New Orleans is just one of those places that you must visit, especially if you’re a lover of food. We’ve been a few times, and it’s always a memorable experience. New Orleans wins for having the best food I’ve ever experienced in the states. Restaurants, cafes, food trucks- we were never let down. Like the food, the culture in New Orleans is vibrant and full of life. There is live music wherever you go, during all times of the day, and people take great pride in being from here. Here are just some of the treasures we came across during our trip in 2012.
The Rum House is a Carribean Taqueria…what does this mean? Well, they have a plethora of Carribean-inspired plates, many with an added Mexican twist. The extensive menu has everything from jerk, curries, roti, patties, quesadillas, tacos, and more. The dessert was out of this world. We enjoyed the Chocolate Molten Fritters and the Banana Bread pudding. Seriously amazing stuff.
Cafe Abyssinia is a family-owned Ethiopian restaurant that has a very down-to-earth chilled vibe. They offer plenty of vegetarian options, and plates are meant to be shared family style. The food was incredibly tasty and affordable.
This daytime diner is located on Magazine Street and has tons of great Southern dishes, many of them suitable for vegetarians. I went out to explore the backyard, and found chickens roaming around. Definitely that kind of vibe.
We hit up Dragon’s Den for some dancing. We sweated it out for a few hours, then hit the streets to listen to live music.
We came across this amazing spot for live music. It’s located in the historic Frenchmen Strip, and each night they feature different musicians, DJ’s, and artists.
Cafe Du Monde is a coffee shop in the French Quarter that is popular for its beignets- a deep-fried French pastry. It’s been around since 1862 and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Definitely consider visiting when that sweet tooth kicks in.
If you’re feeling fancy, Commanders is where you want to be. They offer Creole-inspired dishes, and have live jazz for brunch. A perfect excuse to dress up, enjoy great food, and if you’re up to it- sip on a cute cocktail.
Drago’s is a restaurant known for its seafood, and more specifically, for its charbroiled oysters. I am not lying when I tell you these are the best oysters I have ever had. We even went a second time during this trip for more.
I’m from a small town outside of New Orleans called Springfield (about 45 mins away). I try to head to New Orleans as much as possible throughout the year, mainly on my anniversary. Erin Rose is a tiny hole in the wall bar on Conti st. that has awesome frozen Irish coffee, with a kick. We love to stop there in the morning, then head down to Royal st. to The Court of Two Sisters buffet. Their Sunday jazz brunch is awesome, my favorite thing being their Eggs Benedict topped with a crab meat stuffing and hollandaise.
The best meal I’ve ever had in New Orleans was at Jacques-Imo’s. It’s probably one of my favorite meals of all time, actually. Another favorite spot is Green Goddess, which is more vegetarian friendly than Jacques-Imo’s (and where you must eat sweet potato biscuits if they have them).
I went in 2013 (?) with my boyfriend who grew up in New Orleans. We went to Stanley’s (near the square, I think) and had the most AMAZING and well priced bunch! So for a fancy dinner we decided to go to their ‘brother’ restaurant Stella’s. It also had wonderful food- but with a crazy price tag we weren’t prepared for- over a $100 per plate! Not a big deal if you pre-budget for it, but it was a shocker for us!
Juan’s Flying Burrito on Magazine Street…fun, funky vibe, cute garden patio in the back, amazing fresh food, huge portions and yummy margaritas. I tried convincing my sister to get married there;)