10 Best Local Restaurants in New Orleans

Neyow's is an authentic Creole restaurant that serves a variety of Southern-inspired dishes and cocktails. Located in the Mid-City area, the menu items are influenced by the owners’ family Creole recipes, and the staff is committed to excellent service to make everyone feel welcome. Some of the menu highlights include char-grilled oysters, gumbo, and crawfish balls as starters, southern fried chicken and shrimp creole as entrees, a variety of salads and sandwiches, and a wide selection of po' boys with seafood or meat. If you want to sample some of everything, try the Neyow’s Extravaganza Dinner for two

Mais Arepas is a contemporary Colombian restaurant that specialises in arepas and other traditional fare. The arepa, a type of sandwich with ground maize dough, is the most abundant item on the menu. The restaurant is a area spot just off Lee Circle. Mais Arepas serves a variety of innovative takes on the arepa, such as Colombian-style pulled pork with plantains and cottage cheese or the reina with shredded chicken and avocado. The sides are all Colombian-inspired as well. You could also get delicious desserts like tres leches, caramel flan, and fresas con crema, a dish of strawberries in dark rum sauce with whipped cream.

Bevi Seafood Co. is a area seafood market and restaurant that boasts seasonal New Orleans’ seafood. The restaurant has locations in Metairie and Mid-City areas with seating areas and a seafood market with locally sourced crawfish, crab, shrimp, and oysters. Along with the fresh seafood, Bevi Seafood Co. is a popular spot for made-from-scratch po' boys with ingredients like slow roast beef and smoked ham. You could also get made-to-order hot platters with seafood and meat, such as barbecue gulf shrimp.

1000 Figs is a restaurant based on a popular falafel food lorry that serves Mediterranean favourites. Located on Bayou Street, the restaurant is a local hotspot for vegetarian fare like hummus, baba ghanoush, and lentil soup. You’ll have a wide variety of options to choose from on the menu, beginning with lacto-fermented veggies and marinated olives for starters and falafel platters or spiced chicken platters for entrees. If you’re dining with a large group, 1000 Figs offers “feasts” that include a sampling of falafels or meze to try a bit of everything.

Venezia is a family-friendly Italian restaurant that serves simple, old-school dishes like pasta and pizza. Located on Carrollton Avenue, Venezia is well known for its delicious down-home Italian food and personalised service in a casual atmosphere. The menu is extensive and offers a variety of different options, from seafood stuffed mushrooms to spinach and artichoke dip. For entrees, you can have classics like spaghetti with meatballs or lasagne, or try something more adventurous like aubergine Vatican, mufaleta, or fresh fish Cynthia.

Barrow’s Catfish is a historic restaurant that’s renowned for its delicious fried catfish. Originally known as the Barrow’s Shady Inn, Barrow’s Catfish was opened in 1943 and gained a reputation for the best fish in the area. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Barrow’s Catfish moved to its current location on Earhart Boulevard and grew from a small restaurant to a legendary local spot. The restaurant also expanded its menu to include other Southern dishes, such as barbecue shrimp, charbroiled oysters, po' boys, seafood platters, and of course, catfish.

Piece of Meat is a nose-to-tail butcher shop and restaurant that’s focused on serving locally-farmed meats that use humane methods. Located on Bienville Street, Piece of Meat is a local favourite for both butcher meats and delicious dining options. You can pick up all kinds of smoked, ready-to-cook, and deli meats fro Piece of Meat. You could also get sides like traditional stuffing, gumbo, gravy, biscuits, bakery pies, and prepared, stuffed meats. The restaurant also has a shop with exclusive merchandise.

Dooky Chase Restaurant is a down-home restaurant owned by legendary Creole chef Leah Chase. The historic restaurant on Orleans Avenue was famous for its soul food and became a hub for civil rights leaders during the 1960s. The owners also worked to build an extensive collection of African-American art, which adorns the walls of the restaurant. During the week, Dooky’s offers lunch buffets with New Orleans staples, such as hot sausage and red beans, and Creole favourites like po' boys and gumbo. On Friday and Saturday nights, the menu expands and includes dinner dishes like shrimp linguine, fried chicken, and stuffed shrimp.