CITYWIDE
APPLEBEE'S NIGHBORHOOD GRILL & BAR
Citywide; www.applebees.com
Applebee's goes for a something-for-everyone approach, which means items ranging from nachos to burgers, steaks to salads, as well as a kid's menu and Weight Watchers' items. Entrées include roasted chicken, baby back ribs, fajitas, fried shrimp, pasta dishes and more. Menu combos and specials keep tantalizing options affordable. Several flavored cheesecakes, decadent chocolate brownies, cake and apple pie offer sweet conclusions to a meal. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
BUD'S BROILER
Citywide
Bud's is the place for no-nonsense charcoal-broiled burgers. Even the toppings keep it simple: hickory-smoked sauce, grated cheese or another burger patty. The few nonburger options are hot dogs, a chicken breast sandwich on a bun and a broiled fish fillet. Sides include onion rings and French fries, which can be spiced up with chili and cheese. Desserts include apple, peach or cherry pies. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Cash only. $
CC'S COFFEEHOUSE
Citywide; www.communitycoffee.com
CC's brews a full range of specialty coffee drinks and has all the extras to wake up in the morning or settle in for an afternoon of studying. Sweet options include pastries, muffins and cookies, and many locations also have wireless Internet. A locally founded chain, Community Coffee serves its own special blends. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
CAFÉ DU MONDE
Citywide; www.cafédumonde.com
If you're going to do one thing and do it well, this is the model to follow. Café du Monde has offered café au lait with chicory and airy beignets loaded with powdered sugar for more than a century. Beyond the relatively recent addition of orange juice and a soda fountain, that has what's made the original 24-hour French Market location at Jackson Square world famous. Now locations throughout the New Orleans area offer the signature coffee and beignet combo. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Cash only. $
CAFÉ ROMA
Citywide
Several independent Café Romas offer gourmet pizza. Delivery is available from locations in the Lower Garden District, North Causeway Boulevard, Gretna and in the French Quarter. There is a wide variety of toppings. Other menu items vary by location. The Lower Garden Café Roma offers pasta dishes. Turtle Bay offers salads, sandwiches and some appetizers. No reservations. Delivery available from some locations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DANNY & CLYDE'S
Citywide; www.dannyandclydes.com
Danny & Clyde's made its name with big po-boys and sandwiches but the menu has plenty of options and even catering platters at some locations. Fried seafood, muffulettas and roast beef are the mainstays. Dinner plates are available, accompanied by a choice of sides like fries, slaw and potato salad. Breakfast sandwiches can be served on as small a platform as a biscuit or on a large po-boy roll. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
DOT'S DINER
Citywide
Breakfast and bottomless cups of coffee come to mind when one sees Dot's, but the diner also serves lunch and hearty dinner specials like pork chops or bone-in ham steaks. Stop in any time of day for excellent deals on breakfast plates such as the B1 (two eggs, grits and toast). For lunch, there is a variety of popular diner classics, burgers and sandwiches. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
ITALIAN PIE
Citywide; www.italianpierestaurants.com
Gourmet pizzas are the calling card of Italian Pie, but it features many of the same Mediterranean ingredients in calzones, salads, pastas and sandwiches. Specialty pies include the Combination, which has pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, onions, peppers and black olives. The Roasted Garlic pie comes with chicken or shrimp. The Florentine calzone is stuffed with spinach and artichoke, a mix of cheeses, and chicken or shrimp. Italian Pie also offers a small selection of wrap sandwiches. Delivery available. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
LEE'S HAMBURGERS
Citywide
Chopped onions set Lee's burgers apart. It's fast food but still homemade. The drive-through is convenient for days when you can't stand in line but must have your fix of the Works, a big cheeseburger dressed and served with onion rings or fries on the side. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
MONA'S CAFÉ
Citywide
Once an unassuming combination grocery/restaurant in Mid-City, Mona's now has cafés throughout the city and on the Northshore. The menu of affordable Middle Eastern food includes gyro pita sandwiches and platters, falafel, and kebabs of chicken, lamb and beef. Soups and salads include a hearty lentil soup, tabbouleh and a yogurt and cucumber salad. Some of the small plates include safeiha, essentially a small pizza of pita bread topped with ground beef and lamb, tomatoes, onions, parsley and spices. Dips include hummus and baba ganouj. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
O'HENRY'S FOOD & SPIRITS
Citywide; www.ohenrys.com
The casual, collegiate vibe of this popular chain is emphasized by the coating of peanut shells crunched on the floor, plus the all-important free birthday steak for those in the know. The menu strikes a local note with its version of crawfish Monica, made with crawfish tails in a spicy cream sauce over pasta. Besides steaks there are a few spicy and exotic accents, like the Thai shrimp wrap and Cajun Chicken Melt. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
PJ'S COFFEE OF NEW ORLEANS
Citywide; www.pjscoffee.com
Nothing goes better with a cup of coffee than a fresh pastry or one of the other baked goods at area PJ's. Some of the choices include blueberry muffins, cranberry muffins and croissants in the morning. Carrot cake, bourbon pecan pie and lemon squares are a good afternoon treat. Many locations offer wireless Internet connections. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA
Citywide; www.papajohns.com
Papa John's offers all sorts of specialty pies and meal deals for takeout or delivery. Specialty pies include an Italian meat trio, barbecued chicken and bacon, Hawaiian barbecue, spinach Alfredo and the Works. Sides include garlic Parmesan breadsticks, cheese sticks, wings in a spicy Buffalo or mild barbecue sauce, and chicken strips. Online ordering and delivery available. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
PICCADILLY
Citywide; www.piccadilly.com
Hearty, affordable, Southern fare is the rule at Piccadilly, but the restaurant chain has a contemporary gourmet-to-go sensibility and entire meals are available for take out. The buffet features local, Southern and American staples including crawfish etouffée, meatloaf, fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and a colorful, sugary array of pies, cakes and Jell-O. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
PIZZA HUT
Citywide; www.pizzahut.com
The familiar pizza chain offers a variety of crusts from thick and soft to thin and crispy. Topping selections range from classics like pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms and olives to bacon, pineapple, banana peppers, anchovies, jalapenos and chicken. The Meat Lovers pie is loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, bacon and ground beef. The Shrimp Supreme is studded with seasoned shrimp, fresh mushrooms, onion and green peppers. Extras include breadsticks, cheese sticks and cinnamon sticks for dessert. Delivery available. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
POPEYES
Citywide; www.popeyes.com
Originally founded in New Orleans, Popeyes offers boldly seasoned chicken and sides like smoky red beans and rice. Fried chicken is available in both mild and spicy versions for combo meals with several pieces, in baskets of chicken strips and on sandwiches. Sides include mashed potatoes and gravy, Cajun rice, spicy battered fries, and mac and cheese. Some locations serve fried shrimp as well. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
QUIZNOS
Citywide; www.quiznos.com
The relative newcomer on the national-franchise block, Quiznos offers a full range of Italian-style subs as well as popular new twists like mesquite-accented meats, smoky barbecue sauces, and guacamole on the turkey and bacon sub. There is everything from BLTs to honey-mustard chicken and bacon sandwiches to cheese melts. Getting away from the bread, Quiznos offers many items in salad versions as well as Cobb and chicken Caesar salads. Breakfast items are available at some locations. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
RAISING CANE'S CHICKEN FINGERS
Citywide; www.raisingcanes.com
Chicken has gone to the dog at Raising Cane's — the founder's namesake golden Labrador retriever, Cane, that is. But specials like the Caniac Combo are all about chicken fingers, with a six-piece order complemented by slaw, fries, two sauces, Texas toast and a drink. Boxed meals are available in many sizes and there are tailgate packs and party platters of 100 chicken fingers as well. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
SMOOTHIE KING
Citywide; www.smoothieking.com
The city's largest smoothie chain has a blend for everybody from spring-break dieters to beach-ready body builders and everyone in between. Fine-tune your favorite smoothie by adding enhancers like Immune, Energy, Female Balance, or Muscle Builder. Supplement your liquid intake with snacks like lean jerky, high-protein cookies or a wide assortment of protein bars. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
SUBWAY
Citywide; www.subway.com
The nation's largest chain of sandwich shops has plenty to offer in the land of the po-boy, with a menu boasting cold and hot subs, salads and wraps, and toasted sandwiches like the chicken and bacon ranch sandwich. The Veggie Delite is a crunchy combination of lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, olives and pickles, or skip the bread and have a salad. The meatball marinara swings in the other direction with Italian-style meatballs packed into a loaf with cheese and tomato sauce. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
WOW CAFÉ & WINGERY
Citywide; www.wingery.com
The only thing more plentiful than wings at WOW Café is the selection of sauces. Whether you pick up an eight-piece box or the party-friendly 1,000-piece spread, WOW wings come with a choice of sauces like Key West citrus, honey barbecue, Thai peanut, various heat levels of Buffalo, coconut curry, sweet and sour, teriyaki and many others. The Wingery also serves wraps, burgers, salads, quesadillas, chicken tenders and fajitas. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
Bywater | CBD | Carrollton/University | Citywide | Faubourg Marigny | French QuarterHarahan/Jefferson/River Ridge | Kenner | Lakefreont/Eastern New Orleans | Lakeview |
Metairie | Mid-City/Treme/Gentilly | Northshore | Outskirts |
St. Bernard | Slidell | Uptown | Warehouse District | West Bank
