French Quarter – (Vieux Carre “old square”)
Restaurants
If you can, go to one of the old school restaurants, they are an experience (Tujaques, Antoines, Galatoires, Arnauds, Brennans, Commanders etc.) I suggest going to one of these fine dining places on each trip for a splurge.
Lunch menus are typically cheaper, the service will be great, and they represent a classic experience.
Some of these restaurants have smaller venues next to the main venue, where you can get similar, or the same, menu items but without the need to dress up for the fine dining experience. But putting on the clothes, and face, have been a time-honored tradition at these establishments, and hearken back from a different era. So I say you do one right, one night at least.
Get a Ramos Gin Fizz for brunch.
Mid-priced Restaurants
I find there are many, many average restaurants serving local cuisine in the French Quarter. They are not bad, but
they are not good, either. Here is list of places worth visiting.
Gumbo Shop – my favorite mid-priced place, for local cuisine, solid service, food, and ambience.
Coops – Stand in line with tourists for sketchy service, but damn, the fried chicken with red beans and rice keep
pulling me back. Solid Gumbo, average Po Boys. The chicken across the street (Fiorellas) is not as good.
Napoleon House – Go for the gorgeous space, stay for the Pimm’s Cup, get food because it’s cheap and in a gorgeous
space. It’s a gorgeous space, that’s why you go.
Late Night Food (since I get asked all the time after my pub crawl)
Many corner grocery stores have great food-to-go, are open 24 hours, and will deliver booze and food 24 hours!
Verti Marte – an institution with great specialty sandwiches (All That Jazz, Royal Feast, Green Giant(Veggie)
Premade food, choose 1 main with 2 sides, and it will be about 3 pounds worth of food to share.
Quartermaster – Stuffed potato, quick Muffallatas, deli, premade local food (garlic green beans best side)
Lucky Dog (mobile stands on the many corners) – is an institution since the 40s, the loaded dog is incredible,
when your drunk. I have never had one sober.
Pizza is average in NO, but View Carre and Crescent City Pizza on bourbon are solid, and open late
Turtles (on Decatur) or Spirits (on Bourbon) : Cheap steak, cheap steak, cheap steak – trust me, it hits the spot
late (pass on the pizza)Open 24 hours
NOLA Po Boy is open late. Next to it, Clover Grill is an historic greasy spoon that is always open.
There are many bars that serve food late or 24 hours all over the quarter: Jimani, Alibi, Buffas, Copper Monkey