If there is one city I love, it’s New Orleans! This was my 4th trip to the Big Easy, and this time I went for work, but I didn’t let that stop me from having fun and of course eating really good. If you’ve never been to New Orleans, definitely add it to your list. The culture, the vibes, and again THE FOOD, all superior! It just so happened that my work trip coincided with the French Quarter Festival, so I got to enjoy lively entertainment from the street to the stages, lots of sites, and again lots of good food. It was an enjoyable 3 days.

Now, let’s get into the food y’all! Here’s a round up of New Orleans’ restaurants that you are sure to enjoy, plus a list of other recommended restaurants that I hope to try during my next visit.

Acme Oyster House

2 words…chargrilled oysters! 10/10, highly recommend. During my last 2 trips to New Orleans, I went to Acme and it didn’t disappoint, so this was literally the first place I went to on day 1 of my latest trip. I don’t know what they do to those chargrilled oysters, but they are bomb! I don’t even like raw oysters, but those chargrilled oysters are something special. Acme is a great option for lunch or happy hour, as it’s a super casual spot to grab a bite and a drink.

Deanie’s Seafood

During my 2nd trip to New Orleans, I went to Deanie’s with the group I was traveling with at the recommendation of one of the locals in our group. Now, if there is one thing I’m gonna do, it’s to go with the recommendations of the locals. While popular touristy places can be good, nothing beats where the locals like to eat and hang. Needless to say, this French Quarter seafood house was a winner. Now, during my latest trip to New Orleans, I didn’t dine in at Deanie’s like I did the first time. This time, I ordered a catfish dinner to go, and it wasn’t a hit. To be fair, I didn’t eat the dinner right away, so it wasn’t piping hot. However, it lacked flavor and didn’t taste like fresh catfish to me. That said, I wouldn’t do take out from there again or order the catfish, however, I would dine in again, which is why I’ve still included this one in my round up.

Neyow’s Creole Cafe

This black owned gem on Bienville St. was a lunchtime hit! The menu had many intriguing options, and I ultimately went with the special of the day (Thursday), which was fried chicken, cabbage, rice and cornbread. Baby!!! That food was so good! The cook was cooking (insert praise hands emoji lol). If you want that home cooking feel, with all the New Orleans flavors and flair, definitely check out Neyow’s. One of my college roommates recommended I try Neyow’s, and I’m so glad she did. She later mentioned to try the sweet potato casserole, so I’m adding that to my list for the next trip.

Red Fish Grill

Looking for a good dinner spot on Bourbon Street? Then, add Red Fish Grill to your list. Order their signature dish, the red fish. It’s a wood grilled white flaky fish tossed in a lemon butter sauce and served over tasso ham and roasted mushroom with Pontalba potatoes. Let’s just say, I had no leftovers.

Cafe Du Monde

There is no way you can go to New Orleans, without going to Cafe Du Monde for beignets. It’s literally a must! If you love funnel cake, then you’ll love Cafe Du Monde’s beignets. It’s a sweet treat!

Bevi Seafood

I finally tried crawfish, and it was a complete YES! As a Maryland girl who loves crabs, I’m not surprised I enjoyed this. In addition to enjoying crawfish at Bevi Seafood, I also had a shrimp po-boy, which was really good. If you’re looking for a casual neighborhood spot to grab some seafood, then Bevi Seafood is it.

Tableau

I didn’t make it to Tableau during this trip, but I’ve dined here during a previous trip to New Orleans, and it was a 10/10! If you’re looking for a nice dinner in the French Quarter or a private group dining option, definitely check out Tableau.

Places Recommended to Visit Next Time

I polled each of my Uber drivers, along with my community on Instagram, for additional restaurant recommendations, and here is a round up of their suggestions that I didn’t get around to yet:

• Ruby Slipper — for breakfast

• Peche — for dinner

• Mother’s — for breakfast

• The Court of Two Sisters — for jazz and good food

• La Petite Grocery — for lunch

• Parkway Tavern — for po-boys

• Elizabeth’s — for breakfast

• Morrow’s — for dinner

• Willa Jean — for breakfast or lunch

Are you hungry yet?! If you’ve been to New Orleans or are from there, what restaurants am I missing? Let me know in the comments.

Have a glowing day!