When it comes to excellent food, New Orleans can give any city in the US a run for it's money. In NOLA, food is personal. It's something that connects the city together, it forms part of the culture and community. It's a blend of so many different influences: Native American, West African, Haitian, French, Spanish, German, Italian - it all comes together to make something beautiful. There is certainly no shortage of good spots in the city, but when it comes to flavor chasin', we make it our mission to seek out a few truly exceptional spots. Every trip to New Orleans presents an opportunity to eat well, which the point of all this, right?
Here are a few of our tried and true recommendations:
Lil' Dizzy's
There's a lot of places to get soul food in NOLA, but when in a new city, it's a good idea to go where the locals go. And that place is Lil' Dizzy's Cafe. Located in Treme, the oldest African-American neighborhood in the US. It's a no-frills, homestyle spot that is the best at what it does: dish up Creole food. Go at lunchtime, and you may have to wait for a second, but you'll probably need that time to decide what you want anyway. While it's not possible to go wrong, know that the fried chicken is heavenly. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to try out the gumbo, or perhaps the fried catfish - decisions, decisions. Expect a diverse crowd in this joint, from businessmen in suits, to in-the-know tourists, to lucky regulars, it's a fun laid-back atmosphere where everyone is welcome and you will leave well-fed, grateful, and in Creole-coma daze. What more could one want?
Turkey and the Wolf
A quirky little sandwich spot with a goofy personality - but don't judge a book by it's cover, because Turkey and the Wolf is serving up serious food. It has only made a name for itself in the New Orleans food scene (which is no easy feat to begin with) - it's become an icon. It was named America's best new restaurant by Bon Appetit in 2017, and since then it's earned an array of other honors, including a James Beard nod. We pulled up 20 minutes before opening and there was already be a line forming in the sweltering July heat. The fried bologna sandwich is, in fact, as insane as it sounds. The collard greens melt is also not to be missed, and the seasonal taco we ordered was excellent. The message for this place is clear: go early, order more than you think you should, and make sure you'll be able to get horizontal after.
Saba
I don't think it is dramatic to say that Saba is a life-altering meal. When Mediterranean food is good, it's so good, and the food served up at Saba is exceptional. Located in a charming old building in Uptown on the famous Magazine Street, this family-style restaurant has seriously fresh and flavorful food. Not all the dishes we ordered are pictured here because, well, we couldn't even wait the 5 seconds it takes to photograph before digging in. But the highlights were definitely the blue crab hummus with lemon butter, the lamb kofta, and harissa fried chicken. Oh and the pita - the fluffiest, thickest pita bread I've ever had the pleasure of eating. You could use it as a pillow! In conclusion, you should go to Saba, and you should go hungry.
Cochon Butcher
With a menu of specialty sandwiches, small plates, and seasonal specials, Cochon Butcher is a casual butcher shop serving up very high-quality food. It's an homage to old-world meat markets - Cochon makes all the meat it serves, as they say, "taking house-made to the next level." And when you eat here, you can tell! We ordered the Cajun fried ribs with Alabama white BBQ Sauce, the Butcher Burger, and the duck pastrami sliders with melty gruyere cheese. Enough said! It was all fantastic, and the food came out lightning quick. It's a bright space with a full bar, and makes the perfect late-lunch spot.
