The CBD and Warehouse District can be magical after 5 p.m. Many
of the people who work in the soaring office buildings have gone home. The
streets are somewhat quiet. And as you walk down the sidewalk, all of the
sudden you'll come across a bustling, busy restaurant that cuts through silence
of the street. There are so many of these places in the area and each
restaurant has its own special qualities about it.
The following Warehouse District and CBD neighborhood restaurants are really
not to be missed if you like great food. Plan to stay a while or go bar-hopping at the best CBD and Warehouse District bars after your meal.
Where To Eat In The CBD And Warehouse District
1. Sofia
516 Julia St., (504) 322-3216
sofianola.com
This Italian restaurant is a modern update on those classic comfort dishes we all know and love. Sofia manages to make the food exciting without compromising the "comfort" side of comfort food. Dishes feature plates of their delicious handmade pasta like the Cacio e Pepe, Risotto, or the Pasta alla Vodka.
If you're not in the mood for pasta, you can navigate further through their menu, and find picturesque wood-fired pizzas with an array of house toppings. You can't miss with the classic Margherita Pizza, but Sofia offers more adventurous options as well like the Piccante, which has pepperoni, hot peppers, ricotta, kale, pecorino, and honey.
2. Meril
424 Girod St., (504) 526-3745
bemeril.com
This restaurant on Julia Street is perfect for anyone who wishes to delight in the culinary expertise of one of New Orleans' most famous chefs. A more casual affair then his other restaurants, Meril is perfect for those slightly daunted by the higher end restaurants in the chef's catalogue or for any who wish to enjoy great food at a more manageable price.
The menu, named after Chef Emeril's daughter, features seafood options as well as various contemporary American dishes, influenced by Emeril's travels. The Gulf Yellowfin Tuna Bundles and Crispy Rock Shrimp Tacos will surely start the meal off with a bang, before being followed by other classics and variations on them like a Double Cheeseburger, Korean Beef Short Ribs, or Ribeye Steak.
3. Josephine Estelle
600 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3070
josephineestelle.com
This art-deco inspired spot features high ceilings, and plush, green seating at every turn. The notably romantic atmosphere of Josephine Estelle is bolstered by the excitement of a semi-open kitchen, and offerings for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner and a slew of cocktails.
The Italian restaurant features homemade-style pasta dishes like the Bucatini (with aglio e olio, calabrian chili, parmesan, and panna gratta) or the Tajarin, a cacio e pepe dish. Another notable item on the menu you might miss, due to its breakfast connotations, are the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, which are as appealing to the eyes as they are to taste.
4. Seaworthy
630 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3071
seaworthynola.com
Seaworthy, a nautical-looking restaurant, is the place to go if you want to try oysters because these oysters come from all over the country. You can select oysters from different parts of the Gulf of Mexico, from various states bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and from states and Canadian cities along the Pacific Ocean.
There are even some Louisiana caviar selections for you to try out. Seaworthy proudly states that all of their oysters are wild-caught and sustainably harvested. There are many non-seafood options to eat as well like the Cauliflower Steak, if you prefer.
5. Compére Lapin
535 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 599-2119
comperelapin.com
Chef Nina Compton made a national name for herself when she opened Compere Lapin. This restaurant became well known for its unique fusion of Caribbean, New Orleans, French, and Italian flavors. The dishes are delicious to the point of distraction. From the small bites and the raw bar to the desserts, you won't be able to try everything you want to try.
Start off with the Buttermilk Biscuits with
honey butter and bacon butter before sharing a dozen raw Gulf oysters. For your
first entrée, the Broiled Shrimp and Calabrian Butter is divine and will pair
well with your second entrée of Curried Goat with Sweet Potato Gnocchi. Finish up
with the Mango Crème Brulee, and you've had one very exciting meal!
6. Briquette
701 S. Peters St., (504) 302-7496
briquette-nola.com
If you want options, Briquette is the best place to go. The large menu has surf and turf options, soups and salads, and a lot of appetizers for the table. Much of the menu offerings are New Orleans specialties, so you know that means a ton of flavor in every bite. The Oysters Bienville En Casserole are a popular starter dish with shrimp, pork belly, mushroom, and garlic butter sauce.
Briquette specializes in grilled fish that
comes from right here at home and miles away. The Alaskan Halibut Fillet comes
with heirloom potatoes, dijonnaise brussel sprouts, and a Chardonnay butter
sauce. The Louisiana Redfish on the Half Shell has charred lemon butter and
Belle River crawfish relish.
7. Carmo
527 Julia St., (504) 875-4132
cafecarmo.com
This Warehouse District restaurant has
several cultures represented on its menu. There's a little bit of the
Caribbean, some South American, influences from West Africa, and flavors of
Southeast Asia. Of course, there's also some Gulf South for the local twist.
Carmo masterfully blends of all these together for their breakfast, lunch, and
dinner menus.
You won't want to miss out on the ceviche
or sashimi. The Tiradito Fish is thinly-sliced catch of the day topped with aji
Amarillo, yuzu sauce, and canchita. There are even vegan ceviche options. The
Creole Avocado is avocado slices seasoned with Creole spice and olive oil that
is lightly torched and garnished with onions, cashews, almonds, ponzu sauce.
8. Domenica
123 Baronne St., (504) 648-6020
domenicarestaurant.com
Domenica's pizzas were so popular that the spin-off restaurant Pizza Domenica specializes in them. Calabrese, Prosciutto, Smoked Pork, and Meatball are just some of the pizzas that you can get here. But you don't want to overlook the tantalizing primi and secondi plates. The Truffle Agnolotti is perfect for truffle lovers with ricotta and grana Padano.
Go for the Grilled Wagyu Hangar Steak if you want something extremely filling. The steak comes with broccolini, purple sweet potatoes, mint, and beef tallow salmoriglio. If you think that you can manage all of that, check out the house-cured charcuterie plates with your choice of meats like beef pancetta and venison salami.
9. Emeril's
800 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 528-9393
emerilsrestaurant.com
What better restaurant to exhibit the relaxed flare and refinement of New Orleans cuisine than the flagship location for Chef Emeril Lagasse's line of restaurants? Now helmed by his son, E.J. Lagasse, the location was opened in 1990 and steadily made a name for itself within the Warehouse District.
The menu itself is a seasonally-revolving collection of Emeril's famous dishes throughout the years, then reimagined by his son E.J. and his accompanying culinary team. Make a reservation for Emeril's tasting menu and enjoy delicious plates including Oyster Stew, Lobster Gumbo, and Banana Cream Pie.
10. Mother's Restaurant
401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656
mothersrestaurant.net
It's pretty easy to spot Mother's when you're walking or driving down Poydras Street. There's usually a long line of people waiting to get in. Mother's immense popularity is certainly due to its down-home comfort food and the fact that all of the menu items are served all day, every day. In fact, Mother's is open every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mother's has an extensive menu and it can be hard to choose between breakfast dishes, po-boys, the big salads, and Mother's Favorites. The Combination Platter is great for those who can't decide: Shrimp Creole or Crawfish Etouffee with jambalaya, red beans and rice, potato salad, and one more side.
The Best Places To Eat In The CBD and Warehouse District
Come hungry because these Warehouse District and CBD restaurants
are ready to fill you up. Whether it's an after-work meal or a big night out
for you and your friends, you don't have to walk far here to find a great restaurant
and then some great night-cap bars afterwards. Keep up with these restaurants
during football season; they may have specials just for game days.
Did we miss the best restaurant in the Warehouse District or
CBD? Let us know what it is and why we should go there.
