ADOLFO’S
611 Frenchmen St. 948-3800
While everyone likes to call this Faubourg Marigny favorite a "Creole Italian" restaurant, owner Adolfo Perez would rather you just call it New Orleans cuisine. Tucked in the upstairs portion of the Frenchmen Street building that also houses the Apple Barrel bar, cozy Adolfo’s offers loads of affordable seafood dishes. Check out the snapper ocean, which includes lightly breaded and sauteed snapper with jumbo shrimp, crawfish tails, crabmeat and capers, all paneed before your eyes. Dinner Monday-Saturday. Checks. Visa/MC. $$
BELLE FORCHE
1407 Decatur St. 940-0722
www.belleforche.com
Belle Forche is a hot newcomer to the Faubourg Marigny, serving Creole classics, more out-there house specialties and a bar menu into the wee hours. Try frog leg and andouille etouffee, or grilled fish amandine and duckling with wild mushrooms, country bacon and pomegranate. If you hang around long enough, you might even spot partner Robert De Niro. Reservations recommended. Dinner and a late-night bar menu Tuesday through Saturday. Credit Cards. $$
CAFE MARIGNY
1913 Royal St. 945-4472
www.cafemarigny.com
By the end of the year, folks at Cafe Marigny plan to be settled into a new home down the way at 640 Frenchmen St. in the old Rubyfruit Jungle/Velocity digs. Look forward to a full bar, an expansive wine list, more seating and new Executive Chef Steve Zucker arriving from Lafitte’s Landing in Donaldsonville. In the meantime, the Royal Street location is open and running full steam ahead with an eclectic menu that incorporates lots of locally harvested ingredients. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch weekends. Credit cards. $$
CAFE NEGRIL
606 Frenchmen St. 944-4744
In one of the year’s best comebacks, Chef Cecil Palmer has hit the Marigny with the jerked fish and curried goat his Mid-City fans have missed since last winter. The fish is marinated for 24 hours with hot chiles and lime juice, then sauteed and served in a sauce of tomato, onion and Jamaican spices. Check out two floor-to-ceiling murals by local artist Dwayne Conrad. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $
FEELINGS CAFE
2600 Chartres St. 945-2222
www.feelingscafe.com
Long hailed as one of New Orleans’ ultimate romantic dining spots, the picturesque courtyard at Feelings provides the ideal setting for that dream date. Add to the ambience an array of skillfully sculpted dishes, such as the blue cheese steak served with new potatoes and a vegetable, and the duck Bigarade, roasted and glazed with a semi-sweet orange sauce. The peanut butter pie is famous; you’ll taste why. Reservations recommended. Lunch Friday, dinner nightly, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
LA PENICHE
1940 Dauphine 943-1460
La Peniche gives a little more than your run-of-the-mill 24-hour joint. For starters, there’s the full bar, the cozy space and the quality of well-planned dinner specials. True to its genre, however, La Peniche serves breakfast during every open moment. One item in particular will satisfy multiple cravings: a hot waffle crowned with a melting dollop of peanut butter, thick slices of banana and a handful of pecans. No reservations. Open 24 hours, except from 2 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Thursday. Credit cards. $
LA SPIGA BAKERY
2440 Chartres St. 949-2253
The strictly bakery side of La Spiga offers up an array of freshly baked goods, from grandma-style Southern buttermilk biscuits to coffeecakes. Meanwhile, sandwiches make it a neighborhood lunch cafe. Try one with black bean spread, mild green chile salsa and grilled onions on focaccia or ciabatta breads; another favorite includes smoked turkey, Fontina, roasted red pepper spread and basil-Dijon pesto. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Saturday. Checks and cash. $
MARISOL
437 Esplanade Ave. 943-1912
www.marisolrestaurant.com
Chef Peter Vazquez incorporates an eclectic list of ingredients to create an ever-evolving menu at Marisol. One of his latest creations is butter-poached salmon with a lobster and French bean salad, hazelnuts and vanilla. And don’t leave without tasting a selection from one of the city’s most comprehensive cheese plate offerings. Enjoy the original compositions of guitarist Phil DeGruy during Friday happy hour. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$$
MONA’S CAFE
504 Frenchmen St. 949-4115
See "Citywide" listing for restaurant description.
OLD DOG NEW TRICK
517 Frenchmen St. 943-6368
www.olddognewtrick.com
Notice the change of address. Old Dog New Trick has taken up with a number of new restaurants claiming Frenchmen Street as the latest and greatest gourmet strip. They’ve also added fresh fruit juices to the menu, like honeydew and watermelon. Tomatillos take center stage in their version of a Bloody Mary. Polenta pizzas, vegetarian burgers, noodle bowls and vegan desserts are served in a bright, 1950s diner atmosphere. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast and brunch Saturday and Sunday, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
PJ’S COFFEE & TEA
634 Frenchmen St. 949-2292
See "Citywide" listing for restaurant description.
THE PRALINE CONNECTION
542 Frenchmen St. 943-3934
www.pralineconnection.com
The Praline Connection offers food for the soul in hearty portions. For a fried feast, tackle the Connection Platter, a collection of softshell crawfish, catfish, chicken livers, spicy chicken wings, dill pickles and okra. Substitute the red in a traditional dish for white beans or lima beans and rice. Reservations recommended for large parties and gospel brunch. Lunch Monday through Friday, brunch Sunday at the Warehouse District location; lunch Monday through Friday, dinner nightly, brunch Sunday in the Faubourg Marigny location. Credit cards. $$
SANTA FE
801 Frenchmen St. 944-6854
Some of the food at Santa Fe reflects the southwestern name, but the chef will dabble in whatever ingredients are seasonal and fresh — in whatever cuisine his mood dictates. He offers three specials every night, from duck to ribeye to Gulf fish. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, pick and choose to compose three-course dinners priced between $16 and $20. No reservations. Dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
SIAM CAFE
435 Esplanade Ave., 949-1750
Ornately Oriental in one of the city’s most enjoyed decors, Siam’s dim, red lights and intimate seating are its hallmarks. Siam offers all the Thai favorites, coming from a kitchen not afraid of loading up your plate with spices or copious amounts of shrimp. Eat late-night and join the party upstairs at the Dragon’s Den. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $
SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO
626 Frenchmen St. 949-0696
www.snugjazz.com
Live music is Snug Harbor’s main draw, but its food has won over many audiences. Staples are preferred here, in the form of grilled steaks, salmon, seafood, hamburgers and salads. They’re all prepared with little fanfare but the freshest ingredients. For an encore, the pecan pie will have you humming a sweet song. Speakers pipe in live jazz music from the next room. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$.
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