DINER

BETSY'S PANCAKE HOUSE
2542 Canal St., 822-0213
Betsy doesn't live and die by the flapjack. Just as popular are the Belgian waffles with bananas, nuts and whipped cream. One of the most reliable deals in town is the breakfast special of eggs, bacon, grits and pancakes for $4. The Western omelet breaks eggs with ham, onion and bell pepper with picante sauce on top. The lunch menu features an array of sandwiches and po-boys. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Sun.-Fri. Credit cards. $

CAMELLIA GRILL
626 S. Carrollton Ave., 309-2679
College students, tourists, families, punks and cops all queue up at this landmark diner for inexpensive meals of omelets, sandwiches and hot pie off the grill. The chili cheese omelet may be the ultimate in decadence. For others, Camellia's cool milkshakes, called freezes, are tops. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

CLOVER GRILL
900 Bourbon St., 598-1010; www.clovergrill.com
Fast-talking waiters serve up burgers, omelets and overstuffed sandwiches with a side of sass at this Bourbon Street hot spot. The monster burgers are made with a full half-pound of fresh beef grilled to perfection under a genuine hubcap. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night Mon.-Wed., open 24 hours Thu.-Sun. Credit cards. $

DEJA VU RESTAURANT & BAR
400 Dauphine St., 523-1931; www.dejavunola.com
A late-night service-industry hot spot, Déjá Vu's wee-hours clientele is as varied and colorful as its extensive menu. From three-egg omelets to burgers to steaks, this bustling diner has plenty to satisfy comfort-food cravings at any hour. There's plenty of fried local seafood in po-boys and on platters. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $

DOT'S DINER
Citywide
Dot's offers diner-style comfort food from bottomless cups of coffee at breakfast to 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 are a variety of popular diner classics, burgers and sandwiches. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $

HUMMINGBIRD GRILL
5708 Citrus Ave., Harahan, 305-1980
This casual diner offers a fun lineup of hearty comfort food. The Garbage burger collects a pile of mushrooms, bacon, cheddar, onion straws, chili and a fried egg on top. The Hummingbird club layers sliced turkey, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce and tomato on seven-grain bread. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

JUKEBOX CAJUN DINER
2560 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 469-1112
The restaurant brings back jukebox memories with its diner-inspired menu of big breakfasts and daily lunch and dinner specials. If you arrive before noon, try the made-to-order omelets, pancakes or waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Lunch specials include white beans and rice with pork chops or chicken. Patty melts, BLTs and fried or grilled shrimp are also favorites. March welcomes the return of "Cruise Night," a classic car show on the third Saturday of every month. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $

KOZ'S
6215 Wilson St., Harahan, 737-3933; www.kozcooks.com
A wide selection of po-boys, soups, salads and dinner specials with fried seafood adorn the menu at Koz's. Fried or grilled redfish, fried chicken plates and garlic-stuffed roast beef, cooked daily for po-boys served with gravy, are among the most popular options. Plates come with a choice of side dishes like baked macaroni and cheese, chili cheese fries, mashed potatoes, onion rings, coleslaw or potato salad. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Fri. Credit cards and checks. $

LA PENICHE RESTAURANT
1940 Dauphine St., 943-1460
Classic diner fare, late-night hours and plenty of neighborhood color make this corner café a standby for locals. Its version of eggs Benedict assembles poached eggs, Canadian bacon, grilled tomatoes and hollandaise sauce on top of an English muffin. The seafood platter combines fried shrimp, oysters, catfish and soft-shell crab with potato and salad. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night Thu.-Mon. Credit cards. $$

RUSSELL'S MARINA GRILL
8555 Pontchartrain Blvd., 282-9980
Russell's serves up a tasty, inexpensive menu of classics all day long, starting with dishes such as eggs Benedict with a homemade hollandaise sauce as well as old standards like scrambled eggs, grits and ham. At lunchtime, try the seared ahi tuna entrée with a sweet and spicy plum sauce and a side of sweet potato fries. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Credit cards. $

ST. CHARLES TAVERN
1433 St. Charles Ave., 523-9823
Late-night/early morning diners often come to the Tavern looking for eggs, po-boys and burgers but find there's much more on the menu than simple fare. The chicken and andouille hash is a mix of shredded deep-fried chicken, andouille, green peppers, onions and garlic tossed with red new potatoes boiled in crab boil, and topped with a couple of eggs. The Tavern also serves up hearty entrées like Mary Elaine's meatballs served in a red sauce on a bed of fettuccine Alfredo. No reservations. Open 24 hours daily. Credit cards. $

SLIM GOODIES DINER
3322 Magazine St., 891-3447; www.slimgoodies.com
Follow the flying fried egg up Magazine Street to Slim Goodies, where breakfast specialties like the Creole Slammer (hash browns, veggie chili, cheddar cheese, eggs and smoked tempeh) and the Jewish Coonass (potato latkes topped with spinach, eggs and crawfish etouffée) ensure this neo-retro diner is always packed. Ask for a seat on the relaxed backyard patio if there's no room up front. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Cash and checks. $

STEVE'S DINER
828 Gravier St., 522-8198; www. steves-diner.com
This old-school diner offers free Wi-Fi service and memorably named items like NOLA's Best Scratch Breakfast Biscuit — a homemade buttermilk biscuit with fresh scrambled eggs with crisp bacon or sausage patty. At lunch, the bacon and cheddar burger is an 8-oz. Angus beef patty char-grilled to order, served on a grilled bun, topped with a mountain of cheddar cheese, crisp bacon and dressed with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickle. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards and checks. Catering available. $

African
American
American Contemporary
Bar & Grill
Barbecue
Belgian
Brewpub
Burgers
Café
Cajun
Caribbean
Chinese
Coffee & Dessert
Creole
Deli
Diner
Fondue
French
Gourmet to Go
Greek
Indian
Italian
Japanese/Sushi
Korean
Latin American
Louisiana Contemporary
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Mexican/Southwestern
Music and Food
Neighborhood
Pan-Asian
Pizza
Sandwiches and Po-boys
Seafood
Soul Food
Steakhouse
Tapas/Spanish
Thai
Vietnamese