Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Mid-City

"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."

"Visitors can pop into boutique shops, voodoo stores, art galleries, iconic restaurants like Brennan’s, be entertained by street performers, admire the architecture and wrought iron balconies, and even visit inside the historic Gallier House. You might also notice Cafe Beignet on Royal Street which some say has better beignets than Cafe du Monde. You’ll have to compare and decide for yourself. As for me, it was a toss-up."

"The birthplace of Bananas Foster, that flaming tableside dessert of bananas, rum, and brown sugar served over vanilla ice cream, is still going strong with an array of classic desserts to please the breakfast crowd. Because you should always have dessert at breakfast."

"This New Orleans stalwart provides a sophisticated reprieve from Bourbon Street’s frenetic party scene. The dining rooms are elegant, with chandeliers and mahogany, the waiters wear tuxedos and the menu features French-Creole favorites. One menu staple not to be missed are the Soufflé Potatoes, which were featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

"Galatoire’s has a tradition of serving authentic French Creole cuisine at a level that raises consistency to an art form. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: JacketPhone: +1 504-525-2021"

"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."

"Fresh fish is the star at this French Quarter fine dining establishment. As an avid fisherman, chef Tenney Flynn is meticulous when it comes to choosing the freshest product from his sources, and his entrées change daily to reflect the best catch. Whatever the preparation—wood-grilled, parmesan crusted, blackened—the flavors of the fish shine through."

"While better known for its seafood, GW Fins certainly has no shortage of vegan options for even the most finicky of eaters. Owned and operated by Gary Wollerman, GW Fins makes our ..."

"Hot dogs and cool jazz make a delicious Frenchmen Street pairing. Take a break from club-hopping to fill your belly with inventive goodness from one of the most popular cheap eats in New Orleans. Choose your sausage—traditional, crawfish, alligator, and more—then go wild with toppings ranging from blue cheese to crawfish etouffee in what Dat Dog calls “jazz improvisation on a bun.” Or let the bandmaster lead with specials like the Bacon Werewolf with Slovenian sausage and sauerkraut."

"Awash in a chill vibe, a colourful ambience of flashy colours and funky decor and displaying a down-to-earth attitude, Dat Dog is a great eatery to bring the kids. The fact that one of the kid-fave foods, hot dogs, is dominant on the menu is also encouraging. In fact, the menu is packed with hot dogs and a large inventory of crazy toppings."

"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."

"Though it only opened in 2010, High Hat Cafe has already woven itself into the fabric of the neighborhood, with its menu of Louisiana staples that give it the feel of a longtime fixture. On Burgers, Brew & ’Que, Michael described the Fried Oyster Remoulade Po’ Boy as the “most crispy, savory and preeminent po’ boy in the entire city.” Gulf oysters are coated in a cornmeal dredge, deep-fried, then tossed in a housemade remoulade that forgoes the traditional mayonnaise base in favor of vinaigrette for a tangier taste. The oysters come nestled on a classic po’ boy loaf (airy on the inside and crunchy on the outside) that’s slicked with mayonnaise and topped with lettuce and tomato."

"Located on “Pimento Cheese Row” the bar is set high for this dish adapted from the owner's family recipe. Allison Richard, chef of High Hat Café says, “The real game changer is grating your own cheese.” She adds, "Fresh garlic and Hellmann's mayonnaise—the only kind I use—round it out."

"A High Hat burger is topped with pimiento cheese and served with fries. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily."

"St. RochWhat you’re getting: Hot sausage po-boy with egg and cheeseSammy’s has some fine po-boys (including the “Ray Ray,” a favorite at Po-Boy Fest), but you’d be crazy not to consider its breakfast options, which include hot sausage on French with eggs and cheese for $3.99, which won’t terribly slim-down your wallet... or your waistline, for that matter."

"The overstuffed Ray Ray po’boy (fried chicken breast with grilled ham and Swiss) at this Gentilly neighborhood lunch spot is rightfully award winning. Fieri, however, was most thankful for the turkey with oyster stuffing and pumpkin bread pudding."

"3000 Elysian Fields Ave., (504) 947-0675; www.sammysfood.com. A Ray Ray sandwich is fried chicken topped with ham and Swiss cheese on Leidenheimer bread."

"I am officially, 100% percent ripping that off,” Fieri told Avery’s owners Christy and Justin Pitard after devouring their kicked-up Fried Potato Salad. That’s just one of their twists on local classics. Another featured was the couple’s riff on Oysters Rockefeller in—you guessed it!"

"215 Bourbon St., (504) 335-3932; www.galatoires33barandsteak.com. Goute 33 includes Gulf shrimp remoulade and six deviled eggs with toppings including smoked trout, crab ravigote and ghost pepper caviar. Reservations accepted."

"Inspired to make from-scratch artisanal gelatos and sorbettos with an authentic Italian taste, La Divina Cade e Gelateria is an authentic Sicilian café located on the historic French Quarter. Opened in February 2007, the locally-owned gelataria, which opens everyday of the week from 8:30a.m. to 11:00p.m., crafts frozen delights with all natural, local and organic ingredients."

"Enjoy the city skyline and partake in its luxury at NOPSI Hotel’s rooftop bar, Above the Grid. Savor chilled drinks and creative, healthy fare. Locals are welcome to the rooftop bar every day after 4 p.m."

"Bringing a bar for those who like to mix work and play to New Orleans, the Business Bar opened at the end of February with cocktails, classic gastropub fare, and a vibrant atmosphere. Owners ​Jade Newman and Jessica Robinson are New Orleans natives that founded the restaurant to fill the void for a place that is conducive for people to get work done while enjoying quality food and drinks, even if it’s early (especially given an increasingly remote work reality). Small plates of truffle fries and fried Brussels sprouts, classic Caesar salads with grilled chicken or shrimp, flatbreads, and tacos are all available for takeout, too."

"The new Business Bar on Freret is a bar/restaurant targeted to those who like to mix work and play — here, you don’t have to worry about being a buzzkill by whipping out your laptop, or wrapping up a day of remote work while sipping on a cocktail. Owners ​Jade Newman and Jessica Robinson wanted to combine high-quality food and drinks with such a setting, and the drinks are a highlight indeed: seasonal spritzes, martinis, and frozen drinks, as well as a menu of “rise and grind” cocktails that include caffeinated options. View this post on Instagram"

"Located in Mid-City, Mick’s Irish Pub is a laid-back neighborhood bar with pool, ping pong, darts and video games. It’s pet-friendly, and the regulars here rave about the friendly service and original New Orleans vibe. The bar food also can’t be beat, thanks to Rum and the Lash (a tiny kitchen with food from Chef Michael Gulotta of MoPho) that moved here from Finn McCool’s."

"A few blocks from the French Quarter, St. Augustine has been the gravity center of the Tremé neighborhood since the 1840s. New Orleans’ large and vibrant community of free people of color was involved in the church from its beginnings. Often called “Creoles of color,” these property owners, artisans, businesspeople and professionals were several generations removed from slavery and sometimes were slave owners themselves."

"Explore the Garden District and Buckner’s Mansion The Garden District is where you’ll find the epic mansions. You want to walk along here and take photos, even sign up for a tour if you’re interested enough. Buckner’s Mansion is where American Horror Story: Covent was filmed, so you can put that into your GPS."

"The Garden district is a nice neighborhood with beautiful architecture and breathtaking mansions. Celebrities like Sandra Bullock, and Brad Pitt own houses in the Garden district. I did both the Cemetery and Garden district tour with Tour New Orleans which lasted for 2 hours."

"Another choice is to stay in the Garden District close to St. Charles Avenue. The streetcar makes it quick and easy to get to the French Quarter, not to mention how much quieter it is!"

"Get your dose of nature at one of New Orleans’ two large parks.City Park is larger than Central Park in New York and is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as several gardens.Audubon Parkboasts the Audubon Zoo and is easily accessible by street car. Either way, both are excellent options for a relaxing afternoon."

"Gracing the main entrance to City Park since 1911, this traditional fine-arts museum draws from classic Greek architecture, with several…"

"Right in the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum contains a huge collection of apothecary jars with original ingredients, medical instruments, surgical tools, and much more. There is information about different questionable medical practices used over the years for people who don’t get freaked out too easily. You can learn more about voodoo potions, opium, and different ingredients used in medicines in the past."

"In 1804 the State of Louisiana passed a law requiring a licensing exam for would-be pharmacists. The first person to pass this exam was one Louis J. Dufilho Jr. , becoming the first licensed pharmacist in the United States. You can drop by his premises on Chartres Street in the French Quarter, where stacks of strange remedies line the walls in historic apothecary bottles."

"– One of the most unique museums in New Orleans is the Pharmacy Museum. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4 pm with a free guided tour at 1 pm (except for Saturday)."