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
#s | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
D
THE DAKOTA RESTAURANT
629 N. Hwy. 190, Covington, (985) 892-3712; www.thedakotarestaurant.com
The Dakota is a well-established Northshore destination for updated French and Louisiana cooking and has an excellent wine list. For appetizers, try the popular Brie and crab soup or the more rustic shrimp and grits. The soft-shell crabs and shellfish paella are good bets for seafood. If you're thinking more turf than surf, the Dakota offers a veal beurre noisette in vermouth-brown butter with pine nuts and sweet garlic broccoli rabe. Reservations recommended. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$$
DANNY & CLYDE'S
Citywide; www.dannyandclydes.com
Danny & Clyde's offers a quick stop for snacks as well as breakfast, sandwiches and more. The chain made its name with big po-boys, but the menu has many options and even catering platters at some locations. Fried seafood, muffulettas and roast beef are the mainstays. Dinner plates are available, accompanied by a choice of sides like fries, coleslaw and potato salad. Breakfast sandwiches can be served on as small a platform as a biscuit or as large as a po-boy loaf. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
DANTE'S KICTHEN
736 Dante St., 861-3121; www.danteskitchen.com
A charming cottage in Riverbend sets the scene for contemporary Creole dining with a strong emphasis on local ingredients. The crabmeat and Brie French toast is stuffed with Louisiana blue crabmeat and served with onion thyme relish and smoked tomato sauce. The daily roasted Gulf fish is topped with a salad of shaved beets, apples, fennel, goat cheese and micro greens. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$
DARRYL'S
2625 Florida St., Mandeville, (985) 727-9757; www.poboyman.com
The oyster po-boy is popular at Darryl's, but the roast beef po-boy is so sought after that addicted diners in need of their roast beef fix can order the ingredients and have them shipped to their home on www.Poboyman.com. The specialty features home-cooked beef sliced thin, piled high, lathered in gravy and dressed to order. Seafood items such as catfish and shrimp are also popular. Beef for the cheddar cheese burger is ground in-house and grilled to order. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $
DE-NO SEAFOOD
505 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, 362-4608
Now featuring oysters on the half-shell, this family-friendly restaurant is the pride of Dennis and Norean Rojas. The couple offers a variety of seafood platters including shrimp, oyster and catfish as well blackened or grilled redfish, rib-eye steaks and pasta dishes. Try shrimp Alfredo or crawfish Monica served with angel hair pasta. There's also a kids' menu and desserts such as apple cobbler and pecan pie. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
DEANIE'S SEAFOOD
841 Iberville, 581-1316; 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 834-1225; www.deanies.com
Deanie's giant seafood platter is a bounty of fresh shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft-shell crabs, crawfish balls and French fries and feeds four. Barbecue shrimp is a popular choice with jumbo head-on shrimp sautéed in Deanie's unique blend of seasonings. Other items include po-boys and the Bucktown Boil seafood pizza. No reservations. French Quarter: lunch and dinner daily. Metairie: lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards and checks. $$
DECKBAR & GRILLE
1715 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson, 830-0104
Deckbar has a full menu of tasty bar food to snack on and entrées ranging from fried seafood platters to quesadillas to burgers. Its most popular items are brisket and homemade crab balls, which can also be ordered as a platter with salad and fries. The Mississippi burger is served with grilled onions, mushrooms and cheese. Daily specials include chicken and dumplings, smothered pork chops, meatloaf and pepper steak. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
DEJA VU RESTAURANT & BAR
400 Dauphine St., 523-1931; www.dejavunola.com
A late-night service-industry hot spot, Déjá Vu's wee-hours clientele is as varied and colorful as its extensive menu. From three-egg omelets to burgers to steaks, this bustling diner has dishes to satisfy comfort-food cravings at any hour. There's plenty of fried local seafood in po-boys and on platters. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $
THE DELACHAISE
3442 St. Charles Ave., 895-0858; www.thedelachaise.com
The narrow boxcar of a bar Delachaise offers a wide array of distinctive wines, liquor and beer from around the world, and the kitchen matches the selections with its own creative menu. Chef Chris DeBarr serves everything from French fries cooked in duck fat to Mediterranean vegetable dishes, to daily pasta and risotto specials. There are creative small plates, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie boards. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
THE DELI AT TREASURE CHEST CASINO
5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (800) 298-0711; www.treasurechest.com
Treasure Chest offers several dining options, and the Deli is the place to grab a good sandwich. There are fried shrimp and hot sausage po-boys as well as hotdogs and hamburgers. Daily specials like red beans and rice, hot tamales and chicken-fried steak change regularly. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DESIRE OYSTER BAR
300 Bourbon St., 553-2281
A flashing sign over the door has long served as an announcement of Bourbon Street's many temptations. A lust for fresh seafood can be more than sated here, whether you like your bivalves raw or barbecued. Turtle soup is prepared the traditional way, but shrimp remoulade is given a twist and is served in a po-boy. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DIA ROMA CAFÉ
3712 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-6663
Dia Roma Café uses homemade sauces, and the results are big, delicious meals like spinach lasagna with Alfredo sauce, cheese, onions and secret spices, served with salad and garlic bread. For lunch, try the Dia special sandwich with mozzarella cheese, Genoa salami, ham, pepperoni and grilled onions. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
DICK AND JENNY'S
4501 Tchoupitoulas St., 894-9880; www.dickandjennys.com
There's a reason regulars and curious newcomers alike are willing to brave a no-reservations policy and a possibly lengthy wait at this little bargeboard house on Tchoupitoulas Street. The restaurant's culinary reputation was built on meals that might start with appetizers like fried Louisiana oysters with Southern slaw and New Orleans remoulade and move on to entrées like grilled flank steak with jalapeno bread pudding and black bean relish. The menu also offers a vegetarian plate and children's entrées. No reservations. Dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$$
DICKIE BRENNAN'S STEAKHOUSE
716 Iberville St., 522-2467; www.dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com
Diners have a variety of cuts to choose from at this French Quarter steakhouse. The house filet is an 8-oz. cut served with creamed spinach and Pontalba potatoes. The steak is also topped with flash-fried oysters and finished with a béarnaise sauce. The barbecue rib-eye is a prime 14-oz. steak grilled over an open flame and topped with Abita beer barbecue shrimp and served with garlic mashed potatoes. Stand-out sides include onion rings with Creole dipping sauce and a roasted sweet potato topped with warm pecan butter. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$
DIMARTINO'S FAMOUS NEW ORLEANS MUFFULETTAS
1788 Carol Sue Ave., Terrytown, 392-1150; 3900 Gen. DeGaulle Ave., 392-1150; 6641 Westbank Exwy., Marrero, 341-4096; www.dimartinos.com
Muffulettas piled high with sopressetta salami, ham, mortadella, Swiss and provolone cheeses, and housemade olive salad on a seeded loaf are the hallmark of Dimartino's. Other sandwiches include the roast beef po-boy made with slow-cooked beef served on a crusty French bread loaf. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
DINO'S BAR & GRILL
1128 Tchoupitoulas St., 558-0900
This Warehouse District bar offers hearty food at affordable prices. Burgers, chicken Caesar wraps and an Italian chicken sandwich are some of the diverse offerings. The grilled tuna salad uses sushi-grade tuna which is grilled with feta vinaigrette glaze and served over greens with tomatoes and croutons. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $
THE DIPLOMAT BAR AND GRILL
535 Tchoupitoulas St., 571-2000; www.thediplomatbarandgrill.com
The Diplomat's menu is a place where local favorites meet Italian dishes, steaks, chops and burgers. The seafood gumbo is prepared with shrimp, oysters and crabmeat. Fried eggplant medallions are topped with lump crabmeat and meuniere sauce. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
DISH ON FIRST
2142 First. St., Slidell, (985) 781-1440
Dish takes a creative approach to contemporary Creole cooking. Crab and crawfish beignets are prepared with Louisiana crawfish tails and lump crabmeat, fried to golden brown and served with Creole mustard and mango chutney. Appetizers include fried asparagus with blue-cheese dip and eggplant medallions complemented by crawfish cream sauce. Marinated and grilled duck breast is cooked to order and can be served on top of a salad or as an entrée with warm mango sauce and a couple of side items. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Thu.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$
DITALI'S PIZZA
8160 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse, 393-1160
Ditali's specializes in New York-style thin-crust pizza, hearty pasta entrées and succulent sandwiches. Sink your teeth into a Philly-style cheesesteak loaded with peppers, cheese and onions. Or build your own pizza from a variety of toppings. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $
DIXIE GYRO
110 Carondelet St., 523-6614
Hot, fragrant beignets in the morning yield to a tasty selection of Middle Eastern classics for lunch at Dixie Gyro. Choose from beef, lamb or chicken sandwiches on pita bread or one of the many vegetarian options like the Greek salad or falafel. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Credit cards. $
DOCKSIDE SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR
1820 Dickory Ave., Harahan, 736-9666
Shrimp, catfish and crab are featured at the Dockside, available in a variety of preparations from boiled and spicy to golden-fried. The menu also features rib-eyes, pork chops, fried chicken, seafood platters and daily specials. Sides include sweet potato fries, hushpuppies and Dockside potatoes — boiled, deep-fried red potatoes. The seafood extravaganza platter feeds four. For dessert there's bread pudding, ice cream, pecan pie and cheesecake. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DOMILISE'S PO-BOYS
5240 Annunciation St., 899-9126
Known for its po-boys, Domilise's carries with it a long history of New Orleans-style cooking. Place your order at the counter and get ready for home-cooked roast beef po-boys lavished with gravy and Creole mustard, or shrimp and oysters breaded, fried and sprinkled with hot sauce. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Wed. and Fri.-Sat. Cash only. $
DOMINIQUE'S RESTAURANT
1001 Toulouse St., Maison Dupuy Hotel, 522-8800; www.dominiquesrestaurant.com
The classically trained chef Dominique Macquet combines French tradition with exotic global influences in his namesake restaurant's inventive cuisine. Try the island-flavored baby conch ceviche, served with mirliton relish and tamarind-grapeseed oil, or the savory shrimp and roasted butternut squash ravioli. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$
DON VICTOR'S FINE LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT
3244 Georgia Ave., Kenner, 305-0826; www.donvictorsrestaurant.com
Don Victor's serves food and drinks from all over Latin America. Starters include tostones, or fried plantains, a Peruvian chicken soup with peas and potatoes called chupe do pollo, and several ceviches. Entrées include plantain-crusted chicken with mojito sauce, Argentine-style steaks and bandeja paisa, a platter of finely ground beef, pork skin, sausage and fried egg with rice, beans and cucumber salad. Drink specials include Brazilian caipirinhas and pisco sours made with Peruvian brandy. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
DONG PHUONG ORIENTAL BAKERY AND RESTAURANT
14207 Chef Menteur Hwy., 254-0214
Dong Phuong is a centerpiece of the cohesive Vietnamese-American community in eastern New Orleans, where residents drop in throughout the week for fresh, Vietnamese-style French bread, savory pastries and colorful sweets. The banh mi sandwiches from the deli counter are fast, inexpensive and come stuffed with fresh vegetables and meats. In the restaurant area, customers linger over bowls of beef soup or noodle dishes. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. Credit cards. $
DONNA'S BAR AND GRILL
800 N. Rampart St., 596-6914; www.donnasbarandgrill.com
Donna's mixes up its musical offerings with jazz, brass bands and R&B, and the kitchen keeps things simple with burgers and some daily specials of home-cooked New Orleans-style dishes like red beans and rice served with grilled smoked sausage. The Charlie burger is a half-pound patty grilled to order, dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo, and served with fries. No reservations. Dinner Thu.-Sun. Cash only. $
DON'S SEAFOOD HUT
4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 889-1550
Don's has everything under the sea, or at least everything the locals crave. Beyond the requisite fried seafood platters, there's seafood salad with boiled shrimp, crawfish tails and lump crabmeat, a grilled fish of the day, broiled or fried soft-shell crabs and the always-welcome boiled crawfish. Start your meal with one of the savory gumbos or the crawfish bisque. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
DOOKY CHASE RESTAURANT
2301 Orleans Ave., 821-0535
This New Orleans Creole soul-food landmark, in business since 1941, returned last fall for takeout and private events thanks to a massive renovation featuring colorful dining rooms and a new bar. Chef Leah Chase still delivers the classic items, including stuffed shrimp, fried chicken and rich Creole gumbo thick with seafood and sausage. Plans to reopen this spring remain in the works. No reservations. Lunch and dinner takeout Tue.-Fri. Credit cards. $$
DORIGNAC'S
710 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 834-8216; www.dorignacs.com
This gourmet emporium is known for its bakery and wide selection of wines as well as its kitchen. Juicy rotisserie chickens offer an easy solution for lunch or dinner. Fresh daily soups, hot wings, sandwiches, quiche and lasagna provide quick meals to go. The cakes, pastries and breads have people crossing town again and again to satisfy a sweet tooth. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and early dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $
DOSON NOODLE HOUSE
135 N. Carrollton Ave., 309-7283
Among the Chinese and Vietnamese selections on Doson Noodle House's menu, traditional dishes include generous bowls of pho soup served with bean sprouts, herbs and lime wedges, and chicken or shrimp stir-fry dishes with rice or noodles. There also are seasonal whole fish specials and black pepper shrimp, served steamed or fried. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$
DOT'S DINER
Citywide
Dot's offers diner-style comfort food, from bottomless cups of coffee at breakfast to lunch and hearty dinner specials like pork chops or bone-in ham steaks. Stop in any time of day for excellent deals on breakfast plates such as the B1 (two eggs, grits and toast). For lunch, there are a variety of popular diner classics, burgers and sandwiches. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Credit cards. $
DOUBLE DRAGON
8236 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse, 433-4333
Seafood is the specialty here, especially in dishes like salt-and-pepper soft-shell crabs or whole deep-fried red snapper served with Hunan sauce. For fowl, General Tso's chicken is a popular choice. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. Credit cards. $
DOUG'S RESTAURANT
348 Robert Blvd., Slidell, (985) 649-1805
Doug's still turns out the same French-Creole dishes that have been drawing regulars for years. Longtime favorites include appetizers like the corn and crab bisque and crabmeat au gratin. The entrée selection is dominated by thick-cut steaks and specialties like fried oysters with sautéed artichokes, mushrooms and lemon pepper sauce. No reservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and local checks. $$
DRAGO'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, 2 Poydras St. 584-3911; 3232 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie, 888-9254; www.dragosrestaurant.com
Drago's is the capital of charbroiled oysters. Its version features oysters shucked and grilled in their own juices and topped with grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses and a sauce of butter, parsley and garlic. There are many other fresh seafood options as well. Try out some of the restaurant's other famous dishes like lobster Marco. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
DRY DOCK CAFÉ
133 Delaronde St., 361-8240; www.thedrydockcafe.com
Drop anchor at this West Bank tavern where the kitchen turns out sandwiches, seafood platters, big salads and tempting bar munchies like mini-tacos and potato skins. The half-pound Bestbank burger is loaded with cheese, bacon, mushrooms and sautéed onions. Entrées include crawfish pasta in creamy sauce topped with Parmesan cheese, as well as changing specials like blackened redfish. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit Cards. $$
DUNBAR'S CREOLE COOKING
Loyola University Broadway Activities Center, 501 Pine St., 861-5451
Plans are still underway to bring this legendary Uptown soul food spot back to Freret Street near its original pre-Katrina home. In the meantime, those with a hankering for Dunbar's famous fried chicken, red beans, gumbo and breakfast pork chops can still get their fill at the restaurant's spot in the activities center at Loyola University, which is open to the public. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Thu. Credit cards. $
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