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New Orleans Restaurants
Brennan’s Grand Isle Rocky's Pizza
Catch Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Royal House
Crazy Johnnie's Mandina's Sakura
Crazy Lobster Melting Pot Salvatore
Deanie's Oceana Tomatillo's
Drago's Organic Banana Willie Mae's
Dry Dock Café Pascal's Manale Zea
Peppermill
North Shore Lake Pontchartrain
Assunta's
Janie Brown's Restaurant
Alpine ($$) 504-523-3005 (Wi-Fi)
620 Chartres Street, New Orleans
This French Quarter restaurant is only a block from Jackson Square and maintains an “olde New Orleans” ambiance. They serve many Creole and Cajun dishes including the ever popular barbecued shrimp with which they do an excellent job. My bride had the tilapia and I settled on the fried shrimp platter. Both were delicious! Most entrees are under $20 but you’ll pay a bit more for a steak. Nice wine list available at moderate prices. Friendly and attentive waitstaff. Full bar. Non smoking.
Brennan’s ($$$$) 504-525-9711
417 Royal St., New Orleans
Located in the French Quarter, breakfast at Brennan’s is a New Orleans tradition that everyone should experience at least once. Including a couple of Ramos Fizz’s and a bottle of wine, you are looking at a breakfast bill of about $150! Yep, that’s right, you have a bottle of wine with your breakfast down here (breakfast is usually served around noon, which is 5 o’clock somewhere). The menu is replete with items such as Eggs Benedict as well as variations over trout. Both Cherries Jubilee and Bananas Foster are prepared tableside and shouldn’t be missed. Although the wait staff wears tuxedos, casual attire is fine. Full bar. Non smoking.
Catch ($$) 504-371-5809
This "seafood pub" is located in the Irish Channel next door to Rocky's Pizza. As the name suggests, they specialize in seafood. We began our meal with a dozen oysters on the half shell and were very disappointed in the extremely small size of our appetizer as well as the fact that they had been opened some time prior to when we ordered them and had dried out. We complained to our waiter and he removed the charge from our bill. On the brighter side, both the hushpuppies in Creole sauce and the garlic bread were excellent! We had the seafood stew as well as the Redfish in a lemon butter sauce and both were quite tasty. Our waiter recommended the fried bananas for dessert but neither of us found them to be nearly as exciting as he thought they were. They have a very nice affordable wine list and a full bar. Non smoking.
Crazy Johnnie's Steakhouse ($$) 504-887-6641
3520 18th Street, Metarie
Located across the street from Salvatore's at the corner of Arnoult and 18th, simplicity is at the heart of the menu and the decor. Steaks, chicken and seafood served with rice, potato or a small salad. No veggies!!! (I love that in a restaurant) Everything on the menu is under $20 including both the Prime Filet Mignon and Prime Rib. The steaks are tender and juicy and their fish, tuna on this visit, was cooked to perfection. Tuesday is half price bottled wine day: full bottles of wine for $10 to $14! Full bar. No smoking.
Crazy Lobster ($$) 504-569-3380
#1 Poydras Street, Suite 83, New Orleans
This seafood restaurant is located at Spanish Plaza across from Harrah's Casino and has a nice view of the Mississippi River. They specialize in boiled and steamed seafood as well as oysters both raw and char grilled. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available and musical entertainment is usually on hand. Full bar. Non smoking.
Deanie’s ($$$) 504-581-1316
841 Iberville St., New Orleans
Located in the French Quarter, Deanie’s serves a wide selection of seafood including barbecued shrimp as well as a variety of sandwiches and Po Boys, steak and chicken. Our daughters found this a great place to photograph oysters on the half shell. That’s about as close as Jenny (on the right) has ever gotten to seafood. Full bar. Non smoking.
Drago's ($$) 504-584-3911
2 Poydras Street, New Orleans
Dry Dock Café ($$) 504-361-8240
133 Delaronde Street, Algiers Point (next to ferry landing)
Located just a short ferry ride across the river from New Orleans, this is a great place for seafood, salads, soups and sandwiches. My bride enjoyed a hot bowl of their seafood gumbo while I was chowing down on some of the best chili east of Texas. They serve a full menu of New Orleans-style food including red beans and rice, crawfish, catfish and even muffalettas. If you are looking to escape the madness of the French Quarter for a spell, this is your place! Full bar. Non smoking.
Embers Steakhouse ($$$) 504-523-1485
700 Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Located within easy walking distance of most French Quarter hotels, this restaurant serves primarily steak, a few seafood and chicken dishes as well as Po-Boys. On their "Drum Ettoufee" the fish was dry and the sauce was dull; while their ribs are mediocre at best. Moderately priced wine list and a full bar. No smoking.
Grand Isle ($$) 504-520-8530
575 Convention Center Dr, New Orleans
This is a very modern seafood restaurant located on the first floor of the Harrah's garage (parking $3 with validation) in the downtown business district. Their emphasis is on seafood, both cooked and raw, but they do have a few beef and chicken dishes. I had the filet mignon with a mushroom demi glace that was very salty. My bride had a tuna steak which she thought was quite good. We also begged a couple of onion rings from our neighboring diners and they were excellent. I guess stuff just tastes better if someone else is paying for it! Short moderatley priced wine list. Full bar, Happy Hour specials. Non smoking.
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen ($$) 504-522-9500
95 French Market Place, New Orleans
Casual Italian dining near the French Market, visually interesting with friendly servers.
Many varieties of pizza, as well as terrific soups and southern specialties. The lasagna was not what I expected - the flavor of cumin was overpowering. Outdoor tables available for great people watching! Full bar, extensive wine list, no smoking.
Mandina's ($$) 504-482-9179
3800 Canal Street, New Orleans
Located in Mid-City, this Creole-Italian restaurant serves a variety of dishes from pasta, veal and chicken to seafood and sandwiches. We have never been disappointed with either the food or the service. This is a hot place for locals and you may find yourself standing at the bar for an hour waiting for a table. They do not accept credit cards or checks so be prepared to pay for your meal with Yankee greenbacks. Wines available by the bottle as well as a full bar. No smoking.
Melting Pot ($$$) 504-525-3225
1820 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans
This fondue restaurant, located in the Garden District, is an especially good choice for a romantic evening or to simply enjoy a food preparation style not available anywhere else in New Orleans. Thay have a variety of seafood, steak and chicken which is brought to your table for you to cook, fondue style, in one of a selection of several available broths. With the assorted cheese fondue before dinner and the chocolate fondue for dessert, this restaurant turns a meal into a celebration. They have a large selection of wines from their own cellar from inexpensive to beyond belief. Full bar. No smoking.
Oceana ($$) 504-525-6002
739 Conti St., New Orleans
This "no frills"restaurant is located on Conti Street just across from the Royal Sonesta Hotel. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have eaten here several times over the years and have never had a bad meal. They serve New Orleans specialties like barbecued shrimp, crawfish etouffee and red beans with rice as well as Po Boys, other sandwiches and a wide variety of seafood, steaks and ribs. My bride had her first Sazerac here and loved it. I thought it tasted somewhat like Nyquil. Guess I’ll just have to stick to the “girlie” drinks. The service has always been excellent. Full bar. No smoking.
1100 N. Peters Ave. (French Market), New Orleans
This place is no more than a smoothie stand in the French Market that happens to make the BEST Bloody Mary in New Orleans. We have no idea how good their various smoothies and other concoctions taste because we go there strictly for Taylor’s Bloody Marys. That’s Taylor in the photo!
Pascal’s Manale ($$) 504-895-4877
1838 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans
Located Uptown, this Italian eatery is best known for their barbecued shrimp, heads on. Served with a generous portion of Italian bread for sopping up the spicy butter sauce, this dish is a real treat. They also have other seafood, steak and chicken dishes as well as pasta in either marinara or meat sauce. I would place these folks second only to myself for both their meat sauce and barbecued shrimp. Hey guys, besides eating, I CAN COOK!!! The photo is of their oyster bar and the “world’s most famous oyster shucker,” Uptown T. Full bar. Non smoking.
3524 Severn Avenue, Metarie
Located a couple of blocks north of Veterans Blvd, the Peppermill serves a variety of steaks, seafood and Italian dishes in a rather elegant setting. We apparently caught them on a bad night. After ordering a bottle of wine, we sat at our table for nearly an hour before our entrees were delivered after the wine was gone. Both the steak and fish were dry and the veggies were cold. The baked potato, however, was perfect. We didn't hang around for dessert. Check their website before driving out to Metarie as they are not open for dinner every night. They do offer Sunset Dinners for $17 which include appetizer, entree, dessert and a glass of wine. Full bar with drink specials. No smoking.
Ristorante Da Piero ($$$) 504-469-8585
401 Williams Blvd, Kenner
Pieros is located about a quarter mile from the Mississippi River in the Old Town section of Kenner. The food is traditional Italian and is served in a rather elegant and comfortable setting of a stately home. The menu is somewhat difficult to understand but the waiters are very knowledgeable of the various cooking styles and ingredients mentioned within each entree and are eager to assist you with your selections. The menu is a la carte so your bill can accumulate quite rapidly. We enjoyed both our pasta and veal dishes and would recommend this place for someone looking to celebrate some special event in a quiet and cozy European style restaurant. Excellent listing of Italian wines according to region. Full bar. No smoking.
Rocky’s Pizza ($$) 504-891-5152
3222 Magazine Street, New Orleans
Rocky’s is a cozy little pizza parlor located in the heart of the Irish Channel. Great thin crust pizza as well as various pasta dishes, interesting décor and a friendly group of employees. Say “Hi” to Matthew! Full bar. Non smoking.
Royal House ($$) 504-528-2601
441 Royal Street, New Orleans
This French Quarter oyster bar serves a variety of oyster dishes including raw, charbroiled and as entrees. They also have a wide selection of seafood, steamed or fried, and many New Orleaans favorites in a casual setting. Full bar. No smoking.
Sakura ($$) 504-364-8007
2044 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey
This Japanese restaurant is located across the Mississippi River bridge in Harvey, about a 20 minute drive from New Orleans. They serve the typical Benihana style hibachi meals complete with the performing chefs as well as the traditional table service and sushi bar. The food is of average quality, nothing to write home about. We went on a Friday night and the place was loaded with small children whose parents brought them in for the show. Full bar. No smoking.
Salvatore Ristorante ($$) 504-455-2433
3226 North Arnoult Road, Metarie
Salvatore's is an Italian themed restaurant which also serves a wide variety of seafood, beef and chicken dishes. The Char grilled oysters are on par with Drago's but only about half the size for the same price per dozen. I had the Veal Parmesan which came with a side of pasta in marinara and the Bride had the Chicken Grande which is free range chicken served with garlic and potatoes. Here's a question: If they call it "free" range chicken, why do they charge you for it? I found the veal to be somewhat dry and the marinara was pretty dull. The Bride's chicken was cut rather peculiarly but was quite tasty. Very large list of wines from the lower end at around $20 all the way to Opus One at $260 per bottle. We DID NOT have the Opus One! Full bar. No smoking.
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Tomatillo's ($$) 504-945-9997 (Wi-Fi)
This rather funky "Mexican" restaurant is located just east of the French Quarter in the Marigny district. Frenchman Street in this area is said to be what Bourbon Street once was before the takeover by all the sleazy bars and strip clubs. Tomatillo's serves a blend of Mexican and Spanish dishes as well as a few New Orleans staples with a unique flair. The Seafood Paella was excellent but I found the Jumbo Shrimp Diablo not much to my liking. The shrimp were wrapped in bacon and undercooked. We both agree that the Bread Pudding is the best we've ever had! Happy Hour 4-7, Monday thru Friday. Daily food specials. Food and drink specials during Saints' games. Full bar. Non smoking inside but smoking is permitted on a large outdoor patio.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House ($) 504-822-9503
2401 St. Ann St., New Orleans
Located just north of the French Quarter in the Tremé District, Willie Mae’s is known for their fried chicken. They also have pork chops and smothered veal on the menu along with a variety of sides including red beans, butter beans, green beans, cole slaw and potato salad. Folks come from near and far to enjoy this restaurant. They serve no alcohol but do have fresh squeezed lemonade and many other soft drinks. No smoking.
Zea ($$) 504-520-8100
1525 St Charles Avenue, New Orleans
This Garden District restaurant specializes in rotisserie meats as well as a large selection of seafood, salads and sandwiches. The roasted garlic and herb chicken is fall off the bone tender and the redfish smothered in shrimp etouffee was fabulous! They have daily specials for around $10 and a selection of unique side items and soups. They are located on the parade route for several of the Mardi Gras parades and offer parade packages which include a buffet, a drink and parking in their private lot. Moderately priced wine list and a full bar. No smoking.
North Shore Lake Pontchartrain
Assunta's ($$) 985-649-9768
2631 Gause Blvd. West, Slidell, LA, 70460
Located a couple of miles west of town, their forte is Italian cuisine. I had a very good Veal Parmesan, my wife thoroughly enjoyed her manicotti with crawfish stuffing. Their wine list is adequate but a little pricey. Closed Monday, full bar, no smoking.
Janie Brown's Restaurant ($$) 985-882-7201
27207 Hwy 190, Lacombe, LA, 70445
Located west of Slidell in Lacombe. They have a full menu of steaks, chicken and seafood as well as Cajun and Creole dishes. The Steak Diane was fork tender and delicious. My bride chose the shrimp and crawfish saute - very tasty! Full bar with a nice assortment of reasonably priced wines. Closed Sunday and Monday. No smoking.