Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Mid-City

"Po-boys have always made great outside eats, and Parkway has embraced the alfresco push wholeheartedly by essentially creating an entire outdoor restaurant. Diners can set up at one of Parkway’s plethora of patio tables (tented for rainy days) to down one of the city’s best sandwiches. Hits are too many to count, from exquisitely fried shrimp (make it a surf and turf by adding roast beef and gravy) to hot sausage."

"This Mid-City po'boy purveyor has been a favorite for decades, featuring affordable drinks and some of the best po'boys around town. Proudly local and full of characters, the eatery was made extra-famous by a visit from then President Obama, and has been featured on a variety of TV shows. While waiting for your sandwich, peruse the memorabilia and pictures that adorn the walls."

"Parkway has been around for over a century, since 1911 to be exact. Legend has it that the name poor boy, also referred to as po’ boy, comes from the Great Depression era when a sandwich was created to be given free of charge to transit strikers. Folks have been clamoring for Parkway’s poor boys ever since."

"Pastry chef Kelly Fields does complicated things with simple ingredients at her modern bakery and eatery. It’s part of the restaurant group overseen by local star chef John Besh, so it’s no surprise that it’s drawn nods from the..."

"I’ve only been to Cafe Du Monde, but that Willa Jean warm chocolate chip cookie looks right up my alley!. I would love to do a swamp tour and a cemetery tour!. This is a very well-done New Orleans guide!"

"The fact that Gracious now has three locations plus a cafe in NOCHI, the fancy new culinary school, speaks for itself. Word of this upbeat, modern, and light-filled breakfast and lunch spot from pastry chef Megan Forman quickly spread and with good reason: Gracious serves up satisfying sandwiches on homemade bread that won’t leave one in a food coma. The chicken tarragon and meatloaf options are good bets."

"New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute, 725 Howard Ave., Suite 102, (504) 635-0033; 1000 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway, (504) 321-6233; 2854 St. Charles Ave., (504) 301-9949; 4930 Prytania St., (504) 300-8135; www.graciousbakery.com. Tarragon chicken salad is served on house-baked green onion bread and dressed with pickled red onions."

"The pastry cases at Gracious never disappoint, and neither do their donuts. When you make a stop here, pick from options like blueberry glazed, mango cream-filled with coconut or honey cornmeal—then grab a couple of baguettes to make sandwiches for later."

"TremeWhat you’re getting: Buttermilk drops, of courseThese sweet, glazed cakey drops of goodness are New Orleans’ other favorite donut, and their popularity (at least for visitors) is usually eclipsed by beignets (see above). Well, they shouldn’t be, especially at $4 for half a dozen."

"I've been going to the buttermilk drop since my son was in kindergarten, now he has graduated from high school. Every Friday I'll stop in at hi..."

"When I walked into Café Luna, the biggest struggle I faced was determining where to sit amongst their many options. This quiet café has a porch full of outdoor tables, a cozy area with couches, and a bright orange room full of tables with art hanging all over the walls. When I settled into the back room, I was surrounded by a lot of other people working on laptops, and the room was basically silent."

"Link Restaurant Group alum Christina Balzebre opened her own bakery to great fanfare earlier this year, having gained a name for herself at farmer’s markets and then popping-up for Saturday brunch at Mosquito Supper Club. In addition to Balzebre’s stunning tarts, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and crusty loaves of bread, Levee currenrly offers a few breakfast and lunch items (like a garlic croissant bun with prosciutto and asiago cheesewine) with plans to set a small menu soon. Open Wednesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m."

"Address: 3138 Magazine St, Suite DNew Orleans, LA 70115Phone: (504) 354-8708Website. The cleverly named bakery—levee referring to both the French word for bread dough that is “rising” and the embankments and flood-walls that surround the city—Levee specializes in breads, pastries, and queen cakes, a take on the French galette des rois. This neighborhood bakery first began making its version of a king cake during the height of the #metoo movement and decided to call it a queen cake."

"A little more than a year old, Wishing Town Bakery Cafe took over the former Morning Call on Severn Avenue, neighbors to the complimentary Sharetea Nola. While also a bakery, Guangzhou-born couple Vivi and Kevin Zheng version of Chinese specialties are some of the best in town. An extensive array of dim sum and cold noodle salads round out a menu of beautiful cakes and pastries, perfect for a celebration."

"Look down as you enter to see the tiles embedded in the sidewalk from when this French Quarter storefront say “Angelo Brocato.” Indeed, the space once belonged to Angelo Brocato’s, the city most beloved gelato and cannoli maker. Croissant has kept its vintage tiled walls and handsome Italian looks, and the result is a classic breakfast and lunch cafe with a secret courtyard worth seeking out. Aside from tarts and mousses, traditional French baked goods include quiches, and of course, croissants."

"A traditional French-style, family-run bakery, O’Delice offers breakfast pastries as well as cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Try the baklava, rum balls, and Key lime tart in addition to the traditional selection of muffins, croissants, and scones. Stop by for lunch and grab a sandwich, or plan ahead and order a king cake for Mardi Gras (O’Delice ships worldwide, so your less-fortunate friends and family can still taste NOLA goodness)."

"(617 Ursulines St.) And please don’t miss this Parisian-style patisserie, tucked away between Royal and Chartres on Ursulines. Steeped in old-world charm, Croissant D’Or some of the best baked goods in the city. The sweet and savory croissants, and everything else you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case — the tarts and the tortes and the quiches — is delicious and served fresh daily from the bakery."

"Bon Ton is one of the first New Orleans food places serving authentic Cajun food of Lafourche Parish. The restaurant opened in the 1900s and located at Magazine Street has a casual ambience with gingham tablecloths and wrought iron furniture, but the food is of fine dining standards. The Bon Ton Café is located in a historic building which is best suited to its historic story."

"Red Fish Bon Ton is a grilled fillet topped with lemon butter and jumbo lump crabmeat and garnished with fried onion rings. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri."

"The atmosphere feels like a classy southern comfort dinner table. I promise this is the best meal you will have in New Orleans. It was also the best service – thanks Beth!"

"The quintessential museum of Louisiana, the permanent collection includes nearly 40,000 world-class works of regional, national and international art, such as Picasso, Braque, Dufy and Miró, and drawings by Degas, who worked just blocks from the museum when he visited maternal relatives in the early 1870s. Lectures, book clubs, film presentations, art classes and musical performances are all presented with aplomb – and you can even take yoga classes in the sublimely beautiful Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works of the 20th century's master sculptors reside in a sub-tropical sanctuary. 1 Collins C Diboll Circle, noma.org."

"New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 482-1264; www.cafenoma.com. An Americana grain bowl includes chicken breast over wild rice, sweet potatoes, cranberries and baby spinach with warm bacon vinaigrette."

"Green is beautiful at Satsuma, a fetching dining spot with locations on Maple Street Uptown and on Dauphine Street in the Bywater. Yard eggs scrambled with basil pesto and shaved Nueske's ham, free trade coffee and freshly made juices concocted in their industrial juicer behind the bar are just a few of the daily specials. Vegans are in heaven here, thanks to dishes like the tofu scramble and black bean burger with avocado mash."

"Tattooed, yoga mat-toting hipsters frequent this Bywater haunt for its locally roasted coffee, kale salads, and just-pressed juices. And on select weekday nights, the space plays host to a pop-up called Twilight Tacos. The succinct menu includes..."

"T & T Seafood, a Cajun/Creole and Chinese spot that offers seafood and more in St. Thomas, is another much-loved, budget-friendly go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 15 Yelp reviews. Head over to 548 Jackson Ave. to see for yourself. Yelper C.S D., who reviewed T & T Seafood on April 8, wrote, "I only tried the crawfish but they were delicious! It was definitely a hole in the wall joint, which is proving to be where the good food is."

"Another Broken Egg Café’s meals are made with New Orleans’ finest ingredients, and the dishes are fun and creative. The restaurant offers American cuisine with modern twists on classic favorites and new creations. The restaurant provides American breakfast, brunch, and burgers."

"This chain has two New Orleans locations, and the menu offers a wide variety of options from omelettes to benedicts. The spot also offers a kids menu and vegetarian dishes. Prices top out at around $12."

"It was awful- the crab meat Benedict was greasy and smelled the eggs floated in grease - I loved the coffee cups More reviews"

"Come for a seafood martini, stay for the crispy whole flounder at Pelican Club, chef Richard Hughes' French Quarter dinner spot that specializes in Creole cooking. Local sourcing and innovative twists on traditional dishes have made this beautiful spot on Exchange Place a go-to for locals since 1990—and it truly never disappoints. Taste the scallop stuffed artichoke, followed by the trio of ducklings and you'll already be making return reservations by the time you pay the bill."

"One of the definitive restaurants of the famed French Quarter, The Pelican Club prides itself on its “sophisticated Creole menu.” The carrot ginger soup, and the vegetarian and/or ..."

"This 20-year-old success story is an elegant, old-fashioned dining room with wooden posts and beams – reminiscent of a ship’s masts. It has lashings of sea-blue and metallic, marine-inspired art. The menu is a mix of trad southern hospitality (lobster bisque, red snapper with okra) and international (lionfish ceviche, tuna tacos); co-founder chef Tenney Finn is so knowledgeable about the fruits of the sea that he’s known as the fishmonger of the South."

"Fresh fish is the star at this French Quarter fine dining establishment. As an avid fisherman, chef Tenney Flynn is meticulous when it comes to choosing the freshest product from his sources, and his entrées change daily to reflect the best catch. Whatever the preparation—wood-grilled, parmesan crusted, blackened—the flavors of the fish shine through."

"While better known for its seafood, GW Fins certainly has no shortage of vegan options for even the most finicky of eaters. Owned and operated by Gary Wollerman, GW Fins makes our ..."