Best Restaurants, Must Try Places 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!"

"This steadfast, stately French Quarter eatery has been an integral part of the neighborhood's high-end restaurant scene since 1946, with a breakfast that rolls straight into the lunch hour and on to dinner. Dine in Brennan's fabulous courtyard to enjoy its perfect French Quarter setting, where chef Ryan Hacker offers a wide range of delightful Creole dishes. Favorites include the turtle soup, smoked scallops and garlic shrimp, and everyone has to have at least one bite of bananas Foster for dessert, the dish that was invented here, made tableside with a fiery show."

"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."

"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, ..."

"French QuarterJean Galatoire founded this Bourbon St institution in 1905, and it continues to be one of the best places to eat (and to be seen) in New Orleans. This is the place to bust out your finest suit and enjoy some turtle soup au sherry, eggs Sardou, or baked oysters."

"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."

"GW Fins’s celebration of everything seasonal, fresh, and from the water is contagious, with chef Michael Nelson constantly churning out specials, and specialties, that convey the love and care brought to each dish. The white linen French Quarter restaurant adapted quickly during the pandemic, offering dishes that were takeout-appropriate as well as quarts of Nelson’s beloved sauces, soups, and sides; offering delivery for the first time ever; and selling fresh, uncooked seafood from its supplier. That dedication to its product — lobster, fish collars, sheepshead, sea bass, and more — and diners make GW Fins a standout."

"Head to GW Fins's, where entrées rotate daily based on the supply from local, sustainably-minded seafood suppliers. Expect both chilled and hot appetizers like tuna tartare and lobster dumplings as well as main dishes that range from local grouper to sea scallops, halibut, and black bass, all with pristine white tablecloths, impeccable service, and the backdrop of the Quarter as you dine."

"Dat Dog has mastered the art of gourmet hot dogs growing from a small hot dog stand in 2011 to a critically acclaimed restaurant with four locations across New Orleans. They offer many creative hot dog experience’s but what you must try here is the Crawfish Etoufee Dog which is made with crawfish sausage, sour cream, onions, tomato’s and creole mustard. To be honest, there are a few other must eat’s at Dat Dog so let’s mention some of the other incredible options; The Guinness Special (Irish Guinness sausage, andouille sauce, onions, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, yellow mustard), and the Rougarou (alligator sausage, grilled onions, creole mustard, tomato’s, jalapeno’s, BBQ sauce, and bacon)."

"Dat Dog wants to put a smile on your face with its affordable Irish Guinness sausage, topped with andouille sauce, onions, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and yellow mustard. The artfully-crafted hot dogs, burgers, and chicken combine the soul of Louisiana with the sophistication of Europe. You can choose from over 30 available toppings at no extra charge and enjoy Dat Dog’s comfort food with a handcrafted beer or cocktail on the beautiful balcony or sun-splashed garden for a very low cost!"

"Fulfilling the childhood nostalgia of eating a yummy hotdog cooked right on the grill on a summer day is Dat Dog. In multiple locations scattered across New Orleans is hot dog (with a twist) heaven with every kind of hot dog imaginable: crawfish dogs, alligator dogs, Slovenian dogs, plus over 30 different toppings. For the non-meat eaters, Dat Dog also has vegetarian and vegan options (chipotle dog, eggplant dog, vegan sausage dog)."

"Locals know this unpretentious corner seafood market and restaurant as one of the best places for quality crawfish; step up to the counter and order your feast, which comes with a thorough and patient tutorial—when the season ends, fear not, you’ve always got local shrimp and oysters to fall back on. Lurking on the seafood-focused menu is one of the city’s finest non-seafood po boys, the Cochon de Lait, overstuffed with pecan smoked pork, spicy Coleslaw, pickled peppers and a zipped up mayonnaise made with charred onion. (There’s a reason why they leave a giant roll of paper towels on your table.)"

"Crawfish is synonymous with the city of New Orleans so naturally consuming this insect of the ocean is a must in NOLA.There are quite a few really good places to get your crawfish fix however Bevi Seafood Co would have to be one of the best places for seafood. This neighborhood seafood market has locations in Mid-City and Metaire and offers live and boiled crawfish throughout crawfish season (December through June)."

"1820 Dickory Ave., Suite A, Harahan, (504) 533-9515; www.headsandtailsrestaurant.com. Blackened or sauteed redfish is topped with crabmeat and lemon beurre blanc and served with mashed potatoes and asparagus."

"A Haiku roll includes spicy tuna, snow crab and asparagus topped with salmon and tuna and served with vegetables, ponzu and spicy mayonnaise."

"Flouting “California style sushi,” Metairie’s Kanno proffers the usual, along with an entire section of skinny rolls sans rice and soy paper. Available in half and full roll portions, these pared down rolls include the likes of the Elvis roll (named for the chef), made with salmon, avocado, and both snow and blue crab, and the protein roll, with spicy tuna, snow crab, avocado and salmon. A hefty sake menu includes sparkling sake, though it’s not always featured."

"At the very heart of the French Quarter on Bourbon Street there’s a paved courtyard park celebrating New Orleans’ musical giants with plaques, artwork and other commemorative displays. Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Chris Owens, Al Hirt and Louis Prima are all honoured here, among others. A constant stream of musicians put on free performances in this laid-back environment with lots of shade, and you can grab coffee and a Cajun speciality like crawfish omelette at Cafe Beignet."

"What is particularly noteworthy on Bourbon Street is New Orleans Musical Legends, a cozy park with live jazz music flowing daily. There’s outdoor seating available for you to enjoy the music and it’s connected to Café Beignet (the BEST beignets), if you’d like a snack along with your musical enjoyment."

"One of the most popular spaces for public gatherings along Bourbon Street that doesn't involve the usual tourist schlock and frozen hurricanes. Free jazz sets are performed every day from 10 a.m. till close, and families congregate here to enjoy them."

"French QuarterArchitecture enthusiasts will quickly and easily fall in love with New Orleans, and for good reason; the city is prized for its distinctive architectural style. And nowhere will you find a better example of this than at Madame John’s Legacy, a primo example of Louisiana’s 18th-century architectural design, and an official National Historic Landmark."

"One of the oldest houses in the French Quarter, Madame John’s Legacy is an example of eighteenth-century Louisiana Creole architecture. The house was raised high enough to withstand frequent flooding of the area and has ventilating features to alleviate the subtropical heat. It also managed to survive the great fire of 1794."

"(Don’t worry you’ll be going to Cafe du Monde during your 3 days in New Orleans too!) Stand in line at Cafe Beignet and order your powdered sugary french donut goodness with a coffee. The local choice is always getting a cafe au lait, but we both prefer our coffee black."

"BUT, I’m glad you made it to Sucre and Cafe du Monde, because those really are awesome!! josypheen April 19, 2018 at 4:49 am - Reply"

"Serving fresh food and good vibes, this mid-city eatery has upped its hours and is now serving clean eating options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Located in the same building as Swan River Yoga, the folks at Good Karma offer visitors homemade vegan plates, fruit smoothies, fair trade organic coffee, and house-brewed tea. Our go-to dish is the Good Karma plate, made fresh and served daily."

"Inside of Mid-City’s Swan City Yoga, Good Karma is the place to go for vegan coffee. Lynn Lalka notes they make their own almond milk (though you can also request coconut cream or organic soy) and they use organic syrups. “Plus, they’re delicious!"

"701 Poydras St., Suite 130, (504) 412-8326; www.empirestatedeli.com. A Bronx Bomber features Boar’s Head Genoa salami, pepperoni, sweet capocollo, sharp picante provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. Pepperoncini peppers are an optional addition."