Even though the fabled Michelin guide does not currently visit Louisiana — or 41 other states in America for that matter — it doesn’t mean the great city of New Orleans is without superb restaurants. In fact, the situation is quite the opposite, New Orleans is home to some of the best restaurants in the South.
Michelin can be stifling at times, forcing chefs and restaurants to adhere to certain standards, limiting risk-taking and resulting in a series of albeit excellent restaurants all doing pretty much the same thing. Just take a look at our San Francisco guide, if you want to know what that looks like.
In New Orleans however, with no guide, all bets are off. The end result is an amalgamation of variety and authenticity in its purest form. The food scene in New Orleans is dripping with creativity, yet remains in check thanks to this great cultural epicenter’s unique culinary past.
Every aspect of New Orleans is influenced by its Creole roots. These settlers in colonial Louisiana, before it became a state in 1803, helped to leave their mark on the dialect, architecture and, most importantly, the food. Creole cuisine is essentially a fusion of French, Spanish, West African and Indigenous American influences, so expect bold flavors.
Then there is Cajun cuisine, which is similar but utilizes less fish and more shellfish, pork and game. While much like the rest of the South, there is also plenty of soul food, created by the African-American descendants of slaves. So, to say there’s variety would be an understatement.
The food scene in New Orleans is as complex as its history, and studying will only get you so far. When it comes to getting a handle on a region’s culinary prowess it’s always best to do a little research in the field. So here are the best restaurants in New Orleans.
GW Fins
For those looking for classic fine dining — think white tablecloths and recommendations from the sommelier — yet undeniably New Orleans, GW Fins hits the mark. At this superb seafood restaurant in the heart of the action just off Bourbon Street, dinners come to sample some of the finest dishes in the city.
Here, seasonality and freshness are of the highest order, the menu changes daily based on what high-quality fresh catch is available. Expect it to be cooked with impressive techniques that embolden the subtle flavorings of each dish. Since it opened over 24 years ago in 2001, GW Fins has earned a reputation as one of the best fish restaurants in New Orleans, a city that’s known for its seafood.
Executive chef Michael Nelson is a seasoned pro when it comes to Gulf seafood, specializing in what he calls ‘ocean conservation cuts,’ think nose to tail eating but for ocean dwellers. The wine list is similarly impressive, with over 100 wines, 50 of which are available by the glass.
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gwfins.com
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Commander’s Palace
With a name like Commander’s Palace, diners know they are in for a treat, so it’s absolutely no surprise that this fine establishment has made our best restaurants in New Orleans list. Describing what comes out of the kitchen as New Haute Creole cuisine, Commander’s Palace manages to be both an innovative eatery and also pay homage to the great culinary history of New Orleans. Found a short drive from the busy streets of the French Quarter, Commander’s Palace is located on the wonderfully quaint Washington Avenue.
Each dish served at Commander’s Palace is a tribute to the founder and restauranter Ella Brennan, a hugely significant figure in the history of American dining. Today the Brennan family continues to run the restaurant, which has garnered a reputation for modern New Orleans-style cooking under head chef Meg Bickford.
While Commander’s Palace makes an excellent choice for an evening meal, it’s also cherished for its Jazz brunch, which may just be the best way to start a day in New Orleans.
commanderspalace.com
Bayona
If it’s a relaxing hour or two on one of New Orleans’ pleasant spring or fall evenings you’re looking for, then Bayona and its wonderous courtyard is the ideal spot. Found inside a beautiful Creole cottage that dates back to 1769, Bayona exudes the very essence of old-school New Orleans.
At the helm of this operation is chef and owner Susan Spicer, who began cooking as an apprentice under chef Daniel Bonnot at the Louis XVI Restaurant in 1979. While many restaurants in the city lean into the Creole roots, Spicer’s food looks further afield, with influences from Spain, Italy and France.
The menu changes daily, with many of the ingredients being sourced from local farmers. The wine list is wildly impressive featuring over 600 different bottles, including some exceptionally rare first growths, in addition to premier and grand cru bottlings.
bayona.com
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Coquette
Over on Magazine Street, Coquette keeps things deliciously simple with a small menu that offers contemporary southern cuisine that focuses on locally sourced produce. The result is an eatery that is as much a neighborhood gathering spot, as it is the ideal choice for a special occasion.
Founded by chef and owner Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette’s dining room occupies two floors and a 12-seat bar, inside a building that was constructed during the 1880s. Expect dishes like Smothered Flounder with braised collard greens and smoked trout roe or smoked beef short rib with butternut squash. These dishes manage to take classic southern cooking and bring it to the next level.
Drinks are just as impressive, with a range of in-house cocktails like Oathbreaker or Rye’d the Lightening. The beauty of Coquette is its relaxed neighborhood feel, which will make you feel like one of the locals from the moment you walk in.
coquette.com
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Restaurant Rebirth
Finally, pitching itself as “Where the locals eat,” Restaurant Rebirth in the Warehouse District earns its spot as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans. At the helm, South Louisiana native chef Ricky Cheramie creates food for the soul and takes pride in doing things properly, the restaurant squeezes its own sugar cane for simple syrup and sugar cane vinaigrette.
Having spent time in some of the best kitchens in the city, including Commander’s Palace, Cheramie has devised a short and simple menu at Restaurant Rebirth that highlights the very best of Cajun cuisine with a focus on farm-to-table dining. While many restaurants claim farm-to-table, Rebirth knows exactly where its produce comes from, with farms listed on its menu.
Cheramie works alongside his operating partner Manny Pineda, who brings his experience managing some of the best restaurants in New Orleans to Restaurant Rebirth. The partnership of Cheramie and Pineda has helped make Restaurant Rebirth of of the best spots in town.
restaurantrebirth.com