BYWATER
BYWATER BAR-B-QUE
3162 Dauphine St., 944-4445
Smoking for years now, Bywater Bar-B-Que combines down-home flavors with a colorful New Orleans atmosphere in its dining room and lush patio. Choose ribs, chicken, pulled pork or beef brisket, or a combo plate if you can't decide, and pick from sides like jalapeno cornbread. The restaurant also serves sandwiches, salads, soups and the pizza menu formerly offered by Lorenzo's Pizza. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. Cash only. $
CAFÉ UNIQUE
2529 Dauphine St., 948-8884
This neighborhood joint offers a rotating roster of inexpensive soul-food favorites. Red beans start off the week on Monday, and choices like spaghetti with meat sauce, stewed or fried chicken, pork chops and candied yams and gumbo round out the daily line-up. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Cash only. $
COFFEA COFFEEHOUSE GALLERY
3218 Dauphine St., 342-2484
This hip Bywater coffee shop is as much a treat for the eyes and ears as it is for the palate. The beautiful brick building is decorated with all sorts of funky art, memorabilia and knick-knacks and features local jazz bands on the weekends. House specialties are sandwiches and sides such as cheese grits, along with homemade biscuits, bagels and pastries and other breakfast items. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Mon. Credit cards. $
The Country Club
634 Louisa St., 945-0742; www.thecountryclubneworleans.com
Even when it's too cold to swim, there is still a good reason to head to the Country Club. The restaurant serves creative dishes like duck and wild mushroom ravioli with boursin cheese in the mix on the inside and duck stock reduction for a sauce. Pork tenderloin is roasted and served with a tangy sweet Mandarin orange glaze and Vidalia onion soufflé. Lunch specials include soups, salads, wraps and flatbread pizzas. Delivery available. No reservations. Credit cards. $$
ELIZABETH'S
601 Gallier St., 944-9272; www.elizabeths-restaurant.com
This café along the river levee turns out a wide variety of New Orleans favorites and Southern classics. Try calas rice cakes or a breakfast po-boy in the morning or come later in the day for fried chicken livers, seared duck breast or seafood po-boys. Check out the second-floor bar for cocktails before or after the meal. No reservations. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $
HENRY'S BAKERY & DELI
2313 St. Claude Ave., 944-2622; 3400 S. Claiborne Ave., 894-8894
Miss Henry will tell you that she tries to give her guests everything they could want. That means plenty of pastries, including king cake and birthday cake. If it's not sweets you're after, there's a full breakfast menu and lunch plates such as smothered chicken and pork chops with sides of baked macaroni, butter beans and stuffed peppers. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily, brunch Sun. Credit cards $
JACK DEMPSEY'S
738 Poland Ave., 943-9914
Portions of fried and boiled seafood are served in such abundance at this Bywater institution that a take-out box for leftovers is practically a foregone conclusion. You might even need more than one if you order the gargantuan seafood platter, which makes a mountain out of the kitchen's arsenal of fried seafood and throws in a bowl of gumbo for good measure. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Cash only. $$
JAZZY PO-BOYS
1700 Port St., 943-0689
Jazzy offers a familiar lineup of po-boy options from slow-cooked roast beef and hot sausage to fish, shrimp and oysters. Fish and shrimp salads are also available. For dessert, try cinnamon bread pudding with rum sauce. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sun., late-night Fri.-Sat. Checks. $
THE JOINT
801 Poland Ave., 949-3232; www.alwayssmokin.com
"Always smoking" is the motto of this homegrown barbecue operation. The "W" special has a little bit of everything including pulled pork, beef brisket and two ribs accompanied by a choice of side items. The Smoked Bowl starts with a bed of tangy slaw and tops it with pulled pork and pickles and adds a side of creamy macaroni and cheese. The rack of ribs comes out of the smoker savory and delicious with juicy, well-seasoned meat falling off the bone. Catering is available. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Wed.-Sat. Credit cards. $
SOUND CAFÉ
2700 Chartres St., 947-4477
This arty Marigny coffee shop and bookstore features plenty of local art and live music, plus sidewalk seating that provides a perfect vantage point for neighborhood people-watching while you snack on brownies, cookies, cakes or bagels. There are also sandwiches like grilled cheese with vegetables or a choice of meats, made to order on freshly baked bread. Also check out the daily specials like quiche or lasagna. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Credit cards and checks. $
SUGAR PARK TAVERN
800 France St., 940-6226; www.sugarpark.com
This mellow bar and pizza joint has attracted a loyal following with its New York-style thin crust pizza and wide variety of toppings and sauces. Popular pies are the Bronx Bomber topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, black olives and green peppers, and the Brooklyn Bridge, which is loaded with garlic, spinach and mushrooms. Hearty pub grub includes fries with curry or garlic mayo, chili-cheese fries and nachos. Delivery available. No reservations. Dinner Wed.-Mon. 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
