Best Nightlife in Lake Pontchartrain

"The crown jewel of the Brennan empire, this landmark Garden District restaurant has been a beacon of fine dining since 1880. There’s no resting on laurels here, though: Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse, Jaime Shannon and now Tory McPhail have nurtured the Creole menu while making their own marks. The iconic Victorian mansion is the perfect setting for an intimate meal, large celebration or relaxed 25-cent martini lunch."

"GQ's Golden Dish Award for Eggs Sardou, Commander’s Palace’s legacy speaks for itself. Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is thought to be the original spot for a jazz brunch and patio dining. For contemporary Louisiana food and alfresco dining, look no further than Commander’s Palace."

"If you’re looking for a place to have an upscale NOLA lunch, the famous Commander’s Palace is just across from Lafayette Cemetery 1 on Washington Avenue. It’s been named one of the best places to eat in the south!"

"A neighborhood bakery dating back to 1911, which added the “poor boy” to the menu when it was invented in the 1920s. While the place closed in 1993, current owner Jay Nix resurrected the landmark Parkway Bakery & Tavern in the early aughts, serving some of the finest po-boys in town."

"A caprese po-boy includes tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon."

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern is the legendary stop -- be sure to try its Thanksgiving po-boy if you're there for the holidays."

"The Ruby Slipper Café is an award-winning café chain with five locations around the country that offer traditional Southern breakfast classics, brunch delights, and fresh lunch dishes with New Orleans flair. The family-owned and operated café serves classic dishes with a quirky twist such as the Festin' Benedict of poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, Louisiana crawfish, and three kinds of cheese on a buttermilk biscuit. The Dirtiest Pancake in the Game features a stack of buttermilk pancakes with Oreo crumbles, chocolate ganache, and cream cheese icing, and BuYa Honey Toast is a crispy French Toast-battered Brioche with a cream cheese filling, whipped cream, honey syrup, seasonal berries, and French toast croutons."

"Click your heels three times, and you’ll end up at the Ruby Slipper Cafe on the edge of the Garden District. Wake up, and rally at this boozy brunch spot, with a little vodka in your iced coffee or a little OJ in your mimosa. Go ahead, and order another round while you snack on pig candy bacon bites – your bananas foster pain perdu and crawfish & grits benedict will help you sober up."

"The family-owned restaurant with four locations around New Orleans spotlights house signature items like Chicken St. Charles, Eggs Cochon and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. Prices start around the $9 range, topping out around $15. The spot doesn’t take reservations."

"From its 19th century exterior to its glamorous chandeliers, exposed brick walls, and innovative Southern menu, this Garden District bistro is elegant yet never pretentious. Pull up to the long bar for a drink from the extensive list of wine, cocktails, and beers and a snack like onion dip with trout roe or chicken liver mousse. The concise menu also includes vegetable-forward small plates and larger dishes like smoked beef short rib with fresh turmeric, cashew, and puffed rice."

"Why not bask in the warmth of just-so lighting, holding hands over burnished wood tables while slurping oysters from the polished marble bar.?. Art is everywhere, gilded mirrors too repose against exposed brick walls, more elements to inspire conversation and canoodling. This French sweet spot in the Eliza Jane Hotel, with its inviting courtyard wine bar, delivers a true brasserie menu - no Creole influence here - from frites to escargot to foie."

"Book a table for two at this classic French brasserie right off Magazine Street. At Couvant they but a southern spin on French classics and keep it classy with chic accents and spiffy touches. Enjoy dishes that are perfect for sharing, such as fresh oysters, foie gras terrine and mussels."

"Skate a la grenobloise features a sauce of brown butter, lemon, parsley and capers. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun."

"Local music fans, neighborhood drinkers, and curious tourists all come to see one of the city's favorite sons, Kermit Ruffins, in action at his namesake bar. Inside has the feeling of a tricked-out family basement, but with Mardi Gras colored tiling. The drinks are cheap, the food is (often) free, and the music flows like the lifeblood of the Seventh Ward."

"Before visiting New Orleans for the third time last fall, I binge-watched the HBO series Treme on Amazon Prime. The show is named after the neighborhood north of the French Quarter, where jazz music was born in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Several of the lead characters are musicians; viewers are treated to a lot of terrific music."

"Are you looking for a great place to watch live entertainment around New Orleans, Louisiana?. If so, you should head on over to Kermit's Treme Mother in Law..."

"You can see the second-best weekly show in town – the Soul Rebels at Le Bon Temps (4801 Magazine St.) every Thursday Night. Can’t make it on Thursday?. Then stop by on Friday for free oysters starting at 7:00pm until they’re gone."

"We stopped by for a drink before catching our flights back home. This is going to be one of our stops the next time we come. We had a great conversation ..."

"St. James Cheese Company is a gourmet artisan cheese shop that also happens to do a very good lunch/light dinner. Located on Prytania in the Garden District and in the Warehouse district at 641 Tchoupitoulas close to the convention center, St. James is a locals' fave with good reason. Besides all things fromage, including regular cheese tastings, this beloved cheese shop features sandwiches like duck confit banh mi, classic Cuban, burrata salad, charcuterie, and even a cheese bar for nibbling and small bites."

"Cheese lovers rejoice, because St. James Cheese Company is the perfect place to indulge in a gooey grilled cheese, delicious salad, and a glass of wine or beer. I love their pimento cheese!. They also stock gourmet groceries, making this the perfect place to pick up afternoon snacks or picnic supplies."

"A local favorite in New Orleans, St. James Cheese Company has an extensive, high-end array of fromage. Visit St. James at either their uptown or Warehouse District venues for a few artisanal goods—and grab a sandwich to go while you’re there."

"One of the favorite New Orleans food places for casual dining, Sassafras restaurant has been serving delicious food for two decades. The Sassafras restaurant serves cuisines like Southern and American with comfort food. They specialise in serving authentic New Orleans flavour in a comfortable ambience."

"201 Baronne St., Suite B; 6600 Franklin Ave., Suite B4, (504) 288-3939; www.sassafrascreolekitchen.com. St. Roch seafood pasta features sauteed crawfish tails and Gulf shrimp over angel hair pasta with cream sauce. Reservations accepted."

"Spa Reyna began operations on December 22, 2009, and has been going strong ever since their opening. Come by and let their superior staff care for you."

"Herbsaint offers French and Italian cuisine with Southern influences. Although there are some Italian meals featured on the menu, the restaurant is more influenced by French cuisine. Chef Donald Link creates French classic dishes such as duck leg confit and steak and frites, and he gives French dishes Southern twists."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user dave used under CC BY 2.0. This fancy and upscale French restaurant with elegant décor and air space was established in 2000 on the historic street of Charles Avenue. The restaurant offers a unique blend of Southern-French flavors with a tinge of Italian."

"Restaurateur Donald Link’s flagship restaurant is open for dine-in, takeout, and curbside pickup, Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday 5:30 to 10 p.m."

"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."

"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."

"A Louisiana drum fillet is blackened in a cast-iron skillet and served with crabmeat-chipotle compote, potatoes and vegetables. Reservations recommended."