When you’re in town for work, a conference, a meeting, or just passing through, you have to choose your meals carefully: You have limited time, you might have a colleague’s or a client’s preferences to consider, and you still want to get the most out of the city’s flavors while you’re there. Here’s your business-friendly guide to dinner and drinks in New Orleans.
Read MoreThe Best Spots for Dinner and Drinks in New Orleans
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Commander's Palace
A New Orleans institution, Commander’s Palace is a jacket-required Creole cuisine establishment. You’ll be feeling fancy after strolling between the elegant homes of the Garden District on your way there, so leave enough time to stop and enjoy the view. Try the filet mignon with whiskey smoked onions or the creole seafood bouillabaisse for your entree.
Shaya
If you’ve been indulging a bit too much during your trip to NOLA, Shaya offers healthy options and lighter fare. Its modern Israeli menu features veggie and hummus-laden plates, but also meat from the grill and crispy haloumi. Located on Magazine Street, Shaya sits on a quaint and more residential street with shops, coffee joints, and small galleries to peruse and take time out of a hectic schedule.
Lüke
Meet over mussels and frites at this throwback Franco-German style brasserie. No matter what you order, you can’t help but love the look of the rich wooden furniture, waitstaff in white button-downs, and oysters on ice in plain view. To share, try the roasted jalapeño grits, which are a spicy take on a southern favorite.
Borgne
Chef John Besh shows off his flair for his native Louisiana cooking style with dishes like the crawfish bread and “Fish in a Bag,” served with caramelized fennel, bok choy, tomato, and crab fat. The menu leans heavily on seafood, but there’s something for everyone here, including lighter appetizer bites. If you’re in need of a happy hour spot, the sangria pitchers are a favorite among the local professional crowd (happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. every day).
Meril
Chef Emeril Lagasse named his new spot, Meril, after his daughter, and you’ll find a family-friendly menu here. Pick from lighter fare, like tacos, calamari, Mexican-style corn, and a refreshing burrata salad, as well as more filling options like the pork belly, short ribs, and lasagna bolognese. The restaurant’s open kitchen, inviting wood floors, and playful animal murals adds a dash of comfort to Emeril’s home cooking.
Meauxbar
Unassuming on the outside, but lively within, Meauxbar has happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, where you can enjoy s $5 glasses of red, white, rosé and sparkling wine, as well as classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned for cheap. Stay right through until dinnertime and sample the burrata and celery appetizer followed by the chicken cassoulet or the locally famous Yak-A-Mein, a beef noodle soup.
Ace Hotel New Orleans
If you can’t quite decide what kind of vibe you need for the night, swing by the Ace Hotel, where you can choose from different options. Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman drew on their Italian-American backgrounds to create the menu at Josephine Estelle, complete with a selection of pastas, fresh broccoli rabe, and homemade meatballs. The lobby is a comfortable place for cocktails and, if the weather is warm, you can head up to the rooftop bar to imbibe while overlooking the city.
Sylvain
Sylvain calls itself “a celebration of both new and old,” and it holds true both in its design and menu. Get comfy in the worn-wood surfaces of this cozy eatery and order the chicken liver crostini or a Southern antipasti studded with seasonal pickles to share. The Sylvain Burger is simple — just extra sharp cheddar and handcut fries— but drool-worthy, while the panseared scallops with pumpkin relish is a twist on the traditional. Executive chef Martha Wiggins earned a spot on Zagat’s 30 Under 30 in New Orleans last year, so you know you’ll want to make a stop to taste her dishes.
Restaurant August
For an upscale occasion, Besh has yet another gem in the city: his flagship restaurant, August. August features a curated list of French favorites, and it’s loaded with 19th century charm that you’ll find in architectural details: big windows, the fireplace, and brick, all under the sparkle of chandeliers. From the menu, choose from a number of dishes that use fresh ingredients: sunchoke soup, roasted fennel, and juniper spiced breast of duckling, for starters.
Angeline
Enjoy seasonal, contemporary southern cuisine at Angeline. At happy hour, order “Good Sense” which comes with paté, deviled eggs, pickles, and cauliflower for $16, or, for $36, throw in a bottle of wine. Try the sherry flight — a bit of a departure from typical happy hour favorites. If you’re staying for dinner, try the Mississippi rabbit milanese, served with smoked carrot puree, spoon bread, bacon, braised collards, and tomato gravy.
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