Top Best American Restaurants in Lower Garden District

"The turquoise and white awning is the first sign of good taste at this flagship of the Brennan family, housed in a gorgeous Victorian mansion in the Garden District since 1880. Sporting a decor that combines whimsy with elegance, Commanders is a dressy spot, no shorts or t-shirts and jackets are preferred - but not required - for gents at dinner. The kitchen, where Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme started and chef Meg Bickford now presides, delivers Haute Creole specialties including oysters with absinthe and skillet seared gulf fish."

"The Commander’s takeout menu changes daily and rotates classics like turtle soup, lacquered quail, and pecan pie as well as seasonal dishes like duck breast salad and wild Louisiana barbecue shrimp, available in family or individual sizes. Call to order, seven days a week between 11:30 a.m."

"Known for the award-winning quality of its food and its convivial atmosphere, the history of this famous restaurant offers a glimpse into New Orleans’ storied past and has been the go-to destination for Haute Creole cuisine and whimsical Louisiana charm."

"The fried chicken from Willie Mae’s Scotch House has been recognized as ‘America’s Best Fried Chicken’ by the Travel Channel and also acknowledged as being some of the best fried chicken in the country by the Food Network. You can’t argue with recommendations like that!. Pop into this classic southern restaurant and find out for yourself why the food here is so award winning."

"Willie Mae’s is one of the best restaurants in New Orleans and is home to the best fried chicken in New Orleans!. Willie Mae’s Scotch House originally was known as a local barber shop and beauty salon. They had the added bonus of a bar."

"District Donuts Sliders Brew is a casual, friendly café that focuses on house-roasted coffee, sweet and sticky donuts, and mouth-watering sliders. The restaurant serves classic breakfast dishes that have been recreated with a twist, like bacon and eggs on a miso-praline biscuit, pork belly breakfast tacos, croquenuts (croque madame meets a donut), and smoked salmon and cream cheese kolaches. Good old donuts take on new flavors like candied thyme, Sriracha-maple, and cereal and milk."

"For some people, donuts are an inexpensive sweet treat but for us they’re a bit of an obsession. We always seek them out when we visit any American city in our ongoing quest to find the best donuts in America. These are our favorite donut shops in New Orleans:"

"This charming, dark, romantic spot in the French Quarter is known for exceptional food, from Sylvain’s Southern fried chicken sandwich to its version of shrimp and grits, a creamy dish of ambrosia that includes tomato-basil brodo, bacon, mushrooms and sweet caramelized onions. The beauty of this place lies in the unpredictable twists weaved throughout the menu — and it’s all good."

"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."

"This casual sports bar in the French Quarter pairs pub grub and other hearty fare with draft beer, trivia nights and sports on multiple TVs. The menu features salads, sandwiches and burgers, plus small plates like the “crawfish dip dog.” The drinks include everything from beer, cocktails and frozen drinks. The bar also throws watch parties for events such as the Emmys, the Oscars, the Kentucky Derby and the Westminster Dog Show."

"The American Sports Saloon provides the perfect setting for any sports fan. Outdoor as well as indoor fans can grab their favorite cocktail as well as some delicious food while watching their favorite teams play on one of their multitude of televisions. This casual French Quarter bar is available for lunch stops, dinner plans, or late night parties for those New Orleans Saints fans."

"1200 Decatur St., (504) 300-1782; www.theamericansportssaloon.com. A Ragin’ Cajun burger is topped with lettuce, Tabasco onions and remoulade and served with fries. Reservations accepted for large parties."

"11 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 367-9512; 3124 David Drive, Metairie, (504) 454-9449; www.groundpati.com. Applewood-smoked bacon and cheddar cheese top a burger served with french fries. Reservations accepted for large parties."

"Isaac Toups is known for his amazing charcuterie, cracklins, and basically all things pork at his Mid City Toup’s Meatery go-to. His lunchtime burger is all about the beef — the chef uses wagyu beef and tops it with pickled squash, cheddar, bacon, and herbed aioli on a sesame seed bun. Worth every bit of that hard-earned $16."

"Hospitality veterans Isaac and Amanda Toups (he cooks, she handles wine) have a winner in their contemporary Cajun outpost in Mid-City. Loosen your belt for barbecued goat delivered with pickled peppers and a wedge of cornbread, and fennel-topped lamb neck rising from a tasty swamp of black-eyed peas."

"American , Cajun"

"A post shared by Whitney Plantation (@whitneyplantation) on Mar 29, 2018 at 1:39pm PDT Unless you have a car with you, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to visit a plantation the same day as doing a swamp tour because they’re located far apart. However, if you do choose to do a plantation tour, choose Whitney Plantation, the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a focus on slavery. Unfortunately, I did not do my research and visited a different plantation house and was incredibly disappointed that they didn’t address slavery whatsoever."

"The Whitney Plantation House is meant to be the best one which doesn’t just focus on the mansion and owners but instead focuses on slavery and is turned into a slavery museum, with the money benefitting descendants of slaves (from what I’m told). I am really bummed I didn’t go here – I thought they might be unethical, then Sam talked to some locals who said this place was legit and totally a do-not-miss. Something to do on the next trip."

"Other plantations in the area to consider are the Laura Plantation, the Houmas House Plantation, the Nottoway Plantation, and the Whitney Plantation, among others. The Whitney Plantation is newly renovated and has an exhibit that focuses on the children of slavery that is said to be deeply moving and emotional."

"A visit to The Presbytère is recommended and worthwhile for at least three reasons. (1) Built in the 1790s as a matching structure to the Cabildo, which flanks the St. Louis Cathedral on the other side, it is one of the nation's best examples of formal Spanish Colonial style, with a full panoply of Renaissance architectural forms. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1915, the cupola was restored to match the one atop its twin, the Cabildo, and in 1970 the structure was designated a National Historic Landmark."

"Originally called Casas Curial or “Ecclesiastical House,” The Presbytère was started in 1791 and is a great example of formal colonial Spanish architecture. It was first designed to match the nearby Cabildo (Town Hall) and was built on the former site of the residence of the Capuchin monks and presbytery. It became a courthouse in 1834 and part of the Louisiana State Museum in 1911."

"Louisiana's Civil War Museum, formerly known as the Confederate Museum, is one of the largest repositories of Confederacy-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States. Housed in a stone Romanesque-style building, this is the oldest museum in Louisiana. The Confederate Memorial Hall Museum opened to the public in 1891 and today houses the second largest Civil War collection in the world."

"What kind of ammunition and instruments did they use against one another?. The Confederate Memorial Hall commemorates the American Civil War by keeping a preserved exhibition of all the materials involved. Here you will get a chance to learn about all of the battles, trials, and about each person that played a vital role in the Civil War."

"Louisiana’s Civil War Museum opened in 1891, making it the oldest operating museum in Louisiana. It is also known as the Confederate Memorial Hall Museum. Here, you’ll find a large collection of historical artifacts from the Civil War."

"The Fly is a favorite spot for New Orleans locals, a strip of frontage along the Mississippi River behind Audubon Zoo. On weekends, people flock in droves for grilling, crawfish boils, sunning and sports. Set up camp steps from the Mississippi and watch the big boats maneuver through the currents."

"500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; www.bananablossom504.com. Larb gai is a salad with ground chicken, onion, cilantro, mint and toasted rice-lime dressing. Reservations accepted."

"Tags: Chef Owned and Operated, Dog Friendly Patio, and Garden Guide. Category: Caribbean, Latin American, Outside Dining, Private Dining, and Weekend Brunch. Mayas Restaurant is a captivating Latin dining experience with exciting social rhythms."

"Boiled or fried yuca is served over salad and topped with mango salsa and pico de gallo. Reservations accepted. Lunch Wed.-Sat., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun."

"Housed in a low-slung purple building in Treme, you are obliged to place your order at a bulletproof glass window within. No worries, you will have plenty of company and even massive catering-sized orders roll up magically fast. The fried wings are addictive ($5.39 for 8 plus a side of fries or shrimp fried rice and a side salad) and the yakamein ($5.49) is spot on, too."

"The best place to find this street food is really at neighborhood corner joints like Manchu Food Store and Chinese Kitchen, a small bright-purple cinderblock building under the bridge on Claiborne."

"4641 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 779-2252: www.carrabbas.com. Shrimp and scallop spiedino features wood-grilled seafood topped with Italian breadcrumbs served with lemon butter and a side."