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SPRING RESTAURANT GUIDE
2003

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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LA CARRETA
108 N.W. Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 419-9990
www.carretarestaurant.com
This popular spot is like a quickie trip to Mexico for many Hammond locals. And while you're on vacation, why not try something new? Alambres is a favorite, featuring chopped steak topped with sauteed onions and melted asadero cheese and served with frijoles charros and tortillas. The Enchiladas El Patrón is a hearty dish with four grilled chicken enchiladas topped with sour cream, asadero cheese, tomato sauce and cilantro. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $

LA CHATELAINE
800 Iberville St. (Chateau Sonesta Hotel) 586-0800
www.chateausonesta.com
Hotel guests and locals relish the gourmet breakfast offerings at La Chatelaine. The eggs Pontchartrain start with two poached eggs on an English muffin, which is then festooned with shrimp, crab and spinach and finished with a Creole hollandaise sauce. To make Joe-Joe's stuffed French toast, a brioche is stuffed with strawberries or apples, batter-fried, dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with strawberry or apple coulis. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily. Credit cards. $

LA CREPE NANOU
1410 Robert St. 899-2670
This uber-chic Uptown bistro thrives by achieving a Zen-like balance in all that it does. The biggest surprise on this menu is how delicious your favorite dish can taste the 100th around, but if you've never had the fresh crawfish crepe with lobster sauce, it may be time to try something new. The "gigot d'Agneau" is another good bet, but don't be embarrassed to call it "leg of lamb" when ordering. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LA CUISINE
225 W. Harrison Ave. 486-7664
Breakfast lovers will have a tough time choosing between La Cuisine's extensive menu including a crawfish omelette and grits and grillades. The lunch crowd favorites are osso buco and trout three ways, while dinner guests may choose between grilled lemon fish and rack of lamb. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$

LA MADELEINE
547 St. Ann St. 568-0073
601 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-8662
1327 St. Charles Ave. 410-8500
3300 Severn Ave., Metairie 456-1624
3434 Hwy. 190 (Albertson's Premier Shopping Center), Mandeville (985) 626-7004
5171 Citrus Blvd., Jefferson 818-2450
www.lamadeleine.com
Though gourmet coffee and fresh-baked pastries (including the popular blueberry muffins) are most patrons' reasons for stopping in at La Madeleine locations, the eatery also offers a diverse, French-inspired food menu. Top choices include the French onion soup, simple baguettes or tempting desserts such as tiramisu, caramel creme brulee and coconut flan. There are plentiful salads, sandwiches, pastas and pizzas as well. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LA MARQUISE PASTRY SHOP
625 Chartres St. 524-0420
Signature croissants, pastries and a selection of coffees and teas are available here, plus lunch and dinner items such as soups, salads and sandwiches. The chef's salad, featuring a variety of meats, cheeses and eggs, is recommended. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Cash and checks. $

LA NOUVELLE CAFE
3650 Magazine St. 269-8130
Chef-owner Foudil Mandi opened this French/Mediterranean-inspired cafe in mid-January and hopes to add breakfast and dinner soon. La Nouvelle offers a variety of sandwiches, paninis and salads (including Caesar and nicoise), with breads and croissants from its bakery on the West Bank. Look for pastas when dinner service starts. No reservations. Lunch daily. Credit cards and checks. $

LA PENICHE
1940 Dauphine St. 943-1460
Some night, maybe at 3 a.m., you'll feel the need for a waffle served with peanut butter, sliced bananas and pecans, and that's when La Peniche comes to mind. Breakfast is served around the clock at this cozy diner. Lunch and dinner options include a country-fried steak topped with mushrooms and white gravy, a blue cheeseburger, and the Katheryne Burger, loaded with ham, Swiss cheese and grilled onions. No reservations. Open 24 hours, except from 2 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Thursday. Credit cards. $

LA PROVENCE
25020 Hwy. 190, Big Branch (985) 626-7662
La Provence is worth the trip to the Northshore, particularly in springtime. The duck a l'orange is served with a fragrantly delicious orange Curacao sauce, while the rack of lamb is marinated and roasted in herbs, then served with salad, vegetable and potato. The quail can be served whole, stuffed or folded into a rich gumbo. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wednesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$$

LA RIVIERA
4506 Shores Drive, Metairie 888-6238
www.larivierarestaurant.com
Chef Goffredo's old-fashioned Northern Italian creations have won him a loyal following of regulars who rave over the award-winning crabmeat ravioli, sauteed with lump crabmeat and topped with a delicate white cream sauce and Parmesan cheese. The osso buco is another favorite -- veal shank braised in a mushroom tomato sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$

LA SPIGA BAKERY
2440 Chartres St. 949-2253
While La Spiga's sandwiches are popular enough to warrant their own booth at the thrice-weekly Crescent City Farmers Markets, the store is open for the public to eat in only on Saturdays. If you want, you can also call in an order, but it must be a day ahead of time, for pick-up Monday through Friday. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Saturday. Checks and cash. $

LA THAI CUISINE
933 Metairie Road, Metairie 828-3089 or 828-3080
Louisiana and Thai cuisine is fused here to great effect in dishes such as the Red Hot Chili Pepper, which features butterflied jumbo shrimp and spicy green beans accompanied with jasmine steamed rice. Give your taste buds and your eyes a trip to the tropics with the stuffed pineapple fried rice. The dish starts with a pineapple cut in half and hollowed out with the fruit cooked into a fried rice with jumbo fried shrimp, raisins, diced bell peppers, onions and ham, then dressed with romaine lettuce, cucumbers and, of course, the pineapple shell. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$

LAFITTE'S
2031 St. Charles Ave. (Pontchartrain Hotel) 524-0581
Hungry dinner patrons at the historic Pontchartrain Hotel might opt for the sampler platter, which brings out two spicy meat pies, two crabcakes and four fried shrimp served on a bed of lettuce. Other top choices include the 8-ounce King Rex Filet, topped with crumbled blue cheese and drizzled in a Creole butter sauce. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LAKEVIEW HARBOR
911 Harrison Ave. 486-4887
The Lakeview Harbor is a great place to hang out when you feel like hearing some jukebox rock 'n' roll, drinking a few beers and grabbing a hamburger topped with cheese, bacon or mushrooms and served with salad or soup. The seafood platters serve generous portions of softshell crabs, catfish, shrimp, trout, crabcakes and oysters. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$

LAMA'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
7007 Read Lane 242-5656
Few can resist Lama's seafood boat, a loaf of bread hollowed out, buttered and toasted before being stuffed with golden fried shrimp, oysters and seafood. Shrimp, Lake Pontchartrain crabs and Louisiana crawfish are boiled daily with ample seasonings and served hot. Lama's also offers a variety of po-boys and daily lunch specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $

LANDRY'S
789 Harrison Ave. 488-6496, 488-9156
This Lakeview restaurant brings families in for affordable and tasty pastas, salads, seafood platters and po-boys. The seafood pasta will satisfy most cravings with shrimp, crawfish and oysters in a cream sauce served over angel hair pasta. No reservations. Breakfast Saturday, lunch Monday through Saturday; dinner Thursday through Saturday. Cash only. $

LE BON TEMPS ROULE
4801 Magazine St. 897-3448, 895-8117
www.lebontempsroule.com
This cozy club is justly famous for the live music in the back room and the bar in the front, but those in the know also pause there for a bite to eat. Try the quesadillas, filled with cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, pico de gallo, mushrooms, black olives and your choice of chicken, black beans or both. Swing by on Fridays between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. for free raw oysters that go perfectly with a cold beer. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

LE CAFE
214 Royal St. (Hotel Monteleone) 523-3341
www.hotelmonteleone.com
In this classy dining room of the classy Hotel Monteleone, you can choose from a breakfast buffet and lunchtime soup and salad bars, or order a la carte. The lunch menu includes gumbo, crabcakes, pasta dishes and sandwiches. The omelette station is just one highlight of the weekend brunches. Reservations accepted. Breakfast and lunch daily. Credit cards. $$

LE PARVENU
509 Williams Blvd., Kenner 471-0534
Le Parvenu may mean "brash upstart" or "new on the scene," but Chef-owner Dennis Hutley's Kenner restaurant is likely to become an old favorite. Not a surprise, with dishes such as Lobster Le Parvenu, with layers of paneed lobster, shrimp, crab and crawfish in a cognac cream sauce as well as sauteed snapper Kell Marie, with herbed crabmeat and lemon beurre blanc. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$

LE PRINTEMPS
3125 Esplanade Ave. 945-1919
The blend of Japanese and contemporary American cuisine is done perfectly by recent arrival Le Printemps, housed in the old Japon cottage. The chef smokes salmon in-house, rolls it up with garlic, capers and tomato confit and then serves it on a salad with organic greens. A popular entree is the broiled lamb chop covered in olive paste and bread crumbs, served with gravy and vegetables. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards. $$

LEBANON'S CAFE
1506 S. Carrollton Ave. 862-6200
Garlicky hummus with fresh pita bread is a great way to start your meal at Lebanon's Cafe, then move toward Middle Eastern classics like thinly sliced chicken shawarma (wrapped in pita and covered with hummus, tahini and shredded vegetables). Seafood is also available in the form of shrimp kebabs, or grilled tuna. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LEE CIRCLE RESTAURANT
3 Lee Circle (Hotel Le Cirque) 962-0915
Scott Snodgrass, formerly of Clancy's, serves as executive chef for this elegant Creole spot. The atmosphere blends classic and postmodern styles, which the menu reinforces. The mirliton bisque with jumbo lump crabmeat is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner. The herb-crusted rack of lamb is as impressive looking as it is delicious. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, breakfast and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$

LEE'S HAMBURGERS
103 Schlief Drive, Belle Chasse 392-9922
904 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 836-6804
2100 Airline Drive, Kenner 472-0966
4301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 885-0110
Hefty hamburgers cooked how you like 'em is what made Lee's famous a long time ago, but that's not the only thing that's cooking here. You can also order chili cheese fries, onion rings, hot dogs and more. The Belle Chasse and Kenner locations serve plate lunch specials such as grilled chicken, fried shrimp, and hamburger steak. No reservations. Hours and methods of payment vary by location. $

LEMON GRASS RESTAURANT
217 Camp St. (International House Hotel) 523-1200
www.lemongrassrest.com.
It's hard to decide which of Chef Minh Bui's blends of Louisiana and Vietnamese tastes to try first. The No. 1-selling dish is the Lacquered Duckling, which features a duck breast roasted with five spices and served with sweet rice, baby bok choy and natural duck sauce. Close behind is the grilled baby rack of lamb served with cassava, wilted spinach and a plum demi-glace. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

LIBORIO CUBAN RESTAURANT
321 Magazine St. 581-9680
In addition to a vast array of traditional Cuban cuisine, Liborio now boasts a new and extensive wine menu. Old favorites remain, so try the Cuban steak, which comes stuffed with shrimp or lobster. A paella order yields any combination of shrimp, scallops, squid, or pork and fish -- so try that with a pork loin stuffed with ham and cheese. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $

LILETTE
3637 Magazine St. 895-1636
This hip restaurant's outdoor seating gives you the perfect excuse for people-watching on Magazine Street. John Harris, Lilette's chef-owner, approaches food with an artistic touch, combining unlikely flavors in the white truffle oil parmigiana toast appetizer, served with crimini, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, marrow and veal glace. For dinner, try the sauteed shrimp with braised escarole, roasted fennel and edamame vinaigrette. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$

LITTLE TOKYO RESTAURANT
1521 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie 831-6788
This is Jefferson Parish's answer to the sushi craze, and founder Yusuke Kawahara has created a popular Japanese experience. With the traditional list of sushi rolls as well as specialties, Little Tokyo promises great food. The Love Boat Tokyo is a feast for two afloat in tempura shrimp and vegetables, chicken and beef teriyaki, followed by sashimi and sushi, and finish it off with a California roll and fresh fruit. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards and checks. $$

LITTLE TOKYO RESTAURANT PART II
3225 Williams Blvd., Kenner 443-7660
Another Kawahara creation, Little Tokyo Part II continues the tradition of fresh, creative, Japanese delights. The menu is constantly expanding and now includes boiled shrimp as well as more than 30 different sushi rolls. For a uniquely personal experience, try the shabu shabu, which brings the chef to your table to fry tempura. The sushi nigiri is a favorite of true sushi lovers. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LIUZZA'S BY THE TRACK
1518 N. Lopez St. 943-8667
A tried-and-true New Orleans eating experience awaits you just steps from the Fair Grounds. Sink your teeth into the barbecue shrimp po-boy -- a hollowed-out French loaf piled with shrimp cooked in garlic butter -- or the blue cheese and jalapeno burger. Saturday brunches feature the traditional grillades and grits. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, lunch Saturday. Credit cards. $

LIUZZA'S RESTAURANT & BAR
3636 Bienville St. 482-9120
www.liuzzas.com
This time-honored neighborhood eatery combines Italian and classic New Orleans cuisine, which produces such favorite outcomes as the shrimp and artichoke pasta, the homemade Caesar salad dressing, fried green tomatoes topped with shrimp remoulade, and the original Frenchuletta -- Liuzza's own olive salad on warm French bread. Icy-cold globes of Abita are a common complement. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $

LOLA'S
3312 Esplanade Ave. 488-6946
There are several reasons why Lola's is a favorite take-a-date spot. The restaurant's standing BYOB policy allows for deft wine selection beforehand, and the Mediterranean menu varies enough to please any palette. Several types of paellas are offered, including seafood, meat or vegetable. No reservations. Dinner daily. Checks and cash. $$

LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE
901 S. Clearview Pkwy., Metairie 736-0140
1319 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner 469-0404
1553 Gause Blvd., Slidell (985) 781-7827
www.lonestarsteakhouse.com
Steaks from grain-fed beef that is aged then grilled over mesquite come in all variations, from the Cajun ribeye (a 16-ounce cut marinated in Cajun spices) to the popular New York strip. But you don't have to limit yourself to beef; there also are combo plates that pair filets with ribs, shrimp, salmon or both, and there are pork chops or slow-cooked ribs that come with a barbecue boneless chicken breast. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LOUIS XVI RESTAURANT FRANCAIS
730 Bienville St., St. Louis Hotel 581-7000
www.louisxvi.com
For more than 30 years, Louis XVI has been treating diners to sumptuous French cuisine and European ambience. Among the Creole and classic French dishes are the filet de bouef Wellington, with perigourdine sauce and roast fingerling potatoes; and the salade de homard du Maine, a salad featuring chilled Maine lobster with avocado, tomato confit and tarragon vinaigrette. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

LOUISIANA GRILL
2223 N. Causeway Approach, Mandeville (985) 727-5585
www.louisianagrill.com
Plenty of seafood gets slapped on the grill here, from softshell crab and lobster to shrimp and fish. Landlubbers have plenty of options, too, including steak, duck and ribs. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $$

LOUISIANA PIZZA KITCHEN
95 French Market Place 522-9500
615 S. Carrollton Ave. 866-5900
2112 Belle Chasse Hwy. Gretna 433-5800
New pizzas at the Uptown location include a Tuscan chicken pizza featuring rosemary chicken and goat cheese, a Kitchen Sink pizza loaded with toppings, and a beef fajita pizza; the French Quarter location now has the Eggplant Margarita pizza with eggplant, mozzarella and roma tomatoes. Reservations accepted at the Gretna location; accepted for large parties only Uptown, and not accepted in the French Quarter. Lunch and dinner daily Uptown and in the French Quarter; lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Saturday in Gretna. Credit cards. $$

LOUISIANA PURCHASE KITCHEN
8847 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 468-3663
This buffet-style restaurant gives diners dozens of down-home dishes to choose from. The Cajun buffet includes seafood pies, gumbo and jambalaya, and Friday and Saturday nights feature a seafood extravaganza. The buffet offerings change daily, so call the menu hotline (468-3800) to find out what's cooking. No reservations. Lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $

LOUNGE LIZARDS
200 Decatur St. 598-1500
The menu here encourages you to get your groove on with such choices as the Love and Happiness Soup, stocked with stir-fried shrimp and Thai spices. When your taste buds are primed for barbecue, try the barbecued chicken or the barbecued duck flatbread wrap. And don't forget the crispy crawfish spring rolls. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

LUCKY'S BAR & GRILL
1625 St. Charles Ave. 523-6538
Lucky's is always open, so you can come in anytime for a marinated chicken sandwich or a thick burger fresh off the grill. Some come by to warble the day or night away with Lucky's 24-hour karaoke set-up. Now's a great time to eat out on Lucky's front porch and watch the streetcar go by. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $

LUCY'S RETIRED SURFER'S BAR AND RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas St. 523-8995
www.lucysretiredsurfers.com
Dude, take five here after pulling a nine-to-five. Lucy's California dreamin' atmosphere comes through in its menu, where Southwestern and West Coast specials rule. Choose your fillings for quesadillas, including cheese, shrimp, mushrooms, steak, chicken or crawfish. And with specials like $1 tacos on Tuesdays and $2.50 nachos on Wednesdays, Lucy's won't kill your wallet's buzz. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, brunch Saturday and Sunday. Credit cards. $

LUIGI'S
915 Decatur St. 529-4975
A planned remodeling after Jazz Fest will make more room for the international grocery items such as olive oil, pastas, cheeses, sauces and a variety of imported wines and liquors. Lunch choices at this old-fashioned Italian New Orleans stop include muffalettas, lasagna, spaghetti and po-boys: roast beef, prosciutto, turkey and ham, to name a few. No reservations. Lunch daily. Credit cards. $

LULU'S
307 Exchange Alley 525-2600
www.eatatlulus.net
Spring is the perfect time to sit at Lulu's outdoor tables and enjoy one of Chef-owner Corbin Evans' fresh, healthy creations. The roasted vegetable sandwich explodes with the flavors of farmer's cheese, veggies and multigrain bread. For Sunday brunch, try the Greens, Eggs, and Ham. The French Quarter location has stopped serving dinner, as a new location Uptown will be opening within the year. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Saturday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$

LUTHER'S
2750 Severn Ave., Metairie 888-6370
4950 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero 347-0624
8740 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette 277-8167
www.luthers.com
While this down-home barbecue joint is best known for its ribs, there are plenty of other items to round out the menu. Beef, chicken and Caesar salads, as well as juicy barbecue chicken and turkey breast are options for the more health-conscious. The beef brisket is marinated in Luther's special "beef bath" and slow-cooked overnight, as is the smoked pulled pork. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $