50 Best American Restaurants in New Orleans

“It’s dark, it’s cool, and they’ll play 60’s/70’s rock gems as the house music. The food is pretty good too. This is my favorite spot I’ve found after several years living in The Quarter. The vibe is perfect. Its the darkness and the music that really makes me not want to leave. It’s rock’n’roll without being a dive. Oh yeah, did I say the food is pretty good too?“

“Bob Boudreau and I were in NOLA for 9 nights. Three of the nights we had reservations at other places with family. Our 1st night we looked up and found Jewel of the South. We loved it so much. we asked our nephew, his medical school advisor and his wife to join us. All three lived in NOLA and had never been here. All 5 of us would definitely go back in a heart beat. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great drinks. Great staff. GREAT ALL AROUND! FIVE STARS for Jewel of the South.“

“We were on vacation for one of our kids wedding The hotel we were staying at is located just in front of the restaurant What an amazing find to have this kind of food and wonderful atmosphere right around the corner of the hotel in walking distance Less than 5 minutes Can’t say enough about the staff from the hostesses to the servers and the wonderful chefs The 1st time we sat at the bar to watch the food being made which helped with selection 2nd time we sat at a table because we knew what we wanted Overall experience with my family coming to the restaurant is you’re missing out on one of the best kept secrets Absolutely delicious and wonderful meal From start to finish My Family & I want to say thank you so much for taking care of us and making us feel at home“

“The food was not what I expected, it was hot, fresh, and beautifully presented.“

“The fancy drinks 🍹 are titillating and the appetizers are fantastic. However, the entrees were not impressive. The chicken was served undercooked and the shrimp dish was overcooked and very greasy. Ambiance is what you pay for here and the delicate mix of intoxicating flavors in their cocktails! Staff is very friendly!“

“Delicious and charming! Go!!“

“The hands of God himself made this food!!! 11000/10“

“Amazing food! Hip vibe! Avacado toast was the best!!“

“My husband and I were passing through and stopped for lunch. OMG! I miss good BBQ and this hit the spot. Highly recommend. The staff is amazing, they even brought my dog a bowl of water. I will be back when passing through again.“

“Most amazing staff and the wine and food pairing recommendations were perfect.“

“Wonderful food in a beautiful setting with great service!“

“I’m a local who has dined at many N.O. restaurants and Cafe Amelie is my favorite. Charming atmosphere and THE BEST food and drinks!“

“Absolutely excellent all around. Everyone at our table loved what they ordered. The duck special was fantastic. For a memorable meal, you can’t go wrong.“

“Love this place! Great cocktails and food.“

“Had to visit as I heard this was one of the best places to get donuts and coffee. Came here on our last night after dinner and got the espresso with ice cream and a shake along with a cinnamon roll to share with my honey. The shake was a perfect consistency. Then came here again the day we were leaving out as they have Koloches. Haven’t seen those since we lived in Texas. It was pretty good but that Vietnamese coffee 🤤🤤🤤 it was soo good. I’m craving it now as I write this. Then got some donuts for the road. All very good. Highly recommend this place.“

“Came for a snack, left spiritually changed.

Tuna crudo? Basically ocean sashimi with a gym membership. Calamari? Crunchy, spicy, and possibly illegal in three states. Redfish dip smoked me instead. Sriracha cauliflower? Cauli-Pow! Fried green tomatoes slapped harder than a grandma with a flyswatter. Short ribs fell apart like my diet. Gnocchi? Little pasta pillows from carb heaven. Bananas Foster crème brûlée? Set my soul on fire and caramelized it.

Would sell a kidney to eat here again.“

“1st time going 9/22/2024 food was good,will be returning,I had grits,eggs,bacon,toast and some good Lemonade“

“We visited Russell’s Marina Grill while in New Orleans because my son is a huge fan of a musician whose family owns the restaurant. We already expected great food, but what we got was an experience we’ll never forget. Not only was the meal absolutely phenomenal—fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with love—but the hospitality we received was above and beyond. My son got to meet the musician’s brother, who manages the restaurant, and he even came out to take a picture with us. My son was thrilled. But then the moment got even better: we learned that only three signed hats had been left at the restaurant by his favorite artist—and my son was gifted one. The look on his face said it all. It was a dream come true, and a moment he’ll carry with him forever. The staff was kind, warm, and genuinely cared about creating a great experience for their guests. From the food to the atmosphere to the people—Russell’s isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a place full of heart. Thank you for making our visit to New Orleans unforgettable. We’ll be back!“

“Creative and well executed. Lovely wait staff.“

“Absolutely delicious dinner, dessert, and a lovely conversation with Kelly Bopp, Granne Guice, and WJK4 at the newly reopened Gautreau’s Restaurant. Make your reservations early! 🦃 🧡🎁❤️🎄💚“

“Amazing food and perfect vibes! The drum was rich and flavorful, easily the best dish I’ve had in a while. The atmosphere made the whole night feel special. Highly recommend!“

“The Best Bartender in New Orleans!

Let me tell y’all something — Olivia is hands down the BEST bartender in the city of New Orleans! From the moment we walked in, her energy was unmatched. Her customer service? A1. She was friendly, professional, and knew exactly how to keep the vibe right.

Whether it was a custom cocktail or just good conversation, Olivia delivered every time. You could tell she takes pride in what she does, and it shows in how she treats every single customer. I highly recommend checking her out next time you’re at the bar. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!“

“Absolutely Amazing! One of my favorite places“

“Can one of my most beautiful experiences? Louisiana delicious food and very friendly people very kind it really was wonderful to celebrate our anniversary in this place.“

“Amazing!!! Wow. We were recommended to come here by out Uber driver and I am SO SO glad we did!! I had the Philly Steak and my friend had the Crawfish stuffed. Wow. Is all I can say. The flavor was amazing!! I would eat here everyday if I lived here!! I HIGHLY recommend making a stop here.“

“Craft cocktails the expert old fashion way“

“Great service and food! Staff were really personable and went above and beyond!“

“Had lunch there today for the first time and the food was absolutely delicious!“

“Very good food. Service was wonderful“

“Stellar food, service, and atmosphere!“

“My first trip to NOLA I fell in love with the food I got from here…. Made me want to move from IL to LA. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Betsy’s. Even got to meet a few Leo’s“

“Delicious dog! 🤤 And the chicken tenders for my daughter were fresh.“

“Great unique cocktails, relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable staff.“

“Wonderful wonderful place to have a pastry, speciality coffee, and delicious breakfast! (They also have lunch!) We had some of their speciality coffee, the BearCat breakfast, pastry’s, and the breakfast burrito. So. Good. The whole staff works hard together and I loved the overall experience. Great location, too. The vibe today was fun! We can’t wait to go back.“

“Incredibly friendly staff, great drinks & happy hour deals. The food was delicious - kala was our favorite appetizer and was half off for happy hour!! Fried porkchop, collard greens, fried green tomato BLT, and macaroni were all incredible. We will be back!!“

“Amazing restaurant. Thanks Francesca and staff for a great meal.“

“Great food and great service! The owner is very helpful. We own a small dive bar in MS and we have used many of the ideas that Cooter Browns does! This is a stop for us when we are in town.“

“Only open the days I work 😕“

“Oysters and pita/crab dip were delicious! Service was a little rough. My husband got his oysters before I got my meal- he had that and his drink finished before I received my food. We tried to be patient because they were somewhat busy, but watched our server take off her apron and leave before ever coming back to our table after drop off. We had 2 other waiters and what looked like management walk by several times, and even though I tried to get their attention, never looked our way or stopped. Finally made eye contact with a gal working closer to the front who came over and was very sweet, apologizing as our waitress had just quit. She brought out my food that'd been sitting there for quite a while, so the muffalettas weren't great, coleslaw warm. She never came back or reassigned someone to us, no one checked on us for drink refills, etc. Had to flag her down to place another food and drink order, again because no one else was helping us. After that, zero service, no one stopped at our table to check on us, and nothing 'taken care of' for the mishap. We came at a time where we were able to see the end of one band and start of a new- both fantastic, so that was good. Would recommend based on food and music, maybe not so much service.“

“Best breakfast my wife and I have had in a restaurant ever! There Bennie’s are awesome. Can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu! We sat at the bar and the bartender was great!“

“Fantastic food and atmosphere“

“The staff at One11 Hotel and Batture Bar were incredibly accommodating. Their professionalism and expertise was extremely helpful during the setup and execution of my wife’s surprise party! The loading dock proved to be an excellent location for a party! The outside area, with the pool and fire pit was incredibly beautiful. The rooms were exquisite, clean and well decorated. The bar area and the staff was great! I know all of our guests were impressed and said they will be back! Thanks again!“

“Yeah baby. Oystiz, swimpz, roazzbeef dabrie on french bread“

“Enjoyed our food, will be back“

“Today is my son's 13th birthday and he's been a hothead/heat seeker for as long as I can remember. For perspective, he finally convinced Santa after 2 years to gift him the One Chip Challenge when he was 7. Today, his special request was to eat the hottest wings we could find, so my hubby found this place online last night. It's a short drive from Metairie, so although he wanted to do the Bayou Beast Challenge, we only had time to get a to-go order with all the other birthday errands we were running. We got a 6 piece of the Bayou Beast flavored wings. The gentleman checking us out was an absolute stand up guy who was equal parts concerned and impressed when he realized the order wasn't for me, but for the short kid standing next to me who told him he didn't want or need a dipping sauce. He even offered him a birthday coke (probably as a piece offering to the gods as an apology for what was going to transpire in my bathroom later🤣). Now to the fun part. I normally do these challenges with him, but today he wanted to fly solo. So I prepped the counter for him as usual with milk, yogurt, wipes etc. When I opened the box? YALL! The smell burned my eyes and instantly gave me PTSD from when I ate Da Bomb wing in the Hot Wings Challenge last year. My newly minted teenager the proceeded to smash all 6 in 5 minutes and did it like a pro without even a sip of water. I managed to get a single bite before they disappeared and I can guarantee you, the bathroom will be your sanctuary. I would not survive more than 2 as a grown adult. Maybe he's a glutton for punishment. Maybe he's a mutant. But what I do know is my dude is determined to beat that challenge and get that shirt and picture on the wall, so we'll be back very soon!“

“This place is like going to a friends home. Great price point, down home comfort food, extraordinary service, no long waits ,great bar. We go about once a month. Definitely an institution where I always feel welcome and at home. Like going to your favorite country club visiting with good friends with no monthly dues“

“Best smoked brisket I’ve tasted in my life!! Cochin King is my new BBQ place!“

“The food was delicious however, it was a little hot in there. Still a good time.“

“This was the best meal we had our whole trip!!

Ambiance (4/5): Be sure to wait outside, behind the line on the ground, instead of walking through the door to be seated. We were told that there was no phones allowed (including taking picture/video taking)! My friend got scolded when she took pics of her food and I got yelled at when I took a video from the *outside* of the establishment. The tables are long and you may get seated with other guests. It’s dark and has a dive bar feel.
Service (4/5): They are bustling so service was a little slow. However, the waiter (from upstate new York) was a hoot and gave us the best recommendations for what to get (and not get!) Expect the staff to curse and talk without filters haha
Food (5/5): Everyone at the table was floored with their meals. I got the Coop’s Taste Plate which had a little bit of everything. The gumbo to start was packed with flavor. The fried chicken had a thin and crispy skin, moist on the inside (Get the 3 pieces if you get the main dish because some of the pieces were a little small.) creole, beans/rice, and jambalaya were all super flavorful. We couldn’t have been happier.
Friends loved the Chicken Tchoupitoulas which was juicy and to die for.“

“No one under 21 can enter this establishment! It’s a cute dive bar restaurant! We came and it was empty which for us was great! 6 of us got a table and had quick service! I love wings and these wingers were GOOD! the fried pickles were so good and so glad they didn’t come out as spears! The waiter was super friendly and attentive! Would definitely come back if in the area!“