November 18, 2024
New Orleans is the birthplace of Creole cuisine, characterized by a blend of Native American, West African, Haitian, French, Spanish, German and Italian flavors. This fusion of flavors has resulted in iconic dishes such as Eggs Sardou, turtle soup, BBQ shrimp, beignets, gumbo, po' boys and étouffée, making New Orleans a culinary destination unlike any other. Your celebration will be complete with delicacies from these hand-chosen restaurants.
Antoine’s Restaurant
Antoines.com
713 Saint Louis St.
Travel through time and learn the history of New Orleans' grand dame of Creole cuisine. Celebrate culinary traditions at one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the country! Antoine’s is still owned and operated by fifth generation relatives of the original founder, Antoine Alciatore. The world-renowned French-Creole cuisine, impeccable service and unique atmosphere have combined to create an unmatched dining experience in New Orleans since 1840. Enjoy traditional French creole fare as well as updated classics in a beautiful and historic restaurant setting. Each of the fifteen dining rooms as well as the bar are decorated to a theme, many referencing Mardi Gras krewes.
Antoine’s is the birthplace of such culinary classics as Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou (poached eggs over artichoke bottoms with anchovies, topped with hollandaise sauce), and Pommes de Terre Souffles (those marvelous puffed potatoes Antoine’s helped popularize). Save room for their Café Brûlot, a drink made from coffee, orange liqueur, cinnamon stick, sugar, cloves and lemon peels. At Antoine's, the coffee is customarily flamed when it is served as part of a dessert course.
Their Réveillon Dinner is not to be missed! As an appetizer, you choose between Blue Crab and Brie Bisque or Oysters Acadiana. The Salad Noël has butternut squash, apples, cranberries, walnuts, and Camembert on Romaine, Endive and Radicchio greens with pomegranate vinaigrette. The holiday entrée is Duck Confit with oyster tasso dressing or bone-in N.Y. strip. Finally, the scrumptious dessert is Three-Spice Crème Brûlee.
Arnaud’s
Arnaudsrestaurant.com
813 Rue Bienville
Adorned with elegant holiday decoration, Arnaud’s Restaurant invites guests to indulge in all the things that make the holiday season merry and bright by offering extended hours and a special menu to get locals and visitors in the holiday spirit. From December 1 through the 23rd, Arnaud’s will pay homage to its French roots by offering a Réveillon table d’hôte dinner menu. Celebrate the joys of the season with four courses of Arnaud’s signature Creole cuisine, including entrée selections of Wild Mushroom Risotto, Stuffed Gulf Fish, Roasted Quail, and Prosciutto Wrapped Veal Tenderloin, complete with an amuse bouche, appetizer, and dessert. Available daily, try the Oysters Arnaud with one of each of their classic oysters baked in the half shell: Bienville, Kathryn, Ohan, Rockefeller, and Suzette. A favorite side is the Souffle Potatoes, puffy potatoes served with Béarnaise sauce. Top off your evening with their classic Baked Alaska, a flambé dessert that consists of ice cream, cake, and meringue…an epicurean’s delight!
Founded in 1918, Arnaud’s is a landmark of New Orleans’ French Quarter, offering classic Creole cuisine and timeless hospitality. Family-owned and operated for over 106 years, Arnaud’s is renowned for its rich history, elegant dining rooms, Dixieland jazz, and exceptional service. The restaurant’s menu celebrates the vibrant culinary traditions of New Orleans, with signature dishes that honor the city’s French, Spanish, and African influences.
Mr. B’s Bistro
Mrbsbistro.com
201 Royal St.
Mr. B’s is one of the brightest stars in the New Orleans restaurant scene. Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, Mr. B’s Bistro is located at the corner of Royal and Iberville Streets. Cindy Brennan and her famous restaurant family opened Mr. B’s in 1979 and it has become a true French Quarter fixture famous for regional specialties in a casual bistro setting. Mr. B’s has been lauded for consistently vibrant Louisiana food and impeccable yet friendly service by Food & Wine, Gourmet, Travel + Leisure, and Bon Appetit magazines.
Mr. B’s food has always been the food of Louisiana. The team at Mr. B’s is inspired by both Creole and Cajun dishes and both styles of cooking sit harmoniously on the menu. The mission of Mr. B’s has always been that all guests that pass through the doors will be welcomed with warm Southern hospitality and classic Louisiana-inspired food.
Mr. B’s is known for signature items such as Gumbo Ya Ya, a rich super-dark roux and spicy chicken and andouille country-style gumbo; and Barbequed Shrimp, Gulf shrimp barbecued New Orleans style with a peppery Worcestershire butter sauce with garlic and black pepper and French bread to dip the buttery goodness. Order some Creole Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey sauce to finish it off! Don’t miss Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.!
Café Normandie at The Higgins Hotel
Higginshotelnola.com
1000 Magazine St.
Located in the official hotel for the World War II Museum, Café Normandie is a favorite full-service restaurant on Magazine Street serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Capturing the national affinity for French culture sparked by World War II, this welcoming and sophisticated restaurant offers an elevated dining experience showcasing French-influenced cuisine. This is where rustic French cuisine shakes hands with the New Orleans' table. Enjoy a cocktail at Rosie’s, a stellar rooftop bar with river views before or after dinner. If you enjoy Kentucky Rye Whiskey, order The Road to Liberty.
Café Normandie is named in honor of Normandy, France, known as "France's Breadbasket," for its rich agriculture bounty. Normandy is perhaps better known today as the scene of the climatic event of World War II in the West: D-Day. Café Normandie’s Réveillon menu, a New Orleans tradition, harkens back to many of the flavors of home and the warm welcome that American soldiers received in Normandy following D-Day. This holiday season, we also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, paying tribute to the American GIs who endured immense fighting in the bitter winter of 1944-45 to help secure our freedom.
For the first course of the Réveillon Dinner, there are the hard choices of Lobster Bisque or Poached Pear Salad. The second course offers Crispy Gulf Oysters served on Mornay creamed baby spinach with fennel shavings, and garnished with pickled red onions. Or you may choose house-cured Absinthe wild Scottish salmon. The third course has your choice of Pan-Seared Scallops, Beef Tenderloin, Victory Chicken Pot Pie or Blackened Red Fish. Dessert choices include a Chocolate Yule Log Cake or Apple Sorbet Trou Normand served with 10-year-old Calvados French apple brandy.
Galatoire’s Restaurant
Galatoires.com
209 Bourbon St.
Founded in 1905, Jean Galatoire from Pardies, France brought recipes inspired by his homeland to create the menu of this internationally renowned restaurant. It has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for culinary excellence for their authentic French Creole cuisine. The grand dame of New Orleans' old-line restaurants, Galatoire’s remains committed to culinary excellence and consistency. Under the guidance of the fourth generation of family ownership, it is her time-honored customs that still bind this renowned restaurant. It is often said that the beauty of Galatoire’s is that things never change. Even after 120 years, ageless New Orleans favorites grace her menu just as they did in 1905.
Their Réveillon dinner, served from Dec. 1–24, is not to be missed. Their New Year's Eve Champagne Dinner will be a memorable way to bring in the New Year. Galatoire's French Creole Seafood Okra Gumbo is a rich, classic version of New Orleans' most definitive soup. The Louisiana shrimp, oysters, shellfish stock, okra, and a light brown roux come together magnificently. Galatoire's most popular classic dish and most frequently requested recipe, Shrimp Remoulade, has boiled Louisiana shrimp with a classic spicy remoulade sauce served on iceberg lettuce. Last but not least, no Southern meal is complete without a traditional pecan pie. Their decadent Black Bottom Pecan Pie is served with whiskey caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
Dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com
716 Iberville St.
The Brennan family has been perfecting the art of beef preparation in their family of restaurants for decades. Guests are treated to a grand dining experience with Southern hospitality. Accolades include Travel + Leisure's Best Steakhouses in the U.S., among many others.
Guests love their delicious Crab Cake Appetizer; there is absolutely no filler! It’s just Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat, white ravigote sauce, and roasted corn puree. The BBQ Shrimp is another popular and tasty appetizer. You can’t go wrong with fresh Louisiana shrimp, head on, sautéed in a New Orleans BBQ sauce made with Abita Amber beer, Worcestershire, lemon, Crystal hot sauce, rosemary, garlic, cream, butter, salt and pepper. It can also be made gluten-free without Abita beer. Four large delectable shrimp are served on a grit cake to soak up the buttery goodness. Follow up with the house filet, a 6 oz. petite filet, creamed spinach, Pontalba potatoes and four flash-fried Gulf oysters with sauce Béarnaise.
Their spectacular Réveillon Menu begins with Crab & Corn Gratin with blue crab, fresh corn, garlic cream, and a bread crumb topping. For the second course, the Roasted Beet & Arugula Salad has goat cheese, Creole pecans and cane vinaigrette. The choice of entrées includes Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with fondant sweet potatoes, sautéed snow peas, and sauce Chasseur; or you may prefer Garlic-Crusted Gulf Fish with roasted fingerling potatoes, caramelized onions and charred lemon, with beurre blanc spooned over it. Last but not least, the Molten Chocolate Cake is topped with house-made peppermint ice cream!
Café Beignet
Cafebeignet.com
4 locations in the French Quarter
Their chicory coffee is sourced locally from roasters with over 30 years of experience roasting their own blends. New Orleanians have developed a love for its bolder flavor and you will too! Each location offers something unique including live jazz, cocktails, outdoor seating with pet friendly areas and classic New Orleans dishes to complement their beignets.
Their Mardi Gras Beignets capture the very essence of the city's vibrant carnival season. The purple, green and gold sprinkled sugar glaze match the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. These are the same classic confections their customers love, with an added holiday twist. Perfect for revelers and sweet-toothed aficionados alike, these beignets offer a bite of carnival magic, making every moment feel like its own parade of flavors. The Peppermint Mocha Beignets are a holiday highlight at Café Beignet. Each one is drizzled with rich chocolate sauce and topped with crushed candy canes for a satisfying crunch, finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar. Their Sugar Cookie Milk Punch captures the essence of holiday nostalgia. Crafted with sugar cookie vodka and rich cream, and topped with crushed candy canes for a minty kick, it's smooth, rich and festive. This comforting drink is perfect for a quiet, chilly evening as you relax in a snug corner of Café Beignet.
Their Muffaletta is a robust celebration of New Orleans' Italian-American heritage, featuring layers of Genoa salami, ham, Swiss, provolone and a zesty olive salad on a hearty Italian bun. More than just a sandwich, the Muffaletta is a slice of local history. It’s the ideal treat to enjoy with friends who appreciate a good, hearty meal.
In New Orleans, there are so many wonderful places to dine that all of the best would fill volumes. However, a few other restaurants are worthy of mentioning.
Felix’s, 739 Iberville St.
Back in the 1940’s, Felix’s put the New Orleans oyster bar on the map, creating a place where oyster-lovers could “belly up to the bar” and have the freshest oysters shucked right in front of them. Felix’s fast became a New Orleans institution that drew a devoted local, national and international following which has inspired generations of oyster fans. It’s a great choice for casual dining for locals and visitors alike.
Herbsaint, 701 Saint Charles Ave.
The kitchen is overseen by Chef de Cuisine Tyler Spreen who works closely with local farmers and fishermen offering contemporary, seasonal French-Southern cuisine with elements of rustic Italian cooking. An eclectic wine list and a knowledgeable staff make for perfect pairings. It’s listed as a Top 50 Restaurant in America by Gourmet magazine.
Couvant in Eliza Jane Hotel, 317 Magazine St.
Discover reimagined French-Southern dining in a Peychaud Cocktail Bitters factory-turned-brasserie with a style all its own, Couvant is where fine ingredients and reimagined French-Southern dining enlivens guests to gather together. French techniques play on the roots of New Orleans cuisine using fresh, local ingredients.
Any of these restaurants and many more welcome you to celebrate the season with food, drink and camaraderie. Cheers!
Antoine’s Restaurant
Antoines.com
713 Saint Louis St.
Travel through time and learn the history of New Orleans' grand dame of Creole cuisine. Celebrate culinary traditions at one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the country! Antoine’s is still owned and operated by fifth generation relatives of the original founder, Antoine Alciatore. The world-renowned French-Creole cuisine, impeccable service and unique atmosphere have combined to create an unmatched dining experience in New Orleans since 1840. Enjoy traditional French creole fare as well as updated classics in a beautiful and historic restaurant setting. Each of the fifteen dining rooms as well as the bar are decorated to a theme, many referencing Mardi Gras krewes.
Antoine’s is the birthplace of such culinary classics as Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou (poached eggs over artichoke bottoms with anchovies, topped with hollandaise sauce), and Pommes de Terre Souffles (those marvelous puffed potatoes Antoine’s helped popularize). Save room for their Café Brûlot, a drink made from coffee, orange liqueur, cinnamon stick, sugar, cloves and lemon peels. At Antoine's, the coffee is customarily flamed when it is served as part of a dessert course.
Their Réveillon Dinner is not to be missed! As an appetizer, you choose between Blue Crab and Brie Bisque or Oysters Acadiana. The Salad Noël has butternut squash, apples, cranberries, walnuts, and Camembert on Romaine, Endive and Radicchio greens with pomegranate vinaigrette. The holiday entrée is Duck Confit with oyster tasso dressing or bone-in N.Y. strip. Finally, the scrumptious dessert is Three-Spice Crème Brûlee.
Arnaud’s
Arnaudsrestaurant.com
813 Rue Bienville
Adorned with elegant holiday decoration, Arnaud’s Restaurant invites guests to indulge in all the things that make the holiday season merry and bright by offering extended hours and a special menu to get locals and visitors in the holiday spirit. From December 1 through the 23rd, Arnaud’s will pay homage to its French roots by offering a Réveillon table d’hôte dinner menu. Celebrate the joys of the season with four courses of Arnaud’s signature Creole cuisine, including entrée selections of Wild Mushroom Risotto, Stuffed Gulf Fish, Roasted Quail, and Prosciutto Wrapped Veal Tenderloin, complete with an amuse bouche, appetizer, and dessert. Available daily, try the Oysters Arnaud with one of each of their classic oysters baked in the half shell: Bienville, Kathryn, Ohan, Rockefeller, and Suzette. A favorite side is the Souffle Potatoes, puffy potatoes served with Béarnaise sauce. Top off your evening with their classic Baked Alaska, a flambé dessert that consists of ice cream, cake, and meringue…an epicurean’s delight!
Founded in 1918, Arnaud’s is a landmark of New Orleans’ French Quarter, offering classic Creole cuisine and timeless hospitality. Family-owned and operated for over 106 years, Arnaud’s is renowned for its rich history, elegant dining rooms, Dixieland jazz, and exceptional service. The restaurant’s menu celebrates the vibrant culinary traditions of New Orleans, with signature dishes that honor the city’s French, Spanish, and African influences.
Mr. B’s Bistro
Mrbsbistro.com
201 Royal St.
Mr. B’s is one of the brightest stars in the New Orleans restaurant scene. Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, Mr. B’s Bistro is located at the corner of Royal and Iberville Streets. Cindy Brennan and her famous restaurant family opened Mr. B’s in 1979 and it has become a true French Quarter fixture famous for regional specialties in a casual bistro setting. Mr. B’s has been lauded for consistently vibrant Louisiana food and impeccable yet friendly service by Food & Wine, Gourmet, Travel + Leisure, and Bon Appetit magazines.
Mr. B’s food has always been the food of Louisiana. The team at Mr. B’s is inspired by both Creole and Cajun dishes and both styles of cooking sit harmoniously on the menu. The mission of Mr. B’s has always been that all guests that pass through the doors will be welcomed with warm Southern hospitality and classic Louisiana-inspired food.
Mr. B’s is known for signature items such as Gumbo Ya Ya, a rich super-dark roux and spicy chicken and andouille country-style gumbo; and Barbequed Shrimp, Gulf shrimp barbecued New Orleans style with a peppery Worcestershire butter sauce with garlic and black pepper and French bread to dip the buttery goodness. Order some Creole Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey sauce to finish it off! Don’t miss Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.!
Café Normandie at The Higgins Hotel
Higginshotelnola.com
1000 Magazine St.
Located in the official hotel for the World War II Museum, Café Normandie is a favorite full-service restaurant on Magazine Street serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Capturing the national affinity for French culture sparked by World War II, this welcoming and sophisticated restaurant offers an elevated dining experience showcasing French-influenced cuisine. This is where rustic French cuisine shakes hands with the New Orleans' table. Enjoy a cocktail at Rosie’s, a stellar rooftop bar with river views before or after dinner. If you enjoy Kentucky Rye Whiskey, order The Road to Liberty.
Café Normandie is named in honor of Normandy, France, known as "France's Breadbasket," for its rich agriculture bounty. Normandy is perhaps better known today as the scene of the climatic event of World War II in the West: D-Day. Café Normandie’s Réveillon menu, a New Orleans tradition, harkens back to many of the flavors of home and the warm welcome that American soldiers received in Normandy following D-Day. This holiday season, we also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, paying tribute to the American GIs who endured immense fighting in the bitter winter of 1944-45 to help secure our freedom.
For the first course of the Réveillon Dinner, there are the hard choices of Lobster Bisque or Poached Pear Salad. The second course offers Crispy Gulf Oysters served on Mornay creamed baby spinach with fennel shavings, and garnished with pickled red onions. Or you may choose house-cured Absinthe wild Scottish salmon. The third course has your choice of Pan-Seared Scallops, Beef Tenderloin, Victory Chicken Pot Pie or Blackened Red Fish. Dessert choices include a Chocolate Yule Log Cake or Apple Sorbet Trou Normand served with 10-year-old Calvados French apple brandy.
Galatoire’s Restaurant
Galatoires.com
209 Bourbon St.
Founded in 1905, Jean Galatoire from Pardies, France brought recipes inspired by his homeland to create the menu of this internationally renowned restaurant. It has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for culinary excellence for their authentic French Creole cuisine. The grand dame of New Orleans' old-line restaurants, Galatoire’s remains committed to culinary excellence and consistency. Under the guidance of the fourth generation of family ownership, it is her time-honored customs that still bind this renowned restaurant. It is often said that the beauty of Galatoire’s is that things never change. Even after 120 years, ageless New Orleans favorites grace her menu just as they did in 1905.
Their Réveillon dinner, served from Dec. 1–24, is not to be missed. Their New Year's Eve Champagne Dinner will be a memorable way to bring in the New Year. Galatoire's French Creole Seafood Okra Gumbo is a rich, classic version of New Orleans' most definitive soup. The Louisiana shrimp, oysters, shellfish stock, okra, and a light brown roux come together magnificently. Galatoire's most popular classic dish and most frequently requested recipe, Shrimp Remoulade, has boiled Louisiana shrimp with a classic spicy remoulade sauce served on iceberg lettuce. Last but not least, no Southern meal is complete without a traditional pecan pie. Their decadent Black Bottom Pecan Pie is served with whiskey caramel sauce and whipped cream.
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
Dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com
716 Iberville St.
The Brennan family has been perfecting the art of beef preparation in their family of restaurants for decades. Guests are treated to a grand dining experience with Southern hospitality. Accolades include Travel + Leisure's Best Steakhouses in the U.S., among many others.
Guests love their delicious Crab Cake Appetizer; there is absolutely no filler! It’s just Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat, white ravigote sauce, and roasted corn puree. The BBQ Shrimp is another popular and tasty appetizer. You can’t go wrong with fresh Louisiana shrimp, head on, sautéed in a New Orleans BBQ sauce made with Abita Amber beer, Worcestershire, lemon, Crystal hot sauce, rosemary, garlic, cream, butter, salt and pepper. It can also be made gluten-free without Abita beer. Four large delectable shrimp are served on a grit cake to soak up the buttery goodness. Follow up with the house filet, a 6 oz. petite filet, creamed spinach, Pontalba potatoes and four flash-fried Gulf oysters with sauce Béarnaise.
Their spectacular Réveillon Menu begins with Crab & Corn Gratin with blue crab, fresh corn, garlic cream, and a bread crumb topping. For the second course, the Roasted Beet & Arugula Salad has goat cheese, Creole pecans and cane vinaigrette. The choice of entrées includes Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with fondant sweet potatoes, sautéed snow peas, and sauce Chasseur; or you may prefer Garlic-Crusted Gulf Fish with roasted fingerling potatoes, caramelized onions and charred lemon, with beurre blanc spooned over it. Last but not least, the Molten Chocolate Cake is topped with house-made peppermint ice cream!
Café Beignet
Cafebeignet.com
4 locations in the French Quarter
Their chicory coffee is sourced locally from roasters with over 30 years of experience roasting their own blends. New Orleanians have developed a love for its bolder flavor and you will too! Each location offers something unique including live jazz, cocktails, outdoor seating with pet friendly areas and classic New Orleans dishes to complement their beignets.
Their Mardi Gras Beignets capture the very essence of the city's vibrant carnival season. The purple, green and gold sprinkled sugar glaze match the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. These are the same classic confections their customers love, with an added holiday twist. Perfect for revelers and sweet-toothed aficionados alike, these beignets offer a bite of carnival magic, making every moment feel like its own parade of flavors. The Peppermint Mocha Beignets are a holiday highlight at Café Beignet. Each one is drizzled with rich chocolate sauce and topped with crushed candy canes for a satisfying crunch, finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar. Their Sugar Cookie Milk Punch captures the essence of holiday nostalgia. Crafted with sugar cookie vodka and rich cream, and topped with crushed candy canes for a minty kick, it's smooth, rich and festive. This comforting drink is perfect for a quiet, chilly evening as you relax in a snug corner of Café Beignet.
Their Muffaletta is a robust celebration of New Orleans' Italian-American heritage, featuring layers of Genoa salami, ham, Swiss, provolone and a zesty olive salad on a hearty Italian bun. More than just a sandwich, the Muffaletta is a slice of local history. It’s the ideal treat to enjoy with friends who appreciate a good, hearty meal.
In New Orleans, there are so many wonderful places to dine that all of the best would fill volumes. However, a few other restaurants are worthy of mentioning.
Felix’s, 739 Iberville St.
Back in the 1940’s, Felix’s put the New Orleans oyster bar on the map, creating a place where oyster-lovers could “belly up to the bar” and have the freshest oysters shucked right in front of them. Felix’s fast became a New Orleans institution that drew a devoted local, national and international following which has inspired generations of oyster fans. It’s a great choice for casual dining for locals and visitors alike.
Herbsaint, 701 Saint Charles Ave.
The kitchen is overseen by Chef de Cuisine Tyler Spreen who works closely with local farmers and fishermen offering contemporary, seasonal French-Southern cuisine with elements of rustic Italian cooking. An eclectic wine list and a knowledgeable staff make for perfect pairings. It’s listed as a Top 50 Restaurant in America by Gourmet magazine.
Couvant in Eliza Jane Hotel, 317 Magazine St.
Discover reimagined French-Southern dining in a Peychaud Cocktail Bitters factory-turned-brasserie with a style all its own, Couvant is where fine ingredients and reimagined French-Southern dining enlivens guests to gather together. French techniques play on the roots of New Orleans cuisine using fresh, local ingredients.
Any of these restaurants and many more welcome you to celebrate the season with food, drink and camaraderie. Cheers!
