Whether you think of this time of year as spring or crawfish season, it's a good time to dine out. Gambit Weekly's Spring Restaurant Guide surveys the city's dining scene from Cajun and Creole institutions to po-boy and pizza places. With restaurants arranged from A to Z, the guide has the latest news on menu items, hours of operation, reservation policies and more. Enjoy.

Prices

$ = $1-$10
$$ = $11-$20
$$$ = $21-up

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O

OAK STREET CAFÉ
8140 Oak St., 866-8710; www.oakstreetcafe.com
Local musicians set the tone for a laid-back atmosphere at this Uptown eatery. A breakfast specialty is eggs Beauregard, a Southern twist on eggs Benedict featuring sausage on a fluffy biscuit smothered in a light sausage gravy. The Creole spinach egg nest serves poached eggs on a bed of spinach and cream cheese over English muffin halves. Po-boys, wraps and daily specials are offered for lunch. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Cash only. $

OBEE'S SOUP, SALAD AND SUBS
920 Gravier St., 589-0077; www.nolaobees.com
Obee's is a reliable, quick stop for breakfast or lunch. Grab a breakfast bagel with your choice of meat, eggs and cheese in the morning. The lunch menu offers panini-pressed cheese sandwiches and gumbo, French onion soup and Creole tomato bisque. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $

OCEANA GRILL
739 Conti St., 525-6002; www.oceanagrill.com
Seafood is the specialty at this colorful café just off Bourbon Street. The redfish Amer is topped with a crawfish cream sauce, and the chef's La Boheme special tops grilled ahi tuna with New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp. Order fried catfish, shrimp or oysters in po-boys or on platters with jambalaya and a vegetable on the side. Try the smoked duck or garlic filet mignon for meatier meals. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$
O'DONNELL'S RESTAURANT
131 S.W. Railroad Ave., Ponchatoula, (985) 386-4077; www.odonnells-restaurant.com
Tiny Ponchatoula offers big flavors at O'Donnell's. Louisiana favorites include crab cakes, soft-shell crab and shrimp pasta. There are also creative dishes with international accents like beef spring rolls and panzanella salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers and bread. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

O'HENRY'S FOOD & SPIRITS
Citywide; www.ohenrys.com
With its floor covered in crushed peanut shells, O'Henry's always exudes a casual vibe. There are plenty of burgers, sandwiches and fried fish dishes on the menu. Pasta selections strike a local note with the restaurant's version of crawfish Monica, made with crawfish tails in spicy cream sauce. There also are a few spicy and exotic accents, like the Thai shrimp wrap and Cajun Chicken Melt. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

OKI NAGO
2712 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie, 780-8588; www.okinago.com
Oki Nago's buffet has a wide variety of new and traditional Japanese dishes including cold noodle salads, pickle salads, shrimp dishes, breaded and fried meats prepared katsu-style, yakimeshi, which is a Japanese version of fried rice, and a host of other popular dishes. Domburimono dishes feature bowls of rice topped with meat or omelets. There also is a large selection of rolls and sushi from the sushi bar. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$

OLD COFFEE POT RESTAURANT
714 St. Peter St., 524-3500;
Breakfast at this longtime French Quarter establishment features standard morning fare and original dishes like eggs Jonathan, a variation on eggs Benedict that adds tomato and shrimp. One of the house specialties is an order of the traditional Creole rice cakes called calas, a breakfast treat sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with syrup. Lunch and dinner offer an array of fried local seafood and crowd pleasers like gumbo, crawfish etouffée, shrimp Creole, bread pudding and bourbon pecan pie. Reservations recommended for large parties. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
OLIVE BRANCH CAFÉ
1995 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, 348-2008; 5163 Gen. DeGaulle Drive, Algiers, 393-1107; www.olivebranchcafe.com
Gourmet pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches are offered at this duo of casual West Bank cafés. All your favorite pizza toppings are available, or for something a little different try the muffuletta sub or the tomato basil wrap sandwich. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

OLIVIER'S CREOLE RESTAURANT
204 Decatur St., 525-7734; www.olivierscreole.com
The proud traditions of Creole cooking are on elegant, edible display at Olivier's. Entrées include classic shrimp Creole and crawfish etouffée. The Creole rabbit with oyster dressing is a perennial favorite. Popular starters are the sampler of three different gumbos and new potatoes with caviar. For dessert, try homemade bread pudding or fruit cobbler. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Tue. Credit cards. $$
ONE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
8132 Hampson St., 301-9061; www.one-sl.com
Intimate and cosmopolitan sums up the vibe at this Riverbend café. There are seats perched on the edge of the open kitchen, and bar patrons get a good view of chef Scott Snodgrass' work as well. The menu changes frequently, but some popular dishes include stewed country ribs in a red wine demi-glace, pan-fried rainbow trout, and orechiette pasta with wild mushrooms and roasted tomatoes. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

ORLEANS GRAPEVINE WINE BAR AND BISTRO
720 Orleans Ave., 523-1930; www.orleansgrapevine.com
This urbane hideaway is practically hidden behind St. Louis Cathedral, but plenty of locals and visitors alike seek it out for creative bistro cuisine and one of the city's largest selections of wine by the glass. Dig into a double-cut pork chop served with sweet potato and wild boar sausage hash on the side, or sample a plate of sautéed calamari served with sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives and green onions in a Dijon-vermouth beurre blanc. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

ORLEANS SEAFOOD
3301 S. Claiborne Ave., 821-5007
Don't let the outside facade fool you. Inside Orleans Seafood lies a flavorful array of soul food and Chinese cuisine including gumbo, po-boys and local seafood dishes. Asian specialties include General Tso's chicken, pepper steak, and shrimp and broccoli, and dishes 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
Best known for juicy burgers and overstuffed baked potatoes, Oscar's is also renowned for its 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. $

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
60 Park Place Drive, Covington, (985) 893-0505; 830 E. I-10 Service Road, Slidell, (985) 649-4329; 1601 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, 341-5544; 2746 Severn Ave., Metairie, 455-6850; www.outback.com
Outback recently marked its 20th anniversary serving steaks to Yanks, but it's not losing its Aussie lingo. The fried, or Bloomin', onion has plenty of crispy straws to feed a table full of hungry folks. The Kookaburra wings, bathed in hot sauce, look suspiciously like the Buffalo variety. For entrées, the portions are ample at the steakhouse chain, whether you order a slow-roasted sirloin or a fillet of fish crowned with lobster and crab. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

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