Top Best American Restaurants in New Orleans

"Commander's Palace has been around since the late 1800s, but under Ella Brennan’s leadership starting in the 1970s, the restaurant essentially redefined New Orleans cuisine and catapulted into stardom with the help of celeb chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse. Today, the menu and service are top notch with James Beard Award-winning chef Tory McPhail leading the kitchen and Ti Martin and Lally Brennan running the show. Go for lunch and make sure to end the meal with the bread pudding soufflé and whiskey sauce."

"GQ's Golden Dish Award for Eggs Sardou, Commander’s Palace’s legacy speaks for itself. Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is thought to be the original spot for a jazz brunch and patio dining. For contemporary Louisiana food and alfresco dining, look no further than Commander’s Palace."

"The wet-battered fried chicken at this Treme soul food institution (open since 1957) is the stuff of legend, which is why the line to get inside Willie Mae’s Scotch House usually wraps around the building. The best bet for getting in quickly is to come with a party of two. Do yourself a favor and get the mac and cheese too."

" loudly harrumphs an endless of stream of out-of-town customers, eager to challenge the claim that Willie Mae’s makes “the world’s best fried chicken.” They’re usually..."

"District Donuts Sliders Brew is a casual, friendly café that focuses on house-roasted coffee, sweet and sticky donuts, and mouth-watering sliders. The restaurant serves classic breakfast dishes that have been recreated with a twist, like bacon and eggs on a miso-praline biscuit, pork belly breakfast tacos, croquenuts (croque madame meets a donut), and smoked salmon and cream cheese kolaches. Good old donuts take on new flavors like candied thyme, Sriracha-maple, and cereal and milk."

"District provides an ever-changing selection of innovative, creative, and most importantly, delicious doughnuts to its adoring public. They look as great as they taste, and that's saying something. The locally owned biz now has four locations in New Orleans and one in Baton Rouge."

"Whether you crave a sugar rush or savory treat, this cool spot on Magazine Street has you covered. The dishes at this New Orleans cheap eats superstar include donuts, sliders, and beer. Locally sourced ingredients are the focus and the spirit is always fun and lively."

"Anyone available for good American meals at affordable prices can look no further than Sylvain’s in the French Quarter. This cozy restaurant provides a welcoming environment for brunch, lunch, or dinner. While the location and style gives off a casual vibe, the service makes sure to keep up its classy atmosphere, creating a presence unmatched by any other restaurant in the Quarter."

"Grab a seat on the intimate back patio at Sylvain and prepare to be dazzled. The elevated gastropub cuisine is stellar, from the famous fried chicken sandwich, grilled gulf shrimp, and pappardelle bolognese. Add in the perfect cocktails and candlelit outdoor space, and you won’t want to leave."

"Pan-fried pork shoulder is served with braised greens, Coosa Valley’s McEwen & Sons grits and mustard jus. Reservations recommended. Lunch Fri., dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun."

"1313 Hickory Ave., Harahan, (504) 737-0033; www.hickorycafe.com. A focaccia burger is an 8-ounce beef patty topped with pepper Jack cheese, bacon, spinach, roasted red pepper and basil mayonnaise on focaccia."

"The oldest organic juice bar in New Orleans, Surrey's Cafe and Juice Bar obviously serves some of the best fresh-squeezed juices in town (Orange! Carrot! Apple! Grapefruit!). But that’s just the beginning: biscuits, bagels and buns are house-made at all three locations (Uptown on Magazine and in Bywater). For a serious morning sugar fix, opt for the bananas Foster French toast, or go for the Costa Rican breakfast with eggs, rice, pico de gallo, avocado, chorizo or boudin for a protein-heavy start."

"What you're getting: Pain Perdu Surrey’s has incredible juices, but the restaurant’s piece de resistance is the Pain Perdu. It’s an absurdly fluffy, sugar-coated New Orleans take on French toast that can also be prepared for vegans without sacrificing taste and texture -- perfect for curing a hangover. The restaurant is also BYOB, just in case you want to add a little something extra to your glass of freshly squeezed orange juice or lemonade."

"(Uptown + Multiple Locations, Breakfast/Brunch, $$) Classic BLT and huevos rancheros. If you want a stiff drink to go with your eats, you can BYOB here and have the best of both."

"4241 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 889-2301; www.boulevardbistro.com. Pan-seared jumbo lump crab cakes are served with french fries and coleslaw. Reservations accepted."

"Category: American, Delivery, Happy Hours, Outside Dining, Southwest, and Weekend Brunch. Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant aims to provide a laid-back, beach vibe complete with the coldest drinks and hottest menu around since 1992. Whether you want to belly up Read more..."

"701 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 523-8995; www.lucysretiredsurfers.com/neworleans. A Juicy Lucy burger is an 8-ounce patty topped with tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles and Lucy’s sauce on a Dong Phuong roll."

"Don't miss a meal at this Treme Creole gem on leafy Esplanade Avenue, where chef-owner Wayne Baquet and his friendly team serve belly-filling breakfasts and flavorful soul food in a down-home setting. Specializing in authentic cuisine made with regional ingredients, this intimate eatery's bottomless buffets are exceedingly popular with locals, so come early and bring a hearty appetite. The Sunday brunch includes made to order omelets with bacon and sausage, biscuits, red beans and rice, file gumbo, ribs, and an endless supply of some of the best fried chicken in town."

"New Orleans's famous Baquet family oversees this laid-back establishment and its brunch buffet, which serves as a primer in Creole cuisine. It's a no-nonsense operation here; don't expect complicated cocktails or six versions of avocado toast. You’re here for the variety of local specialities on offer, not to see and be seen."

"1500 Esplanade Ave., (504) 569-8997; Rendon Inn, 4501 Eve St.; www.lildizzyscafe.net. Southern fried chicken is seasoned with dried onion, garlic, red pepper and paprika. Reservations accepted."

"611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 323-4259; 5001 Freret St., (504) 603-3085; www.blazepizza.com. The build-your-own-pie format allows diners to choose sauces (tomato, spicy tomato, garlic-pesto or cream sauce), cheeses (mozzarella, feta or Gorgonzola), meats, vegetables and more."

"For your pizza pleasure, we recommend the Veg Out, topped with zucchini, mushrooms, red onion, and red sauce dollops. And you can get vegan cheese at no extra cost!"

"A Mochasippi is a creamy frozen espresso drink in flavors such as chocolate, caramel, peppermint and hazelnut and is topped with whipped cream."

"There’s never a cover at this friendly, pleasantly divey Uptown cigar bar, which offers perhaps the most diverse jazz calendar of any venue on this list: hot jazz, Dixieland, bebop, modern jazz, Gypsy jazz, brass bands… they’ve got it all. True to the name, Dos Jefes really is a cigar bar, earning it an exemption to New Orleans’ new smoke-free rules, so if smoke yucks you out, this might not be the choice for you (there’s a nice outdoor patio with swings, but if you’re here for the music, you’ll want to be inside). The bar has a wide selection of liquors and beers, and when a band’s playing, one of the city’s finer food trucks is almost always parked outside for notables.5535 Tchoupitoulas St. (Uptown) / (504) 891-8500"

"The best eatery for oyster enthusiasts is Desire Oyster Bar, which is located within the Royal Sonesta Hotel. It is in the French Quarter on the corner of Bourbon Street and Bienville Street. Creole dishes featuring Louisiana seafood is what you can expect to find on the menu, and oyster dishes are the most popular option."

"Located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, we went here for dinner our second night. I got their chargrilled oysters, and oh my word, they were buttery and delicious. Address: 300 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130"

"Dinner at Desire Oyster Bar For dinner, you have to get oysters if you like them. They are one of the most famous foods here in New Orleans. This is a popular place for them and is also no-frills."