New Orleans is widely known for its diverse, exquisite cuisine, as well as its renowned restaurants. There’s a variety of cuisines to select from, including Cajun, Creole, French, Italian, Mediterranean, or American cuisine with a twist.
Restaurants in New Orleans specialize in offering the classic foods of the city, such as gumbo, po’boys, and local seafood, all with a unique and delicious twist. Find out the top 10 places to eat in New Orleans, USA, and start planning your culinary adventure.
Domenica
This restaurant combines both Italian and American customs and is located in the Roosevelt Hotel. Here, you can enjoy rural Italian cuisine prepared in an elegant way.
Wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, and cured meats are among the highlights of the menu. Besides, locally grown and top-quality ingredients are used in every dish.
The restaurant believes that dining should be a stylish and vibrant experience for customers. In order to achieve this, the dining room is decorated with low-hanging lights and Italian architectural elements. Moreover, Domenica has been voted “The Best Restaurant in town” by both New Orleans Magazine and Food & Wine.
Dooky Chase’s
There is no doubt Dooky Chase’s – and its chef Leah Chase – are icons of New Orleans. The Treme restaurant played a key role in the Civil Rights movement as a meeting spot for leaders.
The walls of the restaurant are covered with African-American art, and of course, it’s the food that makes it famous. Some of the best fried chicken in town, Creole classics, and lunch buffets are among the highlights.
Mother’s Restaurant
Mother’s restaurant is located in the Central Business District. It is popular for its baked ham and Ferdi po’boys, which include ham, and roast beef. Mother’s is famous for its breakfasts, meat-and-threes, and po’boys, but gained notoriety when Beyonce visited the restaurant and shared her experience on social media.
Commander’s Palace
With a history dating back to 1880, Commander’s Palace has been a hot spot in the Garden District, winning numerous awards over the years. There is no doubt that this place filled with history will draw customers back again and again for its award-winning food and welcoming atmosphere.
This place was initially gifted to Emile Commander’s daughter for never getting married but now it became a culinary destination.
It has been home to four chefs who have significantly contributed to its culinary expertise: Emeril Lagasse, Jamie Shannon, Paul Prudhomme, and Tory McPhail.
Brennan’s Restaurant
Undoubtedly, this large, pink restaurant on Royal Street in the French Quarter is famous and hard to miss. The iconic bananas Foster dessert originated at Brennan’s, giving it much-deserved fame.
Besides, the signature flaming dish is also cooked tableside. This restaurant has a stately courtyard with a pond, which is home to turtles who participate in a locally famous event: “Slowest Second Line in the World.”
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Parkway Bakery & Tavern is one of the top 10 places to eat in New Orleans, USA. For decades, this Mid-City po’boy purveyor has served affordable drinks and some of the best po’boys around. Locally owned and full of character, the eatery was famous after a visit from President Obama and has been featured on TV shows. Enjoy the memorabilia and pictures on the walls while you wait for your sandwich.
Emeril’s Restaurant
Emeril’s restaurant is owned and operated by the world-famous chef Emeril Lagasse. When he was little, Chef Lagasse watched his mother cooking and developed a passion for the culinary arts. In order to gain experience, he traveled and started cooking French food. Currently, he has restaurants throughout the United States, but New Orleans is his favorite.
Emeril’s restaurant in downtown New Orleans has been named “Restaurant of the Year” by Esquire.
Galatoire’s
French recipes and traditions were introduced to New Orleans in 1905 by Jean Galatoire, the founder of this Galatoire restaurant.
Galatoire’s has opened two restaurants as a result of its consistency and hard work: Galatoire’s Bistro and Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak. With these expansions, guests can dine in different locations while experiencing different types of food in the same city. The restaurant has received the “James Beard Award” for its great meals and casual atmosphere.
Cafe du Monde
In this restaurant, there is only one dish served, but it’s a famous one. There is no better local treat than Cafe du Monde’s beignets, a sweet treat that can be enjoyed at any time. Several celebrities and influencers have posted powdered sugar-covered selfies with this brand.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House
Soul food and fried chicken have been served at this legendary Treme restaurant since 1957. It gained nationwide fame after winning the “James Beard award” for the best classic restaurant in the Southern region. The floods that followed Hurricane Katrina caused severe damage, but the food community rallied and helped rebuild the venue in 2007. Since then, Willie Mae’s has been recognized as the best-fried chicken joint in the country by the Food Network, the Travel Channel, and others.