Cheap Places to Eat in Lutcher

"Delicately prepared sashimi does not usually come to mind when discussing New Orleans cuisine, but this tiny Uptown restaurant has created buzz and received accolades since its 2018 opening. Chef Hao Gong worked for years at the popular Sake Cafe, and he’s translated his skills into an innovative pan-Asian menu that displays Japanese and Chinese influences. Raw dishes—salmon with Asian pear, soy and basil seeds; tuna with dragon fruit and spicy soy—are super fresh and innovative, while hot dishes—tofu with shiitakes, wood ear mushrooms and lily flower; Gong’s mother’s pork and ginger dumplings—are creative and satisfying."

"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."

"While LUVI’S chef’s choice tasting menu may be the star of this beautiful little spot on Tchoupitoulas Street, I’d surely be scolded for leaving out mama’s dumplings. No surprise, chef Hao Gong’s dumplings get their name from his mother’s secret recipe. These one bite wonders are stuffed with crabmeat, pork, and crunchy water chestnuts."

"Freret Beer Room, the first and only beer-focused restaurant in New Orleans, is killing it on both fronts. The sixteen taps are well chosen to complement the menu’s small and large plates and daily specials. Chef Charles Vincent’s steamed mussels come with a smoked oyster and tomato aioli, and the tomato-braised meatballs are served over polenta."

"Known for their craft cocktails and upscale scene, Cure is a popular Freret Street spot. The little courtyard outside has guests surrounded by lush greenery and candlelight. On a nice night, ending with a nightcap sazerac here will have you wanting to stick around New Orleans foreva-eva."

"You can’t go wrong with a date night at this swanky Freret Street spot with a critically-acclaimed bar program. Enjoy some good tunes and conversation by candlelight at Cure. Plus, if you get a little hungry, check the bar menu for light bites."

"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"

"BywaterThis NYC-style pizzeria in the Bywater offers vegan cheese for all its pizzas, and always has margherita pies and at least one vegetarian/vegan special available every day. Vegetarians can also find pasta options and market salads for even more variety."

"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."

"Say it out loud: “BBQ Shrimp.” It’s the most famous dish at this low-key restaurant near the Fairgrounds. Loads of peeled shrimp are swamped in a buttery sauce rife with pepper and loads of bright notes, then the lot is stuffed into a hollowed out roll. It acts like it’s food for one person but it’s sufficient for two."

"Slim Goodies Diner might be renowned for their hangover helpers called “Slammers,” which are made with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon, but they also serve a fantastic breakfast for those looking for healthier options as well. All-day breakfast dishes include crawfish étouffée with potato latkes, vegan-friendly veggie chili with hash browns, eggs, and smoked tempeh, fluffy omelets with various fillings, egg scrambles with bacon, ham, and country fried steak, and griddle specials like French toast, Belgian waffles, and buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit and sweet toppings. Slim Goodies Diner is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week."

"This breakfast and lunch spot is a local favorite on Magazine Street. Slim Goodies serves classic comfort food with bold twists, all made with fresh ingredients (and lots of love). Everyone loves the slammers: hash browns slathered in something delicious – think crawfish étouffée or chili with bacon and cheddar cheese – but the sweet potato pancakes are not to be missed."

"Ten years old and going strong, Magazine Street's quirky, always-slammed early morning to lunch time diner, is known for their Slammer options, a hangover-helper made with hashbrowns and scrambles of various sort (eggs, chili, tofu, what have you). There is also a potato latke/crawfish etouffee dish called the Jewish Coonass, not PC, but a fan favorite."

"119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie, (504) 885-4572; www.shortstoppoboysno.com. A barbecue beef po-boy includes roast beef, barbecue sauce, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles."

"2008 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, (504) 889-2837; www.eatatbens.com. A Big Ben is a two-patty cheeseburger topped with bacon, chili-cheese fries and house sauce."

"China Orchid in the Riverbend neighborhood has been around for more than 25 years, first opened by the mother of Joe Ming, proprietor of Ming’s in Lakeview. Ming’s mother, Susan, taught him how to cook Chinese food in the kitchen of the family-owned Uptown restaurant, which changed hands in 1992. It’s still a neighborhood go-to for Chinese takeout, with an extensive menu and delivery available."

"Carrollton Ave., (504) 865-1428; www.chinaorchidneworleans.com. An orange peel beef combo platter includes an egg roll, fried rice and egg drop or hot and sour soup."

"The covered outdoor patio at Blue Oak BBQ offers plenty of room to spread out and tuck into a heap of goodness. Start with the smoked wings (in flavors like buffalo inferno and kung pao) or cracklins before moving on to the melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, pulled pork, or a burger made from house-smoked ground brisket. In the non-BBQ arena, go for the fan favorite spicy fried chicken thigh sandwich and a side of Brussels sprouts."

"What’s considered “New Orleans’ Best Barbeque in the World,” Blue Oak BBQ is a relatively new Mid-City spot waiting to be discovered. Founded in 2012, New Orleans natives Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley hope to provide mouth-watering BBQ whether it’s in their sides, sandwiches, or main courses. As the fall season draws closer, there’s no better time to try a new location in alfresco dining."

"Blue Oak BBQ’s spacious covered patio can handle 75 to 100 carnivores, rain or shine. The creative kitchen and bar staff tempt with daily specials and happy hour runs from Tuesday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. The smoked wings are always a good idea."

"When this Mexican spot from the team at CureCo (which also operates nearby Cure and French Quarter favorite Cane and Table) opened last summer, it brought the Freret neighborhood a welcome open-air dining option. The former gas station has been reimagined as a sprawling, casual gathering spot serving up tacos, ceviche, queso fundido and specials like the birria torta. The CureCo bar pedigree is evident in the cocktail and spirits list, which includes not only praiseworthy margaritas but also creative twists on classics like the mezcal negroni or Oaxacan old fashioned."

"The gist: The team behind Cure Co. headed down Freret Street to open Vals, a taco stand with pitch-perfect mezcal margaritas and a big, gorgeous patio, making it a great pick for those who aren’t yet ready to dine indoors.The food: You’ve got “not tacos” (elotes, a beautiful tuna tostada, chips, various salsas) and tacos (crispy beef belly, sweet potato, chicken in green mole, fried fish, and pork shoulder). The cost: Starters and side $5 - $10, tacos $3, beer are $4 - $5, frozen margaritas $10 - $70.How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out online."

"Neal Bodenheimer and his partners pushed through the pandemic to open Vals, a former garage on Freret they’d been eying for more than five years. The space is warm and inviting, chef Fredo kills it with his charred tomato salsa, green mole chicken tacos, and ceviche of the day — and no surprise, the drink menu is amazing. Scan the QR code to dive deep into the tequila and mezcal list."

"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."

"3218 Dauphine St., (504) 304-5962; 7901 Maple St., (504) 309-5557; www.satsumacafe.com. A special BLT features Nueske’s bacon, tomato, avocado, goat cheese and arugula on sourdough or wheat bread."