Bywater American Bistro, Nina Compton’s casual but elegant bistro, brings rabbit curry, roasted octopus, bresaolo-style tuna toasts, fresh pasta, and classic cocktails to a former rice mill in the Bywater. Reserve a seat on one of the bar stools surrounding the bright-blue tiled exhibition kitchen for a view of Compton in action, or at one of the new sidewalk tables. P.S.: This April, Compton will appear as one of the all-star judges on Bravo’s “Top Chef.”  

Bywater Brew Pub is an airy, light filled brewery featuring chef Anh Luu’s creative Viet-Cajun specialties. Try her yak-a-mein made with rice noodles, pho broth, braised brisket, and topped with a soft-boiled egg marinated in tamari and mirin. Her phoritto is all the goodness floating in a bowl of her pho — beef, noodles, onions, scallions, Thai basil, sprouts, and cilantro — wrapped in a flour tortilla, a bowl of pho broth served on the side for dipping. Crawfish Anh Luu is another specialty, a crawfish cream sauce over grits. Burgers including a banh mi version, wings, and porkbelly lettuce wraps are a few other options. Yes, the beer is great. 

You can reserve up to 30 days in advance for a table at N7, the hidden gem of a French restaurant in the Upper 9th Ward, but do it by emailing them — the restaurant doesn’t have a phone. (Resy also works). Nor does it offer live music, Creole cuisine, or New Orleans-inspired décor. What awaits at this unassuming bistro tucked in a former tire shop behind a wooden fence just off of St. Claude is a gorgeous, candlelit courtyard, French pop music, bistro fare like steak au poivre and mussels along with mostly imported seafood in a can (think smoked sardines and spiced calamari). The wine list is good, to boot.

If there was any doubt that Red’s would fill the clogs of founding chef Tobias Womack when he left town, one slurp of spicy ma po tofu settles the matter. Inspired by Womack’s time in San Francisco’s Mission Chinese, the menu riffs off of traditional Chinese recipes like Kung pao pastrami made with Louisiana's holy trinity of onions, bell peppers, and celery. Bold flavors of garlic, chili, and ginger inform a menu that is as unorthodox as it is habit-forming. There’s a nice courtyard out back for distanced outdoor dining.

T. Cole Newton, the drinkmaster behind 12 Mile Limit in Mid-City, is behind the Domino, a casual “wine dive” next to Red’s Chinese. Stocked with games, yes including dominoes, this chill spot serves a list of 17 wines under the sparkling, rose, white, red, and fortified categories. All of the wines offered are on draft, canned, boxed or from corkless bottles, which they plan on repurposing. Hours are limited for now, mostly weekends with a changing menu of food pop-ups.

Opened in a restored gas station originally designed by Walter Teague, considered the father of American industrial design, Galaxie offers a cool setting for a taqueria inspired by Mexico City street fare. The Mezcal-forward bar makes a slew of fresh squeezed margaritas, and tortillas made from corn imported from Oaxaca adds extra flavor and texture that raises the bar for Galaxie’s tacos and quesadillas. The al pastor roasted with pineapple on a vertical rotisserie (called a trompo) is tasty. Lots of outdoor seating, some of it covered.

Located in a stunning circa-1884 Italianate manse, The Country Club is a neighborhood gem worth discovering. Try the likes of crab beignets, truffled mac-n-cheese, griddled redfish, and debris and eggs. Dining rooms are bright with eye-popping murals by local artist Cindy Mathis and artwork from Louis St. Lewis. There is plenty of lovely outdoor seating in the back patio/pool area and on the front veranda.

Chef Melissa Araujo offers sweet and savory modern traditional Honduran food at Alma, a charming neighborhood spot for breakfast and lunch. There’s a Honduran coffee bar and fresh juices (and now booze) along with breakfast from 7 a.m. that includes traditional American and Honduran breakfasts, the latter of which comes with eggs, refried beans, plantains, avocado, homemade crema, and queso fresco. Try the chicharrones, pastelitos (meat pies), mushroom toast, and salsa verde ceviche with local shrimp. Honduran burgers, cooked to medium, are ground there, with mix-ins like fresh herbs, onions and bell pepper and a secret sauce.

Crispy of crust, New York of style, Pizza Delicious is a no-frills pizza joint that delivers the goods. The menu is concise, with daily pie and fresh pasta specials along with traditional faves including pepperoni and Margherita topped with fresh mozzarella and basil. Slices are available and the 18” pie is plenty to share. If it’s featured, try the blue crab and butternut squash risotto. Oh, and the garlic knots are crusty, doughy bites of bliss. There’s beer on tap, a few wine choices, and limited cocktails poured.

Every day (but Monday and Tuesday for now) is Oktoberfest at Bratz Y’all, the kid-and-dog-friendly Bywater biergarten that specializes in all things German, from beer to brats to freshly baked soft pretzels, and beer cheese dip. The Nola Schnitzel is a perfectly fried pork or chicken cutlet topped with crawfish remoulade, a beauty also available as a platter with warm potato salad. Sides are a wonder, including spaetzle with gravy and red cabbage slaw spiked with apples.

What’s not to like about the longtime, affordable lunch haven on the corner of Piety and Dauphine? Frady’s is a hole in the wall for sure, but the po’ boys are made to order and the sides are pure comfort — mac and cheese, deviled eggs, fries with gravy. Plate lunch options change daily and the service is real deal New Orleans friendly. Settle in at one of the sidewalk tables and you’re sure to meet a character or two.

Currently open for breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday, there’s often a wait for brunch at Elizabeth’s, the longtime neighborhood favorite famed for its strong bloody marys and praline bacon (yes, it’s good.) Meat and three stick-to-your-rib daily specials include the likes of meatloaf and chicken fried steak. Decor is mostly by Dr. Bob, the cantankerous artist whose studio is just up the road.

Everything at Stuph’d is well stuffed — from fried to order beignets filled with the likes of Creole crawfish, grilled chicken, fried shrimp and barbecue. Two beignets to an order, one popular special is a Philly cheese steak beignet oozing grilled steak, cheese, and fried onions.

Burgers are filled with mushrooms, Swiss cheese, jalapenos, and bacon. Yes, there are sweet beignets filled with sweet potato pie and cheesecake.

Expect a line at the Joint, the popular barbecue spot where the wait is accompanied by whiffs of smoky, porky goodness. Dig into platters of burnt brisket ends, ribs slathered in vinegar-based sauce made at the restaurant, decadent mac and cheese — heck, why not top that dinner salad with more meat? Copious portions, friendly service, daily drink specials: what’s not to love? For a city that was slow to embrace barbecue, the Joint is a tastemaker. Takeout only, for now.

Sneaky Pickle is much adored for its vegetable-forward menu, fresh drinks, and sweet patio setting. Call in food orders to go or eat on the patio, first come first served. Smoked tempeh reuben, tofu chili tacos with cashew cheese and Buffalo cauliflower salad are just a few options. The menu is all from scratch and changes daily.

Grab a bottle of wine on the way into Bacchanal Wine and choose some cheeses and meats for the charcuterie board at this eclectic shop/wine bar/music venue on the bend of Poland, a popular spot for outdoor live music. The menu is global in accent, with tapas including bacon-wrapped dates with chorizo and patatas bravas with chimichurri aioli for dipping. Since the pandemic, it takes reservations.