Where to Eat in NOLA

This was the most exciting (and stressful) part of planning my trip. Where to eat in NOLA?! With so many amazing restaurants in NOLA where does one begin. What helped was having an idea of the kinds of food I wanted to try. Beignets were a must as was food you tend to think of when you think about NOLA (think gumbo or po’boys) but I also wanted to find something a little off the beaten path. Once I knew what kinds of food I wanted to eat, then it was just a matter of researching the best places to go to get my fix.

For the ambiance Cafe Amelie is a French restaurant tucked away in the middle of the French Quarter. Once you’ve entered the gates it‘s like you’ve left the bustling French Quarter behind and stepped into a private garden. They have an extensive outdoor patio with lots of greenery and a fountain. They also have indoor seating but you’ve got to sit outside. The cafe feels relaxed and casual, yet intimate. It’s a great place to come if you want a little time to recharge and some food to nibble on while you do.I got their wild Atlantic salmon cake with a lemon tabasco cream sauce and it was really good. The sauce added a bright kick to the salmon cake which was quite flavorful on its own. I also got some gumbo. The gumbo was okay but it felt like it was missing something flavor wise.

Something Unexpected
NOLA has a reputation for gumbo and seafood which I definitely wanted to try (and I did!), but I also wanted something different. Something that didn’t necessarily scream New Orleans. That’s where Shaya came in. The reviews were incredible so I knew I wanted to check them out. Best decision ever. This was the best food I ate on my trip (and I ate some really good food). The pita was heavenly! I had it with some delicious cauliflower hummus.My chicken schnitzel sandwich was massive and delicious.The fries were well seasoned, crispy, but still tender. And dessert was different but really good. I got their milk and honey cheesecake. There’s a lot going on in the dessert flavor and texture wise but it all came together beautifully. From start to finish the meal was wonderful, and I can’t recommend this place enough if you go to NOLA.

Quintessential NOLA: Po’Boys So Beyonce and President Obama have eaten here. If it’s good enough for them, I was certainly willing to give them a try lol.I ended up getting their small catfish po’boy.The catfish was nicely cooked and seasoned. They also have a sauce station with several different sauces so you can go crazy!The remoulade sauce is not to be missed. I’ve heard that their surf and turf po’boy is really good (My Uber driver told me he had just finished eating one before he picked me up!) so if you go you should give it a try. I’m not a roast beef person so it was a pass for me.

Breakfast/Brunch SpotI always look for a good breakfast/brunch/diner spot when I’m traveling and NOLA had several options. It wasn’t a requirement but I did want to find someplace different. Eventually, I stumbled upon Surrey’s Cafe & Juice Bar. It’s definitely off the beaten path. So much so that the Uber driver had to circle the block a couple of times before finding it. Check out the items under their local favorites section.They’ve earned this spot for a reason! I tried both the shrimp and grits and the bananas foster French toast. The #TeamSweet vs #TeamSavory breakfast struggle is real. Both items were really good but the french toast edged out the grits for me.They’re known for the fresh juices so I opted for the special of the day – orange, mango, pineapple juice and added a shot of ginger. It was really refreshing and not too sweet. The ginger gave it a nice kick.

Sweets

Cafe Du MondeYou can’t come to New Orleans without hitting up Cafe Du Monde.I did and the beignets lived up to the hype. If you’ve never been to NOLA this is a required stop.District Donuts Sliders and Brew If you’re into donuts (who isn’t), I’d recommend checking out District Donuts Sliders and Brew.I tried their creme brulee cinnamon roll and it was amazing. Be warned though, it’s sweet.If you want a little less of a sugar bomb, I’d also recommend their brown butter drop. It’s denser in texture and not as sweet but still really good.

Croissant D’orThis one was recommended to me by a local who said the apple croissant was one of the best he’d ever had. Well I had to check it out for myself and it did not disappoint.They also had some really elaborate, beautiful looking desserts that I didn’t get a chance to try but there’s always next time!Coffee Shops 

Exploring a new city is fun but it can also be draining. Coffee shops are a great place to recharge (both yourself and your cell phone).  A reprieve from the humidity, free WiFi, and cool drinks – just some of the things that make NOLA coffee shops great. That and cool artwork. 

Merchant

On my first full day I went to Merchant, a coffee shop really close to my Sonder (if you missed it, check out my review of Sonder here). I ordered the Fig’ama’jig breakfast sandwich and it was delicious. It had fig jam, eggs, turkey, and goat cheese served on a croissant.If it’s convenient for you, I’d highly recommend stopping by. The space is big, airy, and bright, and they’ve got some cool art on the walls.

Stumptown RoastersOn my second day I checked out Stumptown Roasters. The coffee shop has this grand room with high ceilings and leather sofas for lounging and reading. I sipped on a Big Easy Kombucha while I rested up before another day of exploring.

That’s it folks! I got to check out quite a few places on this trip but I still feel like I barely scratched the surface. There are so many amazing restaurants in the city and I’m excited to work my way through them on subsequent trips. If you’ve been to NOLA before, have you visited any of these restaurants? Are there any places I should check out next time? Let me know below!