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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V

VAZQUEZ RESTAURANT
515 E. Boston St., Covington, (985) 893-9336
An intimate family atmosphere welcomes diners to Vazquez. Latin dishes such as black beans and rice with roast pork, a succulent Cuban sandwich and fried plantains keep the kitchen humming. Other offerings include local dishes like red beans and rice, pork chops and stuffed crabs. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri. Credit cards and checks. $

VEGA TAPAS CAFÉ
2051 Metairie Road, Metairie, 836-2007; www.vegatapascafe.com
Settle into the Spanish ambience of Vega Tapas Café with a refreshing caipirinha, a sweet and tart Brazilian drink made from cachaca sugar cane liquor. Owner/Chef Glen Hogh prepares creative tapas dishes like empanadilla des cochinillo, a pulled cochon de lait served on puff pastry with pepper jelly and red cabbage. The menu also includes a paprika almond-crusted Gulf fish over Spanish dirty rice. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

VENEZIA
134 N. Carrollton Ave., 488-7991
This old neighborhood favorite has been serving home-style Italian dishes since the 1950s and specializes in pizza pies with sausage, pepperoni, onions, artichoke hearts and mushrooms. A generous antipasti plate starts many a meal here. The popular eggplant Vatican is an eggplant cut in half, hollowed out and deep fried, filled with crawfish, shrimp and crab cream sauce served with a side of fettuccine Alfredo. An array of pastas, seafood dishes and veal specialties ensure contented customers. Reservations accepted. Lunch Wed.-Fri. and Sun., dinner Wed.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

VENEZIA II
587 Central Ave., Jefferson, 734-3991
Venezia II proves a worthy sequel to its sister restaurant, serving pizza pies and casual Italian cuisine that many locals will recognize from years of visits to the Mid-City original. The restaurant offers pastas, fried seafood and daily specials like the trout Cynthia topped with shrimp and crawfish in cream sauce. The house special is a loaded pie with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, white onion and artichoke hearts. Reservations accepted. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

VERANDA AT THE HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL
444 St. Charles Ave., 585-4383
European flair and Southern hospitality mix and mingle at the flagship restaurant of the Hotel Intercontinental, where local chefs have been given a free hand to put their own stamp on the menu. The Sunday jazz brunch features live jazz, flowing bubbly, carving stations and made-to-order omelets and desserts. Reservations recommended. Breakfast Mon.-Sat., lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$

VERTI MARTE
1201 Royal St., 525-4767; www.vertimarte.com
This corner deli has kept the French Quarter fed at all hours for many years. One of its signature sandwiches, All That Jazz, includes a medley of grilled ham, turkey and shrimp with Swiss and American cheeses, plus grilled mushrooms and tomatoes on grilled French bread with "Wow" sauce. Deli-case favorites include chicken Creole, Cajun red beans, barbecue brisket or ribs, and lasagna. Limited delivery. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit Cards. $

VIANNE'S TEA SALON & CAFÉ
544 Girod St., Mandeville, (985) 624-5683; www.viannes.com
High tea is a three-course affair at this charming Old Mandeville spot. The event consists of housemade scones served with lemon curd, cream and jam, tea sandwiches and canapés, and an assortment of mini-desserts. The café serves more than 100 loose-leaf teas either hot or iced. The lunch menu includes items like peanut chicken salad, which pairs Mandarin oranges and crushed nuts with a panéed chicken breast. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Fri., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

VIC'S KANGAROO CAFÉ
636 Tchoupitoulas St., 524-4329
Reflecting the spirit of the proprietor's native Australia, this friendly pub offers hearty meals like shepherd's pie with Guinness gravy and Ms. Cathy's barbecue beef platter with garlic and cheddar mashed potatoes. Jambalaya, pizza, meatball subs and bar snacks offer flavors from closer to home. All meats are slow-roasted on the premises. Complement your meal with a frothy pint of any one of several imported draughts. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

VINCENT'S ITALIAN CUISINE
7839 St. Charles Ave., 866-9313; 4411 Chastant St., Metairie, 885-2984; www.vincentsitaliancuisine.com
Dishes like osso buco and veal picatta are joined by locally inspired choices like the corn and crabmeat bisque at this pair of local Creole-Italian institutions. The bracialoni is a classic of top round stuffed with bacon, artichoke hearts, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Cannelloni is a house specialty prepared with homemade pasta stuffed with ground baby veal, pureed spinach and Parmesan cheese, baked on a bed of Alfredo cream and topped with a light red sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

VITALITY JUICE, JAVA & SMOOTHIE BAR
322 Dalwill Drive, Mandeville, (985) 727-3482; 1915 Hickory Ave., Harahan, 737-1901; 2309 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 828-3488; www.vitalityjuice.com
Vitality is body-conscious with its array of healthy options. Choose from organic coffees, smoothies, juices, teas, soups, sandwiches and desserts. Popular fruit smoothies include the Spunky Monkey, made with strawberry, orange and banana. The Caesar Gone Skinny salad is made with homemade low-fat Caesar dressing, free-range grilled chicken with Romaine lettuce and Parmesan cheese. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily, early dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

VIZARD'S ON THE AVENUE
5015 Magazine St., 529-9912; www.vizardsontheavenue.com
The inventive, often playful cuisine of veteran New Orleans chef Kevin Vizard is on display at his Uptown restaurant. Mainstay dishes include filet mignon with Parisienne potato and a golden raisin and port wine demi-glace. Vizard's own version of the BLT is a combination of bowfin caviar, latkes and taramasalata. The distinctive Black and Blue dessert is a soft-centered dark chocolate and blue cheese cake with port wine reduction and chantilly cream. Reservations accepted. Lunch Tue.-Fri. Dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

VOODOO BBQ & GRILL
1501 St. Charles Ave., 522-4647; www.voodoobbqandgrill.com
Voodoo works its magic with slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork and ribs, using a special blend of spicy seasonings in its mojo sauce. Side dishes include Rattlesnake Beans, corn pudding, coleslaw, Gris Gris Greens and creamy macaroni and cheese. Voodoo also offers burgers and chicken sandwiches. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

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