For fine dining in the French Quarter, we will refer you to the big 5 French Creole restaurants you probably already know. We love all five, so we won’t play favorites.

Galatoire’s at 209 Bourbon Street – Galatoire’s has been serving fine French cuisine since 1905. It is a true French Quarter landmark. Don’t ask us what is the best dish on the menu. The answer is “everything.”

Brennan’s Restaurant is in the gorgeous pink building at 417 Royal Street, what was once the old Louisiana Bank building (hence the LB in the wrought iron surrounding the second floor balcony).  Legend has it that Brennan’s was opened on a bet after being told that an Irishman could never cook French-Crole cuisine.  Their Bananas Foster is now known worldwide.

Antoine’s Restaurant at 713 St Louis between Royal and Bourbon Streets. First opened in 1840, you can enjoy Antoine’s Creole-French cuisine while enjoying the images and memorabilia from the hundreds of dignitaries and celebrities that adorn many of the dining room walls.

Opened in 1918, Arnaud's Restaurant, on Bienville, is known for its French 75 bar nearly as much as it is known for its restaurant.  Try the Crawfish O'Connor or the Meuniere.

The youngest of the classic five is Broussard's, opening in 1920.  Joseph Broussard, having a penchant for all things Napoleonic, adopted the bee, which was the Emperor’s personal emblem, as the focus of the restaurant’s crest.

Want to dial it back a notch but still enjoy something well above average?

Bayona at 430 Dauphine Street. Moving away from the river and from the bustle of Bourbon and Royal Streets, you will find Susan Spicer’s quaint restaurant tucked away on Dauphine between Conti and Saint Louis Streets. The menu is unique and varied. But, don’t miss the quail salad. Trust us on this one.

Eat at 900 Dumaine at Dauphine Street. This is a true local favorite. They serve local dishes with local ingredients and a lot of originality. The place is a bit small, so get there early or call to ask them to hold a table for you.

Mona Lisa at 1212 Royal Street. Seriously? You come to the French Quarter to eat Italian? Well, after a few days of crawfish, gumbo, and étouffée, maybe you are looking for a break. Walk to the lower quarter, towards Esplanade, and enjoy a pretty darn good plate of lasagna or Shrimp Fra Diavolo. You will probably catch me in there on Sunday nights ordering something to go before The Walking Dead comes on. Don’t judge me.

Sukho Thai  – OK, if I didn’t loose you with the Mona Lisa suggestion, let me drop a good Thai joint on you. Keep walking down Royal and cross Esplanade into the Marigny. Royal Street will curve around and you will cross Frenchman Street (you will want to remember this street since it houses some of the best nightlife in New Orleans. We’ll cover that in a future post!). Keep going another block to Elysian Fields. There it is. Across the street at the corner of Royal and Elysian Fields, 2200 Royal Street. A very well-executed menu, Thai dishes the way they should be done, a great selection of teas. You can thank me later.