The late celebrity chef and beloved television personality Anthony Bourdain once said that New Orleans was the only city in America where everyone should eat. Anthony Bourdain visited Nola frequently over the years and featured numerous of the town’s bars and restaurants on his shows.
Anthony Bourdain first visited the Big Easy on his show “A Cook’s Tour” in 2003 and Anthony Bourdain kept coming back for more of the city’s eclectic cuisine and vivacious vibes in his later shows like “The Layover” and “No Reservations”. Anthony Bourdain once even was quoted as saying that there is no other city that is as important for traditional American culinary history as New Orleans. Anthony Bourdain further called the city’s culinary scene one of the most vibrant, diverse, and influential ones in the nation.
In this installment of Viewcation, we’re going to be taking a look at some of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite restaurants and bars in the city that is known for it’s cajun flare and laid-back lifestyle. Keep watching to see Anthony Bourdain’s New Orleans Recommendations for Food & Drink.
Jaques-Imos
This Oak Street cafe is a cajun/creole mecca that’s notable for it’s truck-turned table for two. The restaurant’s signature dishes, shrimp etouffee and smothered chicken, are two standout highlights from a menu that features a pleasing mixture of cajun and creole favorites served up with generous portions at reasonable prices.
All entrees are served with a side salad and your choice of two sides. In addition to the smothered chicken and the etouffee, Jaques-Imos is also famous for its fried chicken – which many locals argue is the best in town. We also have to recommend their paneed rabbit with tasso pasta and, for dessert, the alligator cheesecake.
Tee-Eva’s
Featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “A Cook’s Tour” in 2003, this New Orleans confection shop is known for Miss Tee-Eva’s world-famous pralines. Her shop offers numerous other savory and sweet Creole dishes as well, so If you’re looking for some truly authentic southern food and hospitality, this is one stop you should definitely add to your Nola itinerary.
Check Point Charlie’s
Yet another Nola staple to be featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s 2003 program A Cook’s Tour, Checkpoint Charlie’s is a classic New Orleans 24-hour bar, pub, all-night laundromat, and live music venue.
You can grab a beer and a burger while enjoying some live blues music just about every night of the week at this Nola late-night joint.
Check Point Charlie’s is noteworthy for not catering to any specific kind of person. Come as you are, and no need to worry about a dress code, because this famous New Orlean’s nightlife haunt is renowned for accommodating anyone with a belly button. There’s a pool table, several cafe tables next to open-air windows, and a kitchen that’s open late to ensure that all of your culinary needs are taken care of.
Check Point Charlie’s can be found on the corner of Esplanade Ave and Decatur just off Frenchman Street in the French Quarter.
The Harbor Restaurant And Lounge
Unfortunately, this restaurant hasn’t been open for quite some time, but when Anthony Bourdain visited it in 2003, Anthony Bourdain noted that it served some of the finest cajun and creole food in town while offering patrons inexpensive drinks.
Verti Marte
This unassuming deli has been called the best-kept secret in New Orlean’s French Quarter. It’s located on Royal Street and features a menu of po’boys, muffulettas, burgers, fried foods, and seafood. While at first glance, this establishment resembles a humble convenient store, their menu is considerably larger than many restaurants in town, and just about everything on it will rock your socks off.
Vaughan’s Lunge
This small dive bar is a local hot spot for live jazz music. It’s also home to some of the best soul food in town as well as remarkably cheap drinks. It’s been around for over 60 years and even managed to survive after sustaining heavy damage during Hurricane Katrina. It’s located at 4229 Dauphine Street and is famous for it’s live music on Thursday nights.
Ms. Mae’s
Located in the Garden District on Magazine Street, this New Orlean’s 24-hour dive bar is known for having the cheapest drinks in the city. Sure, it’s a bit of a hole in the wall, but locals insist that it should be on anyone’s Nola bucket list, like Anthony Bourdain.
Stop in for a boozy drink and a game of pool at anytime of the day or night. If you’re feeling adventurous, the bar welcomes guests to complete their 24-hour challenge, where you must have a drink every hour on the hour for a 24-hour stint.
Domilise’s
Located at 5240 Annunciation Street, this small yellow house establishment is renowned for serving up some of the finest po’boys in Nola. They’re open for lunch and early dinner, but unlike other New Orleans spots, they’re not interested in being a 24-hour joint. Generations of Nola residents have been flocking to Domilise’s for ages. Everyone from famous celebrities to politicians have made it a point to include this sandwich shop as one of their pit stops when visiting the city. After sinking your teeth into one of their catfish or shrimp Poboys, you’ll know what all the hype is about.
Emeril’s
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse opened up this causal eatery in the heart of the French Quarter in 1992. The critically-acclaimed restaurant offers diners a delightful fusion menu that brings together flavors that borrow from Creole, Acadian, and Southern culinary traditions. Emeril’s innovative menu showcases rustic Louisiana cooking with a lovely mix of local ingredients and a few ethnic twists. The restaurant was recently renovated in 2017 and is now open for lunch and dinner. We recommend trying the barbecued shrimp, gumbo, or stuffed chicken wings.
Antoine’s
This French Quarter eatery is famed for being the birthplace of culinary classics like Oysters Rockefeller, Pommes de Terre Souffles, and Eggs Sardou. Established in 1840, Antoine’s is the nation’s oldest family-run restaurant. In recent years, Antoine has expanded to include their Hermes Bar, where patrons can enjoy cocktails, beer, and wine. Expect to pay a bit more for your dining experience, but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for – and what you get when visiting Antoine’s is a traditional French-Creole dining experience that you won’t soon forget.
Cafe Recconcile
This New Orlean’s cafe bills itself as a nonprofit daytime restaurant that serves up Southern staples cooked by at-risk youth who are receiving job training. Their menu features soul food classics cooked to perfection.
Established in 1996 and located on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, Cafe Recconcile prides itself in its outreach program, but beyond just being a beacon for the community, it is one of the best spots in the city to grab lunch.
Vic’s Kangaroo Cafe
You might not expect to find an Australian neighborhood pub in the heart of New Orlean’s warehouse district, but that’s exactly what this establishment is. So, next time you’re in the French Quarter, be sure to make the .8 mile walk over to Vic’s for a pint of Foster’s and a delicious burger.
Cochon
Anthony Bourdain visited this New Orleans eatery in 2008 on No Reservations. Chef Donald Link has reconnected with his culinary roots by conjuring up a menu of southern cajun delicacies that he grew up enjoying.
They’re open for lunch and dinner and can be found in the warehouse district. The chicken and andouille sausage gumbo is out of this world, but so is the fried boudin and catfish coutbouillion. For dessert, try the butterscotch pudding or the fried apple pie.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House
Named after the James Beard award-winning chef Willie Mae Seaton, this beloved Nola establishment has been proudly a part of the Treme community since 1957. Willie Mae passed away in 2015, his vision is still alive and well. The restaurant’s signature dish is their fried chicken, which they claim is the best in America.
Miss Linda Green, The Ya-Ka-Mein Lady
For the past 20-plus years, Ms. Linda has been serving up her delicious soul food, gumbo, and signature Ya-Ka-Mein dish, along with numerous other delectable recipes at food festivals and events across the city. She doesn’t have a permanent eatery, but if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon her culinary wizardry while in town, you’d be crazy not to give her your hard-earned money. Trust us, it’s worth every last penny.
Nor-Joe’s Importing Company
For an unparalleled shopping and dining experience, look no further than this New Orleans hidden gem. Try the muffuletta or the cannoli king cake while browsing through a selection of hard-to-find, imported ingredients.
Anthony Bourdain: The Kingpin
This fun and friendly – and not to mention delightfully kitschy – neighborhood bar offers patrons a wide selection of craft beers. They are located on Lyons street and frequently host live bands. It’s also one of the best places in the city to catch a Saints game that Anthony Bourdain visited.
Crab Trap
The original Crab Trap seafood shack was destroyed by Hurricane Issac in 2012, but in 2015 it officially reopened featuring a brand new menu and a new location on the Frenier Lakefront. If you’re in search of some boiled seafood, this is one of the best spots in town to indulge in some crab or shrimp. Owners Jason and Jenni Bourg also offer guests menu items like po’boys and fried seafood in a casual environment.
Snake and Jakes Christmas Club
It might not be much to look at, but this dive bar which resembles a falling-down shack, is oozing with charm. It features a small dark room illuminated solely by Christmas tree lights. There are a few tables scattered around the lounge as well as a narrow bar. As far as dive bars go, they don’t get ‘divier’ than this. You might even wonder if the building is up to code, but you can worry about that later, because the cordial atmosphere at Snake and Jakes coupled with the cheap drinks is enough to warrant a visit.
New Orleans is a foodie’s paradise. If you’ve never been, then you’re really missing out. If you’re a fan of southern hospitality and authentic cajun cooking, then this is one culinary epicenter that you don’t want to miss. Anthony Bourdain had nothing but praise for the Big Easy and it’s eclectic offerings, and after visiting Nola and seeing what all the hubbub is about, you’ll see why Anthony Bourdain couldn’t help but keep coming back to Nola for more.
Did you know that New Orleans is home to the longest-running family-owned restaurant in America and that it’s also known for being the dive-bar capital of the world? Share your thoughts on New Orleans with us in the comments section down below. And as always, thanks for watching!