Best Dinner Places to Eat in St. Charles Parish

"The bread pudding souffle at Commander's Palace is one of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes, as is the restaurant's version of Bananas Foster (made with the added incentive of banana liqueur), but it's hard to go wrong with a praline parfait or creme brûlée either."

"1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-8221; www.commanderspalace.com. Duck fat-seared bluefin tuna is served with Meyer lemon grilled greens and sweet potato boulangere with miso-lemon grass veal bone jus and foie gras ganache. Reservations recommended."

"A favorite for visitors and locals alike, Commander's Palace is a New Orleans landmark known for its award-winning Creole fare and elegant jazz brunch. MoreCallReserveStart Your ReservationWebsite"

"In recent years, this French Quarter stalwart underwent a change in ownership, a glamorous renovation and a chef replacement that has brought its shine back. Still an elegant, old-world fine dining experience with excellent service, the restaurant now offers a seasonally-inspired menu of classic Creole fare. Breakfast at Brennan’s is a must for both locals and tourists, and you can’t miss the Bananas Foster—invented here—that still gets flambéed tableside."

"Restaurants French Quarter. For an elegant start to the day, Brennan's on Royal Street can't be beat. This legendary French Quarter eatery has been an integral part of the high-end restaurant scene since 1946, with a breakfast that rolls straight into the lunch hour."

"The name “Brennan” in New Orleans is synonymous with quality food, affordable prices, and legendary recipes, and this tradition is continuing with the eponymously named Brennan's, ..."

"About Etouffee: Often made with shrimp or crawfish over rice, Etouffee (eh-TOO-fay) is a hit with both Cajun and Creole homes. While Bon Ton Cafe is one of the places servicing the dish the longest we like to order it at Galatoire’s. It may be a little fancy but this is a great place to eat and THE place to be for lunch on Friday."

"Amidst the chaos (and, let’s face it, uncouthness) of Bourbon Street is a refined, old-line restaurant where waiters wear black bow ties and business people make deals during marathon lunch-into-dinner sessions. Here you’ll dine on famed traditional Creole dishes like shrimp rémoulade and trout amandine."

"GW Fins on Iberville is the place where chef Tenney Flynn and co-owner Gary Wollerman have been cooking the best and freshest seafood in New Orleans for close to 20 years—quite the statement in a city that adores its seafood. The daily menu, which is settled upon at 4pm, depends on what seafood the staff was able to find that same morning. If you're lucky, the lobster dumplings will be there, as well as the "scalibut," the venue’s signature dish featuring halibut, sea scallops and risotto."

"GW Fins takes fish so seriously that chef (and avid fisherman) Tenney Flynn once designed a chilled cutting board so that his fish wouldn’t suffer a temperature drop as he prepared it for cooking. The menu changes constantly, based on what fish is fresh and always sustainable, but recent menus can be viewed on the website. The lobster dumplings are little, delicious clouds and are almost always on the menu."

"GW Fins is one for classic desserts, the kind whose ingredient list fills you up just from reading the menu. Customer favorites include the samoa, the “Salty Malty,” an ice cream pie with a pretzel crust, and white chocolate and caramel bread pudding."

"Now with three locations, this colorful joint features indoor/outdoor dining, a full bar and sometimes live music. There are dogs of all breed, from polish sausage and brat to alligator, red hot and crawfish sausage. There's even the Sea Dog - tempura battered fried cod filet served with homemade tartar sauce."

"Unfortunately, I didn’t spend nearly enough time here (with the exception of eating at Dat Dog, which was delicious) but I’ve heard great things about the music at The Spotted Cat. It’s the best place to eat and end your second night in New Orleans."

"While Fritai is primarily a hot new destination for its Haitian cuisine, the bar program also offers something special — a number of clairin-centric cocktails; clairin being a Haitian spirit distilled from cane juice that tastes similar to rum but with a mezcal edge, as described by Fritai. There are more than a dozen tropical, herby, and classic cocktails on the drink menu, as well as wine, beer, smoothies, and set ups — a New Orleans-specific bar tradition, served here with a Haitian twist."

"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."

"When the craving for Mexican strikes, Del Fuego offers two outdoor seating areas: a covered front porch and a colorful open-air patio in the rear. In either spot, sample a margarita made with Del Fuego’s homemade roasted orange triple sec and guacamole customized with toppings like crumbled bacon, roasted poblanos and pomegranate seeds. An enticing selection of well-crafted tacos, burritos and pozole rojo make excellent fresh-air options."

"A Los Tres Hermanos burrito is filled with carnitas, carne asada, chicken tinga, pinto beans, guacamole, salsa fresca, Chihuahua and Jack cheeses, onion, cilantro, crema and rice. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sat."

"Enjoy tacos and margaritas on a plant-filled covered deck overlooking Magazine street out front at Del Fuego or head to the cute patio in the back. Either way makes for a good choice for Mexican cuisine al fresco Uptown."

"A Victorian-style mansion with old south design and distinct luxurious charm, it is now used for weddings, as a museum, and also to host frog farm exhibits. With so many things under its belt, it’s hard to imagine that the House of Broel isn’t among the main attractions of New Orleans. The house is named after Bonnie Broel, an ordained minister, a Polish Countess, and the Dollhouse Museum curator."

"House of Broel is an opulent 19th century mansion located in one of New Orleans’ most picturesque neighborhoods, the Garden District. Owner Bonnie Broel has turned her home into an in-demand wedding destination that offers brides and grooms some of the best Southern charm that New Orleans has to offer. For casual visitors, House of Broel offers an off-the-beaten-path gem: a doll museum."

"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 is the first American museum dedicated to slavery. It has records of memoirs from literate slaves and their experiences. The Whitney plantation focuses on the institution of slavery. The Laura plantation is a creole owned plantation whereby the family tell the history of the their generation."

"Whitney Plantation, on the other hand, focuses on slavery and what life was like for the slaves living on the plantation. There are personal narratives and exhibits of the slaves who lived on the plantation which can certainly be more emotional but important history to understand nevertheless."

"Take the famous St. Charles Streetcar to Central City to visit the McKenna Museum of African American Art. The museum’s mission is to make African Diasporan fine art available and accessible to visitors of all ages. They work to preserve the culture of the African American community in Louisiana."

"The McKenna Museum is a fine art institution with a direct focus on African Diasporan pieces. In addition to their collection, McKenna offers a range of diverse programming such as guest speakers, workshops and book readings to further their mission and work."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war was lost. Ursuline nuns used the property from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed to combine elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, Tuscan portico, and generous dining room. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans."

"The Beauregard -Keyes House museum includes past residents such as Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard and American author Frances Parkinson Keyes. The house has elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian façade. It also has twin curved staircases leading to a Tuscan portico."

"You’ll learn about what it means to be Creole, how NOLA is since Katrina, the real deal with Voodoo, what the best secrets places are to eat/drink at (make sure to stop into Paloma Cafe for a bite to eat and a coffee in Bywater). I recommend doing this first because it’s an introduction that will help you get the feel of New Orleans and learn the intro to the “Big Easy”."

"Paloma Cafe for some delicious breakfast or brunch. I particularly liked the matcha latte and the avocado toast. Nearby you’ll find Dr. Bob Folk Art, which was reminiscent of Slab City’s East Jesus, full of upcycled art in curious combinations."

"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."