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Winter Restaurant Guide by Cuisine
BAR & GRILL
BABY BOOMERS CAFE AND PUB
4617 Sanford St., Metairie 457-0065
Grilled chicken, chicken tenders, sandwiches, grilled burgers, pork chops
-- all manner of down-home pub fare is at Baby Boomer's. For a culinary step
up, grilled rib-eye steaks are available every night, but regulars know to order
that specialty on Thursday night, when it's served with fries for $8. There's
also an oldies juke box, poker machines, dart boards and a foosball table. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit
cards.
BEACHCORNER BAR & GRILL
4905 Canal St. 488-7357
The home of the 10-oz. Beach Burger serves all the bar-food basics, plus
salads and sandwiches made with grilled tuna or grilled chicken. Besides the
customary fries, onion rings and spicy wings, appetizers include black bean quesadilla
rolls, sweet potato fries and spinach-artichoke dip. Happy hour daily from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
BLUE MOON TAVERN
115 Focis St., Metairie 831-6725
Blue Moon now opens at 3 p.m. daily, but you can still order a hearty breakfast
meal around the clock. If you're looking for more traditional pub fare (until
5 a.m.), Blue Moon shines a light on favorites like burgers, grilled chicken,
and grilled tuna Caesar salads. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily.
Credit cards.
CAFE D'CAPPUCCINO
4041 Williams Blvd., Kenner 443-2299
You can start your day with a hot breakfast -- the menu includes the traditional
lineup -- or pastries and specialty coffees. For a healthful lunch or dinner,
look to grilled chicken topping a lettuce and tomato salad crowned with guacamole
or chicken or tuna mixed with good things in a greens-free salad. No reservations.
Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Monday through Saturday. Cash only.
CAJUN MIKE'S PUB N' GRUB
116 Baronne St. 566-0055
Cajun Mike's menu offers many tried-and-true local dishes, such as popular
choices of seafood gumbo and oyster po-boys. They also go international with
their famed Maria's Cubanito, a Cuban sandwich with roasted pulled pork, Swiss
cheese, pickles, mustard and ham on a buttered roll then pressed on the grill.
Other New Orleans dishes include red beans and rice steeped in secret spices
and served with sausage and French bread. No reservations. Lunch weekdays, dinner
and late-night nightly. Credit cards.
COOP'S PLACE
1109 Decatur St. 525-9053
For 20 years, Coop's has been around to make sure that late-nighters carousing
in the Quarter don't go hungry. Two people can fill up on the Taste Plate, featuring
seafood gumbo, rabbit and sausage jambalaya, shrimp Creole, red beans and rice,
smoked sausage, and fried chicken -- all for $10.95. There's also the smoked
duck quesadillas and fried alligator nuggets. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch,
dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
CRAZY JOHNNIE'S CAFE & BAR
3520 18th St., Metairie 887-6641
www.crazyjohnnies.com
A favorite here is the crawfish Johnny, which is sauteed crawfish, mushrooms
and onions in a cream sauce, served over rice; be sure to ask about other fresh
Louisiana seafood specials as Lent approaches. Meat lovers will want to stop
by 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday to take advantage of the $8.95 filet
mignon early-bird special. Steaks and sandwiches come with the popular Crazy
Potatoes, mashed with butter and signature spices. On Tuesdays, every bottle
of wine on the list is half price. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through
Saturday, dinner Sunday. Credit cards.
DEJA VU RESTAURANT AND BAR
400 Dauphine St. 523-1931
www.dejavurestaurant-bar.com
If it's been a while since you've come to DeJa Vu for a good burger or strong
cocktail, you need to head back to check out the remodeled interior and new menu.
Recent additions include the Wild Red Chili appetizer: peppers stuffed with sour
cream and a large butterflied shrimp. There's also spicy chicken egg rolls, hot
wings with your choice of five sauces, and the fried crawfish salad or blackened
tuna salad. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $
DINO'S BAR AND GRILL
1128 Tchoupitoulas St. 558-0900
Everything seems traditional and solid at Dino's, which serves up the usual
array of po-boys, salads and the half-pound Dino's Burger. Then comes the curveball,
for martini lovers, the Fried Martini: a martini glass filled with cheese-stuffed
and deep-fried green olives. Now THAT'S Uptown living! No reservations. Lunch,
dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
DOS JEFES UPTOWN CIGAR BAR
5535 Tchoupitoulas St. 891-8500
Whether you're celebrating the birth of a baby or simply the end of the work
week, the Cigar Bar will help you do it right. If you're not interested in sampling
the wide variety of premium cigars, check out the menu; it features specialty
sandwiches, like a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich, as well as a host of
appetizer choices. The biggest draw of all might be the nightly live music, with
no cover charge, from regulars including Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris, John
Fohl and Tom Hook. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
THE EDGE BAR & GRILL
3400 Hessmer Ave., Metairie 780-2266
Stop by for a light lunch with the Deli Delight: a boneless, skinless grilled
chicken breast with sauteed mushrooms and onions, served over angel hair pasta
with homemade tomato sauce and accompanied by a vegetable and salad. The Edge
Burger is 8 ounces of prime beef grilled and served on a toasted sesame bun,
dressed or undressed -- whichever you prefer. No reservations. Lunch weekdays,
dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
ERNST CAFE
600 S. Peters St. 525-8544
www.ernstcafe.net
Ernst Cafe just celebrated its century mark last year, in a former storage
building that dates back to 1851; even the original pressed tin ceiling is still
intact. Ernst is now a day-or-night affair with two daily happy hours (11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. and midnight to 3 a.m.). Favorites from the menu include the bayou
cheeseburger and the boss chicken tenders. Newly renovated private party facilities
are available. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
F&M PATIO BAR
4841 Tchoupitoulas St. 895-6784
If the moon is out, the bars are closing and you don't want to go home, you'll
probably wind up at F&M. The cheese fries are justly famous for their generous
blanket of cheese, chili, jalapenos and shallots. Other patrons sink their teeth
into burgers, sandwiches and fajitas: tortillas stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese,
grilled onions, peppers, homemade salsa and your choice of chicken breasts or
alligator sausage marinated in a secret sauce. No reservations. Late-night Monday
through Saturday. Cash only.
FOX & HOUND
1200 S. Clearview Pkwy. (Elmwood Village Shopping Center), Elmwood 731-6000
This sports bar's menu has plenty of high-class bar food such as burgers,
sandwiches, pizza and appetizers, but it also has a smokehouse that turns out
smoked sirloin, brisket, pork and chicken. The rib platters start with baby back
ribs seasoned with a dozen spices and slow-cooked over hickory. All smokehouse
platters come with Texas toast and two sides: coleslaw, barbecue beans, potato
salad, French fries or corn on the cob. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner
daily. Credit cards.
FRIAR TUCK'S
5130 Freret St. 891-4080
Friar Tuck's doesn't go in for fancy gourmet burgers, but their handcrafted classics
are popular enough to keep the place hopping. If your stomach is as big as your
eyes, tackle the Tuck's Burger, a hand-packed half-pounder served with cheese
and fries made from either sweet or regular potatoes. Another popular choice
is the Freret St. chicken salad, made with either grilled or fried chicken. No
reservations. Dinner Monday through Friday, late-night Saturday and Sunday. Credit
cards.
G.B.'S PATIO BAR AND GRILL
8117 Maple St. 861-0067
If some unseasonably warm weather comes our way, think about enjoying it on G.B.'s
patio. Otherwise, sit inside and warm up with a large, juicy burger that comes
with either crispy seasoned fries or a loaded baked potato, or try a premium
choice ribeye or tenderloin steak. For lighter fare, try out G.B.'s catch of
the day, usually served fresh off the grill. No reservations. Lunch Friday through
Sunday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $
HEDGES BAR AND GRILL
4 Galleria Blvd. (Wyndham Hotel), Metairie 620-9412
Salads, sandwiches, and specialty grill items can be found at Hedges, situated
inside the Wyndham Hotel. Brick-oven pizzas are also on the menu, while the grilled
chicken and goat cheese with sun-dried tomatoes is a house favorite. Other popular
dishes include grilled yellowfin tuna served over mixed greens, toasted peanuts
and tossed with a homemade soy dressing. The latest addition: Sunday brunch.
Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; brunch Sunday. Credit
cards. $
HELL'S KITCHEN
1201 Burgundy St. (inside Cosimo's) 525-4355
When you're tired of ordinary pizzas, try the extensive selection here for
unique pies such as the South of the Border, with spicy ground beef, black olives,
green peppers, cheddar cheese, sour cream and mozzarella cheese. Sandwiches include
the fresh housemade veggie burger with a side of fries. No reservations. Delivery
available. Dinner and late-night daily. Cash only.
HOOTERS
301 N. Peters St. 522-9222
2781 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna 393-7177
4748 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 889-0160
www.hooters.com
Hooters' "nearly world famous" wings come with mild, medium, hot or 3 Mile
Island sauces; its pressed Cuban sandwich contains pork loin, ham, Swiss and
spicy mustard; its gumbo is stocked with chicken and sausage, and its hefty burgers
are cooked to order. Add beer, sports and Hooters girls, and you've got yourself
a dining experience. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch, dinner and late-night
daily. Credit cards. $
IGOR'S
2133 St. Charles Ave. 522-2145
It's acceptable to play with your food at a restaurant where there are video
games, dart boards, foosball and pool tables and laundry facilities available
24/7. When you've worked up an appetite, order an Igor Burger, which comes doused
with Cajun or barbecue sauce and served with steak fries. Free red beans cooked
with honey-baked ham on Mondays beginning at 7 p.m. (they last until they're
gone). No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards.
IGOR'S BUDDHA BELLY BURGER BAR
4437 Magazine St. 891-6105
If you arrive early enough (they're gone when they run out), you'll find
free red beans and rice on Mondays starting at 7 p.m. Otherwise, try the half-pound
Cajun, barbecue and cheeseburgers. Do your laundry in the back room between bites.
No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
IGOR'S CHECK POINT CHARLIE
501 Esplanade Ave. 949-7012
Mealtime and game-time collide at Check Point Charlie, where burgers and
other sandwiches compete with the fun of pool, live music and a 24-hour laundry
room. The Charlie Burger is a half-pound of charbroiled sirloin served with a
choice of sauces and cheeses. Come for free red beans on Mondays beginning at
7 p.m.; they last until they're gone. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit
cards.
JIMMY BUFFETT'S MARGARITAVILLE CAFE
1104 Decatur St. 592-2565
www.margaritavillecafe.com
The seafood favorites at this "son of a son of a sailor's" namesake eatery
include the "Prince of Tides Grilled Salmon." Vegetarians will appreciate the "Gypsies
in the Palace Portabella Pasta," where the grilled meaty mushroom is served atop
fettuccini tossed with roasted red bell pepper, blue cheese and garlic. Reservations
for parties of 15 or more only.
Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards.
KABBY'S SPORTS EDITION & GRILLE
2 Poydras St. (Hilton Hotel) 584-3880
The dedication to enhancing the sports-watcher's experience at Kabby's is
seen in more than 50 television sets tuned to a variety of games, as well as
a game- and beer-friendly menu. Favorites include po-boys, fried seafood platters
or the Bayou Combo, which consists of red beans and sausage over jambalaya. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards.
LAGER'S INTERNATIONAL ALE HOUSE
3501 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 887-3877
The search for hard-to-find imported beers generally stops at Lager's. This
easygoing dining spot is reminiscent of an English pub, featuring 75 beers on
tap and an extensive bottle menu. A new menu offers more than just bar food,
serving up steaks, tuna, wraps and sandwiches. Lager's menu wouldn't be complete
without its burgers. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Credit cards.
LAKEVIEW HARBOR
911 Harrison Ave. 486-4887
Put a couple quarters in Lakeview Harbor's stocked jukebox, grab a beer,
and settle in for one of their juicy hamburgers. Top your ground beef with cheese,
bacon or mushrooms, and have a salad or soup on the side. If seafood's more your
speed, the seafood platters overflow with softshell crabs, catfish, shrimp, trout,
crabcakes, and oysters. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily.
Credit cards. $
LE BON TEMPS ROULE
4801 Magazine St. 897-3448, 895-8117
www.lebontempsroule.com
The next time you pass by Le Bon Temps Roule for a drink or free live music,
make sure to check out the late-night food menu, too. The house-favorite quesadillas
are filled with cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, pico de gallo, fresh mushrooms,
black olives and your choice of chicken, black beans or both. Be sure to also
try the signature Bon Temps cheeseburger topped with mushrooms, bacon or chili.
No reservations. Lunch and dinner late-night daily. Credit cards.
LUCKY'S BAR & GRILL
1625 St. Charles Ave. 523-6538
Laid-back lunchers and night owls with the munchies frequent Lucky's for
marinated chicken sandwiches and thick burgers served fresh off the grill. During
pleasant weather, a meal on the front porch comes with cool breezes and a view
of the streetcar line. Karaoke 24 hours. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night
daily. Credit cards.
MELIUS BAR & CAFE
1701 Lake Ave., Metairie 828-9446
Although the bar typically stays open until 3 a.m., the staff at Melius is back
early to offer coffee and donuts daily starting at 6 a.m. Hamburgers, BLTs, and
a rotating list of daily specials such as red beans and rice on Monday are offered
for lunch. The same menu continues into dinner, except for Sunday when pizza
is served. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner Sunday.
Credit cards.
O'FLAHERTY'S
514 Toulouse St. 529-1891
Aye, O'Flaherty's is a classic Irish pub with live Celtic music onstage every
night and soccer matches on the TV screen. But they don't want you to cheer and
slurp down a pint o' Guinness on an empty stomach, offering homemade Irish dishes
including beef stew, shepherd's pie, and sandwiches. Reservations accepted. Lunch
and dinner daily. Credit cards.
OSCAR'S
2027 Metairie Road, Metairie 831-9540
Oscar's knows that there are nightcrawlers out there who need to replenish the
tank during a night on the town. That's why regulars know that the kitchen is
open until late night, ready to serve up everything from hamburgers cooked to
order to yellowfin tuna steak (served as a sandwich or as is), or the Oscaletta
-- Oscar's take on the muffaletta served hot on French bread. No reservations.
Lunch Tuesday through Saturday, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
PACIFIC BAR & GRILL
5243 Canal Blvd. 488-0100
Ease your work worries by letting the grill at Pacific Bar & Grill work overtime
for you. Burgers and chicken are staples at this Lakeview spot (which has seasonal
outdoor patio dining), along with club sandwiches, po-boys and seafood platters.
The crab dip's a good way to kick off happy hour, too. No reservations. Lunch
and dinner Monday through Saturday; dinner Sunday. Credit cards.
PETE'S
444 St. Charles Ave. (Hotel Inter-Continental) 585-5401
The varied at menu at Pete's includes plenty of local tastes such as crawfish
Monica and jambalaya pasta, along with a variety of pizzas, burgers and wrap
sandwiches. For dessert, try either the apple pie, cheesecake or a brownie. Happy
hour daily. No reservations. Lunch weekdays. Credit cards.
PORT OF CALL
838 Esplanade Ave. 523-0120
It's downright amazing how a place so simple and steady can attract so much
attention; is there ever not a line outside the Port? We always suspect it's
the burgers, beef ground on-site, formed into patties two-hands thick and topped
with mounds of grated cheddar encourages beef addiction. They come with baked
potatoes stuffed with any combination of butter, sour cream, bacon bits, scallions
and mushrooms. But the Port also serves steaks, pizzas and salads. Kids welcome.
No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
THE RED EYE GRILL
852 S. Peters St. 593-9393
www.redeyegrill.com
Burgers and boogie, that's what the Red Eye, hailed as "The Last Place You
Want to Be," is all about for night owls. Burgers are ground fresh on-site. The
grilled tuna steak is another popular choice with regulars. A weekend DJ keeps
the beats pumping well into the wee hours. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and
late-night Monday
through Saturday, dinner and late-night Sunday. Credit cards.
RIVERHOUSE CAFE
5961 Magazine St. 894-0046
Customer favorites at Riverhouse Cafe include the penne pasta with feta and garlic
butter, and the shrimp and crab claw gumbo. And some say that Riverhouse has
the best burgers in town. The wide menu also includes po-boys and happy hour
specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Monday through
Saturday. Credit cards. $
RIVERSHACK TAVERN
3449 River Road, Jefferson 837-7118
The lunch specials are as uncommon as the decor at this bar and eatery and change
weekly based on what's fresh at the market, with fish such as amberjack and flounder.
Check out the fried green tomato salad with crabmeat or the crab and wonton salad
with sesame-peanut dressing and sweet peppers. Evening diners go for the burgers
and other traditional bar food. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit
cards.
SAMUEL'S OYSTER BAR & GRILLE
1628 St. Charles Ave. 581-3777
Formerly known as Samuel's Avenue Pub, this popular spot added a pizza oven,
an oyster bar and plenty of new items to its menu last year. If you love pizza,
go local with the Atchafalaya, which features crawfish, shrimp and crabmeat.
Two-for-one mixed drinks are served at the weekday happy hour (4-7 p.m.), three-for-one
on Wednesday. Eat your po-boy on the outdoor deck and watch the St. Charles crowd
pass by, or sit indoors (closer to the bar). No reservations. Lunch and dinner
daily. Credit cards.
STATIONHOUSE GRILLE
329 Decatur St. 587-0079
With burgeoning jazz scene, a hidden courtyard and late-night dining, this
French Quarter bar and grill has a few things working in its favor. Hamburgers
are made with a mixture of sirloin and chuck. The management also recommends
the grilled steak sandwich and the Shrimp Dip, a sandwich made with garlicky,
New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch,
dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards.
STITCHES BAR & GRILL
3941 Houma Blvd., Metairie 454-6266
Weekdays, stop by Stitches for happy hour drink specials from 2 p.m. to 7
p.m., and order up some food to accompany your drink. Try the stuffed crab plate:
crabmeat, egg, breading, stuffed into a shell and fried, accompanied by your
choice of fries or potato salad. Or perhaps try the crab corn bisque soup. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Saturday. Credit cards.
TIMES BAR & GRILL
1827 Front St., Slidell (985) 639-3335
1896 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville (985) 626-1161
Both locations feature bar food and beyond. The Colossal Jack Hamburger is
a half-pound of meat cooked to order with sauteed onions and pepperjack cheese,
served with fries or homemade potato salad. For dessert, try the bread pudding
with a topping of bananas Foster, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks.
TUCKER'S TAVERN
635 S. Roman St. 522-0440
It's hard not to think of Tucker's as "Home of the Stuffed Burger," as its
specialty includes burgers like The Big Tuck: ground beef stuffed with pepper
Jack and American cheeses and bacon, then topped with barbecue sauce and cheddar
cheese. However, they also offer both a regular Reuben and a Cajun Reuben, along
with a Cuban sandwich. The Mediterranean chicken salad is another favorite. No
reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, early dinner Saturday.
Credit cards.
UGLY DOG SALOON & BBQ
401 Andrew Higgins Drive 569-8459
No doubt the Ugly Dog is sitting pretty with its barbecue offerings, like
the ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. But don't forget their six all-vegetarian
side dishes, including the sesame cole slaw. Look for crawfish boils on Sunday
in February. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, when domestic beers
go for $1.25 and imports for $2.25. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night
daily. Credit cards.
VESPERS' BAR & GRILL
1414 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 833-0050
Vespers' menu has gotten even bigger. Along with the juicy burgers and cheese
fries, made-to-order pizzas and sizzling steaks is the Cuban sandwich. Last year
Vespers' expanded its happy hours (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday), which
feature two-for-one well mixed drinks and beer. No reservations. Dinner and late-night
Monday through Saturday. No delivery. Credit cards.
WALL STREET GRILL & TAP ROOM
4240 Hwy. 22, Suite 2, Mandeville (985) 674-7911
The Room has been open on the Northshore for about nine months, specializing
in classic bar and grill grub like sandwiches, salads, pastas and grilled foods.
Management recommends the barbecue shrimp, or the portobello sandwich. No reservations.
Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards.
YO MAMA'S BAR AND GRILL
727 St. Peter St. 522-1125
Your mama probably never told you to chase your hamburger with a shot of
tequila, but then she never ran a grill in the French Quarter -- did she? Yo
Mama's features 14 gourmet burgers and 50 varieties of tequilas. Grill alternates
range from tuna fillets to filet mignon. Table dining and barroom drinking are
available both upstairs and downstairs. A DJ and dance floor keeps the action
moving. Delivery available. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit
cards. $
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