Best French Bakery in Metairie

"Beignet’s are the official state donut of Louisiana so the best place to start your New Orleans foodie bucket list would be with a taste of this French-style pastry. A beignet is a French donut that is traditionally fried and topped with powdered sugar. And yes, they are essentially the same as a regular donut but with a more doughy texture."

"Address: 1401 West Esplanade Suite 100 (although there are other locations in malls throughout New Orleans). Phone number: (504) 468-3588. Cafe Du Monde is a popular coffee shop open since 1862 located in the French Quarter that only closes for Christmas and whenever there’s a hurricane."

"No visit to New Orleans is complete without a chicory-laced café au lait paired with the addictive, sugar-dusted beignets at this venerable...Read More"

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern has been open since 1911 and serving up po’ boys since 1929. After more than 100 years, it remains a family-run business to this day. Founder Jay Nix and Head Chef Justin Kennedy have won several awards and have been featured on television for their exceptionally delicious po’ boy sandwiches, such as the Golden Fried Catfish and Parkway Surf and Turf."

"This family-owned, casual neighborhood joint is a top choice for classic, overstuffed po-boys. It has grown in popularity but the friendly staff still takes care of the locals, welcoming tourists like they’re family as well. Shrimps are fried to perfection, roast beef is sufficiently messy and the Barq's (and beer) is served icy cold."

"The beloved Parkway reopened in May with a limited takeout menu of its favorite po-boys, sides, and desserts. Call for parking lot pickup, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m."

"If biscuits make your heart go pitter patter, then make your way to Willa Jean restaurant and bakery, where you'll find insanely fluffy ones. Head for the CBD near the Superdome to try the fried chicken and Tabasco-honey biscuits or get really deep into Southern tastes with the crispy boudin and collards version. There's cornbread, banana bread and a "hangover bowl” (short ribs, grits, poached egg), as well as avocado toast and summer hash (made with sweet and new potatoes). Something for everyone, in other words."

"The brainchild of Besh Restaurant Group pastry chef Kelly Fields and baker Lisa White, this bakery serves a variety of loaves of bread, sweet and savory pastries, and treats like salted chocolate chip cookies and Rice Krispie bars. Willa Jean also offers a full sit-down menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, but the front case of goodies is a sight to behold."

"Willa Jean, a charming bakery and café in the CBD, is the brainchild of award-winning pastry chef and proprietor Kelly Fields. Her celebrated baked goods feature on breakfast, lunc..."

"This French Quarter restaurant has been around for ages and it’s the gorgeous courtyard and good food that keep people coming back. If you’re after a drink and a good meal in a classic Nola setting, Café Amelie is your jam."

"A bacon-basil grilled cheese sandwich features Gruyere cheese, grilled tomatoes and red onion on multigrain bread and is served with a side."

"Whether you want a chocolate cake for a special occasion or to satisfy a sweet tooth, Heavenly Sweets will not disappoint. Their decadent chocolate cake is a must-try the next time you’re looking for a special treat."

"A solid spot for Cajun and southern dishes, Eat serves chef Jarred Zeringue’s take on hogs head cheese with andouille chips, crawfish pie, gumbo, blackened catfish, deviled eggs, and barbecue shrimp. Open for lunch and dinner most weekdays, with brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays."

"Smoked chicken salad is made with spring greens, boiled egg, avocado, Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse bacon, blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Fri-Sun."

"The name of this sugarcane plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi in St. James Parish comes from the graceful 240-metre alley of southern live oaks running from the riverside to the Greek Revival house. These were planted in the early 1700s, a good century before the house was built, and their twisting branches form a beautiful shade canopy. The house went up in 1837 and has a colonnade with 28 imposing Doric columns, mirroring the 28 oaks in the alley."

"New Orleans has many plantations which, while they all have a past fraught with slavery and horror, offer a slice of Louisiana that make them among the best ways to look into New Orleans’ past. Oak Alley Plantation sits along the Mississippi’s western bank. An alley flanked by oak trees, all planted in the 1700s, runs up from the bank to the home."

"Louisiana is a state that is famous for its waterways and bayous, and New Orleans is no exception to the rule. Fronting the French Quarter is one of the best riverside parks in the city – Woldenberg Park. Originally the location of warehouses and wharves on the east bank of the Mississippi, the site was retooled in the 1980s and 1990s into a park."

"For example, at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a 16-acre park in front of downtown near everything. Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a wonderful place to go jogging or picnic. You’ll find people playing their music in the park."

"Don’t let the plain Jane sign outside this Gentilly BYOB scare you away. Good Time sushi and hibachi is a cute little neighborhood sushi place with fresh options and good service. The lunch menu is cheap, cheap, and specialty rolls, like the “good time” and “the tiger,” are generous of portion and fresh."

"The Crescent City’s oldest sushi bar’s shine has not tarnished with age. Since 1982, Shogun has been serving a wide variety of fresh sushi. Plus, there large eatery is outfitted with hibachi grills."

"This soft serve chain started five years ago in Sydney, with franchises now in Texas, Virginia and here in New Orleans, the second U.S. location. Aqua S dishes Instagrammable soft serve in flavors like cappuccino, Arnold Palmer, and cotton candy that look and taste just like how they sound. This location is owned by sisters Loan Le and Yen Truong, who fell in love with the place in Houston."

"This outpost of the Australian brand is famed for its creamy, bright-blue, sea-salt soft serve and Instagramable décor begging for selfies. With a library of more than 100 flavors, only a few are offered at a time, and they change every two weeks. A recent favorite—pancake swirled with sea salt—was cool, salty-sweet hominess."