NEIGHBORHOOD


ALIBI BAR AND GRILLE
811 Iberville St., 522-9187; www.alibineworleans.com

This side-street spot doesn't truly hop until the wee small hours, when Bourbon Street's bartenders, waiters and exotic dancers start pouring in for post-shift drinks and snacks. Popular late-night fixes include delectably greasy standards straight from the fryer, like cheese sticks, jalapeño poppers and chicken fingers; there's also a selection of salads, po-boys and burgers. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

BALCONY BAR & CAFÉ
3201 Magazine St., 894-8888
The Balcony Bar is known for its huge selection of beers on draft and as a late-night draw for the Uptown party set. Belly up to the kitchen window to order tavern grub like the Balcony burger, a half-pound patty with sautéed onions, mushrooms and green peppers topped with bacon and jalapeños. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

BRUNO'S TAVERN
7538 Maple St., 861-7615; www.brunostavern.com
A popular hangout for both college students and those who shelved their textbooks long ago, Bruno's has been slinging drinks and helping students blow off steam since 1934. The tavern's ever-expanding menu is available throughout the day and includes such temptations as Boudreaux cheese fries: sweet potato fries smothered with roast beef debris, gravy and blue cheese, then broiled with golden raisins and spiced pecans. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

BUFFA'S LOUNGE
1001 Esplanade Ave., 949-0038
The Border of the Quarter Café inside Buffa's homey neighborhood bar serves up pub grub with a twist, including fresh, crisp salads and Cajun-seasoned steaks, plus burgers and sandwiches. The breakfast menu, featuring fluffy housemade biscuits in sausage gravy and build-your-own omelets with up to 10 fillings, is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Cash only. $

CADDYSHACK
3217 Ridgelake Drive, Metairie, 833-1799
For a casual lunch or a quick bite and a drink, head to Caddyshack, where the menu is loaded with sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads. Daily specials include spaghetti, red beans on Monday and fried seafood platters on Friday. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $

CAFÉ FRESCA
4441 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, 887-2010
Drop into Café Fresca for homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and regular specials such as the fried chicken club salad with crumbled bacon, avocado, chopped egg, tomatoes and croutons over fresh greens. The Sante Fe pita offers a taste of the Southwest, combining marinated and char-grilled chicken breast with mashed avocado, tomato and onion relish. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $

CAFÉ MASPERO
601 Decatur St., 523-6250
Maspero has long been a French Quarter
mainstay with lines spilling out the door on weekends for inexpensive, hearty fare like fried shrimp po-boys and jambalaya. Try the signature fresh strawberry daiquiri, or warm up with a crock of French onion soup. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Cash only. $

CHARTRES HOUSE CAFE
601 Chartres St., 586-8383; www.chartreshousecafe.com
This landmark building, erected in 1795, has a particularly modern distinction — it's the first restaurant in New Orleans to offer spirits frozen at 5 degrees to impart a bracing flavor. Beyond cocktails, the Chartres House offers a full menu of hearty pub grub, including duck quesadillas, Tabasco hot wings and an eggplant Napoleon topped with spicy Cajun crawfish sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sun. Credit cards. $$


CLUB DECATUR
240 Decatur St., 581-6969
The pizza oven keeps the big slices coming to satisfy late-night hunger pangs, though Club Decatur also offers a menu of substantial sandwiches. One house favorite is the Fiesta Delight, a footlong sub with layers of mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, salami, ham, black olives and onions all baked in the oven and dressed to order. Delivery available. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

COOP'S PLACE
1109 Decatur St., 525-9053; www.coopsplace.com
This deceptively homey tavern has earned a loyal following for top-notch Cajun-spiced eats at great prices, often served into the wee hours. Try the chicken Tchoupitoulas, topped with a cream sauce packed with shrimp and studded with spicy andouille bits with a side of juicy green beans smothered in bacon sauce. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

CORNER CAFÉ
3316 Green Acres Road, Metairie, 454-1008
Corner Café is what you would expect of a neighborhood café — straightforward hearty meals like pancakes and sausage for breakfast, a good variety of seafood and po-boys for lunch or dinner. Tasty desserts include bread pudding and turtle cheescake. Reservations accepted. Breakfast Tue.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $

DAISY DUKES
121 Chartres St., 556-9662
Stop by Daisy Dukes any time of the day or night when you need a healthy dose of Southern hospitality and regional cooking. One popular special is the rib-eye steak with roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables and special sauce for $14.99. There are also freshly shucked oysters. Traditional breakfast plates and egg dishes are available anytime. No reservations. Open 24 hours daily. Credit cards. $$

THE EDGE BAR & GRILL
3400 Hessmer Ave., Metairie, 780-2266
This down-home watering hole offers a full range of sandwiches, steaks and ribs, bar appetizers for grazing, and changing daily lunch specials. Try the grilled tuna served over angel hair pasta with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Popular specials include fried chicken, stuffed peppers and old-fashioned butter beans served with a side of baked macaroni. Tuesday and Thursday are steak nights. Sandwiches are stuffed with everything from hot sausage to fried oysters to veal Parmesan. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

FIORELLA'S CAFÉ
45 French Market Place; 1136 Decatur St., 528-9566
The nautical décor at Fiorella's belies its practiced hand with fried seafood plates and po-boys, although regulars know the real gem is the famous crunchy, but juicy, well-seasoned fried chicken. Southern soul food is served late into the night with sides like potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese and crisp fries. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

FRANK'S RESTAURANT
933 Decatur St., 525-1602; www.franksrestaurantneworleans.com
What started as a small storefront deli has evolved over the years into a full-service Italian restaurant with many traditional dishes and local favorites. The muffuletta is always popular, and more elaborate dishes include the crawfish Gagliano with garlic, green onions, fresh sweet basil and other seasonings over angel hair pasta. Snapper Jack is a deep-fried fillet smothered in shrimp, crawfish and crab over pasta. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$


FRANKY & JOHNNY'S
321 Arabella St., 899-9146; www.frankyandjohnnys.com
A local legend for its boiled seafood and casual New Orleans classics, Franky & Johnny's has the vibe of the neighborhood joint down pat from the lively bar in front to the nostalgic jukebox in the corner. Start with the fried bell pepper rings or alligator soup before taking on a platter of spicy boiled crawfish, fried chicken or a fried seafood po-boy. Muffulettas are also back. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

FURY'S
724 Martin Behrman Ave., Metairie, 834-5646
This casual neighborhood restaurant features a familiar lineup of Italian and seafood staples such as boiled and fried shrimp, fish dishes, veal parmigiana and stuffed manicotti. There is also fried chicken, red beans on Monday and hot gumbo every day. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $$

GENNARO'S
3206 Metairie Road, Metairie, 833-9226
Locals rely on Gennaro's for homemade plate lunches, desserts, and New Orleans favorites like po-boys and fried seafood, all available 24 hours a day. Pork roast with smothered green beans, corned beef and hamburger steak served with gravy and potatoes are all popular daily specials at this Metairie Road institution. The chicken salad croissant is also a perennial favorite. No reservations. Open 24 hours daily. Credit cards. $

HOBNOBBER'S CAFÉ
5928 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie 734-8448; www.hobnobbercafe.com
This neighborhood eatery offers a signature catfish fillet with crawfish sauce. The creamy corn and crawfish bisque is also a winner. Red beans and rice on Mondays is always a popular dish. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Fri. Credit cards and checks. $

HONEY DEE'S CAFÉ & CATERING
2001 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 464-1991
Honey Dee's is busy as a bee serving daily specials like the Bourbon Street steak burger, a 12-oz. hamburger steak char-broiled and covered with steak sauce, grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese served on a 9-inch po-boy roll and accompanied with French fries. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Sun.-Fri., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

JOEY K'S RESTAURANT
3001 Magazine St., 891-0997; www.joeyksrestaurant.com
Creole pot cooking, fried seafood and 18-oz. frozen schooners of beer or margaritas are some of the specialties at this popular Uptown restaurant, where neighbors and families gather for inexpensive meals. Choose one of several daily specials from the blackboard: Tuesday offers a veal cutlet or stewed chicken with creamed potatoes and green beans and Friday features all-you-can-eat catfish. No reservations. Breakfast Sat., lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

K.Y.'S OLD TOWNE BICYCLE SHOP
2267 Carey St., Slidell, (985) 641-1911
The roast beef po-boy is reason enough to head to K.Y.'s Old Towne Bicycle Shop. It's made with slow-roasted beef cooked in house, sliced thin and dressed to order. There are also burgers and fresh grilled seafood from the Gulf such as amberjack, yellowfin tuna or mahi mahi, which can be served on sandwiches or platters. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Fri. Credit cards and checks. $

LA FINCA
542 Jefferson Davis Pkwy., 512-1993
The most popular options at this Mid-City bar include burgers and ham sandwiches, but there are also south-of-the-border options like tacos and fajitas. Hot specials include stewed pork, shrimp etouffée, fried fish and New York strip steak. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Cash only. $

LAKEVIEW HARBOR
911 Harrison Ave., 486-4887; www.lakeview-harbor.com
Dining choices at Lakeview Harbor include steaks, seafood and chicken, not to mention meal-sized loaded baked potatoes. The popular cheeseburgers can satisfy any appetite. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

LI'L DIZZY'S CAFÉ
610 Poydras St., 212-5656; 1500 Esplanade Ave., 569-8997
The Creole soul-food legacy of the Baquet family continues to win new fans and delight old friends at Li'l Dizzy's two locations. At breakfast, try the waffles topped with strawberries or bananas and served with a side of ham, bacon or sausage. Lunch brings options like po-boys, Creole gumbo with two types of sausage and plates such as trout Baquet gilded with butter and topped with crabmeat. The Poydras location also features different daily specials. Reservations accepted. Poydras location: breakfast and lunch daily, brunch Sun. Esplanade location: breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat. Cash only. $

LIUZZA'S BY THE TRACK
1518 N. Lopez St., 218-7888
This neighborhood bar offers Creole gumbo and sandwiches. Try po-boys made with garlic oysters, barbecue shrimp, hot sausage, fried catfish or roast beef. The Reuben sandwich is finally making its return from the pre-flood menu. The bar is open on Sundays but the kitchen isn't. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

LIUZZA'S RESTAURANT AND BAR
3636 Bienville St., 482-9120; www.liuzzas.com
A longtime Mid-City neighborhood institution, Liuzza's is the place for warm and hearty dishes like home-cooked lasagna or the special Frenchuletta, Liuzza's version of the muffuletta. It comes with grilled meats, melted cheese and housemade olive salad. Crawfish Telemachus is another local favorite with spicy crawfish tails in cream sauce over angel hair pasta. Appetizers include fried pickles, onion rings and a host of other options that go great with frosty schooners of draft beer. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Cash only. $$

MR. ED'S SEAFOOD AND ITALIAN RESTAURANT
1001 Live Oak St., Metairie, 838-0022; www.mredsno.com
Mr. Ed's serves seafood, po-boys, muffulettas, fried chicken and Italian dishes. Recent additions to the menu are panéed trout topped with crabmeat and jumbo lump crabmeat au gratin. Stuffed artichokes, bell peppers and eggplant casserole with crabmeat and shrimp are longtime favorites. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

NAPOLEON HOUSE
500 Chartres St., 524-9752; www.napoleonhouse.com
Napoleon House stands out for its quintessential French Quarter atmosphere, specialty drinks like the singularly refreshing Pimm's Cup and its preference for classical music. Its version of the muffuletta is heated to melt the Swiss and provolone cheeses. The ratatouille calzone combines roasted seasonal vegetables in Dijon vinaigrette. Sandwiches include po-boys of roast beef, corned beef and pastrami as well as a couple of vegetarian paninis. More familiar New Orleans dishes like red beans, jambalaya and seafood gumbo also are served. No reservations. Lunch daily. Credit cards. $$

ORLEANS SEAFOOD
3301 S. Claiborne Ave., 821-5007
Orleans Seafood might not be what one expects on first glance. Though the restaurant does resemble the taco chain that occupied the building where it is housed pre-Katrina, the menu is now a mix of gumbo, po-boys, local seafood dishes and Chinese cuisine. Some of the Asian specialties include General Tso's chicken, pepper steak and shrimp and broccoli, and can be adjusted for preferred levels of spicy heat. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

OSCAR'S RESTAURANT & BAR
2027 Metairie Road, Metairie, 831-9540
Oscar's is best known for juicy burgers and overstuffed baked potatoes. Also notable is the restaurant's version of a local favorite sandwich. The Oscarletta combines olive salad, Italian salami, mortadella, ham, and Swiss and Monterey jack cheeses on French bread. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Sat., dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

PARASOL'S RESTAURANT & BAR
2533 Constance St., 899-2054; www.parasols.com
This classic Irish Channel pub is famous for its roast beef po-boys, emerging from the kitchen dripping with gravy and tender bits of meat. Crispy fried oysters and shrimp are served as plates or po-boys, as are some unexpected bar snacks like fried pickles and boudin balls. Don't forget to skip work and check out New Orleans' biggest St. Patrick's Day block party that takes place on Parasol's doorstep. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

PARKWAY BAKERY & TAVERN
538 Hagan Ave., 482-3047
In less than four years, the refurbished and polished Parkway Bakery & Tavern along Bayou St. John seems to have outshined its predecessor by the same name, thanks in part to one of the most popular roast beef po-boys in town. But that shouldn't stop customers from limiting themselves, as the meatball, catfish and even the new corned beef po-boy get lots of attention. There are also local renditions of jambalaya and, for dessert, bread pudding made fresh each day. The bar out front doesn't detract from the family vibe, with diners eating upstairs and out on the side patio as the weather heats up. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. Credit cards. $

ROCKY & CARLO'S RESTAURANT AND BAR
613 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette, 279-8323
Diners head to Rocky & Carlo's for casual and hearty Creole-Italian fare. In midwinter, plenty of customers were choosing the onion rings and the veal cutlet Parmesan, as well as the old standbys of roast beef, hamburger steak, spaghetti and meatballs, and Rocky and Carlo's famous mac and cheese. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sat. Credit cards. $

SCHIRO'S CAFÉ & BAR
2483 Royal St., 944-6666; www.schrioscafe.com
Groceries, a bar, laundry machines and a guesthouse make Schiro's more than just a café. The menu of New Orleans pub grub — think burgers and red beans — is augmented by inventive daily specials like lasagna with bread and salad or spicy Indian curry. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

SHIMMY SHACK
1855 Dock St., Harahan, 729-4442;
Shimmy on over to the Shack for pub grub and more elaborate options like the fried oysters served on a bed of sautéed spinach and pita bread and topped with Brie and bacon. The 20-Things chili is said to be made with at least 20 ingredients, not counting the garnish of corn chips. Simpler fare includes an array of half-pound hamburgers. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$


SMILIE'S RESTAURANT
5725 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan, 733-3000; www.smiliesrestaurant.com
Specialties like beef brisket, home-style Italian dishes and New Orleans seafood make Smilie's the type of place that the whole family can enjoy. Classic staples appear alongside fancier fare like trout Lafitte, a fillet fried golden brown and topped with creamy crawfish sauce. Veal Augie is panéed baby veal covered with lump crabmeat, fresh mushrooms, shallots and a touch of hollandaise sauce. Smilie's also features live music by Julio and Caesar on Sundays. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. 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. $

SOUTHSIDE CAFÉ
3154 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell, (985) 643-6133; www.southsidecafé.net
Southside serves burgers, sandwiches and much more. The panéed tuna remoulade is a half-pound tuna steak flash fried on the outside with Italian breadcrumbs and served with white remoulade sauce. The Pontchartrain Pig is thinly sliced center-cut pork tenderloin with barbecue sauce and melted Swiss cheese served on Texas toast dressed with coleslaw. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

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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