After Mardi Gras, New Orleans is most famous for its food. From gumbo to jambalaya to etouffee, the city has everything you want to satisfy your cajun food appetite. And if you’re hankering for something other than Louisiana-style cooking, then you’re in luck as well. Every type and style of food you can imagine is at your call.
And if you’re going on a cruise, then there is even better news. The cruise port sits right near the French Quarter and some of the best restaurants in the world.
In fact, there are so many restaurants that we can list every single one that is within even a mile of the cruise terminal. Instead, we’ve focused on those eateries that are within easy walking distance of the port.
All the restaurants listed below sit within about a 15 minute walk of the port. We focused on the area north of Highway 90, east of Magazine Street, and south of Poydras Street.
Restaurants below are sorted first by expense and then by alphabetical order.
Inexpensive (<$20 Per Person)
Barcadia Bar and Grill
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Casual bar/restaurant/arcade with all the burgers, sandwiches, and wraps you could want — as well as dozens of ’80s arcade games. Great if you want a place for the kids to have some fun
Conchon Butcher
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: A sandwich counter/butcher shop/wine bar. If it’s delicious and not that great for you, then it’s on the menu. Check out Le Pig Mac, featuring two all pork patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion on a sesame bun.
Dino’s Bar & Grill
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: It may not look like much, but there are plenty of tasty eats at this place. The menu features lots of burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. There are also salads if you want some lighter fare.
The District Lounge
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: It’s a bar serving all your bar food favorites. Burgers, quesadillas, nachos, and chicken strips are all available. Great if you want to have a few drinks.
Gordon Biersch
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Gordon Biersh isn’t local, but a chain around the country. The brewery/restaurant is a great place for beer drinkers searching for craft brews and also serves a wide variety of American food. Good spot if you have picky eaters or differing tastes.
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Lucy’s has two locations — New Orleans and Key West. That should give you a good idea of the restaurant’s vibe. The menu features lots of beach bar favorites like tacos, queso, guacamole, and po’boys.
Magazine Pizza
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Let’s not complicate things. You want pizza, this is the place. Sure you can get your typical pepperoni or sausage pizza. But there are also so interesting combinations like the grilled shrimp pizza.
Steak Escape
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: It’s not authentic New Orleans, but if you want a tasty sandwich, try Steak Escape. The Sriracha Cheesesteak sounds especially interesting.
Ugly Dog Saloon & BBQ
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Itching for some BBQ? Ugly Dog Saloon has your fix. From smoked Cajun sausage to St. Louis style ribs, the place has you covered. As well, there are plenty of other interesting options like the smoked alligator sausage.
Red Eye Grill
Price: $10-20 per person
Details: Billing itself as “The Last Place You Want To Be,” Red Eye features all your bar food staples like burgers, cheese sticks, salads, and more. We especially want to try the “hell-of-a-burger” to see if it lives up to its name.
Pricier Options (>$20 Per Person)
Annunciation
Price: $25-40 per person
Details: Fine dining without the huge price tag, Annunciation features lots of creole favorites. From steak to shrimp etouffee to seafood, it’s all on the menu and served in a classy, romantic atmosphere.
Cafe Adelaide
Price: $20-40 per person
Details: Lemon, herb and parmesean fries? BBQ shrimp and grits? White shrimp and okra gumbo? It’s all here and much more. Cafe Adelaide serves up some of the best fine dining southern food you’ll ever eat.
Drago’s
Price: $20-40 per person
Details: Searching for charbroiled oysters? Then try Drago’s. This restaurant has all your Cajun favorites from their famous oysters to shrimp and grits to stuffed lobster. If you’re hankering for gumbo, it’s also featured on the menu.
Emeril’s
Price: $30-40 per person
Details: Yep, this is the flagship restaurant of the famous chef, Emeril Lagasse. There are dishes for all tastes here from cheese plates to truffle roasted fried chicken to creme brulee. And while it’s a little pricey, you can eat in a world-class restaurant for just about $30 per person.
Grand Isle
Price: $20-40 per person
Details: Louisiana is known for its seafood, and Grand Isle is the place to go to get it. From oysters to fresh Gulf shrimp to fried crawfish, it’s all here. The fried shimp po-boy is a favorite that deserves a try.
La Boca
Price: $30-50 per person
Details: Vegetarians and light eaters should look elsewhere. La Boca is all about steak. The Argentinian steakhouse is top-rated steakhouse by Zagat. One thing to note — La Boca is only open for dinner.
Mulate’s
Price: $20-40 per person
Details: This Cajun restaurant offers great food in a comfortable atmosphere. No white linen tablecloths to be found here, just lots of gumbo, etouffee, catfish, and jambalaya.
Peche Seafood Grill
Price: $30-40 per person
Details: According to their website, “Pêche serves simply prepared contemporary dishes, rustic creations cooked on an open hearth, as well as fresh oysters and Gulf fish.” Dishes from grilled tuna to stuffed chicken to jumbo shrimp are all served.
Rock-n-Sake
Price: $20-30 per person
Details: Sushi? In New Orleans? Like we said, you can get a little of everything. Get sushi and rolls to your heart’s content, along with dozens of other Asian favorites.
Root
Price: $50-75 per person
Details: A dinner-only spot, Root is a place for foodies and adventurous eaters. Beef toungue, chicken liver pate, and hog’s head cheese are all on the menu. There are more classic items to eat, but what’s the fun in that?
Tommy’s Cuisine
Price: $40-60 per person
Details: Classic fine dining in New Orleans. Expect white linen tablecloths and fine service in an atmosphere that’s nice without being stuffy. Open for dinner only.