Essential Nola Restaurants

Old world elegance, dark wood, soft piano music, an atmosphere I can only describe as sensual. It's largely an Italian place but there is French influence that makes the food a bit more experimental.

One of my culinary white whales is served at this restaurant, it is a dish they call ”scalibut”, I truly can not imagine how they do it, my initial theory was….questionable to say the least. Help me cross it off my list, in short..…I am asking you to check my box.

Generally considered the best raw oysters in the city, word on the street is they’re an aphrodisiac, lets test that theory. 

Another oyster bar with a fantastic selection, they consistently have a variety of types from PEI and at least one west coast representative, which is an easy way to win my vote. 

Aside from the raw bar, they have a great menu and they're close to Cure...dinner then drinks?

Italian, again. Equally amazing but more modern than Irene's. They are not putting out innovative dishes, they are serving flawlessly executed classics. If you want to be "wowed" within the confines of your comfort zone, this is the place.

If their dinner is Cheers, their brunch is Frasier. It doesn't get the same spotlight and is almost an afterthought when tossing around brunch ideas, despite serving what I would argue are the best chicken and waffles in the city. Diets beware.