World City Guide

Restaurants

Renowned for its famous chefs and fabulous fare, there is too much food in New Orleans, and too little time to try it all. It really is difficult to get a bad meal here, so reservations for most restaurants are advised. The restaurants below have been classed into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations, although many New Orleans restaurants are not so easily categorized.

These prices below are for a three course meal and the equivalent of a half-bottle of wine per person. The 9.5% sale tax and tip are not included:

$ (up to US$20)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$$$ (over US$70)

Gastronomic

Arnaud's
A portrait of Arnaud Cazenave gazing down at the diners dominates the main dining room. The dcor, old chandeliers, etched glass, bentwood chairs and white tablecloths probably haven’t been changed since this landmark restaurant opened in 1908. Its Richelieu Bar was a speakeasy during the prohibition. A picture gallery paves the way to its Mardi Gras costume exhibit in the upstairs museum. The shrimp rmoulade, oyster stew and crme brle are outstanding. Jacket is required in the main dining room.

813 Rue Bienville
Tel: (866) 230 8892.
Website: www.arnauds.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Brennan’s
Since 1946, this New Orleans institution has been the place for sumptuous, calorie-laden breakfasts like eggs Benedict or original creations such as eggs Hussarde. With oysters Rockefeller as a specialty, savoury veal and beef lunch and dinner entrees are just as decadent, as is another Brennan original, Bananas Foster - ice cream with fresh bananas and banana liqueur. Located in an historic, old French Quarter mansion.

417 Rue Royale
Tel: (504) 525 9711.
Website: www.brennansneworleans.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Galatoire’s
Brass chandeliers and bentwood chairs fill the narrow downstairs dining room that has not changed much in its 100 years. Many of its French-Creole entrees are still on the menu. The oysters en brochette and lamb chops with barnaise sauce are legendary. A favourite with chattering locals, it can sometimes get a bit noisy. Jacket required. Reservations only accepted for the second floor dining room.

209 Bourbon Street
Tel: (504) 525 2021.
Website: www.galatoires.com
Price: $$-$$$$

Business

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
Carnivores will be happy to know that at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse they will find their favourite classic cuts of cow. All can be smothered with a variety of sauces including hollandaise, barnaise, marchands du vin and pepper-cream bourbon. For others there is fish, duck and pork. The venue, with its long bar, lots of wood, cherry walls and beamed ceilings, has a clubby feel to it.

716 Iberville Street
Tel: (504) 522 2467.
Website: www.dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com
Price: $$$$

Muriel’s
This ostentatious bistro is said to be a favourite haunt for mortals and immortals alike. In fact, former owner, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, who looks like a tall, sparkling, cylindrical luminescence, has been spotted in the Sance Lounge. Favourite fare among the mortals is pecan-crusted tuna, seared scallops with onion grits and andouille and shrimp rmoulade with fried green tomatoes and for dessert, the sinful peanut butter dome that sits atop peanut brittle shortbread.

801 Chartres Street
Tel: (504) 568 1885.
Website: www.muriels.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Restaurant August
One of New Orleans hottest chefs, John Besh, orchestrates the delicate dishes at the August, located in the Central Business District. Amid lavish brocades and crystal chandeliers, cuisine like Moroccan spiced duck with polenta, duck foie gras and dates tempura or pork belly and lobster en barigoule are elegantly presented. And it doesn’t stop there. Pastry chef Kelly Fields is just as imaginative with her desserts.

301 Tchoupitoulas Street
Tel: (504) 299 9777.
Website: www.rest-august.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Trendy

Bayona
Think intimate, romantic and cosy - Bayona will come to mind. Inside a 200-year-old French cottage sits a small dining room accented with photographs, murals and fresh flowers. It is here chef Susan Spicer creates her acclaimed eclectic cuisine. Favourite appetisers include French-Mediterranean aubergine caviar, a goat-cheese crouton with mushrooms and Madeira sauce. The sauted salmon main with Gewurztraminer sauce is a popular choice and is served by an attentive, friendly staff.

430 Rue Dauphine
Tel: (504) 525 4455.
Website: www.bayona.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

The Besh Steakhouse at Harrah’s
New Orleans' chef du jour, John Besh, has gone the steakhouse route this time adding a New Orleans touch to traditional steakhouse fare like the blue cheese-buttered 40-day dry-aged New York strip steak with onion rings and molten marrow. The 150-seat restaurant, done in blue and amber with funky Rodrigue’s Blue Dog artwork covering the walls, has an open kitchen.

Harrah’s Casino, 512 South Peters Street
Tel: (504) 533 6111.
Website: www.harrahs.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Caf Adelaide
Named for the Brennan family’s beloved but eccentric aunt, Caf Adelaide tries to capture the local culture of the 1950s and 60s. Earth-toned upholstery and semi-circular booths with table lamps and wooden blinds make the large dining room area quite inviting. Most popular is the restaurant’s version of gulf fish Meuniere – the catch of the day sauted and served on mashed sweet potatoes with asparagus.

Loew’s New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras Street
Tel: (504) 595 3305.
Website: http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/neworleans/features_dining
Price: $$-$$$

Budget

Caf du Monde
A visit to the Big Easy is not complete without a stop for mouth-watering beignets and chicory coffee au lait. Since 1862, these square, deep-fried fritters doused in mounds of powder sugar have titillated the taste buds of its patrons. There is not much more on the menu except juice, tea and milk, but who needs anything else? Located in the French Market across from Jackson Square.

800 Decatur Street
Tel: (504) 525 4544.
Website: www.cafedumonde.com
Price: $

Gumbo Shop
Locals as well as tourists come here to consume authentic, but reasonably priced, Creole cooking. Etouffee, jambalaya, red beans, bread pudding and gumbos are big-time favourites, but if you need to have them, there are also pizzas and po-boys (French bread filled with shrimp or roast beef). The simple dcor (long tables and old-fashioned bentwood chairs) adds to the casual atmosphere.

630 Saint Peter Street
Tel: (504) 525 1486.
Website: www.gumboshop.com
Price: $-$$

Praline Connection
Ribs, collard greens, fried chicken. Deep South home-cooked, Cajun-Creole-style soul food rules at this funky part-restaurant, part candy store venue. Many believe that there is no better place for fillet gumbo and sweet-potato pie. The staff is friendly and there is live music every night as well as a Sunday Gospel Brunch. Old-fashioned handmade pralines and sweet potato cookies are cooked fresh daily.

542 Frenchmen Street
Tel: (504) 943 3934.
Website: www.pralineconnection.com
Price: $-$$

Personal Recommendations

Commander’s Palace
For 125 years, Commander’s Palace has been a New Orleans gastronomic favourite. With such treats as shrimp Cognac with andouille grits, poached oysters in cream or spicy turtle soup, how can it not be? Dine in the green and mahogany dining room or on the second floor Garden Room where huge windows reveal the patio’s giant oak trees. The weekend jazz brunch is a bit more reasonable. Jacket required.

1403 Washington Avenue, Garden District
Tel: (504) 899 8221.
Website: www.commanderspalace.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Five Happiness Chinese Restaurant
Need a break from the rich Cajun/Creole fare? Try the award-winning Five Happiness. For over 20 years, it has been a local favourite for mouth-watering delicacies like sizzling shrimp with honey-roasted pecans or asparagus with chicken. All is served by an accommodating staff. Chinese letters, paintings, and furniture as well as etched glass adorn the three dining rooms. Open for lunch and dinner every day.

3605 South Carrollton Avenue
Tel: (504) 482 3935.
Website: www.fivehappiness.com
Price: $$

Pascal's Manale Restaurant
This neighbourhood eatery in the Garden District is vintage N'Awlins. Since 1913, with its old-fashioned oyster bar and casual atmosphere, its focus has been on food and friendliness. Barbecued shrimp, cooked in the shell with butter and spice, was created here. While the latter is the hands-down favourite, steaks and Italian dishes are also featured.

1838 Napoleon Avenue
Tel: (504) 895 4877 or (800) 772 2927.
Price: $$$