New Orleans has always considered itself to be a French
city. From being owned by France upon its founding to officially becoming sister
cities with Antibes Juan-Les-Pins on the French Riviera on July 14, 2022 to taking a stroll through the French Quarter on a Friday night, New
Orleans feels more like a European city than an American city. Because of this
close relationship with France, French fare is easy to find in small cafes and
century-old restaurants. Even restaurants that aren't French have some touches
and traditions from French cooking.
These New Orleans restaurants proudly serve French food from
time-tested traditional plates to contemporary takes on French culinary
standards. Have a taste of history at these local restaurants tonight!
The Best Restaurants for French Food in New Orleans
1. Café Degas
3127 Esplanade Ave. (504) 945-5635, cafedegas.com
The gorgeous French restaurant on Esplanade Avenue in the Fairgrounds neighborhood is surrounded by greenery, and there's a tree right in the middle of the patio! This little bistro named after French Impressionist Painter and New Orleans resident Edgar Degas has been serving French favorites for lunch, brunch, and dinner for decades.
There will be unique specials when you
visit, but the standard menu is always in vogue. Start off with Les Moules au
Fenouil: Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in fennel and leak white wine
broth. Then order the L'onglet de Boeuf for dinner: seared hangar steak with
pommes frites.
2. La Crepe Nanou
1410 Robert St. (504) 899-2670, lacrepenanou.com
La Crepe Nanou is one of the most popular spots in town for a romantic dinner. The richly decorated interior makes you feel like you just landed in Paris, Toulouse, or Nice. The French bistro specializes in savory crepes, but there are many more French entrees on the menu.
Have the Crepe Bourguignonne if you love
beef: beef tips braised in red wine with carrots and red potatoes. If you'd
prefer a traditional French entrée over crepes, try the Escalope de Veau (a
paneed veal pasta dish) or perhaps the Crevettes au Vin Blanc Ail et Fines
Herbes (Louisiana shrimp sauteed in white wine with herbs over pasta).
3. La Petit Grocery
4238 Magazine St. (504) 891-3377, lapetitegrocery.com
This quaint restaurant is aptly named; the building has housed many businesses like a butcher shop, floral shop, and grocery store serving the neighborhood for decades. Since 2004, La Petit Grocery has been serving French-inspired Creole dishes that the neighbors, and everyone else, can't get enough of.
La Petit Grocery has lunch, dinner, and
brunch services. Some of the favorite menu items include Blue Crab Beignets
with Malt Vinegar Aioli for an appetizer and Roasted Duck Breast with White
Beans, Swiss Chard, and Mulled Port Wine Jus for an entrée.
4. Lilette
3637 Magazine St. (504) 895-1636, liletterestaurant.com
Lilette serves contemporary and innovative French and Italian fare in a stately Uptown building which was once a neighborhood drug store. The lunch service is great for getting a soup and sandwich or salad; try the Sunchoke & Celery Root Soup with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Arugula Salad. Dinner becomes a romantic affair with dim lighting and wonderful food.
Start off by sharing Housemade Pappardelle
or White Truffle Parmigiano Toast with mushrooms and marrow. Then graduate to a
dish like the Sauteed Branzino for an entrée: sauteed branzino fish, sweet
potato, king trumpet mushroom, kale and tomato pistou, and white ver jus
butter.
5. Herbsaint Bar & Restaurant
701 St Charles Ave. (504) 524-4114, herbsaint.com
Herbsaint uses French traditions in their dishes, but it also incorporates other European and American sensibilities. Chef Donald Link and Chef de Cuisine Tyler Spreen insists on sourcing ingredients locally and regionally for his French, Italian, and southern American dishes.
The Muscovy Duck Leg Confit is a French-leaning
dish made American with a helping of Dirty Rice and Citrus Gastrique. If you'd
prefer something very filling, the Grilled Wagyu Bavette is made complete with chimichurri,
fries, and pimento aioli. The For the Table menu selection is Cote de Boeuf: a
26 oz ribeye with porcini mushroom butter.
6. La Boulangerie
4600 Magazine St. (504) 269-3777, laboulangerienola.com
La Boulangerie is a bakery and café open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day of the week. From breakfast to late lunch, you're going to fall in love with this menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, pastries, soups, freshly-baked breads, and salads.
You can mix and match items to create a
lovely meal fit for a sidewalk café in Paris. When you walk up to the counter,
order the Mini Baguette, Cobb Salad, the daily soup, and a Croque Monsieur
sandwich (bucher ham, Gruyere cheese, and bechamel on sourdough bread). Top
that off with a hot cup of coffee roasted by Congregation Coffee, and enjoy the
rest of your day!
7. Patois
6078 Laurel St. (504) 895-9441, patoisnola.com
Patois's menu gleefully boasts about the traditional Louisiana cuisine with a French accent within it. Though the offerings can change based on seasonal availability, you will certainly find something you love here. The regulars love starting off with an appetizer of Mussels sitting in smoked tomato harissa broth served with grilled focaccia bread.
The Garlic Roasted Airline Chicken Breast
is served with artichoke puree, preserved lemon and spinach Israeli couscous,
and basil oil. The Grilled Hangar Steak comes with charred broccoli, steak
frites, and ramp greens. Be sure to order the Meyer Lemon Tarte for a refreshing,
sweet dessert. This is a perfect place to visit on Bastille Day!
8. Antoine's Restaurant
713 St Louis St. (504) 581-4422, antoines.com
Antoine's Restaurant has remained a fine dining restaurant that is known the world over for superb service, historical décor, and excellent Creole food since it was started in 1840. Most meals for the regulars begin with the historical Souffle Potatoes and end with a massive slice of Baked Alaska and Café Brulot Diabolique.
Between those courses, you may be enticed
by the more French entrees. The Champignon Bourguignon is beef tips and
herb-roasted fingerling potatoes in a burgundy reduction with mushroom ragout.
The Lambchops are drizzled in a mint jus and served with onion rice and
asparagus.
9. Justine
225 Chartres St. (504) 218-8533, justinenola.com
Justine takes its inspiration from the lively brasseries of Paris from the atmosphere to the food. You can sit alongside the sidewalk to people watch tourists and French Quarter characters or recede further into the contemporary restaurant for quieter seating.
Start off with a plate of Escargot in parsley
garlic butter or a fromage plate like Laura Chenel's Chevre with crudites. The
entrees are immaculate for meat and seafood fans: Steamed Mussels in saffron
broth, Steak Tartare with hand-cut fries, and Chicken Confit with creamy
polenta. The Baked Crab Mac with brie cheese is a very popular (and rich) side
dish.
10. N7
1117 Montegut St. n7nola.com
There's nothing quite like N7. It's a modern French bistro in the Bywater neighborhood, but it has a noticeable touch of Japanese cuisine. An example of the fusion can be found in the Sake-Cured Salmon Tartine that is flavored with goat cheese and cilantro.
N7's menu is focused on French cuisine with
contemporary twists. Though the offerings can change from time to time, you are
likely to find dishes like Escargot Tempura, Steak au Poivre, and house-made
charcuterie plates. You have a choice of smoked mackerel, duck liver pate, baby
octopus, and Chicken Galatine for the focus of your plate.
Where to Get French Food in New Orleans
Flaky crepes stuffed with richly-marinated meats, steaming
escargot, and wine reduction sauces that can be enjoyed with a freshly-backed
baguette, these French restaurants are true culinary kings! They carry on the
tradition of appreciating France's cultural contribution to southern Louisiana through
food and drink. It's like you can taste the relationship that the earliest
French settlers had with their homeland in every bite.
Did we miss the best French food in New Orleans? Let us know
where we can find it!
