If you hold up in or are visiting the Big Easy , you know there are sure unspoken rules and courtesies when it number to eat up and drinking here . Always tip the pianist at Lafitte ’s Blacksmith Shop if he takes your karaoke request . Never eat up a Lucky Dog after too many Hand Grenades . Ordering a po - boy “ dressed ” means that it will come in with dough , tomato , mayo , and pickles….and so on . There are also some truly special things that remain hush - hush to many in the NOLA nutrient and beverage world , among them some dramatic surreptitious items that you ’ll have to know about and ( courteously ) request if you need in . Here are some of our very darling – but do n’t tell too many hoi polloi , m’kay ?
Chicken bonne femme
Tujague’s
Many go to the second - oldest restaurant in the city for the brisket , and others for the historical stand - up ginmill on a lower floor for a grasshopper or a Sazerac . But those in the know know to order the owing chicken bonne femme , one of the good “ electrocute ” chicken dishes in the integral 504 . This brute is a half electrocute ( but not battered ) chicken smothered with ail and parsley and served with thick - cut white potato vine . Nope , it ’s not on the bill of fare , so you ’ll have to make a special request . You ’ll be felicitous you did , for sure .
The “flying oyster”
Casamento’s
When head down Magazine to this iconic Uptown spot ( founded in 1919 ) , you have a go at it what you ’re after are the oysters . After all , they ’re not just premium Louisiana specimens – you know that they ’ll be icy - cold , but never watery , thanks to the restaurant ’s special stainless steel huitre cooler . You also know that there ’s gon na be a line . If you happen to tip shucker extraordinaire Mike Rogers while you ’re waitress , be sure to ask him for a “ pilot huitre , ” and the man will like an expert shuck a cold one right into your sassing from about 10 ft away . All you have to do is get it .
Cafe Pierre
Commander’s Palace
There are a figure of Grand Dame creole eatery in the French Quarter that can offer you cafe brûlot ( upon request ) , that inimitable concoction of coffee berry , John Barleycorn , citrus , and spices deftly lay out on blast at your table . But pros bang that if you want the ultimate flare java - and - alcohol concoction , you need to go toCommander ’s Palacefor the coffeehouse Pierre , where it is deliberately left off the card . There ’s a reason for the discretion : while it is n’t more potent than a brûlot , this tricky crib is so telling to behold that it charter some serious acquirement and time to pull off . Request it , and you ’ll be the enviousness of the total dining room .
The “James Brown”
Parkway
Even the POTUS himself could n’t keep away fromParkway Bakery and Tavernon one visit to the Big Easy ( Mr. Obama choose the always - Graeco-Roman shrimp po - boy ) . But if you really want to take it to the next stratum , ask for the “ James Brown . ” We ’re certain that the Godfather of Soul ( RIP ) would approve of traditional deep - fried golden shrimp top with barbecue sauce , high mallow , and roast squawk gravy .
Garlic “knot-chos”
Pizza Delicious
It took a while for a truly authentic New York - style pizza to make it to the Crescent City , and verity be severalise , Pizza Deliciouswas the first joint to do the cut justice . The pizza is fantastical ( and folding ! ) , as are the hand-crafted pasta and specials . On a good twenty-four hours , though , you ’ll regain their especial “ garlic international nautical mile - chos , ” which are on the dot what they vocalize like : the family - made pantry garlic knot raiment with alimentary paste sauce , pickled jalapeños , and plenty of shredded Parm . Each knot is a taste of gooey , secret deliciousness .
Canned seafood
N7
Wait … how can a whole restaurant be a closed book in a town like New Orleans ? Well , it might not be the best - keep secret , but N7 debut with zero official promotion and relied mostly on news - of - mouth marketing ( which is in effect , because if someone told you about this place , you ’d want to go there and then thank them for it ) . perchance it ’s because having a eating place in NOLA that specialize in canned seafood is kind of an odd duck , but believe you me , those tins offer rarities not often seen in this township – think fancy sardines , mussels , and calamari . All are imported , and crazy - pleasant-tasting .
“Pimento” Burger
The Company Burger
You ’ll find no lack of originative sandwich specials atCoBuand CoBu2 – fried chicken Tuesdays will always have a place in our mettle – but there ’s one ace up chef / owner Adam Biderman ’s arm you want to sleep together about that ’s not in writing . “ We have a pimento cheeseburger , ” he tell . “ It ’s not on the menu , you just have to ask – and allow us know if you still need the pickles on there . ”
Secret Saturday pork
MoPho
There ’s so much to love about Michael Gulotta ’s “ Mekong Delta - meets - Mississippi Delta ” fusion smudge near City Park , and it ’s almost hard to make up one’s mind what to regulate ( though we recommend the wimp wings , razor simoleons , and the deep-fried oyster with nước chấm mayo ) . If you ’re lucky enough to get there on a Saturday night , chef Gulotta roasts a whole pig to serve that day until it runs out . The sizzling record of cochon de lait arrives with ample kernel , sign - made roti , fish sauce , mansion herb , and pickled veggies , all for only $ 23 .
“Chef’s Go Go Juice”
Rebellion Bar & Urban Kitchen
Chef Chris DeBarr – everyone ’s best-loved mad hatter of the kitchen – recently returned to cook in NOLA with all of his blase appetence ( for which we ca n’t be sufficiently thankful ) . Few know that he also like to splash around in mixology , and now has a special concoction behind the Browning automatic rifle at Rebellion that does n’t appear on any cocktail menu . “ We have an after - dinner party coffee cocktail I made up prognosticate Ferdinand the Bull – cuz it ’s so much better degustation than Red Bull , ” he write , “ that employ cold brew chocolate , ginger syrup , and tequila . It ’s other aliases are Chef ’s Go Go Juice or crack succus . ” If you ’re looking for a pick - me - up with a special bitch , attend no further .
The lost BLT sandwich
Borgne
Seafood is Martin Luther King Jr. at Borgne , and Brian Landry ’s creative consider on the fruit of the Gulf ( and other local water ) are always welcome . Sadly , the phenomenal oyster BLT “ ai n’t dere no more , ” as we say in New Orleans . However , if you ’re bold enough to courteously make a request , there ’s a proficient fortune they ’ll still make it for you . OK , you may tell your friends about this secret , because if we all keep ordering it , possibly the BLT will find its style back onto the lasting menu .
Secret seafood
Drago’s
The current fantastic state of New Orleans seafood would n’t be what it is without Drago ’s clever conception of the charbroiled huitre . Once solely useable at Drago ’s original Metairie restaurant , these buttery , garlicky bivalves are now on menus everywhere it seems . However , if you ’re willing to venture out to Fat City , you’re able to not only find the master ( and still the best ) , but also one orphic seafood item available only on request : seafood - stuffed soft racing shell crab top with Cancer sauce . It ’s seafood within seafood , with seafood on top , so , basically … seafood - ception .
The best Cuban sandwich in NOLA
Congreso Cubano
The Crescent City is known for its globose taste , but woefully there seems to be a dearth of real - bargain Cuban solid food in townsfolk . If you ’re looking for the city ’s o.k. Cubano sandwich , you wo n’t find it in any restaurant , but at the hands of theCongreso Cubanopop - up . Check out the Facebook page for locations , which vary from bars to immobilise parties and festivals . Trust us , it ’s worth cyber - stalk for that buttery gelt fill with porc , pickles , melty cheese , and leaf mustard .
The “dessert storm”
NOLA Restaurant
What ’s better than the desserts at Emeril ’s NOLA ? How about all the desserts ! If you regulate what ’s called the “ sweet storm ” ( pun intended ) , that ’s exactly what you ’ll get . According to a former head word pastry dough chef , “ It is basically a sampling station of all the restaurants desserts usable in smaller portions on a big plate or platter , playfully dress with chef Emeril ’s signature touch sensation , such as drizzle of hot chocolate , raspberry and/or caramel sauce , fresh seasonal berries , and a dusting of powdered sugar , always ! ” When that ’s placed before your table , you ’ll have no option but to say , “ BAM ! ”
Steamed buns
Lost Love Lounge
Sure , there ’s no deficiency of Vietnamese pick in NOLA – it seems another pho or banh mi joint open up daily – and if you happen to be drinking at the Lost Love Lounge , you ’ll surely remark the great little Vietnamese riposte in the back . The presented options are all hearty , but if you enquire , you might just score some off - the - menu and out - of - this - world steamed roll block with barbecue pork barrel to go with your rice noodles and fountain coil .
“Family meal”
Twelve Mile Limit
In a city blessed with amazing neighborhood bars , it ’s enunciate a mint that Twelve Mile Limit is one of the best region bars in town – but it ’s the trueness . The fantabulous vibe , well-disposed regulars , and stellar cocktail program all add up to a place many Mid - City locals call their second home . That homelike touch is compounded by the fact that , every Monday , the bar ’s kitchen answer up a free “ family meal ” for guests , with one serve at 7 premier and another at 8 autopsy What they cook up varies , depend on the hebdomad and the cook ’s modality , but past oblation have included enchiladas , pastas , casseroles , and other homestyle dishes guaranteed to fulfil you up as you sample the many excellent draft at the stripe or run a mates round of darts .
FREE BLTs
Banks Street Bar
Wait … what ? Yeah , you heard that right : FREE BLTs atBanks St. Baron Wednesdays at 10 pm . Courtesy of business firm bluing / stone getup “ Major Bacon , ” you ’ll not only be treated to a fun and rock live show ( we have a bun in the oven nothing less from an rig with that hold ) , but also a Roger Bacon , lettuce , and tomato sandwich that cost all of zero one dollar bill .
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Chicken Bonne Femme|Pelican Publishing Company
Scott Gold/Thrillist
Parkway Bakery and Tavern
N7
Mopho Mid-City
Brian Landry
Congreso Cubano
NOLA Restaurant
Twelve Mile Limit
