Everyone in New Orleans has a favorite spot for Po' Boys; it's right up there with choosing a favorite sports team. It is your civic duty to sample as many as you can while in town, but just be sure to start at Parkway Tavern. They have been serving their "Poor Boys" since 1929 and are still going strong.
538 Hagan Ave.
Mid City
New Orleans, LA 70119
Local celeb chef Donald Link does it again with this handsome temple to the Gulf Shore bounty. Beyond the beautiful raw bar offerings, there are loads of sustainable offerings like whole grilled fish, shrimp toasts, seafood gumbo, and smothered catfish (of course). This is clean eating — well, by NOLA standards — so indulge in that seafood tower and finish off with a Satsuma Shuffle or slice of key lime pie.
800 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70130
+1-504-522-1744
Local brunch favorite specializing in Central American dishes like migas and huevos rancheros. Absolutely unmissable: fresh-squeezed orange-mango-pineapple juice.
1418 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70130
+1-504-524-3828
When you've had your fill of po-boys, peruse the 40+ sandwich menu at the traditional Jewish deli run by a recovering attorney from Philadelphia.
2207 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70130
+1-504-527-0771
Bite-size burgers, waffle fries, a revolving list of fancy donut flavors, and free Wi-Fi.
2209 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70130
+1-504-570-6945
A grocery store-turned-neighborhood bistro, with delicious blue crab beignets and the tastiest cheeseburger in town.
4238 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70115
+1-504-891-3377
Wall-to-wall tile covers the interior of this old-school oyster spot dating back to 1919. Try the famous oyster loaf loaded with giant fried oysters. Check the calendar: They're closed from June to August.
4330 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70115
+1-504-895-9761
The second outpost of John Besh's wood-burning oven pizza restaurant. The daily half-price happy hour means really good pizza at a really good price.
4933 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70115
+1-504-301-4978
Wake up with a fresh juice from this cafe-juice bar hybrid. Coconut water, green juice, and tropical smoothies are some favorite choices.
4113 Magazine St.
New Orleans, 70115
+1-504-891-7733
A funky, beloved, casual dining spot run by a husband-wife team (hence the moniker). It has a strong legion of followers who dig the solid, seasonal, eclectic menu (which includes fritters, gumbo, and vegetarian pasta).
4501 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA, 70115
+1-504-894-9880
This local coffee spot is small, spacious, and sparse, save for some very cool murals painted by local artists. Charming baristas serve top-notch espresso drinks and locally made pastries. Equally accessible for checking email and striking up conversations with strangers.
2709 St. Claude Ave.
New Orleans, LA, 70117
+1-504-872-9798
You're starving. It's midnight. Move your party to this divey gem that never seems to close. Downstairs looks like a regular old bar, but do not underestimate the late-night tapas menu (yes, tapas). Head upstairs and order patatas bravas, mushroom manchego toast, goat cheese croquettas, and other delicious snacks to soak up the alcohol.
2601 Royal St.
New Orleans, LA, 70117
+1-504-872-9868
It's a marketer's dream-come-true: The city's most buzzed about doughnut shop is run by a couple of police officers. It's one big pastry case of delights: red velvet, maple bacon, PB&J, and orange frosted doughnuts are glazed, filled, twisted, and also made into ice cream sandwiches.
4301 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA, 70119
+1-504-218-4866
This corner shop, quietly residing on a residential street, feels like a real find. A diverse crowd settles into the morning with Vietnamese coffees, chai teas, and Japanese mochi sweets. A bright orange couch punctuates the bright white room.
2339 Royal St.
New Orleans, LA, 70117
+1-504-267-7327
A wildly popular doghouse serves a variety of sausages (andouille, crawfish, alligator) with condiments like wasabi, kraut, and homemade chili.
5031 Freret St.
New Orleans, LA, 70115
+1-504-899-6883
This John Besh restaurant, part of the historic Roosevelt Hotel, is modern and masculine. The food is homemade Italian: shareable, rustic meat plates, pizza, and antipasti make the perfect excuse for family style dining.
123 Baronne St.
New Orleans, LA , 70112
+1-504-648-6020
Make room for lunch: gravy-drenched roast beef po-boys, just one of 25 varieties.
538 Hagan Ave.
New Orleans, LA, 70119
+1-504-482-3047
Take the long, scenic route by street car (it’s about 40 minutes from the French Quarter) and prepare to wait during the brunch rush. The Creole townhouse has an old-fashioned diner feel and a wide Formica bar where you should sit and order a chili omelette and an ice cream freeze. Or a pecan pie heated up in the fryer. Note: There's a French Quarter location open for business at 540 Chartres Street.
626 S Carrollton Ave.
New Orleans, 70118
+1-504-309-2679
This is the city’s best-kept foodie secret. The elegant dining room, tucked away on a residential street Uptown (drive slow, or you’ll miss it) feels like a very special club house. The chef, James Beard rising star Sue Zemanick, keeps Louisiana cuisine fresh and inventive (if there are pierogis on the menu, order them and don’t ask questions).
1728 Soniat St.
New Orleans, LA, 70115
+1-504-899-7397
The foodie hangout and local chef depot pays homage to the Cajun meat boucherie (meat market). Yes, you just ate some gator. Lunch-time meat hankerings are taken care of in the adjacent Butcher (where you can get the high-end version of a mufaletta).
930 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, 70130
+504-588-2123
It's a tourist trap, but there's fried dough covered with mounds of powdered sugar, and you are only human. Best bet: Buy a can of chicory coffee and a souvenir box of beignet mix to recreate your own Du Monde at home.
800 Decatur St.
New Orleans, LA, 70116
+1-504-525-4544
Sophisticated farm-to-table fare, excellent (laid-back) service, and mellow lunch crowd. Take the folks. Linger with wine.
701 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA, 70130
+1-504-524-4114
James Beard notable and Top Chef Susan Spicer has a long list of excellent NOLA restaurants under her belt, but this New American — no, New Louisianan — spot consistently delivers top-notch food and service on a beautiful patio (when weather permits). Everyone talks about the duck sandwich.
430 Dauphine St.
New Orleans, LA, 70112
+1-504-525-4455
Old-fashioned Italian grocer serving one of the best renditions of the famed mufaletta, a football-shaped sandwich stuffed with cured meets, cheese, crushed olives, and pickled veggies. They are eaten by the quarter and sold by the half, but order a whole — this is not the time to be shy about your appetite.
923 Decatur St.
New Orleans, LA, 70116
+1-504-523-1620
Local-yocal oyster bar. Stand at the counter (it's more fun than sitting), order a dozen, and shoot the breeze with the affable shuckers. They’ll crack jokes as you whip together your own spicy cocktail sauce (lemon, ketchup, horseradish, Saltine crackers) on the spot.
739 Iberville St.
New Orleans, 70130
+1-504-522-4440