Top Best American Restaurants in Lake Pontchartrain

"The crown jewel of the Brennan empire, this landmark Garden District restaurant has been a beacon of fine dining since 1880. There’s no resting on laurels here, though: Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse, Jaime Shannon and now Tory McPhail have nurtured the Creole menu while making their own marks. The iconic Victorian mansion is the perfect setting for an intimate meal, large celebration or relaxed 25-cent martini lunch."

"GQ's Golden Dish Award for Eggs Sardou, Commander’s Palace’s legacy speaks for itself. Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is thought to be the original spot for a jazz brunch and patio dining. For contemporary Louisiana food and alfresco dining, look no further than Commander’s Palace."

"If you’re looking for a place to have an upscale NOLA lunch, the famous Commander’s Palace is just across from Lafayette Cemetery 1 on Washington Avenue. It’s been named one of the best places to eat in the south!"

"A block north of Dooky Chase's Restaurant is Willie Mae's Scotch House, which opened in 1957. It's been recognized at the national level by The Food Network and Travel Channel for serving "America's best fried chicken.". And in 2005, at the age of 89, Ms. Willie Mae Seaton won a James Beard Award for "America's Classic Restaurant for the Southern Region."

"Willie Mae's, meanwhile, has also earned a James Beard and serves some of the best damn chicken you'll ever find. It's juicy, tender, and spiced to perfection. Both are within blocks of each other and definitely worth a stop."

"It doesn’t matter if you’re after something sweet or savory, District Donuts on Magazine street is the place for you if you crave things like sliders, beer and of course, donuts. This place prides themselves on using local ingredients and items are made to order. As for price, you can typically get sliders for less than five dollars, whereas their deal called the Brown Bag Meal can set you back around a cool ten bucks which includes waffle fries, two sliders and a soda."

"Innovative, creative, and delicious are three adjectives you could use to describe the donuts at District Donuts Sliders Brew. The name of the restaurants comes from the fact that they mainly offer donuts, sliders, and ice-cold brews. Everything on the menu is so delicious that we suggest heading in to sample all three."

"Funfetti, strawberry cheesecake, piña colada, coconut cream, or dark chocolate orange donuts the size of your face. District Donuts is the best, enough said."

"Slylvian is an awesome, farm-to-table upscale dining space located just a block off of Jackson. Set in a carriage house built in the late 1700s, the building honors the French Quarter neighborhood’s roots. Slylvain doubles as a restaurant and bar with exquisite food and classy house cocktails."

"Pan-fried pork shoulder is served with braised greens, Coosa Valley’s McEwen & Sons grits and mustard jus. Reservations recommended. Lunch Fri., dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun."

"A Black Jack chicken club sandwich features a blackened chicken breast topped with bacon, pepper Jack cheese and fried onion rings."

"Shortly after it opened in 2016, Bon Appétit proclaimed that Turkey and the Wolf makes some of the best sandwiches in America– high praise from a culinary magazine that is rarely so fixated on casual dining. Later, Food + Wine called it one of the most important restaurants of the decade, effectively cementing its reputation as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans today. The praise, of course, is deserved."

"Turkey and the Wolf is known for their delicious, creative sandwiches, although they have other menu items, too. On my last visit, I had an asparagus sandwich which was to die for!. This place is fairly small and gets very busy, so unless you can tolerate waiting in a looong line, go during off hours."

"With a 90s NOLA vibe and sandwiches to die for, this is not a place you want to miss!. The collard green melt is an absolute must, but so is the bologna sandwich with chips… yes, they actually put chips in the sandwich. This is not your typical sandwich joint, and that’s what makes it so special."

"Whether you’re in for a shot of beer or some quality food, Gordon Biersch has you covered. This pub-style restaurant creates their own award-winning beer to compliment their delicious bar snacks for a truly original time. Try their GB Beer Mushroom Chicken served with asparagus and a bit of brew in their stunning location, and then you’ll see what makes Gordon Biersch the winner of “Best Bar Patio” by beer-drinkers as well as the 2nd best place to drink beer in New Orleans."

"A post shared by Gordon Biersch New Orleans (@gb_nola) on Nov 26, 2017 at 2:36pm PST. Chain hangout for house-brewed, German-style beer & a pub menu served in a casual setting. Located right across from Harrah’s Casino and within walking distance of the French Quarter."

"Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch’s dream came true when Gordon Biersch Brewing Company opened its doors. The brewery opened in Palo Alto, California, in July 1988. The duo worked together to bridge fresh, handcrafted beer and world class cuisine."

"4848 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite B, Metairie, (504) 780-9964; www.bonefishgrill.com. Wood-grilled cobia is served with a choice of sauces such as lemon butter, mango salsa or Oscar style with crabmeat and asparagus. Reservations accepted."

"The Orpheum is an immaculately renovated historic theater with just over 1,400 seats to accommodate concerts, films, and private events. Originally built in 1918, the performance art theatre recently celebrated “100 Years on Stage” (1921-2021)."

"The acoustically-pure Beaux-Arts theater has been fully restored following damage from Hurricane Katrina. Location: 129 Roosevelt WayArchitect: G. Albert Lansburgh (restored by Eskew+Dumez+Ripple)Date: 1921Contact: https://orpheumnola.com/"

"Established in the French Quarter as an “atmospheric” movie theatre in 1927, the Saenger Theatre fell on hard times by the 1960s and was renovated as a performing arts venue in the late-1970s. Katrina hit the Saenger Theatre hard, but fortunately the building was in the middle of restoration so many of its fittings had been removed as the waterline was above stage level. This brought on another phase of restoration that continued right up until Jerry Seinfeld took the stage for three nights in September 2013."

"New Orleans is a tough city that has been through a lot – and Saenger Theatre is no stranger to those hardships. Originally built in 1927 as an “atmospheric” movie theatre, it has gone through plenty of restorations and hard times before it was finally brought back to life. Although the Saenger has cut its capacity from its original 4,000 seats to 2,600, the theatre is still a must-see locale while in New Orleans."

"With decorative moldings and ornate archways, the interior of the Saenger Theatre replicates that of a grand Italian courtyard, complete with a starry sky ceiling. Having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the theatre underwent a huge restoration project and reopened in 2013 to offer a bustling schedule of live music, lectures, comedy, and more."

"The unassuming Uptown building with no seats may be over 100 years old, but Tips, as it’s affectionately known, only became a music venue in the 1970s. It quickly cemented its place as a New Orleans music institution: Local brass bands are a particular thing to see here. There are no seats, but you'll likely want to be up on your feet for whatever local talent is about to take the stage by storm."

"This renowned Uptown New Orleans establishment is home to some of the coolest shows you can find around. Often voted one of the best big rooms in the country they are typically only open Thursday- Saturday nights they draw some big name acts. Tip’s is know to sell out often, so check out their website for tickets before making your way Uptown."

"If you need to take a break in between exploring some of the historic architecture in Algiers Point, this unique community-centered playground is perfect for kids between two to five years old. A post shared by Sarah Kelly Adams (@iwearmyheartonmyback) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:17am PST"

"You may very well hear this tree before you see it: a massive live oak in the middle of City Park. The Singing Oak is an art installation by artist Jim Hart that features wind chimes measuring as long as 14 feet. Part of the charm of The Singing Oak is just finding it."

"This little green sliver in the Lower 9th Ward map is a developing green infrastructure project that both holds excess water and provides a natural breath of fresh air in the midst of the city. The 1.5-acre park is peppered with ponds, native tupelo and bald cypress trees and attractive landscaping. Wetland birds and an alligator have taken up residence, perhaps awaiting the time the park expands into a planned 42-acre natural reserve."

"Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is one of the longest-running local theaters in the United States (founded in 1916). As the name indicates, it’s a more intimate theatre setting with a seating capacity of just over 300 seats. Located just off of Jackson Square, this venue is primarily used for the performing arts, including dramas, musicals, comedies, and children’s productions."

"The Orpheum is an immaculately renovated historic theater with just over 1,400 seats to accommodate concerts, films, and private events. Originally built in 1918, the performance art theatre recently celebrated “100 Years on Stage” (1921-2021)."

"The acoustically-pure Beaux-Arts theater has been fully restored following damage from Hurricane Katrina. Location: 129 Roosevelt WayArchitect: G. Albert Lansburgh (restored by Eskew+Dumez+Ripple)Date: 1921Contact: https://orpheumnola.com/"

"On a rainy afternoon in New Orleans, there's no better place to be than the balcony of the historic Prytania Theatre, cooking up some honest to goodness Hollywood romance with your real-life love interest. Opened in 1915, this charming theater is the oldest in the city and the only single-screen left in Louisiana. Couples can share gelato or a freshly made cappuccino during daytime favorites like Citizen Kane or Some Like It Hot or cuddle up for midnight screenings of cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"At more than 100 years old, the single-screen theater in Uptown is a step back in time, with red velvet ropes, balcony seating and family-friendly screenings of hand-picked classic films."