A relatively new Emeril restaurant also found in the Central Business District. They serve fusion tapa type dishes. It comes recommended that parties share a variety of things. Massive menu with unique drinks, and funny wait staff. I do not recommend going if you want a quiet, intimate dinner. Meril is one of the most popular locations for birthdays, and every ten minutes waiters come running out of the kitchen screaming with a cotton candy cloud the size of a large cat and a sparkler. Meril is happy to celebrate your birthday and startle the entire restaurant, whether your birthday is the day of, or four months prior. 

Shaya is Alon Shaya’s old restaurant. In my opinion, it has gone downhill. That being said, it still serves a top-notch meal for when you can’t get into Saba. The two are very similar, but Saba is superior.

A very trendy Asian/Southern fusion restaurant in CBD. The menu consists of a variety of small plates. I recommend getting a bunch of things to share. During the weekend, Maypop does a dim sum that features its unique take on Chinese classics, though I will admit some of the dishes were a little bit of a stretch as far as authentic Chinese food goes. 

An underrated Neo-Southern eatery, next to the food museum of New Orleans. The food and drinks are dynamite. I went for dinner, and it was relatively empty on a Saturday, which was bizarre. They also do a brunch, which I went to recently. I remember liking the dinner more than I liked brunch; however, they do a drink called the porkchop and applesauce that’s kind of like a sweeter Old Fashioned and it does not disappoint. I do not feel that this restaurant gets the credit it deserves. A perfect place to go if you need somewhere last minute. 

A new NOLA hotspot. Celebrity chef Nina Compton just opened this restaurant. It is her second restaurant after Compére Lapin. The place is more casual than her first restaurant, but the food does not fall short of perfection. They stress the feeling of family and neighborhood throughout the aesthetics and cuisine. I hate saying this because it sounds like a copout, but you can’t go wrong ordering anything on the menu. Every dish is impressive. They do have a barrel-aged negroni on the cocktail list that should not be missed. 

Traditionally, a place for dinner and drinks, but I have exclusively gone for 2:50 PM brunch (they close brunch at 3 PM). Exquisitely decorated wine bar perfect for your micro-influencer friend’s feed or romantic second date. Noteworthy items we ordered included the Pork Belly and Corn Fried Oysters, Duck Fat Fries, and the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. They also feature if an Impossible Burger considering the previous options each break every dietary restriction in the books. Even though they are known for their wine list, Copper Vine also offers unique cocktails such as a mezcal negroni and a cucumber gimlet. 

A cajun seafood restaurant that is easy to get in for big parties. Go for both the raw and cooked oysters. They used to have an octopus on the menu. Apparently, I stated that it was “rockstar,” and my friends will never let me live this down. This establishment is located in the Central Business District at the Hyatt Regency, a colossal hotel that hosts many conferences.

Pizza Domenica is the more casual sister restaurant to Domenica. I think that Dominica’s best attributes genuinely shine in this more relaxed setting. They boast some of the fan favorites served at Domenica, like the cauliflower. They also have exceptional garlic bread that they pair with whipped feta and goat cheese dip, which is excellent. As the name suggests, they specialize in their pizzas, and they have a wide selection. They also have one of the best Uptown happy hour deals with half off pizzas and bottles of wine.

My favorite restaurant in New Orleans and maybe the world. Saba, meaning grandfather, is an homage to the cooking that the brilliant James Beard-winning chef Alon Shaya had as a kid. The sophisticated menu gives the local cuisine in Israel a run for its money. In fact, my parents say that the food at Saba is even more impressive than the “impossible to get into” Mediterranean restaurant in LA, Bavel. The moral of the story is that every dish at this eatery is delectable. The menu is always changing, and the chefs are continuously experimenting with new flavors, so it is hard to recommend a main course. I recommend ordering several of the salitim dishes for the table, and a hummus or two. My favorite hummuses are the blue crab and the brussels sprouts. Each hummus is served with warm fresh pita, cooked out of a pizza oven. The all you can eat pita that comes with these spreads are pillows of dough sent straight from a higher power. I kid you not, they are exquisite, and there should be a national holiday to celebrate the fluffy perfection. This place is hard to get a reservation, but if you go around 2-4 PM, you can usually get a table outside. Alon Shaya opened up this new venture, along with a sister restaurant in Denver, within the last two years after some shady politics with his original restaurant Shaya and the fellow co-owner.

Celebrated Italian restaurant. Evidently they serve a killer brunch as well. I have only been once but it comes highly recommended.

One of the best dining experiences in the Uptown area, west of Tulane’s campus. Located right off Claiborne, they have a delicious Southern menu. The most expensive thing on the menu is only $30, so it’s a perfect place to ball out on a budget. Date night? The Krispy Kreme bread pudding might be one of the most superior bread puddings in the South.