WHERE TO EAT IN NEW ORLEANS | MY FOOD GUIDE TO THE BIG EASY
- ALEXANDRA
- May 6
- 6 min read
If there is one city where you should plan your trip around the FOOD, it is New Orleans! I always do a ton of restaurant research before traveling somewhere new, but New Orleans was on another level. There are SO many iconic restaurants, dishes and cocktails that narrowing down where to eat was honestly one of the hardest parts of planning our trip.
New Orleans has such a unique culinary identity, blending Creole and Cajun traditions with French, Spanish, African and Southern influences. And while the food alone is worth traveling for, what I loved most was that every restaurant felt like an experience. One meal might be in an elegant dining room that feels like you've stepped back in time, while the next is in a lively French Quarter bistro with cocktails flowing and people spilling out onto the streets.
We tried to experience a little bit of everything, from the restaurants that have been part of New Orleans history for generations to more contemporary takes on Louisiana cuisine. If you're planning a trip to the Big Easy, these are five restaurants I would absolutely put on your list!
RESTAURANT R'EVOLUTION
Located inside the Royal Sonesta in the heart of the French Quarter, Restaurant R'evolution was probably the most modern fine-dining experience of our trip. The restaurant takes traditional Cajun and Creole flavors and gives them a more contemporary spin, while still feeling distinctly New Orleans.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous, with several dining spaces that combine classic Southern design with a more polished, upscale feel. It is definitely somewhere I would recommend for a date night or special occasion, especially if you want a break from some of the louder, more casual spots around the French Quarter.
We had the Butter-Poached Lobster and Black Fettuccine, and this was easily one of the standout pasta dishes of the trip. The black pasta makes for a pretty dramatic presentation, but the flavors are what really make it. The current version pairs the butter-poached lobster with Calabrian chile, lemon and roasted garlic breadcrumbs, giving the richness of the lobster and pasta just enough acidity, heat and texture.
Restaurant R'evolution also has a great cocktail program inspired by classic and Pre-Prohibition-era drinks, so I definitely recommend starting dinner with a cocktail at Bar R'evolution before sitting down for your meal.
THE VIBE: Sophisticated, romantic and upscale
ORDER: Butter-Poached Lobster & Black Fettuccine
PERFECT FOR: Date night or a special dinner in the French Quarter
BRENNAN'S
You really can't talk about dining in New Orleans without talking about Brennan's.
The iconic pink restaurant on Royal Street has been a New Orleans institution since 1946, and having breakfast here feels like checking off one of those quintessential New Orleans experiences. From the second you walk through the doors, everything feels colorful, elegant and just a little over-the-top—in the best possible way.
The dining rooms have that old-school Southern elegance that makes you want to dress up for breakfast, while the lush courtyard feels like a little escape from the busy streets of the French Quarter.
We ordered two of Brennan's famous egg dishes so we could try both.
The Eggs Hussarde is a Brennan's classic made with housemade English muffins, coffee-cured Canadian bacon, poached eggs, hollandaise and Marchand de Vin sauce. Think of it as a much more decadent New Orleans version of Eggs Benedict. The combination of the rich hollandaise and savory Marchand de Vin sauce makes this SO good.
We also tried the Eggs Owen, which is even richer, with red wine-braised short rib debris, Creole-spiced potato, a soft-boiled egg, hollandaise and Marchand de Vin sauce. If you're someone who usually chooses the savory option at brunch, ORDER THIS.
And if it's your first visit, I would definitely save room for Brennan's famous Bananas Foster. The dessert was invented here and is still flambéed tableside with bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and rum before being served with vanilla bean ice cream.
Breakfast in New Orleans is practically an event, and Brennan's is the perfect example of why.
THE VIBE: Historic, colorful and quintessential New Orleans
ORDER: Eggs Hussarde + Eggs Owen
PERFECT FOR: A long, celebratory New Orleans breakfast
MR. B'S BISTRO
Another French Quarter classic, Mr. B's Bistro sits right at the corner of Royal and Iberville Streets and has been serving Louisiana-inspired food since 1979.
Compared to some of the more formal historic restaurants in the city, Mr. B's has a relaxed bistro atmosphere while still feeling polished. It's lively, welcoming and feels exactly like the type of restaurant you want to stumble into while exploring the French Quarter.
There was one thing I knew I wanted to try here: the Gumbo Ya Ya.
Mr. B's is famous for its version, which starts with a super-dark roux and combines chicken and andouille sausage into a deeply flavored, slightly spicy gumbo. After eating our way through New Orleans, I learned very quickly that every restaurant has its own interpretation of gumbo, and this was one of my favorites.
It's rich, smoky and comforting without being overly complicated—the kind of dish that immediately makes you understand why gumbo is such an important part of Louisiana cuisine.
Mr. B's is also famous for its BBQ Shrimp, so if you're visiting with a group, I would order a few of their signature dishes for the table and try a little bit of everything.
THE VIBE: Lively French Quarter bistro
ORDER: Gumbo Ya Ya
PERFECT FOR: A classic New Orleans lunch or dinner between exploring the French Quarter
ARNAUD'S
If you want to experience the old-world side of New Orleans, make a reservation at Arnaud's.
Opened in 1918, Arnaud's is one of those restaurants where the atmosphere is as memorable as the food. Walking through the dining rooms feels like stepping into another era, with tiled floors, chandeliers, ornate details and servers providing the kind of traditional service that has become increasingly rare.
This is not a quick dinner. Dress up, order a cocktail and make an evening out of it.
We tried the Roasted Louisiana Quail Elzey, which is served with a seasonal gastrique and seafood boudin. I loved getting to try something that felt so connected to Louisiana while still being presented as a true fine-dining dish. The quail is delicate and savory, while the gastrique adds just enough sweetness and acidity to balance everything out.
We also had the Veal Tournedos Chantal, a sautéed veal tenderloin served with wild mushroom sauce and risotto. This was the richer of the two entrées and exactly the kind of classic French-Creole dish that fits the atmosphere at Arnaud's.
Another reason I love restaurants like this is that dinner isn't just about what is on your plate. It's about the dining room, the service, the history and feeling like you're experiencing a little piece of New Orleans that has existed for generations.
THE VIBE: Historic, elegant and old-school New Orleans
ORDER: Roasted Louisiana Quail Elzey + Veal Tournedos Chantal
PERFECT FOR: Dressing up and having a classic New Orleans fine-dining experience
BAYONA
Tucked away inside a beautiful historic Creole cottage on Dauphine Street, Bayona feels completely different from the energy of Bourbon Street just a few blocks away.
This was one of the most charming restaurants we visited. The atmosphere is intimate and understated, with the kind of hidden courtyard and historic architecture that makes dining in the French Quarter so special. It's romantic without feeling stuffy and a great choice when you want incredible food somewhere a little quieter.
Bayona's menu combines Louisiana ingredients with French technique and global influences, so it doesn't fit neatly into just one category. That creativity was one of my favorite things about it.
We started with the Crawfish Ravioli, which was such a fun way to experience one of Louisiana's most recognizable ingredients in a more refined dish. The pasta was delicate and the crawfish brought that slightly sweet, distinctly Louisiana flavor that I wanted as much of as possible while we were in New Orleans.
We also had the Steamed Bangs Island Mussels, which were perfect for sharing. There is something about ordering a big bowl of mussels, having a glass of wine and sitting in an intimate French Quarter restaurant that just WORKS.
Bayona is also very ingredient-driven and seasonal, so the menu can evolve throughout the year. I actually love restaurants like this because it gives you a reason to go back and have a completely different experience the next time you're in town.
THE VIBE: Intimate, romantic and tucked away
ORDER: Crawfish Ravioli + Steamed Bangs Island Mussels
PERFECT FOR: A quieter French Quarter dinner and a bottle of wine
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of my biggest pieces of advice for New Orleans is: MAKE YOUR RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS!
This is not a city where food should be an afterthought. Eating your way through New Orleans is genuinely one of the best ways to experience its history and culture.
And, obviously, leave room in your itinerary for plenty of oysters, po'boys, crawfish, beignets and cocktails along the way!
New Orleans is a city that you can visit again and again and STILL not make it through your restaurant list—which sounds like the perfect excuse for me to go back.
xoxo. Alexandra
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