3 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

Hidden on a quiet residential corner, this bustling bistro could have been transported directly from Provence. The menu continues the French theme, but with a Louisiana attitude. Featured proteins often include crispy quail, mussels in tomato broth, duck confit, and Royal Red shrimp. Chef Aaron Burgau developed close connections with growers and fishermen while managing a local farmers' market, so his kitchen is stocked with the best. He knows what New Orleanians like to eat, and his Uptown neighbors, a mix of affluent young and older couples, have rewarded him with a full house nightly.

Dining at Café Degas is like being at a sidewalk café in Paris, even though the restaurant is completely covered: there's a tree growing through the center of the dining room, and the front windows overlook picturesque Esplanade Avenue. The fare here is a mixture of French-bistro cooking and what you might find at a countryside inn—homemade pâtés, onion soup, steamed mussels, steaks, and crème brûlée. Daily specials are always creative and ingenious, and an evening here is inevitably romantic. Every Wednesday and Thursday, diners can enjoy a happy hour, with pâté, cheese, and appetizer and drink specials from 3 to 6 pm.

French chic for the budget-minded is the style at this welcoming neighborhood bistro, where during peak hours there might be a half-hour wait for a table. Woven café chairs on the sidewalk and awnings that resemble metro-station architecture evoke the Left Bank of Paris, and the Gallic focus is also evident in dishes like the filet mignon, served with a choice of several classic French sauces. Other good options are the pâté maison, moules-frites, and the lavish dessert crêpes.

The cheese plate is filled with fromage from beloved local cheese shop St. James Cheese Company.

Space is a little tight in the oddly configured dining areas, but the whimsical paintings and profuse greenery combine to create an inviting feel.