MUSIC & FOOD
THE BEACH HOUSE
2401 N. Woodlawn Ave., Metairie, 456-7470
The closest shoreline with ample surf and sand sits nearly 90 miles from New Orleans. If that's too far to go, head to the Beach House, kick back and enjoy the casual surf vibe. The Beach burger is a half-pound patty of beef ground in house and cooked to order. Other favorites include boiled lobster and grilled or fried shrimp and catfish. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CAFE NEGRIL
606 Frenchmen St., 944-4744
This Marigny music hall features a mix of roots music and reggae on the improvised stage in front. The grill in the back is open during club hours and serves a limited menu of burgers, barbecue and ribs. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $
CLUB 300 JAZZ BISTRO
300 Decatur St., 581-2534; www.neworleansjazzbistro.com
Live jazz, swing, Latin music and other performances fill the entertainment calendar at this two-story townhouse. The kitchen specializes in dishes like filet mignon, lobster, pork loin and grilled trout stuffed with shrimp. Try the bronzed redfish with lobster cream sauce or the 14-oz. pork chop served over sweet potato gnocchi. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards and checks. $$$
COLUMBIA STREET TAPROOM & GRILL
434 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 898-0899; www.columbiastreettaproom.com
Sometimes it's easy for customers to focus on the Taproom and not the Grill at this bar and grill with the large tap selection. The grill not only features live music Thursday through Saturday, but especially on Thursday delivers acoustic music and a three-course dinner special, which offers everything from prime rib to seared tuna. There's also a variety of gourmet burgers, including the Black 'n' Blue, which is blackened in a skillet and served with blue cheese. Lunch entrées include daily fresh grilled-fish specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $
DONNA'S BAR AND GRILL
800 N. Rampart St., 596-6914; www.donnasbarandgrill.com
Donna's is the jazziest of juke joints, a low-frills barroom sitting across from Congo Square. But the kitchen turns out home-cooked New Orleans-style dishes like red beans and rice served with grilled smoked sasuage. The Charlie burger is a half-pound patty grilled to order, dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo, and served with fries. The small menu of dishes changes nightly. No reservations. Dinner Thu.-Sun. Cash only. $
JIMMY BUFFETT'S MARGARITAVILLE CAFÉ
1104 Decatur St., 592-2565; www.margaritaville.com
Margaritaville is as much about Jimmy Buffett's way of life as his way of dining. The large, colorful eatery brings together live music and a menu full of Gulf Coast and Southern dishes. The Cheeseburger in Paradise is topped with American cheese and served dressed. Broiled shrimp and andouille sausage top the red beans and rice. The menu takes its inspiration from port cities from Texas to the Delta to Key West to the Caribbean. There is also a special menu of tropical and frozen drinks and top-shelf margaritas. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
LE BON TEMPS ROULE
4801 Magazine St., 895-2600
Boasting a weekly who's who of local music, this Uptown hot spot also provides fuel for the late-night tank. The tavern kitchen in back offers burgers, po-boys and quesadillas among its specialties. During the Friday happy hour, an oyster shucker dishes out raw bivalves from 7 p.m. until the sack is empty. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
MID CITY LANES ROCK 'N' BOWL
4133 S. Carrollton Ave., 482-3133; www.rocknbowl.com
Diners have added incentive to sweat to the live, local music (Cajun, zydeco and roots) or work it off with a few frames of bowling when they start their evening with dinner at Rock 'n' Bowl. Classic pub grub includes burgers and cheese fries, but you never know when there's a pot of red beans being set up. No reservations. Dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $
SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO
626 Frenchmen St., 949-0696; www.snugjazz.com
Char-grilled steak dinners with all the trimmings and hefty burgers fortify diners for hot sets from local and touring jazz luminaries in the upstairs showroom. Local specialties like spicy, buttery peel-and-eat barbecue shrimp are a savory treat for locals and tourists alike. Reservations accepted. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
INDEX:
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
