Written by Lauren Toppenberg
This is Emeril’s country, and with that comes great restaurants. People come from all over the country to taste the one-of-a-kind Cajun cooking in New Orleans. If you’re not into all the spice that Cajun food is famous for, the city has nationally acclaimed and prize-winning Italian and seafood restaurants as well. Café Giovanni, an Italian restaurant in the Quarter, is a great example. The Chinese and Mexican food here is not great, but there are a few places that are worth visiting. Pretty much all Chinese take-out is the same, but some places are a lot cheaper than others.
Unlike a lot of cities, there are dozens of excellent restaurants within neighborhoods that are away from the tourist-driven French Quarter and Market. When students want to go out to eat on a school night and don’t want to go all the way downtown, there are plenty of places within walking distance, such as Frescos, O’Henrys, and the Camilla Grill, or a short streetcar ride away, like the Cheesecake Bistro, Copeland’s, Superior Grille, Houston’s, and Voodoo BBQ, among others. There are many small cafés and restaurants down Maple and Oak Street and all through the Uptown area that are relatively inexpensive and have a unique atmosphere. New Orleans is home to some of the best food in the country, and definitely the best in the South. Bon appétit!