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LA BELLA'S RESTAURANT & BAR
2219 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner 466-4675; www.labellas.com Chef-owner Joey LaBella is known for providing food for the Masters golf tournament and catering for the Superdome and the krewes of Endymion and Bacchus. Try the eggplant pirogue: a hollowed-out eggplant deep fried and then filled with a shrimp, crab and crawfish cream sauce and served over a pasta. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LA BOULANGERIE
625 St. Charles Ave. 569-1925; 3143 Ponce de Leon St. 940-0577; 4526 Magazine St. 269-3777 These three French bakeries make magical use of butter in their flaky croissants and delectable pastries. Freshly baked breads, like the olive fougasse, redolent of olive oil and rosemary, will undo anyone's Atkins plan in one whiff. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $

LA CARRETA
108 N.W. Railroad Ave., Hammond (985) 419-9990; www.carretarestaurant.com La Carreta features authentic Mexican cuisine, fiesta-style patio dining and live music on weekends. Try the Alambres, chopped steak, onions and melted cheese served with flour tortillas and frijoles charros, or the tamales La Carreta -- two tamales wrapped in corn husks and served with enchilada sauce and a chile relleno. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

LA CASA GOMEZ
643 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville (985) 624-8667 The 15-year-old La Casa Gomez moved into this much bigger Casa nearly a year ago, doubling its size. That's all the better to make room for the Mexican and Cuban food, from the sizzling fajitas (chicken and beef, shrimp and quesadilla) to the roast pork: pork well seasoned with Spanish seasoning and served with black beans, white rice and platanos. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Credit cards. $

Start your good times at Tyler's Beer Garden with a plate of oysters.

Photo by Donn Young

LA CHATELAINE
800 Iberville St. (Chateau Sonesta Hotel) 586-0800; www.sonesta.com/neworleans_chateau Diners find a quiet breakfast at this low-key hotel cafe just off Bourbon Street. The menu ranges from light pastries and fruit to substantial plates of eggs Pontchartrain with two poached eggs on an English muffin covered in shrimp, crabmeat, creamed spinach and Creole hollandaise sauce. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily. Credit cards. $

LA COTE BRASSERIE
700 Tchoupitoulas St. (Renaissance Arts Hotel) 613-2350; www.lacotebrasserie.com Located in the hip, modern Renaissance Arts Hotel, La Cote Brasserie serves an eclectic menu. Start off with the foie gras and poached pears appetizer, and move on to the cedar plank-roasted lobster, served with red rice, baby vegetables and a basil butter emulsion. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$

LA CREPE NANOU
1410 Robert St. 899-2670; www.lacrepenanou.com The art nouveau facade at Crepe Nanou signals the cozy, romantic French bistro within. The fondue appetizer is a must -- follow it up with Continental comfort food like a crepe Bourgignonne -- a slim pancake wrapped around tender beef tips in a red wine sauce. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LA CUISINE
225 W. Harrison Ave. 486-7664 Guests can't go wrong with softshell crab three ways topped with amandine, meuniere and Pontchartrain sauces. Brunch favorites include gourmet omelettes and local dishes such as grits and grillades. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

LA MACARENA PUPUSERIA AND RESTAURANT
4221 Williams Blvd., Kenner 464-4525 Try La Macarena's homemade traditional chicken flautas, topped with slaw, pico de gallo, salsa and cheese. Spanish albóndigas -- Spanish-style meatballs served with saffron rice, gravy, sweet fried plantains and homemade black beans -- are also a favorite. Bring your own bottle (for now). Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

LA MADELEINE
547 St. Ann St. 568-0073; 601 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-8662; 1325 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 Not fast food, but la cuisine rapide, this chain makes light and healthy fare with a French flair. The chicken cordon bleu dinner, served with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, is a recent hit. Choose from a selection of baked goods, including the strawberry Napoleon, for dessert. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LA MARQUISE PASTRY SHOP
625 Chartres St. 524-0420 La Marquise bakes light and fluffy pastries. For lunch, management recommends the signature La Marquise, an oversized croissant filled with roast beef, turkey and ham. Gumbo, red beans and rice and other traditional Cajun dishes are also available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Cash and checks. $

LA PENICHE
1940 Dauphine St. 943-1460 With a breakfast menu served round the clock, La Peniche will be happy to cook its pecan, peanut butter and banana waffle for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu also boasts eggs Benedict with grilled tomatoes, or try the signature Kathryn burger with grilled ham, Swiss cheese and grilled onions. No reservations. Open 24 hours, except for 2 p.m. Tue. to 9 a.m. Thu. Credit cards. $

LA PETITE GROCERY
4238 Magazine St. 891-3377 As the name suggests, the restaurant is small and the setting intimate, but the atmosphere quickly becomes lively on Friday and Saturday nights. Although the menu changes to accommodate seasonal ingredients, the grilled veal flank steak is a standard favorite. It's served on a mushroom duxelle risotto with a truffle marrow demi reduction. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

LA PROVENCE
25020 Hwy. 190., Lacombe (985) 626-7662; www.laprovencerestaurant.com Get a whiff of the beef bourguignonne, a Burgundy-style beef stew, and you'll know there's a true Frenchman in the kitchen. But Chef Chris hasn't shunned local flavor: His Louisiana crawfish cakes are a delicious twist on the traditional crabcake. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$

LA RIVIERA
4506 Shores Drive, Metairie 888-6238; www.larivierarestaurant.com This Metairie restaurant serves four veal dishes including the popular panneed veal topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and a lemon butter sauce. The house specialty is crabmeat ravioli: ravioli stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat topped with a white cream sauce and Parmigiano cheese. Reservation recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

LA SPIGA BAKERY 2
440 Chartres St. 949-2253 Devotees are used to tracking down La Spiga's pies and pastries at Crescent City Farmers Markets. For those who prefer a sit-down meal, the Faubourg Marigny retail location is now open for business three days a week. Sandwiches and homemade soups have been added to the lunch menu, and you'll love their angel food cake with fresh Louisiana strawberries. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Thu.-Sat. Cash and checks. $

LA THAI CUISINE 9
33 Metairie Road, Metairie 828-3089 Chef Merlin Chauvin's Maryland-style crabcake is prepared with jumbo lump crabmeat, baked in an oven with Japanese bread crumbs, and topped with extra jumbo lump crabmeat over a bed of sweet chile sauce. The dish comes with grilled asparagus and fresh sauteed vegetables. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri., dinner Sat. Credit cards. $$

LAGER'S INTERNATIONAL ALE HOUSE
3501 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 887-9923 With 75 beers on tap and a wood-paneled pub atmosphere, you might be surprised that Lager's offers an extensive menu featuring everything from wraps and salads to steaks and pasta dishes. Order the crawfish banditos appetizer or a portabella mushroom wrap, and wash it down with a cold pint of Kronenberg lager. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. Credit cards. $$

LAKEVIEW HARBOR
911 Harrison Ave. 486-4887 Lakeview Harbor combines a busy bar with a kitchen that stays open for its hungry late-night crowd. Diners find a menu of classic burgers, steaks and pizzas, as well as daily specials such as red beans and rice. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

LAMA'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
7007 Read Lane 242-5656 Joe Lama aims to please with fresh seafood served up at fair prices. Stop by for hot boiled crawfish or the traditional seafood platter, or mix it up on Fridays with a new specialty seafood dish each week. Daily lunch specials priced less than $5 include red beans and rice. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $

LANDRY'S RESTAURANT
789 Harrison Ave. 488-6496 The reasonable prices and family-friendly atmosphere keep the guests coming back to Landry's for seafood, daily lunch specials and a selection of home-cooked fare. Management recommends the grilled or fried chicken Parmesan, served over angel hair pasta with red or cream sauce. No reservations. Breakfast Sat., lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Thu.-Sat. Cash only. $

LAS PENITAS
4520 Freret St. 891-9557 Las Penitas combines popular Nicaraguan dishes with a few Mexican favorites. The recently expanded menu includes whole fried tilapia served with rice and beans and your choice of plantains or tortillas. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Tue., Thu.-Fri. Credit cards. $

LAURENTINO'S RESTAURANT 4
410 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie 779-9393; www.laurentinos.com Xavier Laurentino has recently expanded his menu of tapas to include more than 50 favorite items priced from $1.50 to $4.95 apiece. From the entree menu, Xavier recommends the seafood zarzuela, a Spanish-style bouillabaisse, or the lobster paella, which must be ordered a day in advance. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

LE BON TEMPS ROULE
4801 Magazine St. 897-3448 Le Bon Temps is a lively local two-room bar that stays open late and serves tasty food into the wee hours of the morning. The menu features chicken quesadillas, juicy burgers and other deliciously unhealthy snacks. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily, open 24 hours on Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

LE CITRON BISTRO
1539 Religious St. 566-9051; lecitronbistro.com Located in a landmark Creole cottage, this Lower Garden District restaurant serves Creole cuisine with a few innovations. New menu options include rabbit in romesco sauce over angel hair pasta and escolar topped with fried oyster mushrooms and a meuniere sauce. Reservations required for parties of five or more. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

LE PARVENU RESTAURANT
509 Williams Blvd., Kenner 471-0534 In an old cottage hidden behind railroad tracks, diners enjoy Chef Dennis Hutley's innovative Creole cuisine. To celebrate its ninth birthday this April, Le Parvenu will release a summer special: A $28 4-course 'table d'hotes' menu and a choice of six bottles of wine for $9 apiece. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$

LEBANON'S CAFE 1
500 S. Carrollton Ave. 862-6200 On a sunny day, Lebanon's is the perfect place to enjoy a light Mediterranean meal while dining at an outdoor table. The restaurant's interior is also spacious and colorfully decorated, and the menu offers a selection of dishes such as chicken and beef shawarmas, hummus and baklava. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LEE'S HAMBURGERS 1
03 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 You can get your burger craving squelched, and choose from hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chili cheese fries or shakes. The Airline Drive location also serves daily lunch specials such as rib-eye steak or gumbo. The Schlief location is closed for renovations until summer. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Methods of payment vary by location. $

LEMON GRASS RESTAURANT
217 Camp St. (International House Hotel) 523-1200; www.lemongrassrest.com Chef Minh Bui's menu blends traditional Vietnamese ingredients with classic French flair and fresh Louisiana seafood. Appetizers of shrimp, pork, avocado and cilantro-filled summer rolls and crusted nut oysters with wasabi leek confit perfectly complement entrees of wok smoked salmon steak and a crawfish pasta with an Asian twist. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LIBORIO CUBAN RESTAURANT
321 Magazine St. 581-9680 Go for Cuban classics such as the seafood paella at Liborio's, which comes with shrimp, fish, chicken, scallops and sausage in saffron rice and sweet plantains. Another house favorite is the Ropa Vieja, beef brisket stewed with onions, olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic and served with black beans and rice. Free live music on Fridays. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

LI'L DIZZY'S
1500 Esplanade Ave. 569-8997 Fried chicken fanatics who were wearing black armbands when the Bacquet family handed over its Riverbend location to Margaux's brightened up when the family opened Li'l Dizzy's. The menu also serves up a breakfast selection and the usual array of Bacquet-inspired soul and Creole creations. Reservations accepted. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $

L'IL RAY'S DINER AND BAR
133 N. Carrollton Ave. 309-8824 L'il Ray's is a retro-style diner that's sure to please with hearty fare served all day and night. A revised menu offers some new selections, such as the Roma omelette, stuffed with fresh spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and feta cheese. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $

LILETTE
3637 Magazine St. 895-1636 A contemporary French restaurant with a hint of New World Italian influence, Lilette has a flair for spicing up traditional dishes. Try the grilled hangar steak with fries and marrowed bordelaise sauce, or the potato-crusted black drum with mixed mushrooms, baby vegetables and beurre rouge. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

LITTLE TOKYO
590 Asbury Drive, Mandeville (985) 727-1532 Chef A.H. Yeoh boast a large selection of sushi to choose from (as many as 80 rolls, 20 sushi, 20 sashimi) and tries to come up with a new roll creation each week. One recent addition: The Burning Man Roll, with spicy tuna and tempura batter inside and pepper tuna and avocado outside. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LITTLE TOKYO RESTAURANT
1521 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie 831-6788 From tempura-battered beef to crunchy rolls, Little Tokyo's chefs bring all the delicious dishes of Japan to Metairie. Lunch and dinner specials are a bargain. Try the sushi combination lunch or the chicken teriyaki dinner. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

LITTLE TOKYO RESTAURANT PART II
3225 Williams Blvd., Kenner 443-7660 Paradise for diners who can never eat enough Japanese cuisine, Little Tokyo II offers an a la carte menu and a lunch buffet loaded with sushi, rolls, tempura-battered vegetables and hibachi-grilled steak and seafood. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$

LIUZZA'S BY THE TRACK
1518 N. Lopez St. 943-8667; www.nola.com/sites/liuzzas With a gumbo of sausage, chicken, shrimp and oysters widely regarded as the best in the city, Liuzza's is an irresistible detour on the way to the Fair Grounds. The barbecue shrimp po-boy and the horseradish-spiked 'Breath Taking' roast beef po-boy are some of the most popular menu items. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

LIUZZA'S RESTAURANT & BAR INC.
3636 Bienville St. 482-9120 For 50 years, diners have packed this Mid-City haunt for the tasty fried seafood, plates of pasta and frosty mugs of beer. The Frenchuletta repackages the standard muffaletta filling on a po-boy loaf. Customers rave about the fried green tomatoes. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

THE LIVING ROOM STEAK AND LOBSTER HOUSE
2800 Magazine St. 324-9550 This rare surf-and-turf addition to the lower Garden District features the namesake steaks and lobsters, including the ambitious, 36-oz. porterhouse. Seafood, though, can come in such delicate packages as the tuna tartare (served in a martini glass). Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$

LOGAN FARMS
3770 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 456-7311; metairie.loganfarms.com Logan Farms sells their dry-cured hams whole, while the deli keeps the lunch crowd happy with sandwiches layered with their signature meats and a hot line on the weekdays caters to the business crowd. New daily specials include grilled catfish with seafood stuffing and chicken Marsala. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

LOLA'S
3312 Esplanade Ave. 488-6946 The full rack of lamb chops served with basmati rice and fresh vegetables is a perennial best seller, and for good reason. The calamari salad is also delicious, and you can't go wrong with the daily fresh fish special. Lola's is strictly BYOB, so pick up a bottle of Rioja on the way over. No reservations. Dinner daily. Cash and checks. $$

LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE & SALOON
901 S. Clearview Pkwy., Metairie 736-0140; 1319 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner 469-0404; www.lonestarsteakhouse.com This national chain boasts that along with a great steak, they serve up hearty portions of Texas hospitality. In addition to a selection of steaks, the menu offers a variety of seafood dishes such as lobster, salmon and shrimp. If you can't make up your mind, try the Texas Trio, a combination plate of grilled steak, smothered chicken and fried shrimp. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LOUIS XVI RESTAURANT FRANCAIS
730 Bienville St. (St. Louis Hotel) 581-7000; www.louisxvi.com Guests lose their heads over the French fare and graceful table-side preparation at this lavish restaurant. The Poisson Louisiane, a fresh fish fillet topped with sauteed banana and fresh bell pepper, would satisfy the palate of a king. Ask for a recommendation from the extensive wine list. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

LOUISIANA BISTRO
4012 Ithaca St., Metairie, 525-3335 This contemporary Creole restaurant in Metairie is popular for its 'Creole surf and turf,' a seared filet topped with crawfish tail Scampi. Another favorite is the crab potpie, a puff pastry filled with different types of cheese, lump and claw crabmeat covered with a Mornay sauce. Reservations accepted. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Major credit cards. $$$

LOUISIANA GRILL
2223 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville (985) 727-5585; www.louisianagrill.com Seafood is the main attraction here, but burgers and steaks are also a good bet. Trout Myrtle is the house special: It's a fried whole speckled trout topped with a special Myrtle sauce made with lump crabmeat and crawfish and served with vegetables and rice. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

LOUISIANA HERITAGE CAFE & SCHOOL OF COOKING
321 N. Peters St. (Bienville House Hotel) 299-8800; www.laschoolofcooking.com This Cajun and Creole restaurant lives up to its name with a live cooking class by Chef Joseph Faroldi -- all courtesy of owner Tricia Rivers Smith, who opened the business in the space previously used for Gamay Bistro. Faroldi cooks daily between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and private and group classes are available. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LOUISIANA PIZZA KITCHEN
95 French Market Place 522-9500; 615 S. Carrollton Ave. 866-5900 Consider the chicken roulade, a grilled chicken breast stuffed with crawfish and andouille sausage, served with fettuccine in a tomato and basil cream sauce. LPK puts a spin on the classic ravioli with the artichoke ravioli, a ricotta cheese version in a pesto cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes and Parmesan cheese. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LOUISIANA PURCHASE KITCHEN
8853 Veterans Memorial Blvd. (Westgate Shopping Center), Metairie 468-3663 This restaurant moved up to the front of the Westgate Shopping Center about eight months ago to further entice commuters along Veterans. They often pull over to sample regional favorites such as the jambalaya, oysters Bienville, seafood gumbos and barbecue shrimp. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat., lunch Mon. Credit cards. $

LOUISIANA STAR
409 N. Columbia St., Covington (985) 893-8873 Start with an appetizer of steamed mussels in spicy white wine cream sauce, accompanied by sweet potato fries. Move on to Poulet Roti, an herbed, marinated roasted half chicken served with mashed potatoes, caramelized cauliflower and tasso ham jus. Reservations accepted for groups of six or more. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

LUCKY'S BAR & GRILL
1627 St. Charles Ave. 523-6538 This laundromat-bar-restaurant is the most fun you've ever had during the spin cycle. The place is open 24 hours, so stop in any time for a burger, sandwich or a selection of bar munchies. Don't miss the weekend barbecue special: ribs or chicken served with baked beans and potato salad. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LUCY'S RETIRED SURFERS BAR & RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas St. 523-8995; www.lucysretiredsurfers.com There may not be any waves, but Lucy's casual, beachy atmosphere is the next best thing for surfing enthusiasts and after-work revelers alike. Stop in for happy hour and stay for a burger, fajitas or fish tacos. The daily specials, such as grilled amberjack spinach salad, are also tempting. Reservations for large parties only. Lunch Mon.-Fri., brunch Sat.-Sun., dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LULU'S IN THE GARDEN
2203 St. Charles Ave., Garden District Hotel 586-9956; www.lulusinthegarden.com Using ingredients from the Crescent City Farmer's Market and the restaurant's own OK Farm, Chef Corbin Evans creates light and delicious meals in a quiet setting overlooking St. Charles Avenue. Try the roast duck with Satsuma-pomegranate glaze and mushroom wild rice crepe. Reservations accepted. Breakfast Mon.-Sat., lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

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