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Napoleon House muffuletta
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Where to Get a Great Muffuletta in and Around New Orleans

If you’re going to commit to a sandwich as big as a plate, go for the best

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Napoleon House muffuletta
| Napoleon House/Facebook

A muffuletta is one of the three iconic sandwiches in New Orleans, a proud trio that also includes po’ boys, of course, and the Vietnamese version, the banh mi. Like most traditional bites, a muffuletta isn’t just a sandwich, it’s a history lesson.

Between 1884 and 1924, nearly 300,000 mostly Sicilian immigrants moved to New Orleans, transforming the French Market neighborhood into what was called “Little Palermo,” ripe with family grocery stores, pushcarts and Italian wares.

Sicilian workers often stopped into Central Grocery for bread, olives, cold cuts, and cheese for lunch, usually standing up or balancing a plate precariously on their laps. Salvatore Lupo, who opened Central Grocery across from the French Market in 1906, decided there had to be a better way — and it involved bread as big as a plate.

The famous sandwich, layered with olive salad, Genoa salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss cheese, was born. While Central Grocery remains shuttered after sustaining epic damage from Hurricane Ida, there are plenty of other spots that deliver a sandwich almost as good — and in some cases, better. Most come in a half or whole; be advised, eating a whole isn’t for lightweights.

This map includes mostly classics, plus a couple beloved twists on the classic.

Did we miss a favorite? Leave a comment or send a tip and let us know.

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World Deli

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Metairie-ites in the know love this family run po’ boy and platter shop on Clearview, and with good reason — it dishes large portions of homestyle eats, from sandwiches and salads to daily dinner specials. Speaking of large portions, World Deli’s muffuletta is as big as it gets, and the mini muffuletta party tray is a Mardi Gras favorite.

Francesca Deli, Pizzeria And Catering

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Scot and Stephanie Craig, owners of Katie’s restaurant, also have Lakeview’s Francesa’s Deli; Stephanie came from St. Louis (which has a huge Italian American community), and the restaurant celebrates that, namely by using Provel cheese, a St. Louis cheese mash-up of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. This ultra-stretchy cheese makes the muffuletta stand out from the crowd. This version comes on a toasted Gendusa bun, with Kalamata olive salad for a twist.

Giorlando's Restaurant

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Metairie’s charming, family-run Giorlando’s restaurant opened in 1972 and is much loved by locals and neighbors. Giorlando’s muffuletta comes on a nine-inch round of fresh baked bread, filled with salami, ham, mortadella, mozzarella, Swiss, and John G’s olive salad, served hot. Now run by the second generation, the restaurant’s Facebook page is pretty adorable with mostly family photos. Good to know: It’s closed on the weekends.

Giorlando’s Restaurant

Radosta's Restaurant

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This little neighborhood po’ boy shop hangs onto its family legacy and homey feel after more than 40 years in Old Metairie. The muffuletta is classic, served hot, and has the right amount of everything.

Nor Joe Import Company

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Metairie’s Nor Joe’s resembles Central Grocery in that it’s both a market and deli with plenty of cool Italian items to take home. The muffuletta here is served hot or cold (though usually hot) and the eatery piles the olive salad in the middle of the layers of meats and cheeses. It makes for a well-balanced sandwich, but if you like the olive salad oil seeping into the bread, it might not be the perfect one for you. Mini muffas are perfect for a party, buy them by the tray.

Nor Joe Import Co. muffuletta
Nor Joe Import Company/Facebook

Liuzza's Restaurant & Bar

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This 1940s-era Creole Italian restaurant in Mid City is known for its own special twist on the classic muffuletta, called the “Frenchaletta.” Forget the round seeded loaf. Liuzza’s stuffs it all in po’ boy bread. It’s basically the opposite of the one at Parran’s (muffuletta bread stuffed with po’ boy fillings).

Terranova’s Supermarket

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Love this family owned grocery store on Esplanade Avenue, the kind of place where the Italian sausage is homemade - the hot is amazing - and the hogshead cheese has its own fan club. On Saturdays - and Saturdays only - buy a half or whole muffuletta at Terranova’s, wrapped in plastic and sitting up by Karen at the register. When they’re gone, they’re gone. So good.

Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar

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Creole House, because of its location on Canal at Decatur, draws a largely tourist crowd. But locals in the know that happen to be nearby would be well advised to check out the restaurant’s solid menu of Nola dishes, from char-grilled oysters to po’ boys, red beans and rice and — ta-da — a damn fine muffuletta, served pressed to melt the cheese.

Cochon Butcher

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Donald Link’s Cochon Butcher raises the bar with any sandwich it has on its menu. When it comes to the muffuletta, Butcher is crowd favorite, thanks to its fluffy bread, and high quality house-cured meats and olive salad. With meats weighed precisely and piled according to texture, the sandwich is architecturally perfect. It’s served warm from an oven that applies both steam and heat.

Napoleon House

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Napoleon House pairs its hot muffulettas with opera music in a French Quarter spot full of history: The building was once set up to receive Napoleon in exile. He died before he made it and now it’s home to stellar muffulettas and cold Pimm’s Cups. If it’s nice out, grab a seat in the courtyard.

Napoleon House muffuletta
Napoleon House/Facebook

Verti Marte

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For those who want a muffuletta available 24/7, there’s Verti Marte in the French Quarter. This version is piled high with thick-cut meat and served either hot or cold. Verti Marte is the perfect spot to soak up a night of merry-making, or to grab an incredible sandwich any time of day.

Alberto's Cheese and Wine Bistro

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Located in the French Market, Alberto’s Cheese and Wine Bistro is basically a little lunch counter with a Mediterranean menu that borrows from the chef/owner’s Spanish roots. He serves a dynamite version of the muffuletta with a few twists. In addition to provolone and mozzarella cheese, salami, mortadella, and freshly house-made olive salad, he sneaks a little chorizo in there. For vegetarians, there’s a muffuletta with mozzarella, provolone, olive salad, lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

The Original Fiorellas' Cafe

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Fiorella’s may be best known for its award-winning fried chicken, but the decades-old family business now headquartered in Gentilly offers much more. This old-school counter service shop is one of few area red sauce joints, known for meatballs, veal, and chicken parmesan, as well as New Orleans classics like fried chicken, po’boys, and muffulettas. They love their muffuletta bread so much they also use it for the stromboli.

Dimartino's

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Dimartino’s is a must-stop on the West Bank for a muffuletta or roast beef po’ boy since 1975. Now with three locations, including one of the Northshore.

Old Arabi Food Store

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Old Arabi Food Store is a no-frills, neighborhood institution that opened its doors in 1973. Its muffulettas come a few different ways: traditional (available half or whole); seafood (shrimp, catfish, or oyster); and as a wrap (only salami, provolone, and olive salad). There’s a massive selection of cold beverages, daily specials, breakfast, and more. Take your time and enjoy the ultra-friendly neighborhood vibes.

Old Arabi Food Store muffuletta
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World Deli

Metairie-ites in the know love this family run po’ boy and platter shop on Clearview, and with good reason — it dishes large portions of homestyle eats, from sandwiches and salads to daily dinner specials. Speaking of large portions, World Deli’s muffuletta is as big as it gets, and the mini muffuletta party tray is a Mardi Gras favorite.

Francesca Deli, Pizzeria And Catering

Scot and Stephanie Craig, owners of Katie’s restaurant, also have Lakeview’s Francesa’s Deli; Stephanie came from St. Louis (which has a huge Italian American community), and the restaurant celebrates that, namely by using Provel cheese, a St. Louis cheese mash-up of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. This ultra-stretchy cheese makes the muffuletta stand out from the crowd. This version comes on a toasted Gendusa bun, with Kalamata olive salad for a twist.

Giorlando's Restaurant

Metairie’s charming, family-run Giorlando’s restaurant opened in 1972 and is much loved by locals and neighbors. Giorlando’s muffuletta comes on a nine-inch round of fresh baked bread, filled with salami, ham, mortadella, mozzarella, Swiss, and John G’s olive salad, served hot. Now run by the second generation, the restaurant’s Facebook page is pretty adorable with mostly family photos. Good to know: It’s closed on the weekends.

Giorlando’s Restaurant

Radosta's Restaurant

This little neighborhood po’ boy shop hangs onto its family legacy and homey feel after more than 40 years in Old Metairie. The muffuletta is classic, served hot, and has the right amount of everything.

Nor Joe Import Company

Metairie’s Nor Joe’s resembles Central Grocery in that it’s both a market and deli with plenty of cool Italian items to take home. The muffuletta here is served hot or cold (though usually hot) and the eatery piles the olive salad in the middle of the layers of meats and cheeses. It makes for a well-balanced sandwich, but if you like the olive salad oil seeping into the bread, it might not be the perfect one for you. Mini muffas are perfect for a party, buy them by the tray.

Nor Joe Import Co. muffuletta
Nor Joe Import Company/Facebook

Liuzza's Restaurant & Bar

This 1940s-era Creole Italian restaurant in Mid City is known for its own special twist on the classic muffuletta, called the “Frenchaletta.” Forget the round seeded loaf. Liuzza’s stuffs it all in po’ boy bread. It’s basically the opposite of the one at Parran’s (muffuletta bread stuffed with po’ boy fillings).

Terranova’s Supermarket

Love this family owned grocery store on Esplanade Avenue, the kind of place where the Italian sausage is homemade - the hot is amazing - and the hogshead cheese has its own fan club. On Saturdays - and Saturdays only - buy a half or whole muffuletta at Terranova’s, wrapped in plastic and sitting up by Karen at the register. When they’re gone, they’re gone. So good.

Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Creole House, because of its location on Canal at Decatur, draws a largely tourist crowd. But locals in the know that happen to be nearby would be well advised to check out the restaurant’s solid menu of Nola dishes, from char-grilled oysters to po’ boys, red beans and rice and — ta-da — a damn fine muffuletta, served pressed to melt the cheese.

Cochon Butcher

Donald Link’s Cochon Butcher raises the bar with any sandwich it has on its menu. When it comes to the muffuletta, Butcher is crowd favorite, thanks to its fluffy bread, and high quality house-cured meats and olive salad. With meats weighed precisely and piled according to texture, the sandwich is architecturally perfect. It’s served warm from an oven that applies both steam and heat.

Napoleon House

Napoleon House pairs its hot muffulettas with opera music in a French Quarter spot full of history: The building was once set up to receive Napoleon in exile. He died before he made it and now it’s home to stellar muffulettas and cold Pimm’s Cups. If it’s nice out, grab a seat in the courtyard.

Napoleon House muffuletta
Napoleon House/Facebook

Verti Marte

For those who want a muffuletta available 24/7, there’s Verti Marte in the French Quarter. This version is piled high with thick-cut meat and served either hot or cold. Verti Marte is the perfect spot to soak up a night of merry-making, or to grab an incredible sandwich any time of day.

Alberto's Cheese and Wine Bistro

Located in the French Market, Alberto’s Cheese and Wine Bistro is basically a little lunch counter with a Mediterranean menu that borrows from the chef/owner’s Spanish roots. He serves a dynamite version of the muffuletta with a few twists. In addition to provolone and mozzarella cheese, salami, mortadella, and freshly house-made olive salad, he sneaks a little chorizo in there. For vegetarians, there’s a muffuletta with mozzarella, provolone, olive salad, lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

The Original Fiorellas' Cafe

Fiorella’s may be best known for its award-winning fried chicken, but the decades-old family business now headquartered in Gentilly offers much more. This old-school counter service shop is one of few area red sauce joints, known for meatballs, veal, and chicken parmesan, as well as New Orleans classics like fried chicken, po’boys, and muffulettas. They love their muffuletta bread so much they also use it for the stromboli.

Dimartino's

Dimartino’s is a must-stop on the West Bank for a muffuletta or roast beef po’ boy since 1975. Now with three locations, including one of the Northshore.

Old Arabi Food Store

Old Arabi Food Store is a no-frills, neighborhood institution that opened its doors in 1973. Its muffulettas come a few different ways: traditional (available half or whole); seafood (shrimp, catfish, or oyster); and as a wrap (only salami, provolone, and olive salad). There’s a massive selection of cold beverages, daily specials, breakfast, and more. Take your time and enjoy the ultra-friendly neighborhood vibes.

Old Arabi Food Store muffuletta
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