New Orleans Off the Beaten Path ~ A Local's Guide

This is the kind of restaurant that's hard to describe because there are too many good things to say about it. It's located near the prosperous Magazine Street arts and antiques shopping district, so while it's removed from the tourist frenzy of the French Quarter, there are still things to do in the vicinity. The menu is incredibly diverse, with everything from upscale bar fare (gourmet burgers, steak sandwiches, grilled tuna steak) to basic Mediterranean fare (fresh hummus, tabouli, gyros, and saffron rice) to great barbecue. The atmosphere, though casual, is surprisingly romantic for a bar/cafe; beautiful wall murals and candlelight give an intimate, tucked-away feeling to the interior, and a few outdoor tables are available. Perhaps best of all, the kitchen serves until 3am. Like so many local venues, the Moonlight Cafe has a great jukebox with a mix of jazz, rock and country classics. There's nothing quite like sitting at the dark wooden bar and listening to Van Morrison's "Moondance" and sipping drinks long after you know you should have gone home. This is a perfect place to wind down on those late, laid-back New Orleans nights.

Liuzza's by the Track is a classic New Orleans family-owned-and-operated neighborhood restaurant. When compared to French Quarter establishments that claim to serve the same type of food, here is the difference: reasonable prices, authentic atmosphere, and food that tastes just as authentic. You can taste the fact that these recipes are time-honored home-cooked favorites.

Like many local restaurants, Liuzza's offers daily specials that add variety and interest to the otherwise pretty basic menu of po-boys, gumbo, and other classic dishes. Fridays are definitely worth a special trip: the daily offerings are a spicy, bisque-like shrimp stew and crab cakes so big they look like hamburger steaks at first glance. Delicious! This is the type of restaurant where neighbors who have lived side by side for years meet each other for leisurely lunches and nostalgic dinners. Don't expect anything fancy, but do expect food that doesn't disappoint on taste or presentation. Be prepared for a lunch rush and a possible wait, but it will be well worth it.

Angeli's utterly disproves the myth that locals never go out in the French Quarter. This is a great little spot for late nights, and they cater especially to us folks that work in the tourism industry, i.e. get off at midnight or later. The food is just divine; in fact, the Divine Portobello appetizer is a highly recommended favourite. The selection of gourmet pizzas is also impressively creative and very good. There is a full bar (of course) and a decent little wine list offering both glasses and bottles. Being in the lower end of the Quarter, it doesn't suffer from the Bourbon Street chaos, although there is usually a steady, lively crowd as the wee hours progress.

The only negative is the service, which is terrible, despite being quite friendly. Since this is not really a place to go when you're in a rush, the slow service almost makes it better, because it gives a good excuse to kill a bottle of wine and chat with friends for hours, or as long as it takes.

Caveat: This is not a place for fussy diners. The relaxed New Orleans attitude permeates the atmosphere completely, and you must be prepared to chill and enjoy the moment in order to enjoy Angeli's. That being said, many great times are to be had at this fabulous little joint, and the food is beyond wonderful. Besides, who comes to New Orleans to hurry?

For anyone who has interest in Celtic heritage or just likes a great Irish pub, O'Flaherty's is an absolute must. It's a little-known fact that New Orleans has the second-largest Irish immigrant population in the U.S. (after New York) and that Irish people and culture have had major impacts on the city's development. While it is technically located nowhere near the real Irish Channel, a slightly shady neighborhood in the uptown direction, O'Flaherty's has certainly captured the spirit of the Irish in New Orleans. Founded, owned, and operated by one Danny O'Flaherty, there is no mistaking the authenticity of the music, food, and of course, drink to be found here. At times, there is even a Celtic Heritage walking tour that leaves from the pub.

Needless to say, this is a perfect place to be on St. Patrick's Day. A personal favorite of mine is a New Orleans twist on the Black & Tan or Half & Half: half-Guiness and half-Abita Amber, the obligatory local Louisiana brew. Despite its French Quarter location, O'Flaherty's still draws locals because of its unique atmosphere and amazing musical performances, which range from traditional Celtic to modern singer-songwriter originals. On the corner of Toulouse and Decatur in the French Quarter, O'Flaherty's is more than worth a stop.