This is slightly more than a top ten list. It was hard to narrow down our favorite restaurants and there were just too many personal favorites to include them and all the actual top restaurants in the area. So, we’ll start with a couple of personal favorites that probably aren’t in the running for best restaurants ever in New Orleans, but they’re still must visits if you ask us. After that it’s more of a top 15 or so list in no particular order.
Three Muses
Fascinating tapas menu that never disappoints. The menu is all over the place from bleu cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped dates, to gumbo, to Israeli couscous to a Korean Bulgolgi bowl, but all the dishes are perfectly executed. The peanut butter pie dessert is phenomenal. The real star of the show though is the atmosphere. Situated right in the heart of Frenchmen Street, this restaurant features a never ending stream of live music performances while you eat. It’s not unheard of for local legends to just walk off the street and start playing. Definitely a must stop on any trip to New Orleans.
Royal House
This isn’t a fancy restaurant by any means, and let’s be honest you’re not going to find it on any lists of the top restaurants in New Orleans. But, this is just the perfect place to sit at a bar in the French Quarter and dine on oysters. Get the combo plate of their Rockefeller, Royale and char grilled varieties, get a dozen raw, get the crab claw appetizer, have a spicy Bloody Mary, do it all and tip your friendly bartender and oyster shucker well.
Jacques-Imo’s
This fun, loud and brightly painted restaurant is a bit out of the way, but has some of the most interesting takes on local Bayou-centric New Orleans dishes. This will be the only place you’ll find an Alligator Cheese Cake. It’s more of a quiche, but my god is it delicious. Their garlic corn bread muffins are quite possibly the best cornbread I’ve ever eaten.
Commander’s Palace
Emeril Lagasse’s flagship New Orleans restaurant that perfects Southern fine dining. Housed inside a Garden District mansion this is a buttoned up affair with a strictly enforced dress code. The pecan crusted gulf fish is a staple dish as are the gumbo and turtle soup. The 25cent martinis are big hit during lunch. And, their Sunday brunch is phenomenal.
Cochon
Both the main restaurant and their adjacent butcher shop that specializes in sandwiches are among the must eats of New Orleans prominent food scene. This is no place for vegetarians and vegans. The menus are decidedly meat based. Expertly prepared beef and pork dishes are what you’re going to find here. This is a meat lovers paradise.
Brennan’s
Fancy, upscale and a bit pretentious, but the food stands up to the hype. As the inventor of the famous Banana’s Foster desert, make sure you don’t leave the restaurant without having the waiter flambé this perfect desert at your table.
Shaya
This Magazine Street restaurant is relatively new to the New Orleans dining scene, but it packs a punch. The Israeli based menu contains some of the most delicious dishes we’ve ever eaten. Simply one of the best meals you’ll have anywhere. Bring an ample appetite though. It’s easy to get full before they even take the hummus away.
Coquette
Seasonally changing menu that moves around quite a bit. From fancy fried chicken to Mexican street corn to dry aged duck. Everything is wonderfully balanced and freshly prepared.
District Donuts, Sliders and Brew
No frills donut and sliders shop with simply the best donuts and sliders you’ll ever have. Excellent for a fat, cheat day meal.
Gabrielle
French restaurant serving incredible duck topped with duck skin fried like cracklin, rabbit belly stuffed with grains, ground rabbit and duck liver with a piquant sauce as well as a fantastic peppermint patty dessert
Herbsaint
This Central Business District gem is housed in a nondescript looking building and is surprisingly casual for the level of quality in their food preparations. Here you’ll find perfectly prepared New Orleans classics as well as some French and Italian dishes to balance the menu.
Arnaud’s
Huge 100 year old French restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter. The food is fantastic and their French 75 Bar within the restaurant is a James Beard Award winner as well.
Gallatoire’s
Old-school, jacket’s-required Bourbon Street institution world renowned for it’s shrimp remoulade.
Adolfo’s
Frenchmen Street institution serving up the cities best Italian-Creole fusion. From a phenomenal crawfish platter to a peppery, tender lamb rack, to a lemon, herb and artichoke grouper, you can’t go wrong with any of the meals on this menu.
Dooky Chase Restaurant
Local hidden gem on Orleans Ave is a Treme landmark. Famous for its soul food and lunch buffet, this place is decidedly local and often full of regulars. You’ll find mamas comfort food home cooking here, but the real star of the show is their world famous fried chicken, which is arguably the city’s best.
La Petit Grocery
The most creative and inventive takes on standard New Orleans fare that you’ll find in the city. Known for bold culinary choices and interesting combinations, this place is a foodies dream if you want to really take your taste buds on a journey to the unexpected. The blue crab beignets are to die for and the turtle bolognese really stands out as an excellent dish.
Compere Lapin
New Orleans style creole dining prepared and seasoned predominantly in a Caribbean fashion. Executive Chef Nina Compton hails from St Lucia and the dishes are decidedly Caribbean. Try things like conch croquettes, jerk drum fish and a wonderful goat curry.
Peche
Simple, freshly caught fish, served mostly whole at the table and expertly seasoned with choice ingredients and delicious dressings. If you are a seafood lover and are looking for something more elevated than the standard shrimp and fish dishes from the Quarter this is your spot.