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Winter Restaurant Guide by Cuisine
ITALIAN
II TONY'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT AND SEAFOOD
105 Old Hammond Hwy., Metairie 831-0999
www.two-tonys.com
Over the years II Tony's has garnered a loyal neighborhood clientele for
Italian-inspired dishes, gumbo and po-boys. A particularly popular "Mediterranean" pasta
is a toss of grilled shrimp, tomatoes, basil, garlic, capers and capellini. Hulkier
appetites might prefer two 4-oz filet mignon medallions with grilled shrimp and
green peppercorn demi-glace. Catering available. Reservations recommended. Lunch
and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $
ADOLFO'S
611 Frenchmen St. 948-3800
This intimate little Italian hideaway features late hours and the culinary
expertise of Adolfo himself, who encourages patrons to create dishes according
to their individual tastes. Seafood is the main event here, and there are usually
four or five types of fresh fish to choose from. The rack of lamb is a pound-and-a-half
rack pan-fried and served with fresh rosemary, mint, garlic and butter. Reservations
required for parties of four or more. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit
cards and checks. $
ANDREA'S
3100 19th St., Metairie 834-8583
www.andreasrestaurant.com
This Metairie institution, run by the Apuzzo family, is renowned for its
Italian cuisine, and makes all of its pastas and pastries in-house. For entrees,
the crabmeat ravioli is a subtle blending of Italian and Louisiana cuisine, while
veal Marie Louise offers veal sauteed and served with lump crabmeat, lemon cream
sauce and a touch of bearnaise sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch weekdays,
dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
ANDY MESSINA'S RESTAURANT
2717 Williams Blvd., Kenner 469-7373
If it's Italian, Andy Messina's has it on the menu. Favorites include veal
parmigiana, lasagna, Italian chicken, paneed veal with panicini, spaghetti and
meatballs, of course, as well as catfish platters, a shrimp plate, barbecue oysters,
steaks and more. There's a special four-course lunch on Sunday. Reservations
accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
ANSELMO'S
3401 N. Hullen St., Metairie 889-1212
When it comes to vintage New Orleans-Italian veal and seafood dishes, Anselmo's
menu is a primer on that culinary territory. The Italian Shrimp are served with
a lemon-rosemary cream sauce, and for lighter appetites, Salad Alyse is a mix
of greens, Gorgonzola, bacon and sugared pecans with sweet balsamic vinaigrette.
Daytime delivery available. Reservations recommended. Lunch weekdays, dinner
Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
BACCO
310 Chartres St. 522-2426
www.bacco.com
Ralph Brennan and Chef Haley Gabel keep the seats filled in this 10-year-old
French Quarter restaurant by offering a style of Italian cuisine that's rare
in this area -- not to mention free valet parking. This is not your typical red-sauce
Italian; instead you'll find housemade lobster-filled ravioli with Champagne
butter sauce, and housemade fettuccine tossed with black truffle sauce and Parmesan
cheese. And when the kitchen tosses pizzas into the wood-burning oven ... Mama
mia! Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
BARRECA'S
3100 Metairie Road, Metairie 831-4546
You can count on Barreca's to serve up delicious New Orleans food with flair.
Their crabcakes are complemented by a spicy horseradish-mustard sauce, and the
roasted duck is paired with Cajun rice. For early birds, the $12.95 four-course
dinner offered nightly is one of the best deals in the city. Reservations recommended.
Lunch Monday through Friday and Sunday, dinner nightly. Credit cards. $
BRAVO! ITALIAN KITCHEN
3413 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 828-8828
Bravo! is best known for its pastas and wood-fired pizzas -- and, of course,
its famous lasagna. But the menu doesn't stop there. The sea bass is deep-fried
and served in a lobster butter sauce. The shrimp Diablo is served on paneed pasta
with a spicy tomato cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily.
Credit cards. $
BRICK OVEN CAFE
2805 Williams Blvd., Kenner 466-2097
The name comes from the wood-fired brick oven used to create gourmet pizzas
such as the Florentina, a thin-crust pie of roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes,
sweet onions, spinach and feta cheese. The linguini with scampi also is popular,
starting with Gulf shrimp sauteed with virgin olive oil with garlic and dressed
with a light wine sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit
cards. $
CAFE BUON GIORNO
4 Canal St. (Harrah's Casino) 533-6000 ext. 4140
1205 St. Charles Ave. (Regency Hotel) 523-5755
Fans of Cafe Buon Giorno's former location in Gretna can now drive over the
bridge for coq au vin or grilled octopus and calamari at the new restaurant in
the Regency Hotel. The menu at Harrah's Casino is less expensive and limited,
featuring lasagna, muffalettas, pizzas and salads. Lunch and dinner daily at
Harrah's Casino location; breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday,
brunch Sunday at Regency Hotel. Credit cards. $$
CAFE GIOVANNI
117 Decatur St. 529-2154
www.cafegiovanni.com
Chef Duke LoCicero wears many hats, including radio personality, chef
and coordinator of the opera singers that entertain in Cafe Giovanni's dining
room a few times per week. To taste his talent, order veal LoCicero, served with
shrimp in a sauce made with lemon, capers, artichoke hearts and asparagus. Pasta
Gambino features rock shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and peppers in a three-cheese
cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$
CAPPITA! ITALIAN BISTRO
2891 Hwy. 190, Mandeville (985) 626-5752
www.cappita-italian-bistro.com
The Northshore is earning a name for Italian eateries, Cappita! included.
The Trinity Eggplant involves fried eggplant rounds topped with crabmeat and
shrimp in a sherry cream sauce. For Chicken and Shrimp Picatta, the chicken and
shrimp are hickory-grilled and served with lemon-butter sauce and capers. Children
eat for $3.95. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CARMINE'S ITALIAN SEAFOOD & GRILL
4101 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 455-7904
Carmine's serves up its traditional Italian fare with a bit of a Creole twist:
popular dishes include the crawfish and shrimp ravioli. Steak lovers should know
about the 16-oz. ribeye steak, while seafood lovers swim in for steamed whole
lobsters on Mondays and Tuesdays for $9.95. Finish your meal with Carmine's white
chocolate bread pudding. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner nightly.
Credit cards and checks. $
CAVALLINO
1500 S. Carrollton Ave. 866-9866
The traditional tastes of Italy are the specialty of Cavallino, where favorites
include the spaghetti con le Gamberetti, which features sauteed shrimp and basil
in a light tomato sauce. Other pasta dishes include the penne con broccoli pollo,
with sauteed chicken mixed in with broccoli, basil, garlic and white wine. The
piccatine de vicello is sauteed veal served with artichoke hearts, capers, mushrooms,
lemon and white wine. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more. Lunch
and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
COUVILLONI'S RESTAURANT AND CATERING
2036 Poydras St. 522-0441
Besides working as full-service caterers, the staff at Couvilloni's also
offers an a array of gourmet pizzas, sandwiches, and salads with a focus on fresh
ingredients. Two popular salads are the chicken Caesar salad with homemade Caesar
dressing, or the Mediterranean salad with sun-dried tomato dressing. Delivery
available. Lunch Monday through Friday. Credit cards. $
DIA ROMA CAFE
3712 Williams Blvd., Kenner 443-6663
Pizzas, sandwiches, pasta dinners and salads share top billing at Dia Roma.
Among the pasta offerings is a shrimp, chicken and artichoke pasta dinner; angel
hair pasta is smothered in butter garlic sauce and onions, tomatoes, shrimp,
chicken and artichokes. Pizzas include the Dia Specialty, with ham, salami, pepperoni,
onions and black olives; the Taco Specialty pizza has salsa, chicken, ground
beef, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, black olives, jalapenos and cheddar cheese.
No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks.
ELEVEN 79
1179 Annunciation St. 299-1179
Bada-BING! Eleven 79 has very quickly become a magnet for regular customers who
love the warm vibe, intimate atmosphere and New Orleans-influenced Italian cuisine.
Appetizer choices include the grilled calamari with pecorino polenta and lemon
butter. Follow this with the signature paneed veal Eleven 79, served with roasted
red peppers, asparagus, buffalo mozzarella and a lemon sauce. Reservations recommended.
Dinner Monday through Saturday, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards.
$$
FAUSTO'S BISTRO
530 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 833-7121
The frutti di mare features crab claws, oysters, mussels, fish, shrimp, calamari
and softshell crab, all sauteed with fresh herbs and set in a seafood sauce reduction.
The veal saltimbocca is sauteed with fresh mushrooms and Italian herbs, crowned
with prosciutto and mozzarella, and flamed in a Marsala wine sauce. Reservations
recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit
cards. $
FAZZIO'S
3805 Hessmer Ave., Metairie 780-1700
Fazzio's opened up in Metairie over the holiday season, offering authentic
Italian and Louisiana seafood, like the chicken rossini, stuffed chicken breast,
ham, cheese and spinach topped with mushroom cream sauce. Another favorite is
the filet Fazzio, a center-cut filet mignon topped with red and yellow bell peppers,
fresh shrimp, black olives, mushroom in a brandy cream sauce. Reservations recommended
Friday and Saturday. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Thursday through Saturday.
Credit cards. $
FRANK'S RESTAURANT
933 Decatur St. 525-1602
This old-school Sicilian-American restaurant has been family-owned and operated
for decades, and its classic Italian dishes are a testament to longevity. Try
the Snapper Jack, a deep-fried filet smothered in shrimp, crawfish, and softshell
crab topping over pasta. Frank's also serves a hefty 1-lb. ribeye cooked how
you like it. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards.
GIACOMINO'S CAFE
808 Common St. 524-3419
Here's a love story: Ted and Martay Nusenow came from L.A. for a romantic
visit and couldn't leave. So they set up shop in the CBD with this upscale Italian
cafe in mid-November and started serving up paninis and fresh daily soups including
the minestrone. They also serve fresh, homemade pastas daily and are proud of
making their lasagna not with mozzarella cheese but with bechamel sauce (classic
French white sauce) -- "How it's really supposed to be done," Ted says.
Martay designed the warm interior. Finish off the meal with either imported desserts
like the torta bella nonna or sip from the top-of-the-line Illy coffees. Delivery
available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday. Credit
cards.
IMPASTATO'S
3400 16th St., Metairie 455-1545
www.impastatos.com
Twenty-plus years of experience has Chef-owner Joe Imastato fully recognizing
the important components of an exquisite five-course meal. Begin with a choice
of crawfish au gratin, shrimp scampi or crab fingers, followed by pasta ascuitto
and fettuccine Alfredo combination, then a salad du jour, and of course the entree.
Selections include trout or veal Mora or perhaps pecan-smoked filet mignon. And,
of course, dessert. All this for less than $30. Reservations recommended. Dinner
Tuesday through Saturday, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $
IRENE'S CUISINE
539 St. Philip St. 529-8811
There's a line for a reason: Irene's regulars swear by the duck St. Philip,
roasted crispy and glazed with raspberry demi-glace. Another house special this
time of the year is the softshell crab, served with linguine and tossed with
a reggiano-crawfish sauce. Meal-ending options such as the chocolate hazelnut
truffle or bananas Foster bread pudding make it tough not to start with dessert.
No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
LA RIVIERA
4506 Shores Drive, Metairie 888-6238
www.larivierarestaurant.com
Northern Italian cuisine is the influence behind the savory creations of
Chef Goffredo. On the menu, a pan-seared salmon over seafood cannelloni is served
in a tomato sauce, and fresh mussels are cooked with pinot grigoeu, garlic and
spicy tomato. Regulars rave over the crabmeat ravioli sauteed with lump crabmeat
and topped with a delicate white cream sauce and Parmesan cheese. Reservations
recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit
cards. $
MAMA ROSA'S SLICE OF ITALY
616 N. Rampart St. 523-5546 Mama Mia! Rampart Street
definitely is possessive of this downtown spot for pizzas and calzones on the
edge of the Quarter. The all-encompassing Mama's Everything pizza is topped with
the works, or customize a pie with your own topping options. Mama's also prepares
big muffalettas as well as spinach dip and spinach bread. Dessert favorites include
the cheesecake or the carrot cake. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit
cards.
MAXIMO'S ITALIAN GRILL
1117 Decatur St. 586-8883
Maximo's has made a name for itself down on lower Decatur Street for its
steady menu of Italian dining. As they say in The Godfather, try the veal,
or make that veals: the veal Cattoche is pan-roasted with garlic and fresh herbs,
while the veal Noci is prepared with pine nuts, mushrooms, sherry and cream.
Another favorite is the tender rack of lamb, and the pasta accompanied lots of
side options: butternut squash, four cheeses, spinach and tomato ensure. Reservations
recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
MONA LISA RESTAURANT
1212 Royal St. 522-6746
The warm glow inside the cavernous Mona Lisa isn't coincidental; the smile
of its namesake muse beams from the surrounding walls. Mona's only staring in
wonder at what you'll eventually order. Will it be the Mardi Gras pasta, shrimp
and pasta in a red wine sauce served over linguine? Or will it be any of the
pizzas, salads and sandwiches served on homemade baked bread? Delivery available
to the French Quarter. No reservations except for special occasions. Lunch and
dinner daily. Credit cards. $
MOSCA'S
4137 Hwy. 90 W., Avondale 436-9942
Mosca's is the kind of place people take out-of-town visitors half an hour
outside the city limits just to sample the family-style offerings of Italian
specialties served in a plain-jane atmosphere. The family recommends the famous
oysters bordelaise, the crabmeat salad and the chicken la Grande, which like
the shrimp Mosca is prepared with olive oil, rosemary, oregano, garlic and dry
white wine. Reservations recommended. No reservations on Saturday. Dinner Tuesday
through Saturday. Cash only. $$
NUVOLARI'S
246 Gerard St., Mandeville (985) 626-5619
www.nuvolaris.com
Veal is the key at this popular Italian restaurant on the Northshore -- whether
it's the veal marsala or veal picatta. Also consider the Mediterranean shrimp
pasta and cannelloni stuffed with beef tenderloin, prosciutto and Italian sausage,
spinach and ricotta cheeses, topped with marinara and Alfredo sauces. Reservations
recommended. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $
OLIVE GARDEN
1315 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner 464-4612
www.olivegarden.com
The national chain boasts "when you're here, you're family" -- and that means
a kitchen that offers a range of inventive Italian dishes from pasta e Fagioli
(white and red beans, beef, tomatoes and pasta in broth) to lobster spaghetti.
The beloved bottomless salad is tossed with Italian dressing, and complimentary
breadsticks are served. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards.
$
PADRINO'S CAFE
8132 Hampson St. 314-9088
In the style of Italian hospitality, Padrino's greets guests with toasted
bread with housemade olive oil upon seating. The Italian menu features a number
of pasta dishes along with specialties like chicken Padrino, stuffed with ham,
fontina cheese and spinach, and topped with a white wine mushroom cream sauce.
Desserts are loaded with variety, including the chef's chocolate sin cake and
tiramisu. Reservations recommended. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards
and checks. $
PRIMO PIZZA & PASTA
2401 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner 464-4547
Bring a big appetite to the all-you-can-eat buffet, which includes a salad
bar, three vegetables, pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, and fettuccine pastas;
dessert includes apple crunch and fruity pizzas. Fridays and Saturday evenings
bring a special seafood and Italian buffet. Or you can opt to order from the
menu, which features a variety of sandwiches, calzones, pizzas and pastas. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks.
RISTORANTE CARMELO
541 Decatur St. 586-1414
www.ristorantecarmelo.com
An authentic Italian restaurant in the French Quarter, Carmelo beckons to
adventurous diners with two new winter dishes. Try the antipasto, a delight of
Italian meats and cheeses and antipasto, served daily. Seafood lovers are invited
to order the Lobster Fra Diavolo, a whole Maine lobster with spicy marinara sauce
served over linguine and garnished with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari.
The wine list is entirely Italian. No delivery. Reservations recommended. Lunch
and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
RISTORANTE DA PIERO
116 W. Pine St., Ponchatoula (985) 370-6221
And you thought Ponchatoula was only good for strawberries. Piero knows better.
Try his Italian cuisine -- its roots are in Romagna. Tagliata di filetto alla
Pasadora consists of sliced beef tenderloin on a bed of arugula with tomatoes,
green onions and basil. The strozzapreti alla cervese is hand-rolled pasta tossed
with shrimp, eggplant, tomato sauce and herbs. Reservations recommended. Lunch
and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $
RISTORANTE FILIPPO
1917 Ridgelake Drive, Metairie 835-4008
An upscale Italian classic is what Chef-owner Filippo thrives on making his restaurant.
The menu features risotto, yellowfin tuna, veal, salmon and a variety of pasta
sauces such as marinara, marsala, scampi and wine sauces. If overwhelmed by such
wonderful selections, Filippo suggests Chicken Spedini: chicken breast baked
with prosciutto, bread crumbs, pine nuts and romano cheese and served with sun-dried
tomatoes, calamata olives, pasta, and garlic oil. Reservations accepted. Lunch
weekdays, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit Cards. $
SALVATORE RISTORANTE
3226 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie 455-2433
www.chefsfreerecipe.com
Another Italian outpost in Metairie, Salvatore served classic New Orleans-style
barbecue shrimp, which is made with jumbo shrimp, garlic, rosemary, olive oil
and Pinot Grigio, and served with focaccia bread. Or try the eggplant stuffed
with a crab-shrimp-oyster dressing, topped with lemon-butter sauce and capers.
Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday.
Credit cards. $
TONY ANGELLO'S RISTORANTE
6262 Fleur de Lis Drive 488-0888
Tony Angello's is a haven for Italian mainstays glistening in traditional
red sauces. The eggplant Trina is fried eggplant layered marinara sauce and cheese,
and the Feed Me dinner is a multiple-course feast of house favorites. Reservations
recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards.
TONY MANDINA'S
1915 Pratt St., Gretna 362-2010
www.tonymandinas.com
For Italian on the West Bank, try Tony Mandina's Veal Blake Anthony, served
with fettuccine Alfredo; osso buco is veal shank marinated and cooked in marinara
sauce and served over pasta (don't forget the bone marrow). Live piano entertainment
Friday and Saturday evenings. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through
Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
TONY MORAN'S
240 Bourbon St. 523-3181
www.oldabsinthehouse.com
A self-described "oasis on Bourbon Street" and located on the second floor
of the Old Absinthe House, Tony Moran's serves classic northern Italian cuisine
and prepares its homemade pasta tableside to your liking. Two standard dishes
beckon to discriminating diners: Seafood lovers are invited to try the stuffed
prawns diavolo, filled with a crabmeat stuffing and served over a spicy tomato
sauce and vegetables. Meat-eaters should try the bistecca alla funghi, a prime-aged
New York strip steak broiled and then flamed in a peppercorn cream grappa sauce.
The classic bananas Foster is recommended for dessert. Reservations recommended.
Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
TORTORICI'S
441 Royal St. 522-4295
www.tortoricis.com
Tortorici's has served a blend of traditional Italian and Creole food in
the French Quarter for more than a century. For one signature dish, redfish is
rolled up with seafood stuffing, breaded, pan-sauteed and topped with shrimp
cream sauce. Tortorici's Trio features beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce, chicken
breast with crawfish sauce and shrimp scampi with pasta. Reservations recommended.
Dinner daily. Credit cards. $
VENEZIA
134 N. Carrollton Ave. 488-7991
One of the few old-style Italian restaurants in Mid-City does its part with
classic Italian dishes prepared for hearty appetites. Consider the eggplant Vatican,
a hollowed-out, batter-fried eggplant stuffed with a seafood cream sauce. The
family vibe seeps into other favorites including the traditional veal parmigiana
and Venezia's pizza. Reservations for weekdays only. Lunch weekdays, dinner nightly.
Credit cards. $$
VINCENT'S
4250 Hwy. 22 (Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center), Mandeville (985) 624-2300
4411 Chastant St., Metairie 885-2984
7839 St. Charles Ave. 866-9313
The menu stocked with Italian delights changes regularly, so always ask your
server for the daily specials. Menu staples include Vincent's housemade cannelloni
stuffed with baby ground veal, pureed spinach and Parmesan, and the sauteed redfish
topped with crabmeat cream. Reservations accepted; recommended for large parties
and on weekends in Mandeville. Lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner daily
Uptown; lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday
in Metairie; lunch Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, and dinner Tuesday
through Sunday in Mandeville. Credit cards. $$
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