Best Fine Dining in French Quarter

"A lot of people think the “three-martini lunch” is part of a bygone era, but in New Orleans it’s still alive and well. In fact, you can complete your boozy trifecta for less than a dollar at the swanky Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave.). Order one of the delicious lunch entrees and you can choose from 3 different martinis that will only set you back $0.25 each!"

"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."

"Galatoire's is another of the French Quarter's grand, family-owned restaurants, sharing much in common with Antoine's. It was opened on Bourbon Street in 1905 by Jean Galatoire, a French immigrant, and focuses on French-Creole cuisine. The main dining room is at street level and features a high ceiling with fans, mirrors along the walls, and numerous coat hooks that hang above them."

"In 1905, founder Jean Galatoire brought French recipes and traditions to New Orleans with his restaurant. Galatoire’s has continued thriving with the help of his descendants. The original culinary customs have been preserved because the restaurant believes in consistency."

"If you're lucky enough to go on a night when soft-shell crab is on the menu, it'll be one of the best damn pieces of food you'll ever put in your mouth."

"Arnaud’s is one of those legendary New Orleans establishments – complete with an elegant dining room, white tablecloths, flaming desserts made table-side, a client list made up of the who’s-who of New Orleans, and classic Creole dishes that make both locals and tourists’ mouths water. It might not sound kid-friendly, but it’s a restaurant that locals trust for the holidays, celebrations, and life’s precious moments – which many times involves the kiddos in our lives. For the kids that might not yet have a palate for gumbo or Shrimp Arnaud’s, the restaurant offers off-the-menu options just for them – including grilled or fried chicken strips, shrimp, or a small filet, all served with French fries, of course."

"This grande dame of classic Creole restaurants still sparkles. In the main dining room, ornate etched glass reflects light from charming old...Read More"

"Pêche celebrates a visceral approach to eating seafood, so expect whole fish delivered to the table, ready to fbe sliced up and eaten between tables of friends. The menu is deceptively simple, but the presentation, choice of ingredients, and dressings are what elevates the experience beyond the tourist traps of the French Quarter. It’s a Donald Link restaurant, so fans of Cochon wanting to ease off on the meat are in abundance, as are people keen to go beyond the usual shrimp and fish dishes that permeate this city."

"The best fishing hole for miles may be the Warehouse District’s kind-of-rustic, sort-of-industrial dining room, where the great catches include catfish with pickled greens, a Louisiana shrimp roll and a model caramel cake. Small wonder that the James Beard Foundation presented Peche with awards last year for both Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: South."

"A relative newcomer to the Quarter, Restaurant R'evolution opened in 2012 and immediately garnered attention for the menu created by collaborating chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto. Today, this elegant, seasonally sourced farm-to-table restaurant located on Bienville in the famed Royal Sonesta Hotel keeps bringing locals back for more and drawing tourists in, too. Classic Creole and Cajun dishes sparkle here, with death by gGumbo (roasted quail, andouille sausage, oysters) leading the pack."

"This is not your typical gumbo, which has a thick filé stock with seafood and or meat, and a Louisianian “Holy Trinity” of vegetables: bell peppers, celery, and onions. Rather, it’s a modern and elevated take on the traditional stew by chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto. John Folse is an expert on Louisiana cuisine and the author of several books, most notably The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisineand The Evolution of Cajun & Creole Cuisine."

"Seared sea scallops and foie gras is served with truffle white bean puree, celery salad and bacon vinaigrette. Reservations recommended. Lunch Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sun."

"Awesome vegan comfort food is available at this Magazine Street gem. Three blocks from Audobon Park, have a post-park lunch at this plant-based paradise. We recommend getting the gyoza and make sure you grab a smoothie to-go before you pay the check!"

"If you’re looking for a quick, easy vegan lunch option in NOLA then Max Well is your best bet. From healthy, fresh juices to power bowls and super salads, there’s a lot on the menu here that will fuel your body in the right way."

"My first time eating at Max Well and the food was delicious. I ordered the Birria and crab cakes. I I wanted to take pictures but I couldn’t stop eating...."

"All these years later, this restaurant still feels like a discovery, but it’s under-the-radar by design: The restaurant doesn’t even have a sign. Housed in a century-old building that was once a pharmacy and camouflaged in a leafy residential neighborhood, the dining room, with the attentive touch and constant presence of impeccable Gautreau’s owner Patrick Singley buzzes with well-heeled locals. It feels like a club, and that’s one of the many things that make it so cool."

"There’s no sign outside Gautreau’s, just the number 1728 discreetly marking a nondescript house in a residential neighborhood. Cross the threshold to find a refined but welcoming dining room, where savvy diners,... Top ChoiceLouisianan in Uptown & Riverbend"

"1728 Soniat St., (504) 899-7397; www.gautreausrestaurant.com. Roasted duck breast is served with mole reduction, corn truffle, cipollini onions and English pea risotto. Reservations recommended."

"Visitors seeking the best malls in Greater New Orleans must only venture slightly north of the city to find Lakeside Shopping Center. This expansive retail hub is one of the area's most popular malls with more than 120 well-known stores including M.A.C., Dillard's, Lane Bryant, Gap, Old Navy and Eddie Bauer, as well as boutiques such as Ann Taylor Loft and Talbot's. Lakeside Shopping Center offers seemingly endless shopping opportunities for men and women (and enough distractions for kids)."

"The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, 921 Canal St., (504) 524-1331; www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/new-orleans/dining/m-bistro. Blackened redfish is served with shrimp etouffee, black-eyed peas, fried okra and dirty rice. Reservations accepted."

"Second Line’s been growing quietly since opening in 2015, adding more fermentation capacity and diversifying its styles. The imperial rye IPA called Allryte, Allryte, Allryte, released several times a year, is a critical success. The beer garden is a great place for locals to mix it up with beer, food trucks, and movies every Wednesday."

"Second Line Brewing’s name derives from New Orleans’ tradition of second line parades. Over 100 years ago, the parades began as customs for jazz funerals. Today, the parades are held as symbols of joy, fun, and celebration."

"Atelier Vie is a craft distillery that produces a hefty lineup of spirits including Euphrosine Gin #9 Bottled in Bond; a standard version of Euphrosine; and a nine-month, barrel-aged version called Barrel-Finished Reserve. The Atelier Vie lineup also includes Louisiana Single Malt; Riz, a Louisiana rice whiskey; Calio Rum and Barrel Aged Calio Rum; Orphan Street Brandy and Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition; Toulouse Green, a traditional-style absinthe distilled with Louisiana wormwood; and Toulouse Red, an American absinthe colored red with hibiscus. Atelier Vie also bottles Buck 25 Vodka and Orphan Street Bourbon."

"Founded in 2011, Atelier Vie produces vodka, gin, whiskey and even absinthe, from its South Broad Street location in Mid-City New Orleans.Atelier Vie’s two varieties of absinthe include the traditional green absinthe and a red version colored and flavored with hibiscus flowers. Try: Louisiana Single Malt Whiskey, Calio Rum, Orphan Street Brandy, and Euphrosine Gin, which took the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition."

"Sadly, both Kay and Paul Prudhomme are no longer with us, but their revolutionary K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen still lives on. Kay was the businesswoman, Paul was the Cajun chef who knew just how to make diners smile. His blackened catfish took the world by storm in 1979 (it even caused a catfish shortage) and his blackening spices are still just as delicious today, now made with fresh Louisiana drum."

"K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen is a legendary New Orleans restaurant serving upscale Cajun and Creole dishes with top-quality service and atmosphere. It features open kitchens, a beautiful courtyard, and private event rooms with a balcony overlooking the French Quarter. Many say it is hands-down the best Cajun and Creole, French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans."

"K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen is the pioneer New Orleans food place for Cajun cuisine. This New Orleans food place at Charters Street was started by late Louisiana Chef Paul Prudhomme. The famous chef invented the “blackening” seasoning process and started this upscale restaurant which served high-quality dishes, including Cajun and local cuisine."

"Named after the 19th-century painter Edgar Degas, Café Degas is a cozy French bistro that features reasonably priced French-inspired cuisine with a touch of Creole. On warm days and evenings, the front windows are opened up to the street. Don’t forget to order the La Gratinée d’Oignons, which is French onion soup with crispy croutons and bubbly Swiss cheese."

"Cafe Degas is a European style French bistro housed in the leafy Bayou St. John neighborhood along the Esplanade Ridge. A metal-roofed porch enclosed in plastic houses the quirky dining room. Ceiling fans and metal garden tables and chairs with tapestry cushions flank the tight but charming space."

"From twinkling lights to a tree in the middle of the front patio, this is al fresco dining with gobs of panache. Don’t miss the floating islands doused in creme anglaise for dessert."

"Luke is a French-style brasserie serving French and German inspired cuisine with a Louisiana twist. The menu here is very ‘old world’ and uses slow and traditional cooking techniques. We recommend ordering their Blue Crab Gratin plate to share which is made with spinach, Emmenthaler cheese and country bread croutons."

"A Creole-inspired brasserie located in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District on world-famous St. Charles Avenue, Luke sits just steps away from the French Quarter."