>LOUISIANA CONTEMPORARY
201 RESTAURANT AND BAR
201 Decatur St. 561-0007
www.201restaurantandbar.com
Chef Thaddeus Palmese’s take on traditional
Louisiana dishes goes far beyond cream cheese crabcakes, 201’s
top-selling item. Start off with the tender carpaccio salad, then move on to
the Caribbean bouillabaisse, which comes with mussels, clams, scallops and
shrimp. For dessert, treat yourself to sweet potato pound cake layered with
pecan praline ice cream. Reservations recommended. Dinner nightly, late-night
Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
827 1/2 TOULOUSE
827 Toulouse St. (Hotel St. Marie) 571-2888
Chef-owned and operated (by the same chef who owns and
operates Bistro Moise), this restaurant within a hotel showcases Creole and
Continental cuisines in dishes like rabbit cakes, venison meatloaf, and
brochettes of oyster and shrimp. Lamb shank osso buco is prepared in the
classic style and served with housemade pappardelle pasta. Reservations
recommended. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit
cards. $$
ALLEGRO BISTRO
1100 Poydras St. 582-2350
Inside the sleek environs of this CBD bistro
you’ll find cigars, liquors and gourmet cuisine. The bar boasts an
extensive single malt Scotch collection, and Thursdays feature martini
specials. Seafood and Italian dishes cover the menu, including the appetizer
eggplant St. Charles, made with lump crabmeat, and entrees such as fettuccini
Allegro, which is prepared in a wine-based sauce of crawfish and tasso.
Reservations recommended. Lunch weekdays. Credit cards. $$
ARTESIA MANOR
21516 Hwy. 36, Abita Springs (985) 892-1662
www.artesiarestaurant.com
While the food at Artesia always has had a good
reputation, new Chef Gerard Maras (also chef-owner of Gerard’s Downtown)
is honing in on local produce and simple, bold flavors. You might find
absolutely buoyant herbed gnocchi, pan-seared veal medallions or housemade
chocolate malt ice cream. The winter menu features Maine lobster in a creamy
stew with winter vegetables and pastry fleurons. Reservations recommended.
Lunch Friday, dinner Wednesday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards
and checks. $$
AUGUST RESTAURANT
301 Tchoupitoulas St. 299-9777
Chef John Besh moved from Abita Springs to the CBD last
year, bringing his worldly, polished cuisine with him. Inside the spanking new,
highly-stylized August, you might find Gulf oysters topped with ginger-lavender
sorbet, or foie gras prepared three ways on one plate. This winter, order
housemade gnocchi with blue crab, Parmesan and shaved black truffles.
Reservations required. Lunch weekdays, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit
cards and checks. $$$
BARATARIA
900 Harrison Ave. 488-7474
www.baratariafood.com
For more than 60 years, owner Ralph Pausine’s
family has cultivated oysters in Barataria Bay for some of the freshest oyster
dishes around. Serving pastas steaks, poultry and pork, this restaurant is not
limited to seafood fare. Just try the crisp paneed veal, topped with fresh
tomatoes, avocado, Romano cheese, basil and homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner nightly. Credit
cards. $$
BEGUE’S
300 Bourbon St. (Royal Sonesta Hotel) 553-2278
www.royalsonestano.com
Begue’s intimate courtyard is host to an
inventive, contemporary menu. In addition to a Sunday champagne brunch and a
seafood buffet on Fridays, there are a few standards. At lunch, try shrimp and
crabmeat remoulade on a chilled avocado; for dinner, treat yourself to sauteed
shrimp with a shrimp and crawfish butter, polenta triangles and wilted spinach.
Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch.
Credit cards. $$$
THE BISTRO AT MAISON DE VILLE
733 Toulouse St. 528-9206
www.maisondeville.com
This cozy bistro exudes a distinctly European feel,
specializing in classic dishes like the Brussels-style mussels with French
fries and the house-smoked duck breast with duck confit and foie gras dirty
rice. The perfect locale for an evening cocktail, the bistro features an
exhaustive selection of cognacs and Scotches as well as an 800-strong wine
list. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner nightly.
Credit cards. $$$
BRIGTSEN’S
723 Dante St. 861-7610
As an understudy of Chef Paul Prudhomme, Frank Brigtsen
was well versed in classic Cajun recipes. As chef-owner of Brigtsen’s, he
has earned countless accolades for his interpretations of them. Though the menu
and ingredients change daily, game and seafood dishes continue to be his
signatures. The rabbit tenderloin appetizer and butternut and shrimp bisque are
popular choices, as is the roasted duck entree. Reservations required. Dinner
Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
CAFE VOLAGE
720 Dublin St. 861-4227
Just try to find a cozier nook than Cafe Volage’s
covered veranda — an ideal setting for the Creole specialties or Sunday
brunches of veal grillades, omelettes and chicken schnitzel. In particular this
winter, Chef Felix suggests his long-braised osso buco served in a mushroom and
red wine demiglace with pasta or rice. The early bird special offers four
courses and a glass of wine for just $16.95. Reservations recommended. Lunch
and dinner Monday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$
CHARLEY G’S SEAFOOD GRILL
111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 837-6408
www.charleygs.com
The crabcakes are creamier than usual here because
there are no bread crumbs added to thicken the lump crabmeat before it’s
deep-fried and served with bechamel sauce. Smoked duck and andouille sausage
form the base for extra-rich gumbo, a favorite of regulars. Reservations
recommended. Lunch weekdays, dinner Monday through Saturday, champagne brunch
Sunday. Credit cards. $$
CITY CLUB
1011 Village Walk, Covington (985) 892-5529
Chef Christian Wagner recently revamped the menu to add
such innovations as roasted duck with blueberry-balsamic glaze and
pecan/andouille-encrusted Gulf fish with smoked tomato and crabmeat meuniere.
Start off with the oysters Perdu: fried oysters atop French toast with Pernod
cream. Don’t skip the rich creme brulee for dessert. Reservations
recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, dinner Saturday. Credit
cards and checks. $$
COPELAND’S
680 N. Hwy. 190, Covington (985) 809-9659
701 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 831-3437
1001 S. Clearview Pkwy., Jefferson 733-7843
1337 Gause Blvd., Slidell (985) 643-0001
1700 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey 364-1575
4338 St. Charles Ave. 897-2325
www.alcopeland.com
Copeland’s is highlighting appetizers and
desserts to reflect the sort of high-energy, quick-bite ambience of this
festive New Orleans season. Start with Magnolia mushrooms or crabcakes, for
example, and finish with Al & Jen’s homemade Creole-style cheesecake.
You’ll also find loads of seafood specialties, steaks and pasta entrees
at all locations. Reservations recommended. Hours vary by location. Credit
cards. $$
DAKOTA RESTAURANT
629 N. Hwy. 190, Covington (985) 892-3712
The Creole-influenced dishes at Dakota have lured many
urban foodies across the lake. The jumbo lump crabmeat-and-Brie soup alone is
reportedly worth the trek, but don’t forget the Hallelujah softshell crab
served with Louisiana seafood stuffing and sauce Creollaise. After dinner, plow
into the coconut cake, a dessert requested by the NFL for guests at the recent
Super Bowl XXXVI. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Monday through
Friday, dinner Saturday. Credit cards. $$
DANTE’S KITCHEN
736 Dante St. 861-3634
www.danteskitchen.com
Chef Emanuel Loubier, a veteran of some of the
city’s finest restaurants, serves “contemporary Louisiana comfort
food.” Enter Dante’s 1860s-era Creole cottage and tuck into roasted
duck with cornbread dressing, candied sweet potatoes and a cherry-orange duck
sauce. Lunch sandwiches, served with cole slaw or potato salad, include
hand-cut ham with Brie on warm ciabatta with Vidalia relish. Reservations
recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit
cards and checks. $$
DICK AND JENNY’S
4501 Tchoupitoulas St. 894-9880
Now firmly established as a favorite for top-notch but
not top-dollar cuisine, Dick & Jenny’s is packed almost nightly on
its cozy Uptown corner near the river. From a constantly changing seasonal
menu, choose from dishes like flounder stuffed with shrimp and crab and filet
mignon topped with foie gras. For dessert, chocolate fritters and carrot cake
with cream cheese often take top billing. No reservations. Dinner Tuesday
through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
EMERIL’S
800 Tchoupitoulas St. 528-9393
www.emerils.com
Taking creative liberties with traditional New Orleans
fare, Emeril Lagasse sheds new light on old faithfuls. If you don’t have
room for the six-course degustation menu offered nightly, start with homemade
andouille and Creole boudin sausages. Follow either one with a grilled
double-cut pork chop in tamarind glaze, served with roasted sweet potatoes and
a green chile mole. And save room for the famous banana cream pie. Reservations
required. Lunch weekdays, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
EMERIL’S DELMONICO RESTAURANT
1300 St. Charles Ave. 525-4937
www.emerils.com
Showcasing high-end, contemporary Creole cuisine in a
fine dining atmosphere, Emeril matches the innovation of his flagship restaurant
and then kicks the elegance up a notch. Veal Marcelle, a tribute to local food
goddess Marcelle Bienvenu, involves veal medallions with hollandaise sauce and
a saute of crabmeat and field mushrooms. Devoted eaters should try the
five-course degustation menu that changes to employ the freshest ingredients
nightly. Reservations recommended. Lunch weekdays, dinner nightly, brunch
Sunday. Credit cards. $$$
GABRIELLE RESTAURANT
3201 Esplanade Ave. 948-6233
Gabrielle Chef Greg Sonnier has received the Wine
Spectator
Award
of Excellence two years running, among many other accolades. His Bayou St. John
restaurant is largely a local’s secret, as evidenced by the crowds even
during tourism downtimes. Taste what you’ve been missing in the
slow-roasted duck served with exotic mushrooms, roasted red peppers and
orange-sherry sauce over vermicelli rice noodles. Reservations recommended.
Lunch Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
GALLAGHER’S
1630 N. Hwy. 190, Covington (985) 892-1444
Families love to gather around a big table at
Gallagher’s and share the large platter of ribs that have been
slow-cooked over a hickory fire. The ahi tuna is another hit, and for dessert
order the creme brulee or the bread pudding in whiskey sauce. Reservations
accepted. Lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner Saturday. Credit cards
and checks. $$
GAMAY BISTRO AND BAR
320 Decatur St. (Bienville House Hotel) 299-8800
Located in a mellow hotel on the edge of the French
Quarter, Gamay Bistro is a sleeper that quietly maintains a quality of cuisine
and service consistent with Chef-owner Greg Sonnier’s many rewards over
the years. The highly contemporary menu includes dishes like the pan-roasted
veal chop served with fried Brie and wild mushroom bordelaise. Reservations
recommended. Lunch Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
GAUTREAU’S
1728 Soniat St. 899-7397
This season, Chef Brent Bond is featuring a rack of
lamb with a foie gras and white bean puree and cardamom jus. The roasted chicken
with wild mushrooms, green beans and roasted garlic mashed potatoes is the only
dish that hasn’t changed in Gautreau’s 20 years. Reservations
recommended. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
GIROD’S BISTRO
500 Chartres St. 524-9752
www.napoleonhouse.com
Girod’s is a European-style restaurant tucked
inside the historic Napoleon House. Smoked rabbit with tasso jambalaya will
satisfy cravings for local flavors, as will spinach linguine tossed with Gulf
oysters and portobello mushrooms in a Pernod-Parmesan cream sauce. No
reservations. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
IGOR’S GARLIC CLOVE
2137 St. Charles Ave. 522-6602
Sidewalk dining is a premium on St. Charles Avenue but
a way of life at the Garlic Clove, where the interior boasts a mural painted by
local artist Tony Green. There are, of course, specialty dishes for garlic
lovers, including mussels steamed either in a garlic white wine sauce or
housemade marinara. Shrimp Orleans is seasoned with crushed red peppers, then
served over pasta with more marinara. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily.
Credit cards. $
KELSEY’S RESTAURANT
3923 Magazine St. 897-6722
www.kelseysrest.com
Kelsey’s fans will be happy to learn that, while
the restaurant has changed hands, former Chef-owner Randy Barlow’s core
recipes will remain along with the familiar name. This winter, try lamb
tenderloin en croute, a braised lamb with a foie gras red wine and onion
reduction in a flaky puff pastry. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through
Friday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$
LAFITTE’S LANDING AT BITTERSWEET PLANTATION
404 Claiborne Ave., Donaldsonville (225) 473-1232
www.jfolse.com
Famed Chef John Folse’s respect of tradition
shows in his restaurant’s locale, the 1859 Bittersweet Plantation, and
his sense of adventure shows in his cooking. He serves his filet mignon
charbroiled and topped with grilled shrimp and a green peppercorn sauce. Scale
new heights with his smoked, pesto-stuffed rack of lamb, served with an eggplant
tart and sun-dried tomato mashed potatoes. Reservations recommended. Dinner
Tuesday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
THE MARIGNY BRASSERIE
640 Frenchmen St. 945-4491
www.cafemarigny.com
Restaurateurs Roland Adams and Jed Gisclair have
partnered with Chef Steve Zucker (formerly of John Folse’s
Lafitte’s Landing) to create a menu of indigenous Louisiana cuisine with
a sophisticated touch. Chef Zucker, also a certified sommelier, developed a
menu flattering to both our region’s seasonal bounties and the
Brasserie’s carefully chosen wine list. Both menus evolve seasonally and
to the chef’s tastes. Reservations recommended. Dinner and late-night
daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
MAT & NADDIE’S
937 Leonidas St. 861-9600
Mat & Naddie’s fans have a hard time keeping
this place a secret. Taste why in the beef filet with peppered chevre maitre
d’ hotel butter. Now look for three-course menus with wine pairings.
Catering available. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through
Friday, dinner Saturday. Credit cards. $$
MURIEL’S JACKSON SQUARE
801 Chartres St. 568-1885
www.muriels.com
Muriel’s is a complex of eating and drinking
venues located on the pulse of the French Quarter. There’s the Bistro,
with offerings like wood-grilled barbecue shrimp, seafood-stuffed flounder and
Dijon mustard-crusted salmon; the Courtyard Bar and upstairs balcony, serving
both food and drink; and the Seance Lounge, a plush, crimson, bohemian getaway.
Reservations recommended. Lunch Friday through Sunday, dinner daily, late-night
in the Courtyard Bar Friday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$
PERISTYLE RESTAURANT
1041 Dumaine St. 593-9535
Anne Kearney’s food is the reason that guests
literally beam through dinners at her restaurant located on the edge of the
French Quarter. Her winter menu includes an oyster and butternut squash stew
made with applewood smoked bacon, wilted leeks and crispy sage. You’re
likely to find her signature dishes — caramelized onion tart with Nicoise
olives, crabmeat and roasted beet salad, and pan-roasted squab — on the
menu throughout most seasons. Reservations required. Lunch Friday, dinner
Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
QUARTER SCENE RESTAURANT
900 Dumaine St. 522-6533
www.quarterscene.com
This true French Quarter landmark has them lined up at
the door to sample dishes like pecan catfish served with wild rice, mixed
vegetables, and a cup of gumbo or a house salad. The breakfast selections make
for a hearty morning. BYOB. Reservations recommended for parties of six or more
RESTAURANT CUVÉE
322 Magazine St. 587-9001
Cuvée’s tempting merger of traditional
Louisiana and Continental cuisine has led to the creation of a number of
signature dishes. For starters, try the pan-fried sweetbreads with fresh butter
beans, morel mushrooms and Madeira broth. Top entree choices include the sugar
cane-smoked duck and the shrimp mirliton Napoleon, which features shrimp
remoulade and cayenne butter. Reservations recommended. Lunch weekdays, dinner
Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
STELLA!
1032 Chartres St. 587-0091
Even Stanley and Blanche would enjoy Stella’s
changing and creative menu. Try the pan-seared diver scallops and jumbo Gulf
shrimp with truffle-scented new potato hash and caviar butter. Finish your meal
with the frozen Grand Marnier and ginger creme brulee with roasted pineapple
brochette and green tea ice cream. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wednesday
through Monday. Credit cards. $$$
SUGAR HOUSE RESTAURANT
315 Julia St. (Embassy Suites Hotel) 525-1993
www.embassysuites.com/es/neworleans
Housed in an old sugar refinery, the Sugar House pairs
Creole and Caribbean flavors. Try the crabmeat-stuffed shrimp baked with
coconut oil or Friday’s seafood lunch buffet. The bread pudding takes on
an island twist with plantains and dried cranberries. Reservations accepted.
Lunch buffet Monday through Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
WOLFE’S OF NEW ORLEANS
7224 Pontchartrain Blvd. 284-6004
www.wolfesofneworleans.com
In December, Esquire magazine named Chef Tom Wolfe
one of the country’s top five chefs to watch. Currently at his homey-chic
restaurant near the lake, you’ll find an entree of roasted duck with
kiln-dried cherry and caramelized onion spaetzle; one of his favorite
appetizers is crispy sweetbreads with a warm prosciutto and frisee salad.
Reservations recommended. Lunch Thursday and Friday, dinner Monday through
Saturday. Credit cards. $$
•$– 5 to $10
•$$ – $11 to $20
•$$$ – $21 or more
|
|
