Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Destrehan

"If you’re off to a slower start or you’re in New Orleans for the weekend, Brunch at Commander’s Palace is unmissable. Located in the Garden District among the houses and mansions of the first Americans who settled the city in the early 19th century, the upper floors of the restaurant offers some clues to its life before it was a world-famous, James Beard award-winning eatery. (Reservations highly recommended!)"

"The Garden District mansion that houses the world-famous Commander’s Palace is an odd-looking, bright aqua affair; some jokingly call the style of architecture "Victorian Cuckoo." Inside, the style bends a knee to more traditional fine dining, with a genteel, buttoned-down clientele and an enforced dress code. Staples here include the turtle soup, gumbo du jour, and pecan-crusted gulf fish."

"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."

"Famous for breakfast, Brennan’s stuns all day long under the leadership of owner Ralph Brennan and head chef Ryan Hacker. Six years ago, the historic restaurant went through a massive, multi-million dollar renovation that extended the bar area and brought the whole place up to date after ownership changed hands. No longer the old dowager of the French Quarter, this restaurant is now relevant and dazzling."

"A cornerstone of the French Quarter and one of the city’s great dining institutions, the iconic restaurant has been wowing diners for nearly seven decades. Though it features white tablecloths and dapperly dressed staff, it’s still fit for families. Save room for the Banana’s Foster, which was invented there, because it involves a fiery tableside preparation that will awe everyone."

"It’s hard to miss the large, pink restaurant on Royal Street in the French Quarter. Brennan’s is where the iconic dessert, bananas Foster, originated—granting the venue much-earned glory. Here, the signature flaming dish is prepared tableside."

"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."

"The recipe for fun at Galatoire’s: show up early for the chance of a Friday lunch table on the ground floor; ask for a waiter named Bryan; ease in with a Sazerac and souffle potatoes; trust the server to bring you whatever fish looks best; and revive yourself with cafe brulot. The people-watching alone is worth the effort."

"Friday lunchtime is the best time to visit this revered institution for its traditional Creole cuisine. That’s when local ladies in big hats and gloves and men wearing bowties (without irony) buy copious bottles... Top ChoiceAsian in Mid-City, Bayou St John & City Park"

"While most New Orleans seafood restaurants take a hyper-local approach to fill in the catch of the day, chef-owner Tenney Flynn at GW Fin casts a global net. The French Quarter restaurant impresses with quality and variety, including fish caught in waters around the world as well as right here in the Gulf. Chef de cuisine Michael Nelson's menu changes daily, depending on what's fresh and seasonal, but you might feast on King crab from Alaska, sea scallop crudo with local caviar and Scottish salmon with jalapeno glaze."

"This 20-year-old success story is an elegant, old-fashioned dining room with wooden posts and beams – reminiscent of a ship’s masts. It has lashings of sea-blue and metallic, marine-inspired art. The menu is a mix of trad southern hospitality (lobster bisque, red snapper with okra) and international (lionfish ceviche, tuna tacos); co-founder chef Tenney Finn is so knowledgeable about the fruits of the sea that he’s known as the fishmonger of the South."

"If you enjoy seafood dishes with a bit of international flair, then GW Fins is a good option. On the menu, you will find dishes featuring seafood from everywhere from the Gulf to New Zealand. The restaurant is co-owned by Gary Wollerman and Chef Tenney Flynn."

"Combining the soul of Louisiana with the sophistication of Europe, Dat Dog’s artfully crafted cuisine of Hot Dogs, sausages (including vegetarian, vegan and fish), burgers and chicken (fried, grilled or tossed in buffalo sauce) are a thing of beauty. The over 30 toppings available at no extra charge allow you to create your very own “jazz improvisation in a bun."

"Now with four 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."

"601 Frenchmen St., (504) 309-3362; 3336 Magazine St., (504) 324-2226; 5030 Freret St., (504) 899-6883; www.datdog.com. A crawfish etouffee dog is a crawfish sausage topped with crawfish etouffee, onions, tomatoes, mustard and sour cream. Reservations accepted for large parties."

"Galaxie has been serving up tacos in this slick former service station since late 2019, and its inviting outdoor space now makes a very good dining room. Galaxie imports corn from Oaxaca, grinding it in house for hand-pressed tortillas. These provides a delicious base for fillings like barbacoa, al pastor (sliced from its traditional vertical rotisserie), grilled shrimp and gulf drum."

"This taco filling station in Bywater has a spacious covered patio out front facing St. Claude Avenue. Galaxie’s handsomely restored gas station, originally designed by Walter Teague, offers a fabulous setting for a taqueria inspired by Mexico City street fare. Try the al pastor tacos, pork shoulder roasted with pineapple and topped with cilantro and jalapeno."

"Siberia, 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 265-8855; www.siberialounge.com. Beef stroganoff is a stew with mushrooms, peas and carrots in creamy sauce served with noodles, fries or potato salad and a roll."

"Address: 801 Royal StreetNew Orleans, LA 70116Phone: (504) 581-0801Website. Set in the heart of the French Quarter, the cafe features a vampire-themed atmosphere and gothic style decor, inspired by the mystique of New Orleans. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, the menu includes salads, seafood, steaks, and southern classics like shrimp and grits."

"Bittersweet Confections is the go-to bakery in New Orleans for cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and tarts. They make everything and will customize for any event AND everything tastes delicious. You can also pop into their store on Magazine Street, a popular shopping street with hundreds of boutiques, for a quick treat."

"At the French market you can get a small individualized King Cake complete with the toy baby for good luck!. This tiny cake was the perfect size for the 4 of us to share."

"A little more than a year old, Wishing Town Bakery Cafe took over the former Morning Call on Severn Avenue, neighbors to the complimentary Sharetea Nola. While also a bakery, Guangzhou-born couple Vivi and Kevin Zheng version of Chinese specialties are some of the best in town. An extensive array of dim sum and cold noodle salads round out a menu of beautiful cakes and pastries, perfect for a celebration."

"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."

"Housed in a low-slung purple building in Treme, you are obliged to place your order at a bulletproof glass window within. No worries, you will have plenty of company and even massive catering-sized orders roll up magically fast. The fried wings are addictive ($5.39 for 8 plus a side of fries or shrimp fried rice and a side salad) and the yakamein ($5.49) is spot on, too."

"The best place to find this street food is really at neighborhood corner joints like Manchu Food Store and Chinese Kitchen, a small bright-purple cinderblock building under the bridge on Claiborne."