednesdays, they have a half roasted chicken, poulet rôti—a classically French roasted chicken with vegetables—and it’s incredible. I love the octopus vinaigrette, which is tenderized, boiled, and sliced octopus with a bunch of citrus on it, fresh peppers, torn mint, and champagne vinegar and olive oil.”
Justine’s location adds to its hidden-gem appeal. “Justine is on a kind of dead block in the French Quarter, so you could easily miss it. Just look for the pink sign,” Rodas advises, making Justine a worthwhile splurge for French cuisine in a vibrant setting.
— Joaquin Rodas
Justine, 225 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-218-8533
Brigtsen’s
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro highly recommends Brigtsen’s, an Uptown institution, for a splurge that feels both special and comforting. “Even before I moved to New Orleans, people were telling me about Brigtsen’s. Everyone just loves it: the charm of the building itself, a cozy Uptown cottage, and the fact that it’s run by a husband-and-wife duo, Frank and Marna Brigtsen, who’ve been running it for 35 years. That’s a long time!”
Brigtsen’s offers a unique blend of fine dining and home-like charm. “The place is kind of like a cross between a fancy restaurant and somebody’s home. And that’s what you get when you’re at Brigtsen’s. It’s all classic New Orleans dishes, but very high-end. For a lot of people, you have to go to Antoine’s or Galatoire’s to get those traditional dishes. But Frank Brigtsen still preserves the same classics in a very approachable, comfortable environment.”
Compton highlights several must-try dishes. “At Brigtsen’s, you can have a panéed rabbit—breaded and shallow-fried, then covered in a Creole mustard sauce—that’s super-delicious, and you don’t see that on people’s menus anymore. You should also try the shrimp calas, a Creole rice fritter that’s traditional New Orleans street food, in Frank’s version of BBQ shrimp. And another dish Brigtsen’s is known for is the seafood platter, with baked scallops, grilled redfish, and stuffed shrimp. We get great shrimp in New Orleans—we’re kind of spoiled for that—so Frank finds the freshest shrimp and chops it up, and then folds it in with rice. Then he makes a shrimp-shell reduction that’s so delicate. Frank really highlights the shrimp to be the star of that dish. It’s not muddled with a bunch of other things. Not a lot of people can do that very easily.”
Beyond the food, Compton admires Frank Brigtsen’s contributions to the culinary community. “Beyond the food, I’m drawn to Brigtsen’s for all the wonderful things Frank does, both outside and at the restaurant—teaching at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts every Thursday, and preserving the history of all those classic New Orleans dishes, which is really special,” Compton concludes, emphasizing Brigtsen’s as a splurge-worthy destination with both culinary excellence and community spirit.
— Nina Compton
Brigtsen’s, 723 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, 504-861-7610
Bywater American Bistro
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Hieu Than of Kin recommends Bywater American Bistro, co-owned by Nina Compton, for a splurge that prioritizes quality and flavor over formality. “The quality of the food, for me, is the fancy part of dining out. It’s in the ingredients and the preparation. Bywater American Bistro sources quality ingredients, the food is prepared very well in a technical sense, and the flavors are incredible. You get the upscale, fancy experience of being in a nicer setting, but it’s also in the Bywater, at the edge of where the French Quarter is. It feels like having a dinner party in someone’s hip studio apartment, but the kitchen is helmed by a talented chef, and the room is directed by your best friend’s mom who likes to make everyone feel welcome.”
Than highlights the oysters with gravy and rice as a standout dish. “My favorite things there are the oysters with gravy and rice. It’s so weird, because chef and co-owner Levi Raines and I don’t have the same backgrounds in any way, but the dish somehow brings me back to my childhood in Vietnam. We used to eat a dish that was similar to that: rice with gravy, but thickened with rice flour and tapioca starch, and served with grilled seafood. Eating Bywater’s oysters with gravy and rice really reconnects me with that comforting food.”
He also praises the crudo and snapper dishes. “The crudo is also fantastic; the last time I was there, I had the hamachi tartare, with cucumber, smoked swordfish belly, caviar, and melon kosho—a house-made melon, chile, and salt paste. It was really light, clean, and crisp. It didn’t have the acidity or brininess you’d get from a beef tartare or, on the other end of the spectrum, a ceviche—it was almost like I was drinking cucumber water. The hamachi itself was so fresh and had almost an earthy feeling, but with the cucumber and melon kosho, super-bright and bold, spicy and refreshing—it all just works.”
“If I order the fried oysters with a dark-roux gravy and rice (and I always do, because it’s my favorite thing there), I also get the steamed snapper, which is served with broccoli rabe. I like the snapper especially because it’s served with a Crystal hot sauce–inflected Hollandaise—it’s a food-memory thing. It brings me to my time working at the fine-dining classic Gautreau’s, with James Beard Award–winning chef Sue Zemanick, and she’d make this Crystal beurre blanc—the first time I’d had that flavor combination. When I eat something like that, it marks it in my memory,” Than explains, emphasizing the personal connections and culinary memories evoked by Bywater American Bistro’s dishes.
— Hieu Than
Bywater American Bistro, 2900 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-605-3827
Can’t-Miss Bites Near Me in New Orleans
No trip to New Orleans is complete without experiencing some of the city’s iconic, can’t-miss bites. These are the culinary staples, the dishes that define New Orleans food culture and are beloved by locals and visitors alike. From po’ boys to muffuletta sandwiches and red beans and rice, these are the essential New Orleans foods that chefs recommend you seek out.
Liuzza’s
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Michael Gulotta of Maypop and MoPho recommends Liuzza’s for a taste of classic, unchanged New Orleans. “If you want to see classic New Orleans, go to Liuzza’s on Bienville. I grew up in Mid-City, and I still love it and recommend it to everyone, because it hasn’t really been touched by all the changes in New Orleans. It’s just the same place it’s always been.”
Liuzza’s retains a timeless, neighborhood feel. “The restaurant opens up into the bar, and then there’s a dining room crammed with tables. There are vintage posters from Tipitina’s, and more local memorabilia, on the walls, and tables are covered in vinyl tablecloths. Sometimes it gets so busy you’ll get sat at a table with other people, and everyone’s cool with it. I remember sitting there one time—my mom and I would go there a lot; whenever I came home from college—and these people right next to us were literally like, “Have you tried these fried pickles and these onion rings?” And they handed us the plate, and shared with us.”
The drinks and food are classic and comforting. “You get the big mugs of beer that are so cold they still have ice crystals in them, which I think is so cool. And then you can get a Bushwhacker there, a frozen drink that blends dark rum, coffee liqueur, and crème de cacao, which is dangerous.”
Gulotta’s must-order dish is a po’ boy with a vegetarian twist. “Liuzza’s always has this eggplant Parmesan po’ boy, with fried eggplant, red tomato gravy, and provolone cheese. It’s awesome—just one of those things. It’s a cool little slice of New Orleans that hasn’t really been impacted by our booms in tourism and changes in our food culture. It’s still just the same old place,” Gulotta concludes, emphasizing Liuzza’s as a preserved piece of New Orleans culinary history.
— Michael Gulotta
Liuzza’s, 3636 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, 504-482-9120
Central Grocery
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro insists that no visit to New Orleans is complete without a muffuletta from Central Grocery. “You can’t leave New Orleans without trying a muffuletta sandwich. It has lots of Italian meats, layered with a traditional olive salad and provolone, and served on a round sesame loaf. Central Grocery in the French Quarter makes a delicious one, and will even wrap it up for you to take on the plane.”
Central Grocery is a historic institution in the French Quarter. “The place itself is a grocery store and deli that’s been around for over 100 years. And it’s been instrumental in promoting Italian-American culture and cuisine in New Orleans. The store has so many Italian flags strewn about, and specialty jars of peppers and tomatoes decorating the space. You stand in line, order, and then sit outside to eat.”
Compton describes the muffuletta in detail. “Then, the muffuletta itself—it’s sublime. Salami, capicola, pepperoni, and ham are layered onto the round sesame loaf with provolone and Swiss cheese. The bread is divine, but what really makes it is the olive salad, a house mix of olives and pickled veggies that adds salty bites to the sandwich,” Compton concludes, cementing Central Grocery as the definitive destination for a muffuletta in New Orleans.
— Nina Compton
Central Grocery & Deli, 923 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-523-1620
Melba’s
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Joaquin Rodas of Bacchanal recommends Melba’s for a taste of everyday New Orleans Creole cuisine. “Melba’s is an all-day, all-night neighborhood gem, specializing in the people’s food of New Orleans. It’s Creole in the sense of the word meaning “of the place.” It’s lively, and located next to a busy laundromat. There are big screens, and people everywhere, and there’s kind of a chaotic vibe to it. The menu can be a little overwhelming—it’s bright orange in color, and there are so many items on it—but you should know what you’re going to get before you get in line. They’ll call your name when it’s ready. There’s another room off to the side where they have a daiquiri bar and seating area, where you can sit and eat.”
Melba’s offers a wide range of New Orleans favorites. “Melba’s has a lot of good things, and it seems like just about everything comes with sausage. But my favorite is a shrimp po’ boy. The French bread overflows with crispy battered-and-deep-fried shrimp.”
Rodas shares a local’s secret for ordering the perfect shrimp po’ boy at Melba’s. “There’s a way you can order it that’s not on the menu: They’ll put butter on the bread, with hot sauce and extra pickles. Some old neighborhood lady told me to order it like that once when I was in line, and I listened.”
He takes it a step further. “In fact, I go one step further: I get the butter in addition to getting it dressed (that’s when the po’ boy comes topped with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato). It’s really good. You get mayo and butter; it’s a heart-stopper for sure. But you’ve got to know to order it—they don’t tell anybody to order it like that,” Rodas reveals, making Melba’s a destination for a truly local shrimp po’ boy experience.
— Joaquin Rodas
Melba’s Po’ Boys, 1525 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-267-7765
Dooky Chase
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Serious Eats / Denny Culbert
Ana Castro highlights Dooky Chase as more than just a restaurant; it’s a New Orleans institution with deep historical significance. “Dooky Chase, a Creole restaurant in Tremé, is a New Orleans institution. It’s where chef and queen of Creole cuisine Leah Chase created a space for Southern food to shine. She passed away early in June 2019, at the age of 96, but in her lifetime, she was a pioneer of Southern food and Southern hospitality. She and her husband, Dooky, hosted many meetings among civil rights leaders at the restaurant. She taught people to take care of the people around them, and showed that gracious hospitality has to extend into the community.”
The historical and cultural importance of Dooky Chase is paramount. “To me, the most important aspect of Dooky Chase is the history behind it. The place has been standing strong for over 70 years, serving a story of community, heritage, resilience, revolution, and finding common ground. There are a lot of tourists that visit, but many older regulars, too. It’s very classic inside, with red walls, chandeliers, and white linens.”
Castro emphasizes the red beans and rice as a dish that embodies New Orleans Creole roots. “Nothing better represents its Creole roots than the red beans and rice here, and everyone visiting New Orleans should try this dish. Red beans and rice has been a staple in this town since the 19th century. Back then, Monday was considered laundry day, and, since the laundry had to be done by hand, a slow-cooked pot of beans, using Sunday’s leftover-dinner ham bone for flavoring, was the perfect set-it-and-forget-it solution. A good pot is fatty and creamy in flavor.”
For Castro, red beans and rice at Dooky Chase is more than just a meal. “To me, this meal isn’t just about the beans and rice; it’s history and tradition. It’s progress. It’s community, and being able to bridge people. But you should order it with fried chicken. Always,” Castro concludes, making Dooky Chase a must-visit for experiencing both iconic Creole cuisine and a vital piece of New Orleans history.
— Ana Castro
Dooky Chase, 2301 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119, 504-821-0600
The chefs’ responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.
May 2021
This piece was updated in 2024 to reflect restaurant closures. The original version included Brotherly Love Kitchen, Marjie’s Grill, and Freret Beer Room as must-visit restaurants.
