Here, now, we present to you the first installment of the Eater 38, a guide designed to answer any question that becomes with, "Can you recommend a restaurant..." This list is not the 38 best restaurants in our fine city, but instead seeks to provide a comprehensive picture of where you can get a great meal regardless of mood. It covers the entire city with some lagniappe love for the West Bank, spans myriad cuisines though Creole appears predictably often, and should satisfy all of your restaurant needs.

Every quarter, we'll update this list with any restaurants that were omitted, have become newly eligibly (all restaurants must have been open 6 months to appear on this list), or have improved and now warrant being included. So send your tips and your nominations here.