Cheap Places to Eat in Gentilly

"Located in a former donut shop in a small and colorful cottage in Uptown, LUVI features food from the chef's hometown of Shanghai and other Chinese and Japanese-inspired fare. While the menu changes often, expect staples like dumplings and dan-dan noodles and raw bar items like ceviche and sashimi. Try the dragon boat, with fresh seared tuna, black caviar, and smoked soy sauce, or one of several vegan-friendly dishes, like spicy stir-fry bean curd with jalapēno, red onion, and black bean chili."

"UptownChinese and Japanese cuisine in a funky interiorTake a date to Luvi, and you’ll be guaranteed a topic of conversation over the colorful plating, fresh dishes, and bright decor. Chef Hao Gong’s inventive Shanghai cooking offers more than just adventurous dining. Dishes like pork and ginger dumplings or a raw bar selection of seared tuna and black caviar will give you something to discuss if your date night conversational skills fail you."

"Japanese yellow tail, dragon fruit , lotus chips, cucumber, sesame soy vinegar, sour plum powder #luvilove @eltonsczhou. LUVI Restaurant is the place to go to if you want to indulge in the many flavors of Shanghai and beyond. It is a fantastic and truly unique Chinese restaurant with a rich menu that is usually accompanied by great service."

"An old firehouse in the Freret Street corridor transformed into a stylish, dimly lit cocktail lounge that’s been a local favorite spot since 2009. Largely credited with revitalizing the now-bustling neighborhood, Cure won the coveted award for Outstanding Bar Program from the James Beard Foundation in 2018. Expect creative drinks and an eclectic array of dishes."

"Enjoy the breeze of spring out in the courtyard at this award-winning bar. Cure’s delicious cocktails are beautifully presented, showcasing the time and effort that the staff puts into each drink. Outside is the hip Freret Street, home to blocks of shopping, eateries and entertainment."

"Familiarize yourself with the house rules (no baseball caps or shorts, boys) before heading over to this schmancy cocktail bar on a happening little strip Uptown. The space, a reclaimed firehouse, is spacious and sharp. Small plates are carefully prepared and served late."

"If you’ve been doing a lot of Netflix and chilling lately, then maybe it’s time to really lean into the laziness and add a hot pizza to the equation. The folks at Pizza D are here to help: you can get a little festive with a rotating selection of pizzas daily, like with a vegan cauliflower pie, but you can’t ever go wrong with the margherita. Cost: $19 for a margherita, and $19 for the vegan cauliflower pizza; order via Postmates or Grubhub"

"Every city worth its salt has at least one great pizza joint. So why go out of your way to visit this one?. Three reasons: (1) the pizza, (2) the neighborhood, and (3) the pizza."

"In a city known for its fiery Cajun and Creole cuisines, tongue-tingling dishes abound, but the gumbo at this neighborhood stalwart really stands out by combining the two culinary traditions. The resulting dish is “the absolute hottest and most-delicious gumbo out there,” Geoffrey Zakarian declared on Top 5 Restaurants. For this distinctive stew, a spice-laden savory stock is combined with a robust Cajun-style roux, okra, chicken thighs and andouille sausage."

"Liuzza’s by the Track is more than ‘just’ a Po Boy shop located near the Fairgrounds Race Course. With a full bar as well as a menu that features burgers, salads and a full range of seafood plates, it’s more of a neighborhood restaurant. However, despite its varied menu, Liuzza’s signature dish is its BBQ Shrimp Po Boy Po Boy."

"In a city that's po'boy proud, Liuzza's at the Track stands out from the crowd, thanks to the house specialty, a buttery, Worcestershire-fueled gi-normous portion of gulf shrimp slathered between a hot and crusty roll. It's called barbecue shrimp, but there's really nothing barbecued about it. Save room for the gumbo."

"Slim Goodies Diner is a dive-y diner located in the Garden District/Irish Channel portion of Magazine Street in New Orleans. The venue has a retro feel with the old Coke signs, red leather booths and counter stools. Breakfast/brunch is the specialty here, and waits can be long if you come at peak times, say around 10 am."

"A classic diner, Slim Goodies prepares quintessential breakfast and brunch foods with a selection of plant-based adjustments. The Garden Slammer is a breakfast tofu scramble served with soy bacon and mixed veggies. Try this or one of their other slammer options made with tofu for plant-based perfection."

"4301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 833-1288; www.eatbrooklyn.net. A Brooklyn Florentine pie is topped with chicken, spinach, artichoke, garlic and Alfredo sauce."

"This Carrollton Avenue spot offers authentic renditions of dishes from the state of Veracruz, along Mexico’s Gulf coast. Seafood is the star at this humble and homey spot but a recent breakfast of Huevos con Jamon (scrambled eggs with ham and fresh Cojita cheese) was so utterly delicious and inexpensive ($6.25 for a heaping plate with a pile of just-made tortillas) as to have rendered the meal unforgettable."

"If your picnic plans bring you to fabulous City Park, this local cafe is an excellent place to grab some takeout. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away and offers various delicious sandwiches, paninis, po-boys, salads, and more. Plus, if you plan to bring your pup along with you to the park, there’s a pet-friendly patio where you can sit while you wait for your order."

"Café Beignet is a charming, intimate bistro in the heart of the French Quarter that serves authentic Cajun fare in a warm and welcoming setting. With locations on Bourbon and Royal Streets, Cafe Beignet serves tasty fried beignets and other sweet treats, along with a full breakfast every day of the week. Diners line up to get a seat inside or on the lovely outdoor patio and tuck into fluffy omelets with various fillings like andouille sausage, bacon, cheese and spinach, French toast, and Pecan Nut Waffles."

"While the crowds and the line of tourists go to Café Du Monde, the locals know to head to Cafe Beignet for this signature New Orleans sweet. With three locations across the city, it cuts down the wait time significantly for this pastry doughnut hybrid dusted with powdered sugar. The French and Acadians brought beignets to the region in the 18th century, but New Orleans helped to give the powdery delight the recognition that it receives today."

"It’s impossible to talk about coffee houses without mentioning beignets, a New Orleans tradition that’s paired with a café au lait. At Café Beignet, you can partake in this tasty tradition and enjoy the magic of the “hole-less donut,” and sip on a classic espresso beverage. They also have chicory coffee at Café Beignet, another timeless NOLA tradition."

"The Treme restaurant is known for its role in the Civil Rights movement, when many leaders used it as a meeting spot for shared meals. The walls are adorned with an impressive collection of African-American art and, of course, the food contributes to the fame: some of the best fried chicken in town, a menu of Creole classics and an impressive lunch buffet are must-tries."

"The recent loss of chef Leah Chase has left a hole in the heart of New Orleans cuisine. She was an icon, both for her culinary contributions and her role in the civil rights movement, as leaders often gathered at her restaurant. You’ll experience history while dining on some of the best Creole cuisine around here."

"Dooky Chase, a Creole restaurant in Tremé, is a New Orleans institution. It’s where chef and queen of Creole cuisine Leah Chase created a space for Southern food to shine. She passed away early in June 2019, at the age of 96, but in her lifetime, she was a pioneer of Southern food and Southern hospitality."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. This shopping center, which opened in March of 2015 at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Toledano Street, is considered one of the highlights of the Central City neighborhood. It is a 115281-sq ft (10709-sq m) decent shopping mall with a huge free parking area."

"The Shops at Jax Brewery are located in an architecturally striking 19th-century former beer brewing facility - opened in 1891, the Brewery was the largest independent brewery in the south. The property has four floors of shops, cafes and boutiques, with the top floor offering some pretty spectacular views of the city. A few of the shops offer child and adult-themed screen print items of local witticisms and attractions that are sure to be a hit."

"Coffee came to European markets via the Middle East in the 1600s. Then it arrived in North America by way of European settlement, and it appears that its first point of entry may very well have been none other than New Orleans!. The French — who often used a unique coffee/chicory mix — brought it here in approximately 1720."

"The Oakwood Shopping Center is in Gretna, a quick drive over the Crescent City Connection, the bridge that takes you to the West Bank of the Mississippi. It's not as big as some of the other malls on this list, but that can be a blessing in disguise. The Oakwood Mall has plenty of parking and fewer crowds, making the shopping experience breezier."

"With 82 shops, including Dillard's and JC Penny's, this mall on Jefferson Parish's West Bank offers an array of retail options across all price ranges, as well as dining, spas, a barbershop and more."

"Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 79A, Metairie, (504) 833-7906; www.smashburger.com. A barbecue, bacon and cheddar burger is topped with fried onions on an egg bun."

"If you want a Po Boy, we recommend checking out Killer Po-Boys, if you want a fancy dining experience where you dress up and have another Commander’s Palace like experience head on over to Galatoire’s on Bourbon St., if you want some great gumbo head on over to the Gumbo Shop, or if you want some of the best oysters in town to check out Acme Oyster House for their famed seafood. We had a hard time choosing our last meal because all of the food we ate was so good."

"I heard it compared to an over-sized frat party by one of our tour guides. It is the center of all the partying, drinking and debauchery. If that is your thing, or you just want to capture the scene with your camera, head on down in the evening and see what you can do."