26 November - 1 December

Courtesy of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society, Joel Stern and Judith Britt

Welcome to the Big Easy. This list represents an effort to describe some of the most noteworthy restaurants in New Orleans.

The places listed first are very very good to excellent in the quality of the food they serve (according to most ratings services), and also tend to be consistent. Service wasn't a primary consideration in ratings, unless the service tends to be extraordinarily good or bad. We've put a Q next to restaurants located in the French Quarter area, which are walkable (but not necessarily for lunch), and we listed disproportionately more places in this location.

Approximate distances to the restaurants are given in miles (mi) and kilometers (km) in most cases. To get a map from the Hyatt to the restaurant, click here for a map link and enter "70113-1805" in the Zip box (the Hyatt Regency Zip), then enter the relevant restaurant address, including "New Orleans LA" of course. Be aware that the path they suggest will be the quickest driving and will typically take you down Rampart Street to go into the Quarter. We generally recommend that you walk toward the river a bit before entering the Quarter. Always be cautious when walking at night, a good rule in any large city.

The letter grades in the description are subjective of course. One "$" = approximately $10. Although some of the ranked places are reasonably affordable, places that are even more affordable - and casual - are listed below, as also are places other than restaurants (drinking locales, breakfast locations, sandwich places, and so forth).

Most restaurants have reviews to click on. Joel and Judith have their own recommended lists and suggest restaurant guides below for further details, or just to explore on your own.

Restaurants (Generally Rank Ordered)

1. Brigtsen's
723 Dante Street (Maple & River Road) [5mi, 8.0km]
Tel: 504-861-7610
$$$$    A+    Dressy    Short cab ride. Reservations a must.
This is a wonderful restaurant in the Riverbend area situated in a quaint old house with an intimate feel. Prepare for an exquisite cajun/creole meal. If the grilled rabbit tenderloin is on the menu, order it. Any of the veal dishes are wonderful and so is the banana bread pudding.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

2. Galatoire's   Q
209 Bourbon St. [0.6mi, 1.0km]
Tel: 504-525-2021
$$$$    A+    Dressy    Walking distance.
This restaurant is a New Orleans tradition. Lunch brings the corporate attorneys out, and dinner the tourists. We love this restaurant, though we are admittedly prejudiced by its history and our fond memories. Reservations are now accepted for the recently created upstairs. Otherwise, if you come at a peak time, be prepared to stand in the street for 30-45 minutes drinking and being entertained by street folk while you wait for a downstairs seating for which reservations are not taken. Alternatively, come around 11 or 1:30 to avoid the big crowds and get lunch. The menu is extensive and fixed. We do not recommend the soups here -- they tend to be more in the Mississippi tomato rubric than the New Orleans tradition. We love oysters en brochette, though the shrimp remoulade and the oysters rockefeller are excellent. The Gaucheaux's salad (may not be listed on the menu, but ask for it) is excellent, and the crabmeat sardou (may also not be listed) or the soft-shell crabs meuniere are both especially good.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

3. Grill Room   Quasi-Q
300 Gravier Street, just off Canal Street [0.7mi, 1.1km]
Tel: 504-522-1992
$$$$$    A+    Dressy    Reservations a must.
Only the Grill Room, located in the Windsor Court Hotel, would dare fly in fresh oysters from the Pacific Northwest to serve in New Orleans -- and then prove the genius of that inspiration. The chef's hand with the world-class ingredients yields sure success in this luxuriously-appointed restaurant that continues to set the highest local standards.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

4. Bayona   Q
430 Dauphine St. [1.1mi, 1.8km]
Tel: 504-525-4455
$$$$    A    Dressy    Reservations required.
This restaurant was opened with one of New Orleans' premier woman chefs, Susan Spicer, at the helm. All the dishes are a wonderful experience of subtle flavors, blended to perfection. The entrees and the desserts are the main draw, though the garlic soup is certainly interesting. Recent entrees included wonderful scallops or a perfectly done pompano. Recent desserts included a fabulously rich chocolate cake or scrumptious lemon ice cream. If you go for lunch, try the duck sandwich.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com     ¤  MAP

5. Bistro at Maison de Ville   Q
727 Toulouse Street [1.1mi, 1.8km]
Tel: 504-528-9206
$$$$    A+    Dressy    Reservations a must.
Over the years this restaurant has been the home of a series of New Orleans' top chefs. The current chef, Greg Picolo, is no exception. The menu is (happily) unpredictable, but always consistently wonderful. The dining room is very small, so reservations are a must, courtyard dining is also an option. Some favorites here include escargots on grilled rosemary flatbread, grilled sea scallops with saffron risotto, and crême brulee.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

6. Dominique's   Q
Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse Street [0.9mi, 1.5km]
Tel: 504-586-8000
$$$$    A    Dressy    Reservations recommended.
Located in the Maison Dupuy Hotel in the Quarter, this restaurant is home to acclaimed chef Dominique Macquet. In addition to several international honors, New Orleans Magazine named Macquet "Chef of the Year." Here the food is French-based, complemented with Louisiana and other international influences. On a recent visit, the filet mignon with Pinot Noir shallot jus and cappuccino tirami su were pretty tasty (a.k.a. outstanding)!
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com   ¤  WEBSITE

7. Gabrielle
3201 Esplanade (between Broad and Carrollton) [3.1mi, 5.1km]
Tel: 504-948-6233
$$$$    A    Dressy    Reservations a must.
This restaurant is the creation of a husband and wife team, Greg and Mary Sonnier. The menu changes regularly, but the best and finest local ingredients and a Creole heritage contribute to an outstanding dining experience. Don't miss the Oysters Gabie, if available. You won't go wrong ordering any of the pork dishes or fish specials. Save room for an outstanding desert special.
N.B. The Sonnier's recently opened another restaurant, this one in the Quarter: Gamay's.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com  

8. Emeril's
800 Tchoupitoulas Street (in the Warehouse District) [1.1mi, 1.8km]
Tel: 504-528-9393
$$$$$    A    Dressy    Short cab ride. Reservations a must.
This restaurant was ranked the best new restaurant in the country by a Fall, 1990 Esquire magazine issue on 100 of the country's top new places. Chef Emeril Lagasse is now well-known for his national television appearances (and his somewhat less formal restaurant: NOLA). The menu is changing, and exceptional.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

9. Gautreau's
1728 Soniat [3.5mi, 5.6km]
Tel: 504-899-7397
$$$    A--    Dressy    Cab ride. Reservations a must.
This restaurant's setting is both part of its attraction and part of its distraction--the setting in an old drugstore complete with tin ceiling . The food is excellent with a changing menu.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

10. Clancy's
6100 Annunciation [5.1mi, 8.2km]
Tel: 504-895-1111
$$$    B    Dressy casual    Short cab ride. Reservations a must.
Another small uptown neighborhood restaurant that serves creative and consistently good food. Frequented by people that live in the area. The pork chop is fantastic.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

11. La Provence
HWY 190 between Mandeville and Lacombe
Tel: 504-626-7662
$$$$$    A+    Dressy    Only feasible with a rented car or a local friend. Reservations required
This restaurant is located across the 27-mile long Causeway spanning Lake Ponchatrain, and is rated somewhat lower here on the basis of its distance, although this can be a fun excursion for those with cars. The food is magnificent. The style is continental. Every dish is an experience. The chef is somewhat shy while being a character at the same time; ask that he stop by to say hello for a minute and enjoy his company. Bruce's favorite dish here is the duck, which is superb.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

12. Mosca's
4137 HWY 90 West [2.6mi, 4.2km]
Tel: 504-436-9942
$$$$    A+    Casual    Only feasible with a rented car or a local friend.
CASH ONLY. Reservations only on Friday night
This is a wonderful, unpretentious (it was neater when the paint was peeling off the building so you could get guests wondering if you were crazy to take them there to eat) Italian restaurant that's especially fun with a group of at least four people -- order various dishes and share them family style. Always take enough people to try oysters Mosca (oysters baked in seasoned bread crumbs cooked and served inside a round cake pan -- yum), barbecued shrimp (actually baked in butter with ample garlic), the chicken, and the pasta dish of your choice, such as the ravioli or pasta bordellaise.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

13. Pelican Club   Q
312 Exchange Place at Bienville Street [0.8mi, 1.4km]
Tel: 504-523-1504
$$$$    A    Dressy    Reservations a must
In a handsomely renovated French Quarter townhouse, chef-owner Richard Hughes, a Louisiana native, collaborates with Singapore-born chef de cuisine Chin Ling on dishes that can dazzle. Their influences are many and multiethnic, but intriguing and subtle.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

14. NOLA   Q
534 Rue St. Louis [1.0mi, 1.6km]
Tel: 504-522-6652
$$$$    A    Nice casual   
This is a more approachable (than Emeril's) restaurant also operated by Chef Emeril Lagasse. The open-kitchen presents an interesting view for those who have not witnessed a very busy restaurant's behind-the-scenes operations, including a wood-burning oven and grill. The cedar-plank roasted fish dishes are consistently good. Other menu items vary, depending on who's doing the cooking. In true Emeril Lagasse style, the sauces on all the dishes are wonderful and typically are well-seasoned. Only the tourists shout "BAM" here!
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

15. Irene's Cuisine   Q
539 St. Philip Street [1.5mi, 2.5km]
Tel: 504-529-8811
$$$$    A    Casual dressy    Walk from hotels.
A wonderful, small restaurant. NO RESERVATIONS are taken, but they are a step above Galatoire's as you do not have to wait on the street. A bar area has been set up in the parking garage behind the restaurant. Lots of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil in all the dishes. The mussels marinara and the roasted chicken are especially delicious.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

16. Commander's Palace
1427 Washington Ave. [2.0mi, 3.2km]
Tel: 504-899-8221
$$$$$    B+    Dressy    Short cab ride. Reservations a must and very difficult to get.
Both locals and tourists consider this, another offering from the Brennan family, one of the very best restaurants in the city. A couple of years ago Food & Wine magazine voted Commander's as their favorite restaurant in America. The food we've eaten here has generally been extraordinary -- especially noteworthy are creative and unique dishes, e.g., the trout with pecans. For dessert try the chocolate fudge sheiba or bread pudding souffle. The setting is lovely, particularly if you succeed in sitting in the Garden Room that overlooks the courtyard and oak trees. The restaurant is hugh so other rooms or sitting areas vary in their appeal. The service is usually adequate.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

17. Crozier's
3216 W. Esplanade (between Causeway and Severn) [3.2mi, 5.1km]
Tel: 504-833-8108
$$$$    B+    Dressy casual    Longish cab ride.
Don't let the restaurant location (a shopping center) fool you. This is a non-nouveau, classic, completely authentic French restaurant, long a favorite of natives in the know. It's hard to resist a nice red wine, fresh pate, and steak au poivre.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com   

18. Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline Street 3.1mi, 5.3km]
Tel: 504-891-9822
$$$    B+    Dressy casual    Reservations a must.
This uptown neighborhood restaurant is a short cab ride from the Quarter, or take the streetcar, exit at Upperline Street, and walk toward the river. The restaurant is located on the left hand side just before Prytania Street. Can't go wrong with the tuna.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com

19. Christian's
3835 Iberville [2.6mi, 4.2km]
Tel: 504-482-4924
$$$    B+    Dressy    Short cab ride. Reservations recommended.
This restaurant is located in a former church. The location is intriguing, and the food is consistent in its very high quality. The seating is a bit more crowded than we like, but not outrageously so. The steaks served with various sauces are very good, but the seafood is excellent here as well (just don't order the stuffed fish that comes out looking like a corndog). This is an excellent place to try softshell crab, if you haven't had the experience before. Homemade ice creams make lovely desserts.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

20. Rib Room   Q
621 St. Louis Street (between Royal & Chartres Sts.) [1.2mi, 1.9km]
Tel: 504-529-7045
$$$$    A--    Dressy    Reservations required.
Located in the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, this restaurant is an elegant and well appointed hotel dining room offering excellent, American-style grilled foods and roast beef. The onion soup, roast beef, and grilled lamb are especially good.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com   

21. Brennan's   Q
417 Royal 1.5mi, 2.5km]
Tel: 504-525-9711
$$$$$    B+    Dressy    Walk. Reservations a must.
This is a restaurant favored by tourists and some locals too. Excellent dishes are trout nancy or trout kotzwitz.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com   

22. Bella Luna   Q
914 N. Peters [1.6mi, 2.6km]
Tel: 504-529-1583
$$$$$    B    Dressy    Walk. Reservations recommended
This is widely considered the "most romantic" and "best view" restaurant in the city. While the food is very good, even by New Orleans standards, it isn't quite in the same league as some of the others, and perhaps is a bit overpriced. But chef-proprietor Horst Pfeifer's creations reflect a blending of Italian, Southwestern, and Creole flavors, if you are in the mood for a romantic evening, this is the place to go [who cares about food anyway?].
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com
    ¤  WEBSITE

23. G&E Courtyard Grill   Q
1113 Decatur Street [2.0mi, 3.2km]
Tel: 504-528-9376
$$$    B+    Casual   
Redolent of the flavors of the Mediterranean, Chef Micheal Uddo's cuisine also incorporates dashes of Asian and the Southwest. The French Quarter setting is seductive, either inside the creamy gold dining room or out on the candle-lit patio.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com

24. Mr. B's   Q
201 Royal [0.9mi, 1.4km]
Tel: 504-523-2078
$$$    B    Dressy    Walk. Reservations recommended.
Another Brennan restaurant. We especially recommend the fish beignets appetizer, the sausage gumbo (2nd best in the city), and the pasta jambalya.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

25. Bacco   Q
310 Chartres Street [1.0mi, 1.6km]
Tel: 504-522-2426
$$$$    A    Dressy    Walk. Reservations a good idea
You guessed it: another Brennan family restaurant, this time Italian. The decor and atmosphere are conducive to a fun experience. The food is pretty good, but isn't the main draw. A good long-lunch place.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com

26. Feelings   Quasi-Q
2600 Chartres Street [2.4mi, 3.8km]
Tel: 504-945-2222
$$($)    B+    Casual dressy    Short cab ride
This restaurant is located in an old house with attached slave quarters (not a plantation). This is good place for a relaxed long meal. Try any appetizer but the tacquito (the shrimp etouffe or the softshell crawfish are good), the soup if it's tomato bisque, any entree (especially seafood thermidor, shrimp clemanceau, veal dunouy) except the beef dishes (which are good but the sauces are less good), and finish with cheesecake or an interesting peanut butter pie.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com   

27. K-Paul's   Q
416 Chartres [1.1mi, 1.7km]
Tel: 504-524-7394
$$$$    B    Casual    Walk. Reservations accepted only if made 30 days in advance
and cash or American Express only
This is probably among the best known of New Orleans restaurants, thanks to the Paul in K-Paul. The menu changes regularly, but the choices are always interesting. This is the best restaurant to try authentic and sublime gumbo. This is not a place where you will be encouraged to take your time and savor good cooking -- after you eat your entree you probably will not be allowed to order anything alcoholic unless you also purchase a dessert. This restaurant may not be as good as it used to be, but if you don't mind standing in a long line on the street to get in and you enjoy community seating at which you meet people from other cities, it's still fun and quite good.
MORE REVIEWS:    neworleans.com   ¤  WEBSITE

28. Camellia Grill
626 S. Carrollton Avenue [4.8mi, 7.6km]
Tel: 504-866-9573
$    B--    Casual    CASH ONLY. No reservations.
Exit the St. Charles street car at the first stop after turning onto Carrollton Avenue off St. Charles Avenue. You'll see some patrons in white tie and others in tennis shoes in this one-of-kind, counter-service-only Uptown diner complete with linen napkins, tuxedo-clad waiters. The chili cheese omelettes, pecan waffles (breakfast before 11am only), burgers, and freezes are worth the wait.
MORE REVIEWS:    Fodor's   ¤  neworleans.com

Some luncheon recommendations from Alan Stern's mom, Joel. All are casual dress and some are walkable from the Hyatt. They should also be reasonably priced unless noted.

Joel's favorite restaurant guide website

 Delmonico
1300 St Charles Ave [1.0mi, 1.6km]
Owned by Emeril & costly

 Hummingbird Grill
804 St Charles Ave [0.6mi, 0.9km]
Anything but fancy, greasy spoon type frequented by cops & cabbies. Don't walk there at night.

 Mother's Restaurant
401 Poydras St [0.5mi, 0.8km]
Cafeteria style New Orleans favorite for po-boys especially Ham & red
beans & rice...very good & fast tho lines are long.

Bon Ton Cafe
401 Magazine St [0.6mi, 0.8km]
Some of the best food in the city..especially their bread pudding.

 Gumbo Shop Q
630 Saint Peter St [1.3mi, 2.1km]
Good food & reasonably priced in the French Quarter.

 Palace Cafe
605 Canal St [0.9mi, 1.4km]
Another Brennan's Restaurant & very good.

 Praline Connection
542 Frenchmen St [2.0mi, 3.3km]
Excellent soul food. Take a cab.

 Uglesich Restaurant & Bar
1238 Baronne St  [0.7mi, 1.1km]
Heavy on New Orleans seafood classics and surprisingly sophisticated for a seemingly simple lunch joint. Near the Hyatt, but a cab might be advisable if you go after dark.

Some dining recommendations from Judith Britt.

Judith's favorite restaurant guide website

Brocatto's (Mid-City...take a cab)
I haven't been to Brocatto's in years, but it is a peek into one of the many eccentricities of New Orleans It's old world Italian, and has wonderful Italian ices.

Barrow's (off Earhart Expressway...take a cab)
Possibly the best catfish in the world. If you don't want catfish, go somewhere else. All they serve is catfish, potato salad and white bread.

Brightsen's (Uptown/Riverbend...take a cab)
I've never been there, but my "spies" tell me it's great. I tried to have my wedding dinner there, but they couldn't accommodate a group of nine. It's a small place.

Bruning's (Lakefront/Bucktown...take a cab)
Every time I go back to New Orleans, I have to go to Bruning's at least once. Unfortunately, the hurricane in 1999 destroyed the original building, and they are in a temporary space next door. However, having recently been to the temporary location, I can attest that the food is still fabulous. Try the stuffed flounder!

Cafe Marigny (Faubourg Marigny...just on the other side of Esplanade from the French Quarter. Once you take the shuttle to the Quarter, it is a bit of a hike, but can be walked. DO NOT WALK ALONE AT NIGHT).
I was taken out to lunch there recently. It was very very good and new enough to still not be always crowded

Camellia Grill (Uptown/Riverbend...right on the trolley line. Trolleys run all night, but go to a schedule of on every hour. If you take the trolley there in the evening, you might want to take a cab back.) A tried and true eatery. I used to go there with my grandfather, and in later years, for lunch during high school. The burgers are small but good. The omelets are great. The pecan waffles are close to heaven!

Casamento's (Uptown...take a cab)
Tiled from ceiling to floor, you imagine that at the end of the day they just hose the place down. With this place you get you get great seafood, ambiance unlike anywhere else, and a peek into New Orleans that most out-of-towners never get to see. Great oyster bar. A DO NOT MISS destination. Truly a local's eatery.

Ciro's Cote Sud (Uptown/Riverbend...take a cab)
A friend recommended this place during my last visit. This used to be a mediocre pizza joint. It now is a lovely French restaurant. I had Frog's Legs. My friend had the game hen. Very rich. Very good!

Domilise's Po-Boys (Uptown/Irish Channel...take a cab)
Nothin' fancy. Just good Po-Boys.

Frankie and Johnnie's (Uptown/Irish Channel...take a cab)
Same as above...it's nothing fancy, but who needs fancy when the food is great.

Irene's Cuisine (French Quarter Q..once you take the shuttle to the Quarter, you can walk to this restaurant. Again, do not walk alone at night.)
One of my "spies" told me to get over to Irene's if possible. I have not tried it myself, but I trust my friend's judgment. It is supposed to be great.

Mandina's (Mid-City...not very far, but take a cab.)
Another long-time neighborhood eatery. This one is pretty close to Downtown (Located on Canal Street) and easy to find. Always good, and always full of locals.

Martin's Wine Cellar (Sort of near the Garden District)
Although it's not exactly a restaurant, it does have a deli. I am suggesting it because it is a GREAT wine cellar. Worth the side trip if you are into wine.

Napoleon House (French Quarter Q ...once you take the shuttle to the Quarter, you can walk there. Remember: DO NOT WALK ALONE AT NIGHT.)
If you are cooling your heels after walking around the French Quarter, this bar is the place to go. In addition to having good drinks and decent Muffaletta sandwiches, it hasa lovely little patio, and is a great place to people watch.

Sid Mar's (Lakefront/Bucktown...take a cab.)
If your cab driver can actually find this place (it's in Bucktown on the other side of the canal from Bruning's) this is a place that is worth going to. The food is great, and the ambiance is typically New Orleans. If you can, sit on the porch and watch the lake...also watch the local cats trying to climb up the screen to get at your delicious food!

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (Faubourg Marigny...it's a hike, but walkable. (DO NOT WALK ALONE AT NIGHT.)
Good food and great music. How can you go wrong?

Ye Old College Inn (Uptown/sort of near Mid-City)
An uptown eatery that has no pizzazz...just down home N'awlins food and an interesting cross section of locals. I usually go every time I'm in town. The oyster Po-Boys are great. Get a half loaf...it's hard to eat a whole loaf of French bread, particularly when it's covered with a dozen fried oysters. The gumbo is good too.

Miscellaneous "Best Bets"
(all Quarter,  Q, unless otherwise noted)

Best places to have pastries and coffee for breakfast:
La Madelaine on the corner of Chartres and St. Ann near the cathedral [1.4mi, 2.3km], or, Cafe du Monde at Decatur and St. Ann (both off Jackson Square), or La Marquise at 625Chartres [1.2mi, 2.0km] .

    A creole favorite of many in a 19th century atmosphere: Tujaque's at 823 Decatur [1.5mi, 2.5km].

    Best place for a good hamburger:
Port of Call at 838 Esplanade [1.5mi, 2.5km]. If you want the hamburger with entertainment or just entertainment, we suggest hearing Charmaine Neville at Snug Harbor at 626 Frenchman (just outside the Quarter [1.9mi, 3.0km]) when she's there.
     Good place for a view: Try Hyatt's Top of the Dome
     Very nice brunch:   Commander's, #16 above.
     Best oysters on the half shell:   Acme Oyster House at 724 Iberville [0.8mi, 1.4km].
     Best pizza in the Quarter:   Mama Rosa's on the edge of the Quarter at 616 N Rampart [0.9mi,1.5km].
     Huge quantities of fresh fried seafood:   Mike Anderson's at 215 Bourbon Street [0.6mi, 1.0km].
     Best place for a Pimm's cup and classical recorded music:   Napoleon House at 500 Chartres [1.1mi, 1.8km].
    Best place for a muffaletta:
Central Grocery at 923 Decatur [1.6mi, 2.6km]. (N.B. Split one-half of this sandwich with a friend so you have room for other experiences--just going in this old-style Italian grocery is a sensory experience)
    Best garden tour:   Longue Vue Gardens at 7 Bamboo Rd [4.1mi, 6.6km].
    Strongest and cheapest drinks:   Pat O'Brien's at 718 St. Peter. Drink with the rest of the college kids and tourists if you like. Next to Preservation Hall. [1.4mi, 2.2km].
    Best home cookin':   The Praline Connection ( see Joel's list).
    Best bar with ashes of a dead human being (Irving):   Molly's on the Market on 1107 Decatur in the Quarter [2.0mi, 3.2km].
    Best po' boy:   Mother's on Prytania ( see Joel's list).
What's a "po' boy"? A Great! N.O. sandwich on French bread with choice of filling, e.g., oysters, roast beef.
    Best authentic jazz:   Preservation Hall 726 St. Peter's St [1.4mi, 2.2km]

Things Definitely Not To Miss Under Any Circumstances
  A muffaletta from Central Grocery on Decatur (at the very least go in and simply smell the store)
 Jazz at Preservation Hall (if you like jazz as it used to be)
Oyster or shrimp Po' boy at Mother's (don't go at a peak lunch or dinner time, or else!)
Riding the St. Charles Streetcar. Options include trips to Audubon Park or to Camillia Grill. Or stop in the Garden District and walk around - have a drink on the porch of the Columns Hotel.
Visiting Snug Harbor for Charmaine Neville, if she's singing
 Beignets and cafe au lait at the Cafe du Monde on Decatur to watch the tourists.

Things You Probably Shouldn't Miss
Pimm's cup at Napoleon House
Riding the ferry to Algiers landing
A trip to Uglesich's for lunch, a New Orleans one-of-a-kind institution, get there early, there are only about 10 tables. You sit among the onions and potato sacks that will become someone's meal tomorrow -- don't miss the oyster po' boy sandwich!
A stop at Jean Lafitte National Historic Park Visitor Center