All photos: Where Y'at Magazine photographers

Restaurant Guide February 2021

15:00 February 24, 2021
By: Staff

Crescent City Steakhouse

American

Crescent City Steakhouse has influenced New Orleans for over 87 years. Their steaks, including their rib eye and delectable bacon-wrapped filet mignon, are unmatched. The secret? For generations, the chefs have been cooking their steaks in sizzling butter. 1001 N. Broad St.,
504-821-3271,
crescentcitysteaks.com

Lakeview Harbor boasts great steaks, seafood, and other classics, while providing a comfortable pub atmosphere on Lake Pontchartrain. They offer delicious steaks, such as a 10-ounce smoked prime rib with grilled asparagus and loaded potato croquettes, and a 12-ounce ribeye with grilled asparagus and rosemary roasted new potatoes. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., 504-486-4887, lakeviewharbor.us

Legacy Kitchen's Craft Tavern serves refined American cuisine and spins on all of your favorite dishes. Their brunch menu is served daily to save you from having to wait for the weekend. Their All-American Beignet-Wich is a Southern take on the classic breakfast sandwich, with eggs, cheese, and bacon in a beignet. 700 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-613-2350, legacykitchen.com

Sala is a family-owned restaurant that focuses on making their stylish atmosphere on the lake a place to be enjoyed with family and friends, especially since their food is meant to be shared. Sala also features a fantastic cocktail menu as well as a Happy Hour Tuesday through Friday. 124 Lake Marina Ave., 504-513-2670, salanola.com

The Steakhouse at Harrah's is an esteemed steakhouse that doesn't skimp on the shrimp—try topping your steak with seafood to make it "surf and turf" style. Want something exciting to drink with your meal? They offer cocktails by the bottle and champagne specials. And after tasting the food, you'll understand why the Steakhouse's chef, Ryan Wichter, has won awards. 1 Canal St., 504-533-6111, caesars.com/harrahs-new-orleans/restaurants/the-steakhouse

Asian

Green Tea serves healthy Chinese cuisine and insists on being vegan-friendly and using local ingredients. They offer large portions of family meals, so your Chinese-food run can be enjoyed by the whole family. The restaurant also caters to fortune-cookie lovers by selling the iconic cookie in groups of four. 3001 Napoleon Ave., 504-899-8005, greenteanola.com

Mikimoto creates a modern and tidy atmosphere with dim lighting and updated decor, a perfect setting for a meal of sushi, edamame, baked yellowtail neck, or whatever else you might be in the mood for. Their drive-thru allows you to grab some great sushi without even unbuckling a seatbelt. 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-488-1881, mikimotosushi.com

MoPho merges Vietnamese and Louisiana cuisine together to create an experience that all should try. This restaurant features incredible appetizers, such as crispy chicken bites, as well as don't-miss daily specials, including hot chicken vindaloo on Tuesdays and their smoky pork pho on Wednesdays. 514 City Park Ave., 504-482-6845, mophonola.com

Bars With Great Food

5216 Table & Tap is a great bar that has food just as good as its drinks. In addition to an impressive selection of amazing cocktails, they offer a variety of speciality burgers, such as the Southern Drawl, which is loaded up with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese, and bacon. 5216 Veterans Blvd., Metarie, 504-766-1417, 5216tableandtap.com

Fulton Alley isn't only a bar, but also a bowling alley, so you can spend the evening there drinking and scoring spares. Bowling is even more fun with an order of their Loaded Baked Potato Tots, which are oversized tater tots with cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions. 600 Fulton St., 504-208-5569, fultonalley.com

Orleans Grapevine has been serving high-quality cuisine and fine wine for many years. The building is over 200 years old, but their food is fresh and modern, especially the Grapevine Black Angus house filet, an eight-ounce filet that comes with your choice of crawfish demi-glaze or a cream sauce. 720 Orleans St., 504-523-1930, orleansgrapevine.com

Rivershack Tavern calls itself the most unusual bar in New Orleans, and with good reason. Known for its collection of both "bar legs" barstools and tacky ashtrays, the Rivershack Tavern also has one of the best beer selections in town. It offers fantastic dinner specials that include steaks, ribs, and even tacos. 3449 River Rd., Jefferson, 504-834-4938, rivershacktavern.com

Rum and the Lash is tucked into Mick's Irish Pub and offers great food to go with its beers. Try a basket of their fries, which come plain, with cheese, loaded, or with curry sauce. Their ever-changing list of weekend specials and rotating menu items include a pork sandwich and a pimento cheese and collard melt. 4801 Bienville St., 504-482-9113, rumandthelash.com

Stumpy's Hatchet House provides customers an unusual and fun experience: throwing a hatchet at a target! Both seasoned throwers and newbies are welcome. Stumpy's features a selection of bar bites to snack on while hatchet-throwing, such as their delicious hot dogs and cheesy nachos.1200 Poydras St., 504-577-2937, stumpyshh.com/neworleansla

Cafés

Bearcat Cafe focuses on serving high-quality dishes for breakfast and lunch, as well as sustainable coffees from Equator Coffee Co., loose-leaf teas, and house-made bottled beverages. They offer both light and indulgent dishes, with a "Good Cat" menu for when you're going healthy and a "Bad Cat" menu for those splurge days. Multiple locations,
bearcatcafe.com

Misa [Where Y'at photo]

Jimmy J's Café makes everything from scratch with the freshest ingredients, and their staff prides themselves on knowing how to both cook and serve good food. This restaurant has a wide variety of delicious French toast options, such as their blueberry-brandy glazed, Bananas Foster, Cap'n Crunch, and cinnamon-spiced varieties. 115 Chartres St., 504-309-9360, jimmyjscafe.com

Misa focuses on serving global cuisine with authentic Mediterranean influences, which goes wonderfully with their impressive wine list. Customers can sit outside on the patio and enjoy excellent dishes such as their sweet potato ravioli and cauliflower curry. Their fantastic desserts include a perfect chocolate tart served with ice cream. 4734 Magazine St., 504-510-2791, misanola.com

Caribbean

Carmo built its menu upon a multi-cultural culinary experience that gives diners a taste of the Caribbean, West Africa, and beyond, for vegans and omnivores alike. Their delicious Rico entree features grilled plantains topped with panela cheese, house-smoked wild boar, and their Rico sauce. 527 Julia St., 504-875-4132, cafecarmo.com

NOLA Caye is a Caribbean-style restaurant that not only has delicious food, but also a great atmosphere for you to enjoy their cuisine, both indoors and out. Their house salad, deliciously filled with mangoes, pineapples, and avocado, is just one of many recommended dishes, and their Happy Hour is top-notch. 898 Baronne St., 504-302-1302, nolacaye.com

Italian

Josephine Estelle marries Italian cuisine with Southern influences to create a menu of unmatched flavor and quality. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, giving you plenty of opportunities to stop by. Their Pork Milanese, served with radishes and a Meyer lemon aioli, is the star of the dinner menu. 600 Carondelet St., 504-930-3070, josephineestelle.com

Mosca's is a family-owned restaurant that has been in operation for over 60 years. Guests can enjoy delicious Italian specialties and signature dishes, such as Oysters Mosca. Mosca's even shares their recipes for favorites such as Shrimp Mosca and Chicken a La Grande, so customers can try making them on their own. 4137 US-90 West, Westwego, 504-436-8950, moscasrestaurant.com

Nor-Joe Imports doubles as both an Italian import grocery store and fantastic restaurant. The restaurant offers a range of tasty options, such as the creamy carbonara pasta, served with fresh garlic bread and a side salad, and the "cheese wheel pasta," made by putting hot pasta and sauce into a hollowed-out cheese bowl. 505 Frisco Ave., Metairie, 504-833-9240, facebook.com/norjoeimport

Pascal's Manale has been serving New Orleans since 1913, offering delicious and authentic Creole and Italian dishes. Famous for being the original creator of New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp, this restaurant also features multiple private rooms that are perfect for small gatherings with friends. 1838 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-4877, pascalsmanale.com

Red Gravy has been listed in Open Table's Top 100 Best Brunches in America and is celebrating its 10th anniversary. On the brunch menu, they feature delicious cannoli pancakes, which are thin pancakes with cannoli cream, pistachios, and chocolate. You don't want to miss this Italian twist on brunch. 4206 Magazine St., 504-561-8844, redgravycafe.com

Tavolino is sometimes referred to as the "hidden gem of Algiers" and is best known for its incredible handmade pizzas and excellent wine. Their prosciutto brie pizza is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, brie, and arugula. End your visit with their deliciously creamy pistachio cheesecake. 141 Delaronde St., Algiers, 504-605-3365

Venezia Restaurant has been creating authentic Italian handmade pizza in their original stone oven since 1957. Don't miss their fantastic veal, seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes. Get your meal topped with shrimp and crawfish in a dill cream sauce, or make it a classic spaghetti-and-meatballs night. 134 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-488-7991, venezianeworleans.net

Middle Eastern

Lebanon's Café creates an exciting and colorful atmosphere and serves authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, so you're sure to enjoy both the food and the location. Lebanon's was voted Best Middle Eastern Restaurant by the readers of Where Y'at Magazine. Be sure to try a few of their hummus varieties. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

Tal's Hummus offers a pledge of hospitality to its customers, promising to treat all guests like family. Theyserve Israeli-inspired food, including hummus, pita sandwiches, and kebabs, all using the freshest ingredients. Order their hummus alone or topped with anything from chicken to grilled veggies to falafel. 4800 Magazine St., 504-267-7357, ordertalsonline.com

Mexican

Carreta's has been serving authentic Mexican food since 1999 and aims to make customers feel at home in their restaurant. Although you can always get all the classics, such as burritos and margaritas, a new item on the appetizer menu is their avocado fries: breaded and fried avocado slices, served with their house chipotle sauce. Multiple locations, carretasgrillrestaurant.com

New Orleans Cuisine

Apolline is in a renovated double-shotgun cottage that creates a homey and welcoming feeling for every customer who enters. Their dinner menu has mouthwatering dishes, such as the brown butter and pecan-roasted Gulf fish. But Apolline is also famous for its brunch, complete with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys! 4729 Magazine St., 504-894-8881, apollinerestaurant.com

Café 615 was voted "Best Restaurant - Westbank" by Where Y'at Magazine readers. This restaurant offers large portions of authentic New Orleans cuisine and an extensive list of beer, wine, and cocktails—just the way we like it! Café 615 also has great catering options for all your party needs. 615 Kepler St., Gretna, 504-365-1225, cafe615.com

Apolline [Courtesy Frank Phillips/Apolline]
Daisy Duke's [Where Y'at photo]

Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop offers a variety of Chef Ron Iafrate's delicious gumbo dishes, such as Freckled Gumbo, with fried oysters on top, or Gumbo Monceaux, topped with a poached egg and potato salad. They also serve other classic New Orleans dishes, including crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, shrimp creole, and red beans and rice. 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, 504-835-2022, gumbostop.com

The Creole Cookery features divine New Orleans cuisine and drinks. They offer a delicious list of appetizers, such as gator bites and Cajun calamari, as well as impressive entrees. Both their food and Hurricane cocktails will make you fall in love with New Orleans all over again. 508 Toulouse St., 504-524-9631, neworleanscreolecookery.com

Daisy Duke's provides a truly Southern experience, serving Cajun-inspired cuisine and providing customers the classic Southern hospitality that New Orleans is known for. Their breakfast menu is available at all times, offering such dishes as an alligator omelet, Cajun omelet, and biscuits and gravy. Multiple locations, daisydukes.com

Short Stop Poboys

Jazzy Pete's is a hip restaurant that serves traditional New Orleans dishes and great po-boys. Jazzy Pete's signature item is the Jazzy Pete Poboy, which comes with grilled hot sausage, American cheese, fried shrimp, pickles, greens, and Jazzy sauce, in either a large 12-inch or half-sized 7-inch variety. 8201 Oak St., 504-766-0420, restaurantji.com/la/new-orleans/jazzy-petes-new-orleans-/

Mandina's was founded as a grocery store in the late 1890s and was later turned into a restaurant in the 1930s. The restaurant features numerous fantastic daily specials every day. For instance, on Tuesday, you can choose from beef stew, corned beef and cabbage, and delicious stuffed chicken breast. 3800 Canal St., 504-482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com

Short Stop Poboys is a dedicated po-boy restaurant that offers 30 different types of delicious po-boys in total, including roast beef, hot sausage link, Italian sausage, meatball, oyster, and soft-shell crab, among many others. Their sandwiches come in 6-inch, 9-inch, and king-size 14-inch options, and you can even get whole wheat po-boy bread. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metarie, 504-885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com

Willie Mae's is a classic Southern restaurant that is known for its world-class fried chicken, which was voted as "America's Best." They also won a James Beard Award in 2005. The most popular meal here includes three pieces of chicken with one of their excellent sides, such as green beans, macaroni and cheese, or fries. Multiple locations, williemaesnola.com

Seafood

Briquette is a contemporary restaurant with an open-kitchen layout in a converted molasses factory. Their fresh fish is the highlight of the menu, prepared over brick-like "briquettes" covered in fine oils. The Snapper Pontchartrain, served with hollandaise sauce and lump crab meat, is an otherworldly experience. 701 S. Peters St., 504-460-3886, briquette-nola.com

Desire Oyster Bar 's Chicken & Waffles

Charlie's Restaurant offers delicious Cajun Creole cuisine, such as seafood-based salads and sandwiches, with plenty of options for non-fish-lovers as well. One of their most popular dishes is the jumbo overstuffed potato that comes with toppings of your choice. The restaurant can cater any event and has a banquet room for hosting special events. 6129 East St. Bernard Hwy., Violet, 504-682-9057, facebook.com/Charlies-Restaurant-Catering

Desire Oyster Bar allows oyster-lovers to watch as experts shuck oysters that are fresh from the Gulf. Customers can't get enough of this restaurant's oyster options, whether they're on the half shell, chargrilled, or between the bread in their famous "Peacemaker" fried oyster and shrimp po-boy. 300 Bourbon St., 504-553-2281, sonesta.com/us/louisiana/new-orleans/royal-sonesta-new-orleans/desire-oyster-bar

The Galley is a seafood restaurant with excellent dishes made with quality ingredients. They've been serving their iconic soft-shell crab and catfish po-boys at Jazz Fest since 1977. House specials include blackened or grilled redfish, topped with shrimp and crabmeat and served with potatoes and veggies; and veal parmesan with angel hair pasta. 2535 Metairie Rd., Metairie, 504-832-0955, thegalleyseafood.net

Seaworthy is a seafood spot hidden in a Creole cottage. This restaurant devotes itself to serving "wild-caught and sustainably harvested oysters from American waters," including the Gulf, so you know their food is fresh. Their "Chilled & Cured" special features mahi mahi, Gulf shrimp, fresh cobia, and poke-style tuna. 630 Carondelet St., 504-930-3071, seaworthynola.com

Tito's Ceviche & Pisco has a vibrant atmosphere, with upbeat music, art scattered throughout the restaurant, and an energetic and knowledgeable staff. They offer a fantastic dish known as Pescado a lo Macho, which includes pan-seared fish, mixed seafood, and a spicy Peruvian cream sauce, served over rice. 5015 Magazine St., 504-267-7612, titoscevichepisco.com

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