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

H

HAAGEN-DAZS
Riverwalk Marketplace, 1 Poydras St., 861-2500
Easier to say than spell, Haagen-Dazs is nonetheless synonymous with luscious ice creams. This Riverwalk location also offers a variety of coffee drinks, including rich lattes and frothy cappuccinos. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
8116 Hampson St., 865-1634
Hana is known for its comfortable neighborhood vibe and extra-large special rolls. Sushi chefs offer all sorts of combinations of salmon, tuna, snow crab, cucumber, avocado, egg and shrimp tempura. One particularly popular house special is the fried soft-shell crab roll with spicy mayo sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

HARBOR BAR & GRILL
3024 17th St., Metairie, 835-6111
Harbor Bar & Grill is a casual hangout for surf and turf. There are soft-shell crabs , boiled crawfish and fried seafood as well as the grill's big 12-oz. cheeseburgers, which get even bigger with extras like chili and bacon. A salad of tomato, bacon and artichoke hearts tossed with greens and topped with blackened tuna is a popular item. Meat pies and Harbor fries topped with cheddar, diced onions and roast beef gravy will satisfy your late night cravings. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

HARBOR SEAFOOD AND OYSTER BAR
3203 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-6454
Seafood draws customers to this busy Kenner restaurant and seafood market. Look for local favorites such as the crabmeat-stuffed eggplant pirogues, seafood gumbo and fresh raw oysters. Wash them down with a beverage from the fully stocked bar. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

HARD ROCK CAFÉ
415 N. Peters St., 529-5617; www.hardrock.com
The Hard Rock matches its classic rock vibe with classic American fare, like burgers, hickory-smoked barbecue items and hot fudge sundaes. The Rock Chop, a smoked, center-cut pork chop brushed with maple-mustard glaze is served with cheddar mashed potatoes and Granny Smith-mango chutney. Alternatives include a veggie burger and some salad options. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards $$

HEAVENLY HAM
5300 Tchoupitoulas St., 891-5100; www.heavenlyham.com
One would expect to find a ham sandwich at this Uptown eatery, but there's plenty more to choose from. Smoked turkey, roast beef and ham salad, among other selections, are available on croissants, whole grain or French bread. Box lunches come complete with a drink and a cookie. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

HENRY'S BAKERY & DELI
2313 St. Claude Ave., 944-2622; 3400 S. Claiborne Ave., 894-8894
Proprietor Dwight Henry has made a name for himself at his old-school bake shops, offering some classic renditions of nearly lost New Orleans pastries. The buttermilk drops sell out very early, but regulars duck in for donuts throughout the day. The deli serves righteous portions of soul food classics at lunch and breakfast every morning. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Cash only. $

HERBSAINT BAR AND RESTAURANT
701 St. Charles Ave., 524-4114; www.herbsaint.com
Donald Link cooks modern Creole cuisine infused with European influences at this casually elegant restaurant. Savor smothered Kurobuta pork belly with hoppin' John and collard greens, or sautéed Louisiana jumbo shrimp with house-cured bacon risotto and salsa verde. The menu also features excellent small plates, including Dijon-horseradish beef short ribs and fried frog legs. The restaurant recently added afternoon service between lunch and dinner during the week. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

HERSHEY'S ICE CREAM PARLOR
70456 Hwy. 21, Suite 400, Covington, (985) 809-7445
This Covington ice cream parlor has nothing to do with the chocolate maker, but it does churn out its own sweet flavors. The local Hersheys boast more than a century of experience, producing contemporary flavors such as Moose Tracks and Cappuccino Crunch as well as good, old-fashioned vanilla. And it doesn't have to be your birthday to snag a scoop of the birthday cake flavor. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

HICKORY CHICKORY CAFÉ
1827 Hickory Ave. Suite E, Harahan, 738-2220; www.hickorychickorycafe.com
Families are welcome at Hickory Chickory, which has a home-style menu and a kid-friendly atmosphere, including a "kid fridge" and "kid counter" to eat the popular mini-doughnuts with a range of dipping sauces. Grown-ups will enjoy the café's succulent roast beef sandwich, soups, salads or vegetarian red beans and rice prepared with onions, tomato and bell pepper. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

HILLBILLY BAR-B-Q
208 Tallulah Ave., River Ridge, 738-1508; www.hillbillybbq.com
Hickory wood provides the distinctive flavor for Hillbilly Bar-B-Q's brisket, pulled pork, smoked boudin sausage by the link and the huge hamburger known as the Belly Buster. Diners can order a baked potato on the side or make one a meal by topping it with any of the barbecue meats. There also are smoked chicken halves and a cool chicken salad. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

HIP STIX ASIAN FUSION RESTAURANT & BAR
870 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-2858; www.hipstixasianfusion.com
Journey to the Far East without leaving the Warehouse District. Hip Stix seduces diners with dishes like Siam Street Noodles: stir-fried rice noodles with coconut curry sauce, green onions, julienne bell peppers, bean sprouts and a choice of beef, shrimp, chicken or tofu. Tasty Vietnamese options include the Stir-Fried Beef Vermicelli Bowl with beef marinated in Asian spices and served over vermicelli rice noodles and crisp greens. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

HOA HONG NINE ROSES
1100 Stephens St., Gretna, 366-7665
Diners head to Nine Roses for Vietnamese dishes like sugarcane shrimp and vermicelli bowls with fresh cucumber, mint, cilantro and shredded lettuce with your choice of beef, chicken or pork. Starters include seafood soup and hot and sour soup with okra and pineapple. Some items are cooked at the table like strips of beef that are then wrapped in rice paper with herbs, vegetables and sauces. Nine Roses also offers an extensive selection of vegetarian entrées. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. Credit cards. $$

HOBNOBBER'S CAFÉ
5928 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie 734-8448
This neighborhood eatery offers a signature catfish fillet with crawfish sauce and a creamy corn and crawfish bisque. Red beans and rice on Mondays is a staple for regulars. 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 a busy bee, preparing daily specials like the Bourbon Street steak burger, a 12-oz. patty steak charbroiled, smothered in tangy steak sauce, grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese, and served on a 9-inch po-boy roll with French fries. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Sun.-Fri., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

HOOKAH CAFÉ
500 Frenchmen St., 943-1101; www.hookah-cafe.com
Hookah Café offers local flavors to accompany its namesake water pipes full of aromatic tobacco. The kitchen produces creative contemporary dishes like a Napoleon of fried green tomatoes, shrimp, crawfish and crabmeat topped with butter-cream sauce. The Marigny Bouillabaisse is a mix of drum, shrimp, crawfish, crabmeat and mussels in a sauce of white wine, seafood stock and Dijon mustard with tomatoes, leeks, fennel and garlic confit. Reservations recommended. Dinner and late-night Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$

HOOTERS
2781 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna, 889-0160; 4748 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 393-7177; www.hooters.louisiana.com
Hooters aims to keep its wings hotter than the weather. Order them as hot as you can stand with a choice of mild, medium, Three Mile Island or 911 sauce. Or order up some hot nachos, quesadillas or Buffalo chicken strips while you watch sports or other distractions. A variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood rounds out the menu. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

HORINOYA
920 Poydras St., 561-8914; www.horinoya.com
Artistic presentations of sushi, hard-to-find delicacies like monkfish liver and Japanese favorites like natto are the hallmarks of this chic downtown Japanese restaurant. Horinoya's lunch, specials are ideal for a quick midday lunch and it also features an extensive menu of raw and cooked cuisine that is worth exploring come dinnertime. Horinoya's menu includes many Japanese ingredients not found in many local sushi restaurants. Reservations accepted for dinner. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

HOSHUN RESTAURANT
1601 St. Charles Ave., 302-9716
Drawing on the cuisines of China, Japan, Vietnam and other south Asian countries, Hoshun offers pho soup and Vietnamese spring rolls, pad Thai, sushi and much more. For entrées, try the General Tso's chicken, Hunan steak, Kung Pao shrimp and other regional Chinese specialties. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

HOUMAS HOUSE PLANTATION
40136 Hwy. 942, Darrow, (225) 473-9380; www.houmashouse.com
Located along the river, Houmas House is a stunningly renovated 18th century plantation home. Casual lunches are served at Café Burnside and elegant dinners are served at Latil's Landing. House specialties include appetizers like crab cakes and a bisque of curried pumpkin with crawfish and corn. Many dishes use locally available seafood and produce. The café serves sandwiches and salads. Reservations recommended. Café Burnside: lunch daily. Latil's Landing: dinner Wed.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$

HOUSE OF BLUES
225 Decatur St., 310-4999; www.hob.com
Though the House of Blues has outposts all over the country, the menu at the New Orleans restaurant stays strictly down home. For a main course, try the filé gumbo made with shrimp and smoked turkey, the Creole jambalaya or the pan-seared voodoo shrimp with beer reduction sauce. Southern-style sides like skillet-baked rosemary cornbread with maple butter and white chocolate banana bread pudding for dessert complete a well-rounded feast. Reservations accepted. Lunch Wed.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

HOUSTON'S RESTAURANT
4241 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 889-2301
Steaks, sandwiches, barbecue ribs and seafood from Gulf, Atlantic and Pacific waters make Houston's a popular destination for surf and turf lovers alike. The spinach and artichoke dip is a standout starter. For something a little less traditional, try the Thai steak and noodle salad — a marinated steak with fresh noodles, avocado, mango and fresh herbs in Thai dressing. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

HUGH'S WINE CELLAR
4250 Hwy. 22, Mandeville, (985) 626-0066; www.hughswinecellar.com
A menu that includes a large number of soups, salads and sandwiches complements the huge wine selectiong at Hugh's. The paté and cheese plate is a great match for any number of vintage bottles, and the crab brioche is filled with lump crabmeat, dill Havarti and remoulade. Reservations accepted. Lunch and light early dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $

HUMMINGBIRD GRILL
5708 Citrus Ave., Harahan, 305-1980
Hearty comfort food and a tongue-in-cheek approach are the order of the day at this Harahan diner. The Garbage burger may inspire chuckles with its name, but it delivers with a combination of mushrooms, bacon, cheddar, onion straws, chili and a fried egg on top. The Hummingbird club layers sliced turkey, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce and tomato on seven-grain bread. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

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