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Bayou St. John

Where to Eat in and Around Bayou St. John

18 delicious restaurants within walking distance of the neighborhood’s namesake waterway

by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated Mar 27, 2023, 10:30am CDT

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Bayou St. John

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by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated Mar 27, 2023, 10:30am CDT

1 comment / new

How cool is it that there’s a bayou smack-dab in the middle of New Orleans? Bayou St. John is a particular pleasure, with its bucolic views, dogs on parade, and residents gathering for wine and conversation as the sun sets. Once the primary portage between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi, the Bayou now accents a hub of dining, recreation, and festival-ing, with the annual Bayou Boogaloo a highlight of the summer season. Whether catering to hungry neighbors or intrepid visitors after a day of festin’ at the Fairgrounds, the restaurants in and around Bayou St. John step up to the plate.

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Neyow's Creole Café

Chef/proprietor Tanya Dubuclet serves New Orleans homestyle cooking at Neyow’s Creole Cafe, something that isn’t as easy to find in restaurants as it used to be. Her file gumbo is a perfect place to start, prepared with shrimp, crabs, smoked sausage, ham, and seasoning and served over white rice.

3332 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bayou Beer Garden and Bayou Wine Garden

Just a block away from the bayou, Bayou Beer Garden and Bayou Wine Garden connect through an always buzzing outdoor patio. Big with the city’s young professional crowd, there are hundreds of local and craft beers on the menu and weekly crawfish boils during the season. The copious menu covers the likes of tacos, sandwiches, dips — there’s even a lamb French onion pot pie with Swiss sure to satisfy.

326 N Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bayou Beer Garden (@bayoubeergarden)

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Piece Of Meat

What began as a butcher shop and sandwich spot has grown into a full-service restaurant and bar emphasizing steak, sides, and cocktails. Still, it’s retained its original charm — slightly edgy and earnest, but coursing with creativity — for instance, the beef fat candles served with grilled bread that are part of the new dinner service. A gorgeous bar and small dining room are complemented by nice patio seating, which is first-come, first-serve.

3301 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Dishes from the dinner menu at Piece of Meat.

Also featured in:

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

Parkway has defined po’ boys in New Orleans for the better part of a century and no wonder. Every flavor is savory bliss, but the juicy roast beef is at least a four-napkin meal, dressed of course with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickle. It’s as close as it gets to the bayou, so grab your order and some frozens or beer to go and pick a spot by the water to enjoy.

538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Pal's Lounge

Love the twisted Cheers scene at Pal’s, so friendly and welcoming to all. A dive bar and proud of it, Pal’s consistently hosts some of the best food pop-ups in town, with regular appearances from Tacos Para La Vida and Get Your Mom & Dim Sum. This women-owned neighborhood gem is an integral part of Bayou St.John.

949 N Rendon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pal's Lounge (@palsloungenola)

Also featured in:

Lola's

Lola’s paellas and fideuàs (same idea but with angel-hair pasta) are legend in these parts. The tiny dining room is a sweet backdrop for Spanish peasant fare that includes stewed meats, fresh seafood, herb-driven pasta, and lots and lots of olive oil and garlic. Housemade sangria and charming sidewalk seating are a bonus.

3312 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Outside Lola’s.

Also featured in:

Santa Fe

Just a few steps away from Cafe Degas on a stunning stretch of Esplanade Avenue, Santa Fe offers Southwestern fare in a relaxed but lively patio setting. The margaritas are always made from fresh juice, the ceviche is superb and tacos, nachos, and quesadillas will satisfy the craving. Don’t expect a cheap Tex-Mex fix here, but portions are large and very shareable, and there’s often live music to accompany dinner. Does anybody remember when SF was in the Marigny?

3201 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

1000 Figs

With every plate as pretty as a picture, 1000 Figs dishes sprightly vegetable-forward Mediterranean fare that inspires droves of regulars. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, the falafel feast for two (or three) is revelatory, with lots of crunch and freshness in every bite. Everything is freshly prepared and expertly executed; the dining room has an inviting, living room vibe.

3141 Ponce De Leon St #1, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

1000 Figs

Also featured in:

Swirl Wine Bar & Market

Swirl Wine Bar in Bayou St. John has long been a go-to for interesting wine, but they do good eats, in partnership with 1000 Figs next door. Get a falafel sandwich or the smoked chicken salad on semolina. Or nosh on cheese and vegetable plates perfect for sharing at tables out front or at the handful of bar seats. Or grab a bottle and take it down to the banks of the bayou.

Open in Google Maps

3143 Ponce De Leon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swirl Wine Bar & Market (@swirlnola)

Also featured in:

Cafe Degas

When a pecan tree is growing through the romantic dining room and quail, escargot, and ethereal Iles Flotantes (floating islands) are on the menu, Francophiles who lean towards the rustic will be over the moon. Cafe Degas serves first-rate French fare including specialties like steak frites au poivre, mussels with fennel and crispy frites, and a bracing salad of crab, grapefruit, and mint.

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

The outdoor facade and front entrance to Cafe Degas on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans’s Faubourg St. John neighborhood.

Also featured in:

Don Villavaso on the Bayou

Don Villavaso on the Bayou is a hot nighttime hangout, hidden right off Esplanade Avenue and popular for its large patio and cigar area out front. It’s great for a post-dinner visit, for catching a Pels or Saints game, and for a premium cigar menu, but it’s also a destination for food — highlights are the charbroiled oysters and any steaks, as well as crawfish Sundays and Friday fish fries.

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Also featured in:

Liuzza's by the Track

This neighborhood joint, ground zero for bloody marys during Jazz Fest, dishes some of the best gumbo in town. Always an eclectic scene, Liuzza’s by the Track (no relation to the other one) is just as famous for its Worcestershire-fueled barbecue shrimp po’ boy slathered between a hot pistolette. Oh, and the deep-fried garlic oysters are legend.

1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

A corner no-frills building with light yellow siding, doorfront, and old Liuzza’s by the Track sign above.

Also featured in:

Crescent City Steak House

Locally owned, famous for aged steaks sizzling with butter and seven different potato side dishes, Crescent City Steaks is a true New Orleans experience. The Bayou St. John-adjacent eatery is one of the oldest on the map, opened in 1934. Throwback private curtain booths, private rooms, and the option to rent it out entirely make it a neighborhood event destination.

1001 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sweet Soulfood

Sweet Soulfood helped kick off the vegan soul food movement in the city, doing a public service with its menu of New Orleans comfort dishes done vegan. A changing menu features the likes of gumbo and red beans, stuffed bell peppers greens and mac and cheese, nacho salad, cornbread, and bread pudding. Yes, all of it vegan.

Open in Google Maps

1016 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

McHardy's Chicken & Fixin'

While the 7th Ward gets to claim this quick-serve gem on Broad, it’s close enough to the neighborhood to serve as its go-to fried chicken destination. That fried chicken is some of New Orleans’s finest: peppery, rich, and full of flavor. The sides are just as good as the chicken, especially the fried okra, rice and beans, and mac and cheese. Affordable and always busy.

1458 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Also featured in:

Addis Nola

Now in new, grander digs on Bayou Road, Addis Nola is a cherished addition to New Orleans dining. The inviting spot from Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, Prince Lobo, and chef Jaimito “Jaime” Lobo features a coffee ceremony stage, elegant artwork, and warming stews; sambusas and kitfo; and whole fried red snapper. Visit on vegan Monday and try a platter with a taste of everything, starring lentils, split peas, collard greens, mushrooms, sweet potato wot, and shiro.

Open in Google Maps

2514 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Addis Ethiopian Kitchen (@addisnola)

Also featured in:

Coco Hut Carribean Restaurant

Situated just off Broad Street on Bayou Road restaurant is this 7th Ward institution, serving heaping plates of Jamaican comfort food at reasonable prices. The jerk chicken is glorious, unsurprisingly, as is the goat and snapper; all come in platters for less than $15. Daily specials and a handful of tables out front make this a popular neighborhood lunch destination.

Open in Google Maps

2515 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Also featured in:

Pagoda Cafe

This funky spot on Bayou Road is a gem pure and simple. Pagoda Cafe serves breakfast and lunch every day but Monday, with a sweet little dog-friendly outdoor patio perfect for picnicking. Try the breakfast tacos and the savory pastry for sure and definitely get their version of a veggie banh mi. That’s fried lemongrass tofu on Dong Phuong french bread, dressed with mayo, cucumbers, and a fresh slaw with peanut satay dressing. Spot on.

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Neyow's Creole Café

3332 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Chef/proprietor Tanya Dubuclet serves New Orleans homestyle cooking at Neyow’s Creole Cafe, something that isn’t as easy to find in restaurants as it used to be. Her file gumbo is a perfect place to start, prepared with shrimp, crabs, smoked sausage, ham, and seasoning and served over white rice.

3332 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Bayou Beer Garden and Bayou Wine Garden

326 N Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

Just a block away from the bayou, Bayou Beer Garden and Bayou Wine Garden connect through an always buzzing outdoor patio. Big with the city’s young professional crowd, there are hundreds of local and craft beers on the menu and weekly crawfish boils during the season. The copious menu covers the likes of tacos, sandwiches, dips — there’s even a lamb French onion pot pie with Swiss sure to satisfy.

326 N Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bayou Beer Garden (@bayoubeergarden)

Piece Of Meat

3301 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

What began as a butcher shop and sandwich spot has grown into a full-service restaurant and bar emphasizing steak, sides, and cocktails. Still, it’s retained its original charm — slightly edgy and earnest, but coursing with creativity — for instance, the beef fat candles served with grilled bread that are part of the new dinner service. A gorgeous bar and small dining room are complemented by nice patio seating, which is first-come, first-serve.

3301 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Dishes from the dinner menu at Piece of Meat.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Parkway has defined po’ boys in New Orleans for the better part of a century and no wonder. Every flavor is savory bliss, but the juicy roast beef is at least a four-napkin meal, dressed of course with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickle. It’s as close as it gets to the bayou, so grab your order and some frozens or beer to go and pick a spot by the water to enjoy.

538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Pal's Lounge

949 N Rendon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Love the twisted Cheers scene at Pal’s, so friendly and welcoming to all. A dive bar and proud of it, Pal’s consistently hosts some of the best food pop-ups in town, with regular appearances from Tacos Para La Vida and Get Your Mom & Dim Sum. This women-owned neighborhood gem is an integral part of Bayou St.John.

949 N Rendon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pal's Lounge (@palsloungenola)

Lola's

3312 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Lola’s paellas and fideuàs (same idea but with angel-hair pasta) are legend in these parts. The tiny dining room is a sweet backdrop for Spanish peasant fare that includes stewed meats, fresh seafood, herb-driven pasta, and lots and lots of olive oil and garlic. Housemade sangria and charming sidewalk seating are a bonus.

3312 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Outside Lola’s.

Santa Fe

3201 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Just a few steps away from Cafe Degas on a stunning stretch of Esplanade Avenue, Santa Fe offers Southwestern fare in a relaxed but lively patio setting. The margaritas are always made from fresh juice, the ceviche is superb and tacos, nachos, and quesadillas will satisfy the craving. Don’t expect a cheap Tex-Mex fix here, but portions are large and very shareable, and there’s often live music to accompany dinner. Does anybody remember when SF was in the Marigny?

3201 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

1000 Figs

3141 Ponce De Leon St #1, New Orleans, LA 70119

With every plate as pretty as a picture, 1000 Figs dishes sprightly vegetable-forward Mediterranean fare that inspires droves of regulars. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, the falafel feast for two (or three) is revelatory, with lots of crunch and freshness in every bite. Everything is freshly prepared and expertly executed; the dining room has an inviting, living room vibe.

3141 Ponce De Leon St #1, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

1000 Figs

Swirl Wine Bar & Market

3143 Ponce De Leon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Swirl Wine Bar in Bayou St. John has long been a go-to for interesting wine, but they do good eats, in partnership with 1000 Figs next door. Get a falafel sandwich or the smoked chicken salad on semolina. Or nosh on cheese and vegetable plates perfect for sharing at tables out front or at the handful of bar seats. Or grab a bottle and take it down to the banks of the bayou.

Open in Google Maps

3143 Ponce De Leon St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swirl Wine Bar & Market (@swirlnola)

Cafe Degas

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

When a pecan tree is growing through the romantic dining room and quail, escargot, and ethereal Iles Flotantes (floating islands) are on the menu, Francophiles who lean towards the rustic will be over the moon. Cafe Degas serves first-rate French fare including specialties like steak frites au poivre, mussels with fennel and crispy frites, and a bracing salad of crab, grapefruit, and mint.

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

The outdoor facade and front entrance to Cafe Degas on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans’s Faubourg St. John neighborhood.

Don Villavaso on the Bayou

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Don Villavaso on the Bayou is a hot nighttime hangout, hidden right off Esplanade Avenue and popular for its large patio and cigar area out front. It’s great for a post-dinner visit, for catching a Pels or Saints game, and for a premium cigar menu, but it’s also a destination for food — highlights are the charbroiled oysters and any steaks, as well as crawfish Sundays and Friday fish fries.

3111 Grand Rte Saint John St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Liuzza's by the Track

1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119

This neighborhood joint, ground zero for bloody marys during Jazz Fest, dishes some of the best gumbo in town. Always an eclectic scene, Liuzza’s by the Track (no relation to the other one) is just as famous for its Worcestershire-fueled barbecue shrimp po’ boy slathered between a hot pistolette. Oh, and the deep-fried garlic oysters are legend.

1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

A corner no-frills building with light yellow siding, doorfront, and old Liuzza’s by the Track sign above.

Crescent City Steak House

1001 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Locally owned, famous for aged steaks sizzling with butter and seven different potato side dishes, Crescent City Steaks is a true New Orleans experience. The Bayou St. John-adjacent eatery is one of the oldest on the map, opened in 1934. Throwback private curtain booths, private rooms, and the option to rent it out entirely make it a neighborhood event destination.

1001 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Sweet Soulfood

1016 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Sweet Soulfood helped kick off the vegan soul food movement in the city, doing a public service with its menu of New Orleans comfort dishes done vegan. A changing menu features the likes of gumbo and red beans, stuffed bell peppers greens and mac and cheese, nacho salad, cornbread, and bread pudding. Yes, all of it vegan.

Open in Google Maps

1016 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

McHardy's Chicken & Fixin'

1458 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

While the 7th Ward gets to claim this quick-serve gem on Broad, it’s close enough to the neighborhood to serve as its go-to fried chicken destination. That fried chicken is some of New Orleans’s finest: peppery, rich, and full of flavor. The sides are just as good as the chicken, especially the fried okra, rice and beans, and mac and cheese. Affordable and always busy.

1458 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Related Maps

Addis Nola

2514 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Now in new, grander digs on Bayou Road, Addis Nola is a cherished addition to New Orleans dining. The inviting spot from Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, Prince Lobo, and chef Jaimito “Jaime” Lobo features a coffee ceremony stage, elegant artwork, and warming stews; sambusas and kitfo; and whole fried red snapper. Visit on vegan Monday and try a platter with a taste of everything, starring lentils, split peas, collard greens, mushrooms, sweet potato wot, and shiro.

Open in Google Maps

2514 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Addis Ethiopian Kitchen (@addisnola)

Coco Hut Carribean Restaurant

2515 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Situated just off Broad Street on Bayou Road restaurant is this 7th Ward institution, serving heaping plates of Jamaican comfort food at reasonable prices. The jerk chicken is glorious, unsurprisingly, as is the goat and snapper; all come in platters for less than $15. Daily specials and a handful of tables out front make this a popular neighborhood lunch destination.

Open in Google Maps

2515 Bayou Rd, New Orleans, LA 70119

Pagoda Cafe

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

This funky spot on Bayou Road is a gem pure and simple. Pagoda Cafe serves breakfast and lunch every day but Monday, with a sweet little dog-friendly outdoor patio perfect for picnicking. Try the breakfast tacos and the savory pastry for sure and definitely get their version of a veggie banh mi. That’s fried lemongrass tofu on Dong Phuong french bread, dressed with mayo, cucumbers, and a fresh slaw with peanut satay dressing. Spot on.

1430 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Visit Website

Related Maps