10 Best French Restaurants in NOLA
Do you enjoy a buttery croissant, salty pomme frites, or cheesy onion soup? You don't need to visit Paris or Marseille to enjoy authentic French cuisine. New Orleans is home to dozens of French eateries and bistros that will make you say, "C'est délicieux!"
To help along your French tasting journey, here is a list of 10 excellent French restaurants right here in the Crescent City.
1. Café Degas
3127 Esplanade Ave., (504) 945-5635
cafedegas.com
Down the street from the Degas House, another local establishment is paying homage to the artist's legacy. Café Degas brings the atmosphere and eats of a French bistro to the Big Easy. The café's menu includes bistro staples, including La Gratinée d'Oignon and Escargots à la Bourguignonne.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, Café Degas is the perfect place for a romantic date night or a boozy brunch. Book a table at New Orleans' premier French bistro online.
2. La Crêpe Nanou
1410 Robert St., (504) 899-1670
lacrepenanou.com
As La Crêpe Nanou's name implies, the restaurant specializes in cooking up delicious crêpes. The Uptown creperie offers 10 different types of crêpes, including Crêpe au Écrevisses with Louisiana crawfish or Crêpe au Crabe with shrimp. Its namesake dessert, the Crêpe Nanou, is loaded with vanilla, coffee, and chocolate ice cream before being topped with almonds and chocolate sauce.
Serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday, La Crêpe Nanou promises to satisfy your crêpe cravings. Visit the restaurant's website to reserve a table.
3. N7
1117 Montegut St.
n7nola.com
Nestled in the Bywater neighborhood, N7 fuses traditional French cuisine with Japanese ingredients. The menu ranges from steamed mussels doused in sake to pâté made from uni. You can finish off the meal with a soy sauce creme brûlée, cutting through the sweetness of the sugary dessert. The fusion menu undergoes daily changes, so no two dinners at N7 are ever the same.
The 18+ restaurant offers dinner seven days a week, with brunch available on weekends. While walk-ins are available, it is highly recommended to reserve a table on Resy or by email.
4. Antoine's Restaurant
713 Saint Louis St., (504) 581-4422
antoines.com
No list of NOLA's French Restaurants would be complete without mentioning Antoine's Restaurant. Located in the French Quarter, Antoine's has been using the same French recipes since its founding in 1840. Antoine's signature Oysters Rockefeller—a secret recipe passed from generation to generation—has made the restaurant a household name among New Orleanians.
Depending on which day you plan your visit, Antoine's is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. To taste its world-famous Oysters Rockefeller, the restaurant recommends making a reservation.
5. Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., (504) 525-2021
galatoires.com
On Bourbon Street sits the famous Galatoire's Restaurant, a fifth-generation French eatery operated by John Georges and the Galatoire family. The menu takes advantage of Louisiana's fresh seafood, including dishes such as Crawfish Au Gratin and Crabmeat Sardou. Non-seafood lovers can enjoy one of the restaurant's many poultry dishes, such as Chicken Creole.
Galatoire's dining room is open Tuesday through Sunday, with three-course lunch specials available on weekdays. To secure a seat for lunch or dinner, please make a reservation via Resy.
6. Couvant Bar & Brasserie
315 Magazine St., (504) 732-2400
couvant.com
Couvant's name originates from the Old French term couvent, meaning to convene or gather. Ultimately, that is the goal of Couvant's proprietors: a restaurant where people can gather for all occasions. The Magazine Street restaurant's menu features shareable appetizers and hors d'oeuvres, such as Tartare de Boeuf. Or, you can order the Steak Frites accompanied by au poivre or bernaise sauces.
Couvant offers breakfast every day until 11 a.m., along with dinner service Tuesday through Saturday. Book a table for friends and family to understand how a meal brings people together.
7. Herbsaint
701 St. Charles Ave., (504) 525-4114
herbsaint.com
Chef de Cuisine Tyler Spreen and Chef/Owner Donald Link have established themselves as powerhouses in the restaurant industry, thanks to their work at Herbsaint. The bar and restaurant on St. Charles Avenue is serving French cuisine with Southern flair. Visitors can start their meal with a plate of crawfish croquettes before diving into duck confit or wagyu bavette.
The restaurant offers lunch and dinner services Monday through Friday, with dinner service only on Saturdays. You can find a table on Resy or organize a private dinner on the restaurant's website.
8. Lilette
3637 Magazine St., (504) 895-1636
liletterestaurant.com
Once an 1800s drugstore, 3637 Magazine St. is now home to Lilette. Advertised as "the sexiest restaurant in town," Lilette prides itself on its curated menu and extensive wine collection. The cocktails and wines are perfectly paired with French dishes, such as Sautéed Black Cod and Braised Lamb Shoulder.
Lilette is crafting French cuisine every day except Sunday. Sit inside the restaurant's beautiful dining room or patio by reserving a table on Resy.
9. Luke
333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 378-2840
lukeneworleans.com
A staple in the Central Business District, Luke Restaurant is a brasserie that combines the relaxed atmosphere of a French brewery with Creole flavors. The restaurant's lunch menu features French sandwiches, including the Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame. Those craving something meat-focused can opt for the Steak Frites or Speckled Trout Amandine.
Luke Restaurant operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can even enjoy the flavors of France in the comfort of your home by ordering online.
10. Le Moyne Bistro
746 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 350-1750
lemoynebistro.com
In the Warehouse District, Le Moyne Bistro focuses on contemporary yet rustic French cuisine. Highlights from the menu include Chicken au Riesling, Beef Short Rib Carbonnade, and Gulf Fish Courtbouillon. Are you indecisive when it comes to picking an entrée? Try the Summer Prix Fixe menu, which features three courses filled with French staples.
Le Moyne Bistro serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Reservations can be made on Resy, but walk-in guests may find available seating in the bar area.
Bon Appetit, New Orleans
It should come as no surprise that New Orleans boasts its fair share of excellent French restaurants, thanks to the city's history. Book a reservation at one of these eateries to celebrate your French-American heritage with delicious food.
