Easy Does It

For another taste of New Orleans, head to spots beloved by locals

by

Tucked into the quieter corners of New Orleans, out of the way of the pulsing excitement of the French Quarter or the bustling sidewalks of Magazine Street, are restaurants serving some of the city’s most to-die-for dishes.

As the tourists flock one way, locals duck in the other direction. “You just get an intimate, unveiled look at people who are just living their lives,” said long-time New Orleanian Desi Richter. “I think you get a charm that’s intact and untouched by the hype of tourism.”

Proffering freshly caught Gulf Coast seafood, hand-picked Ponchatoula strawberries, and often the best of Big Easy comfort food like gumbo and red beans and rice, these local favorites have the unenviable challenge of churning out classic dishes for an audience that eats them on a near-daily basis. Good thing these folks know just how to dress a po’ boy or the exact level of spice, down to the peppercorn, in a proper bloody Mary. 

Get a taste of these local gems:

High Hat Cafe

4500 Freret St.

(504) 754-1336

The crispy chicken and waffles at this Uptown neighborhood spot are particularly popular, along with their expertly crafted hushpuppies. But it’s the daily specials that really make the High Hat unique. Monday’s traditional red beans and rice dish with smoked sausage is a savory meal that will stick with you long after you scrape the bottom of the bowl. 

Weekend brunch brings not only those perfectly paired chicken and waffles, but also roasted pork debris served over creamy grits and topped with poblano sauce to get the day started with a kick.

Make sure to save room for dessert, because their seasonal pies are not to be missed, especially their strawberry pie served at the peak of Ponchatoula strawberry season. Those oversized slices of pie also come with a side of creamy homemade ice cream—ask the waitstaff if they are serving their locally famous bourbon ice cream. 

Liuzza's by the Track

1518 North Lopez St.

(504) 218-7888

This neighborhood haunt on the edge of Bayou St. John and Esplanade Ridge spends eleven months out of the year being the go-to joint for real, home-cooked Creole fare. In April, it transforms into an international block party destination during Jazz Fest.

Both iterations of this tried and true New Orleans standby are the reason neighbors love Liuzza’s by the Track, a quick walk from the New Orleans Fair Grounds. “All these breweries are popping up and that’s cool, but Liuzza’s has maintained a quaintness and a sense of being established and embedded in the neighborhood,” said Richter, who lives within walking distance. “It has a low-key aesthetic, and just kind of has the feeling of a bar that you’re going to walk into and see someone that you know.” 

While Liuzza’s by the Track has made a name for itself with fresh seafood and oyster po’ boys, Richter’s usual order is the well-seasoned burger and fries with a beer to wash it down.

[You might also like our roundup of Lakeview and Gentilly eateries.]

La Crepe Nanou

1410 Robert St.

(504) 899-2670

This endearing Uptown French bistro has been around for thirty-five years—with good reason. Their menu boasts dinner plates of filet mignon, grilled salmon, and Louisiana shrimp served over a bed of angel hair pasta.

The crêpes, however, steal the show—and prompt many a romantic dinner. There’s the Crêpe Florentine with creamed spinach, boiled egg, and bacon, and the Crêpe aux Crevettes (sautéed Louisiana shrimp in lobster cream sauce). The Crêpe Bourguignonne goes for savory and hearty with beef tips braised in red wine, served with carrot, mushroom and potato. And among all these riches, the cheese-filled Crêpe Oignon-Fromage is particularly divine. 

With savory must come sweet. Their dessert crêpes are no less spectacular. Highlights include the namesake Crêpe Nanou, with vanilla, chocolate and coffee ice cream, almonds, and chocolate sauce, and the Crêpe Marrons, with coffee ice cream, chestnut cream, and rum flambé.

1000 Figs

3141 Ponce de Leon St.

(504) 301-0848

This quaint Middle Eastern eatery in Bayou St. John combines traditional dishes such as hummus and falafel with an exotic blend of spices and sauces to create flavorful—and colorful—platters. 

The cozy venue encourages diners to strike up a conversation with their neighbors, and outdoor seating lies in wait for those warm New Orleans nights when the sidewalks are full of people grateful for the breeze.

While the menu isn’t lengthy, it is diverse. Vegetarians will appreciate the falafel offerings that range from a $6.50 sandwich to a $36 Instagram-worthy platter that includes flatbread, hummus, baba ghanouj, root  slaw, tabbouleh, cucumber salad, and an array of sauces. 

For the carnivorously-inclined, they offer kebabs with chicken, lamb, and pork as well as a mixture of all three skewered with seasonal vegetables. 

The Ruby Slipper

315 South Broad Ave.

(504) 525-9355

The Ruby Slipper has become a household name, growing from a Mid-City breakfast establishment born from the receding floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina to a ten-restaurant breakfast behemoth.

New Orleans architect Whawn Allen is a regular at the Mid-City location, so much so that they know exactly what she wants and how she wants it: Eggs Cochon—apple-braised pork debris with two poached eggs and hollandaise, but served over a fried green tomato instead of their house-made biscuits. And a bacon Bloody Mary after a hard week.

Allen is still lamenting the closure of the original location that she could walk to, but she’s happy to bike over to the new and bigger flagship location on South Broad. 

“Most of the people know me,” she said. “It’s kind of cool. It feels special.”

Though the restaurant has branched out into more tourist-heavy neighborhoods, like the French Quarter and the Central Business district, into Baton Rouge, and along the Gulf Coast towns of Mobile and Orange Beach, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, the residential Mid-City location still feels like home.

“You still get that feel like, I’m not in a big, commercial restaurant,” she said. “I’m in a quaint space.”  

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