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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W

WALKER'S SOUTHERN STYLE BAR-B-QUE
10828 Haynes Blvd., 241-8227
Walker's is known for its cochon de lait po-boy, dressed with cabbage and creamy Cajun sauce. The smoked chicken salad is also popular. Walker's also serves barbecue ribs, chicken, brisket and smoked sausage. Side dishes include baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, mustard greens and string beans. For dessert there's bread pudding with whiskey sauce. Get there early, because Walker's closes when the food runs out. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Cash only. $

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT PIZZA
1068 Magazine St., 529-1466
Diners at Warehouse District Pizza have their choice of 10- and 14-inch pies with either a traditional red sauce or the house specialty spicy sauce and a wide array of deliciously oddball toppings like duck, pheasant sausage or barbecue chicken. Kick start the taste sensation with one of two salads. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

WASABI
900 Frenchmen St., 943-9433; www.wasabinola.com
This Marigny sushi spot specializes in rolls, including common ones like the Philadelphia as well as original options like the French Quarter roll with fresh salmon and yellowtail tuna in spicy mayo and tempura batter with snow crab salad in the house pink sauce. Appetizers include barbecued tuna, pan-fried gyoza dumplings and shitake mushrooms stuffed with shrimp and sautéed in sake and soy sauce. Entrée selections include an array of noodle dishes, soups, sushi and jumbo shrimp covered in a velvety cream sauce. Plum, ginger, green tea and red bean ice creams and tempura cheesecake are served for dessert. Reservations accepted. Lunch and Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

WATER STREET BISTRO
804 Water St., Madisonville, (985) 845-3855
With the waters of the Tchefuncte River running just outside, this cozy café invites guests to linger on its picturesque front porch. Enjoy exotic entrees like Mediterranean-inspired linguine with Gulf shrimp, spiked with the sharp, salty flavors of olives, capers and feta. Other highlights include entrees of duck, lamb and veal. Savor the homemade flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

WELTY'S DELI
336 Camp St., 592-0223
Freshly made dressings and sauces and quality deli meats piled high help make Welty's a standout for quick, casual lunches in the CBD. The popular Reuben sandwich is layered with corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. A lighter option is the veggie sandwich with roasted mushrooms, artichoke hearts, red peppers and eggplant. Meal-size salads, daily specials, special lemonades and an array of coffee drinks also are available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards and company checks. $

WEST INDIES CAFÉ
1600 St. Charles Ave., 571-2015
West Indies offers tantalizing dishes from Latin America and the Caribbean including ceviche, carimanolas (yucca meat pies) and grilled skirt steak with Argentine chimichurri sauce. New dishes are the West Indies crab salad and canvuela, a fragrant island bouillabaisse filled with mussels, clams and shrimp simmered in garlic broth. There also are salads, seafood dishes and Caribbean rum drinks. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$

WHOLE FOODS MARKET
5600 Magazine St., 899-9119; 3420 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 888-8225; www.wholefoods.com
The nation's largest natural foods grocer has two local emporiums that offer a wide range of gourmet and organic products. Hot and cold food stations serve specialty dishes like citrus-marinated salmon, pasta salads, peppers and marinated olives. Prepared foods include soups, salads, pizza, sandwiches, baked goods, coffee drinks and more. There also are ample selections of imported cheeses, wine and beer. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $

WHOLE HOG CAFÉ
639 Loyola Ave., 525-4044; www.wholehogcafe.com
At this café, eating high on the hog means barbecue sandwiches topped with coleslaw. Start with the barbecue nachos or get barbecue on top of salads. For entrées, the selection includes pulled pork, brisket, full and half slabs of ribs, pulled chicken meat and half chickens. The Whole Hog Platter rounds up pork, brisket, three beef ribs, baked beans, coleslaw and dinner rolls. The selection of barbecue sauces on the table ranges from sweet to tangy to spicy, but you have to head to the counter and request the super-hot Volcano sauce. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $

WILLIE MAE'S SCOTCH HOUSE
2401 St. Ann St., 822-9503
Willie Mae Seaton is passing the torch to her granddaughter Kerry Seaton at her iconic, award-winning restaurant, which was renovated and reopened after Katrina. The restaurant was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an "American Classic." Kerry serves all the favorites, including the renowned fried chicken. Familiar rotating daily specials remain, including red beans and butter beans, smothered veal, stewed chicken, fried catfish and trout. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat. Cash only. $

WINSTON'S PUB & PATIO
531 Metairie Road, Metairie, 831-8705
Winston's Pub is a comfortable spot to grab a drink, a burger or any of the restaurant's platters. The grilled chicken Caesar pita is one of the more popular items. Pub-style fish and chips use beer-battered cod and come with waffle fries. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

WIT'S INN
141 N. Carrollton Ave., 486-1600; www.witsinn.com
This Mid-City bar serves up a full range of pizzas, calzones, subs and salads. The corn and crab bisque is served in a bread bowl. The shrimp calzone is a pizza dough turnover stuffed with shrimp, roasted mushrooms, garlic, mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan cheeses and is served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

WOLFE'S IN THE WAREHOUSE
859 Convention Center Blvd., 613-2882
This stylish Warehouse District space looks like a mix between an elegant bistro and clubby steakhouse. Fittingly, the cuisine is chef Tom Wolfe's big, bold-flavored contemporary Louisiana cooking. The signature Duck-Duck-Goose combines a crispy leg of duck confit, slices of pastrami-cured duck breast over a warm bacon lardon-frisee salad, seared foie gras and a dried cherry and fresh tarragon duck demi-glace. Scallop ceviche floats in a tomato gazpacho with a dollop of candied lemon-chive sour cream. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and dinner daily, lunch Mon.-Fri. Brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$

WORLD'S HEALTHIEST PIZZA
6307 S. Miro St., 865-0244; 8120 Hampson St., 865-0221; www.worldshealthiestpizza.com
For pizza with a purpose, sample the pies at this aptly named, growing local pizza chain. Both locations feature a special fiber-rich crust that the proprietors say can make the act of eating pizza an exercise in better health. Salads and breadsticks made with the same high-fiber recipe are available, and the Hampson location offers "take-and-bake" pies for diners to prepare at home. Limited delivery available Uptown. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

WOW CAFÉ & WINGERY
Citywide; www.wingery.com
Winging it isn't as easy as it sounds with WOW Café's huge selection of sauces. WOW wings come with a choice of sauces including Key West citrus, honey barbecue, Thai peanut, various heat levels of Buffalo, coconut curry, sweet and sour, teriyaki and many others. Wings are available in quantities ranging from an eight-piece box up to the party-friendly 1,000-piece spread. The Wingery also serves wraps, burgers, salads, quesadillas, chicken tenders and fajitas. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $

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