The Short List

New Orleans is known for food, and there are SO many options! Here are my favorites that can help you if you need some guidance.

Local tip: If you really want to try an expensive restaurant but want to stay within a budget, opt to go there for lunch instead.

Another local tip: New Orleans loves dinner reservations, so if your heart is set on a certain restaurant for a large group or dinner, be sure to check out OpenTable or call to make reservations.

Breakfast

Hobnobber's Variety Bar & Restaurant: Great for a cheap breakfast - I LOVE their grits plates.

Willa Jean: Favorite for a nice breakfast

Ruby Slipper: Act like a tourist breakfast

Cafe du Monde: Honestly, you can eat beignets anytime!

Lunch

Cafe at the Square: Favorite for everyone in the family; Creole/American food

Commerce Restaurant: Favorite for a relaxed atmosphere breakfast or lunch; daily lunch specials

Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar: Great for great seafood - Acme is across the street, but skip that line and get this place instead!

Showbird: Great chicken sandwiches close to the property

Palace Cafe: choose this place for a delicious gumbo or turtle soup

Verti Mart: Practically on the other side of the French Quarter, but if you want to try a very authentic (and probably messy) po-boy, this is the place! You gotta take it to go, but you can take it to the river or Jackson Square and people watch while you eat!

Mike Serio's Poboys: My favorite muffuletta - hands down! Get a big one to share.

Dinner

Italian Pie: Delicious pizza very close-by

Luke's: French and German Fair

Rib Room: Excellent wedge salad and a prime rib steak - order it with sour cream and horseradish.

Herbsaint: Kind of a funky menu for all the foodies

Johnny Sachez: fancy mexican/tapas plates

Mr B's Bistro: if you're in the FQ and want to try BBQ shrimp, this is the place! It's more like a buttery, worcestershire sauce than southern BBQ, and they give you a bib! Don't forget to save some of your french bread to drip in the sauce. Their apps are all amazing too.

Fancy Dinner - you'll need a reservation for these

Irene's : Upscale Italian

Chophouse: Upscale Steak House

GW Fins: Upscale Seafood

Just a drink

Copper Vine: Great nearby Wine Bar, they also serve brunch!

Bourbon House: Yes, it's a restaurant, and it is delicious. But stop by here for a Bourbon milk punch!

The Peacock Room: Lovely ambience located inside the Kimpton Hotel

Monkey Board: Just around the corner and above The Troubadour hotel, this is best for the 20s/30s crowd.

Carousel Bar: Located on the ground floor of The Monteleone, it is famous for the circular bar that revolves around like a carousel. Great photo op, but be prepared to wait in line for a cocktail.

Justine: Very trendy restaurant/bar! It's also great for brunch, but I love this place for a great craft cocktail and all of the photo opportunities

Here are some others that are great:

Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar

739 Iberville St

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Irene's | Upscale Italian

529 Bienville Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Café Du Monde

800 Decatur Street

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Desi Vega's Steakhouse

628 St. Charles Avenue

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Willa Jean | Cafe with Baked Goods for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner

611 O'Keefe Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70113

Emeril's New Orleans | Contemporary Louisiana

800 Tchoupitoulas Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Jack Rose | Cajun-Creole

2031 St. Charles Avenue

New Orleans, 70130

Note: I love this little elegant, hotel restaurant featuring refined Cajun-Creole dishes and cocktails amid whimsical decor! If you and your group are looking to have a good time, be sure to order a round of Chambongs! If you are just not ready to return back to the unit, take an elevator ride up to Hot Tin located in the Ponchartrain Hotel. Cheers!

Clancy's Restaurant | Creole

6100 Annunciation Street

New Orleans, LA 70118

Note: You cannot go wrong when dining at this location! It is a lot further than most restaurants listed, but if you are in the Garden District area - you will NOT be disappointed. I absolutely love the Lobster Risotto!

Saffron Nola | Indian

4128 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 70115

Note: A sophisticated eatery serving elevated Indian fare with local influences and craft cocktails.

Sofia | Italian

516 Julia Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Gianna Restaurant | Italian Southern

700 Magazine Street

Suite 101

New Orleans, LA 70130

Meril | New American

424 Girod Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Josephine Estelle in The Ace Hotel | Italian

600 Carondelet Street

New Orleans, LA 70113

Pêche Seafood Grill

800 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

La Boca | Argentinian Steakhouse

870 Tchoupitoulas Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Rock-N-Sake Sushi Bar

823 Fulton Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Note: If you love sushi as much as I do, this is my first option. Be sure to order the tuna cakes with soy paper! The Brussel sprouts are pretty tasty as well. My second recommendation for sushi is listed below.

Tsunami Sushi

601 Poydras Street

Suite B

New Orleans, LA 70130

Johnny Sanchez | Mexican

930 Poydras Street

Suite 101

New Orleans, LA 70113

Palace Café | Creole

605 Canal Street

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Note: Be sure to check this one out if you visit in August! They do a "temp lunch". If it was a high of 97.3 deg the day before, the lunch is only $9.73! Follow them on Facebook to see what the special will be!

Justine | French

225 Chartres Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Muriel's Jackson Square | Creole

801 Chartres Street

New Orleans, LA 70116

GW Fins | Seafood Restaurant

808 Bienville Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Note: GREAT for anniversaries, birthdays and special events.

Doris Metropolitan New Orleans | Steakhouse

620 Chartres Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Restaurant R'evolution | Cajun

777 Bienville Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Note: I absolutely love dining at this restaurant! I especially love how at the end of dinner, the restaurant gifts each table a jewelry box full of chocolates and other sweet little treats.

Paladar 511 | Italian

511 Marigny Street

New Orleans, LA 70117

The Peacock Room

501 Tchoupitoulas Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Gris-Gris

1800 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

Saint John

1117 Decatur Street

New Orleans, LA 70116

Jewel of the South

1036 St. Louis Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Note: A charming restaurant with a garden courtyard dishing up cocktails, caviar, steaks, and Sunday brunch.

Port of Call | New Orleans' Best Hamburger

838 Esplanade Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70116

Note: The Monsoon cocktail is an absolute must! You cannot go to Port of Call and not get one. It's an old recipe used frequently as a last request by pirates condemned to the walk the plank. After all, you are dining inside of a restaurant that is meant to resemble a ship.

Mandina's Restaurant | Italian and Seafood

3800 Canal Street

New Orleans, LA 70119

Angelo Brocato | Italian Ice Cream Parlor and Desserts

214 N. Carrolton Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70119

Note: All items are made fresh in house; best cannoli in New Orleans!

Blue Oak BBQ | Southern BBQ Joint

900 N. Carrolton Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70119