It goes
entirely without saying that one of the quintessential dishes in New Orleans's
incredible culinary history is gumbo. As a result of its popularity, though,
you may find that there are so many variations on the theme and so many
restaurants serving the dish that it ends up just being outright hard to
choose. Just in time for National Gumbo Day today, we have culled five places,
in no particular ranking, where you can be guaranteed to get a hot serving of
delicious Southern soup.
Gumbo
Shop
Rooted in
their French-Catholic heritage as a traditional gumbo house, the Gumbo
Shop is a restaurant of considerable
renown. Considering that their menu is chock full of variations on the
eponymous stew, there is almost certainly a menu item for every palate, if you
at all enjoy gumbo or its close relatives. 630 Saint Peter St., (504)
525-1486, gumboshop.com
Mandina's
Restaurant
This one is
a well-known food joint in New Orleans, and for good reasons. Mandina's serves a variety of selections, but you would be loath to
miss their gumbo dishes. Though they are a predominantly Italian restaurant,
they have excellent seafood dishes that easily match with their other entrees.
Seeing as they are currently open for dine-in seating, you can drop by and
enjoy a nice bowl of gumbo. 3800 Canal St., (504) 482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com
Galatoire's
While Galatoire's is largely a classy
steakhouse-styled restaurant, a glance at their menu will reveal that they
serve both seafood okra gumbo as well as duck and andouille gumbo. While their
options may not be as varied as places that specialize in gumbo alone,
Galatoire's is still a high-quality restaurant with a mean bowl of gumbo. 209
Bourbon St., (504) 525-2021, galatoires.com
Arnaud's
A posh
French Quarter establishment, Arnaud's
specializes in New Orleans cuisine and atmosphere. With a wide menu ranging
from escargot to baked oysters, Arnaud's has an expansive list of choices but still
has a place for classics like chicken and andouille gumbo. If you're in the
mood for gumbo with an upscale French Quarter atmosphere, this is your place. 813
Bienville St., (504) 523-5433, arnaudsrestaurant.com
Acme
Oyster House
