Here are some of our favorite new additions to New Orleans' legendary dining scene, in alpha order because it would be too hard to pick a favorite!
Blues and barbecue in the heart of the Big Easy - what could be better? This new French Quarter restaurant and music venue serves up the kind of soul food that made the South famous. Pulled pork and ribs, wings and New Orleans specialties like shrimp po-boys are on the dinner menu, and for those of you looking to cut loose, the music calendar is packed with sounds of the South. Hear the BB King's Blues Club All-Stars perform daily and nightly, often with legendary local guests that have included the likes of Cyril Neville and zydeco icon Chubby Carrier.
The Company Burger (Additional New Location in South Market District)
The skilled chefs at The Company Burger maintain a keep-it-simple philosophy. They serve quality all-natural beef burgers sourced from Creekstone Farms, topped with pickles and mayo made in-house, American cheese and thinly sliced onions. That kind of attention to detail is applied to other house-made specialties, including the lamb burger with feta cheese and basil mayo, and the turkey burger made with tomato jam and Green Goddess dressing. Follow up dinner with one of The Company Burger's six milkshakes, including those made with Louisiana's own Steen's Cane Syrup and local strawberries.
One of Fogo de Chao's newest locations is on Canal Street, at the crossroads of New Orleans' Downtown and French Quarter. There, diners can expect the same quality Brazilian meats that the acclaimed restaurant chain has been serving for more than 36 years at locations spanning across North and South America. Savor fire-roasted meats that are carved at your table by gaucho chefs, paired with an array of fine wines that match any flavor on the menu.
Kenton's is known for fine food, wine and its large stock of Kentucky's most famous export - bourbon. The cocktail list features a dozen bourbon combinations, ranging from standards such as the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and the New Orleans-born Sazerac, to soon-to-be classics such as the Bourbon Fever - a blend of Benchmark bourbon, Fever Tree tonic and orange bitters. Guests hungry for upscale Creole and New American cuisine should stop by for brunch, lunch or dinner, to dine on such dishes as grilled pompano, poached shrimp salad and brown butter-glazed drum.
St. James Cheese Company (Additional new locations in Downtown NOLA)
Richard and Danielle Sutton, the couple behind the restaurant and gourmet grocery store St. James Cheese Company, say "We know people who know people who know people." They've spent years making connections with artisanal cheese makers from around the world, developing a diverse menu of ready-to-ship cheeses, meats, cutting boards, knives and exotic groceries (e.g. blue cheese powder, Spanish octopus in olive oil). For those dining in, St. James Cheese Company carries a wide selection of artfully crafted sandwiches made with their artisanal cheeses. Local favorites include the Cubano, Il Mostro (made with spicy capicola, rosemary ham and provolone) and the Brie de Mieux.
Trinity Restaurant aims to be a smaller scale, neighborhood-centric restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter. When you walk through Trinity's doors into its refurbished dining room, you'll find luxurious marbletop tables and an expansive bar that is upscale but cozy. The menu features an array of exotic dishes, with influences from Italy, France, Vietnam and Cajun Country. These around-the-world flavors feature ingredients and recipes from New Orleans' own backyard, including Des Allemands catfish and beignets made with smoked gouda, andouille and green onions.
John Besh is an internationally acclaimed New Orleans chef whose restaurants are frequently at the top of visitors' must-dine lists. Willa Jean is just one of Besh's newest ventures, headed by James Beard Award-nominated pastry chefs Kelly Fields and Lisa White, and featuring in upscale Southern food that's heavy on the baked goods. Willa Jean's breakfast plates are perhaps the biggest draw. That menu, in addition to standard bacon-and-eggs fare, includes Fruge Farms Crawfish Gravy with grits, slow-poached eggs and cheddar biscuits. You can also build your own biscuit with fried chicken, blue crab or sausage gravy (perhaps with a side of cheesy grits?), served up with fresh coffee or a bloody mary.
Discover even more incredible New Orleans dining options to satisfy all those cravings while you visit the city.