Top 10 Best Restaurants to Eat in the CBD and Warehouse District
New Orleans is known as one of the biggest foodie capitals in the world. When it comes to the best home-made cooking, NOLA knows best. All the way from the French Quarter to Uptown, the options are truly endless. Restaurants featuring Cajun and Creole cuisine, authentic Italian, traditional Vietnamese, and so more much more.
With so many places to choose from, Where Y'at has got you covered on where to get the best meal in the CBD and Warehouse District. Enjoy one of our picks next time you can't decide where to go.
1. Sofia NOLA
516 Julia St., (504) 322-3216
Owner and New Orleanian Billy Blatty welcomed his concept Sofia NOLA back in 2019. The restaurant opened with a vision of a communal style dining, involving plates meant to be shared and even tables that sit eye-level to the employees to create a unified environment.
Sofia NOLA focuses on locally sourced, sustainable food that also meets the ethics and morales of the business. The authentic Italian menu consists of many options to choose including alla vodka pasta, braised short rib with pappardelle, and white pizza with smoked gouda and garlic oil.
2. Meril
424 Girod St., (504) 526-3745
Named after Chef Emeril Lagasse's daughter, this contemporary style restaurant serves plates inspired by cuisine from all over the world. Some menu items include fried turkey necks, Gulf shrimp dumplings, and Margherita flatbreads.
Meril features brunch on Saturday and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. before switching to their lunch and dinner menu. Visit their website to make your reservation.
3. Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 588-2123
Chef Donald Link brings his Cajun roots to Cochon, featuring delicious and authentic Cajun cuisine. Cochon focuses on locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce. Chef Link brings traditional methods of cooking to Cochon's kitchen, making for true Southern meals.
Menu items include fried alligator with chili garlic aioli, chicken and andouille gumbo, rabbit dumplings, and more. Don't miss your chance to enjoy a real Louisiana meal.
4. Seaworthy
630 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3071
Inspired by the vibrant life of New Orleans, Seaworthy features the freshest seafood from the Gulf to the East Coast. They are known best for their wild caught, sustainably harvested oysters.
All though their focus is oysters, their menu goes way beyond that. Seaworthy features three types of caviar service, tuna tartare, snapper ceviche, shrimp and grits, and even a Wagyu burger for our meat lovers.
5. Compère Lapin
535 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 599-2119
Get a unique taste of the world at Compère Lapin. Meaning "brother rabbit" in French, Compère Lapin showcases flavors from Chef Nina Compton's upbringing to current life. Chef Compton takes her Caribbean heritage with her French culinary training and combines it with traditional New Orleans cuisine to make for an unforgettable experience.
Compère Lapin is only open for dinner, except Sunday when they are also open for brunch. Check out their menu here.
6. Briquette
701 S. Peters St., (504) 547-6330
A term for using red hot coals to slow cook meats and seafood, Briquette features some of the freshest caught seafood in New Orleans. The contemporary, casual dining restaurant has an 18-foot seafood display where you can choose your fish for your dinner.
Besides seafood, Briquette also features veal, filet mignon, and pork belly. They have something that everyone will enjoy.
7. Domenica
123 Baronne St., (504) 336-6541
Domenica is known in New Orleans for some of the best wood-fired pizza. Their traditional Italian menu features burrata, meatballs, Margherita pizza, and more. Chef Phillip Mariano has been with the company for over 10 years and brings his culinary expertise to the restaurant.
Check out their daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for half-off pizza, draft beer, well cocktails, and wine by the glass.
8. Emeril's
800 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 528-9393
Two MICHELIN Stars winner Emeril's is the highly acclaimed flagship restaurant for the Emeril's restaurant group. The fine dining restaurant takes modern adaptions to Chef Lagasse's techniques, which have been perfected for years.
Emeril's takes pride in their natural, sustainable, and locally sourced ingredients, which they use to create some of the highest quality meals in the city. The restaurant features a tasting menu, or check out their wine bar for a more casual dining experience.
9. Mother's
401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656
Mother's Restaurant has been around for decades cooking up some New Orleans favorites. When couple Simon and Mary (Mother) Landry opened in 1938, they started a legacy that would last for generations.
Mother's created the famous "ferdi po-boy," which is a po-boy with roast beef debris, honey baked ham, melted cheese, and dressed, of course. From po-boys and red beans and rice to jambalaya and more, there's something for everybody. Don't miss out on this New Orleans staple.
10. 34 Restaurant & Bar
714 Baronne St., (504) 498-3434
34restaurantandbar.com
Inspired by Emeril Lagasse's late mother Hilda, 34 Restaurant & Bar is Chef Lagasse's first restaurant dedicated to Portuguese food. The restaurant seats 245 people and is beautifully adorned with wood accents and ornate Portuguese tiles.
Small plates, grilled dishes, rice dishes, vegetarian, and sharable plates such as pork and clams and The Prego sandwich are available. Try a quality craft cocktail or a glass of 34's available Portuguese wines.
CBD/Warehouse Eats
Well, now you have it. The Best Places to Eat in the Warehouse District and CBD. New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the world and we have so many delicious restaurants we get to enjoy. With food as good as this, you'll never want to leave.
