Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in New Orleans

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in New Orleans? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bistro Daisy

4.9

4.9 (1311)

$30 and under

American

Uptown

About the restaurant

A quaint eatery nestled in the heart of Uptown New Orleans, Bistro Daisy -named for the daughter of owners Anton & Diane Schulte-opened in the summer of 2007. The Restaurant features fresh, seasonal and often local ingredients prepared in the American bistro style. Daisy's award-winning dishes and charming atmosphere have established this Uptown bistro as one of the city's premier dining experiences.

Top review

Kelleyvip

Dined on Oct 3, 2024

Delicious meal! All four guests were very pleased with the meal and experience. Jason, our server, was very attentive. We’ll definitely go back!

Silk Road

4.8

4.8 (232)

$30 and under

Contemporary Asian

The Marigny

About the restaurant

Silk Road, a New Orleans restaurant, features the modern cuisine of India and Asia and incorporates those flavors with contemporary American cuisine. We only use fresh local ingredients and fresh seafood that is a signature of New Orleans. Come visit us in the beautiful Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans for an evening full of delightful wine, amazing cuisine, and good company.

Top review

Barbaravip

Dined on Aug 24, 2024

We felt transported to another exotic world. From Kelly’s service to the Coolinary meal and the ambience it was special. We will go again.

Alma Café

4.8

4.8 (55)

$30 and under

Spanish

Bywater

About the restaurant

Owner and Executive Chef Melissa Araujo is a 2024 James Beard Foundation Best Chef Southeast Semifinalist. Alma is an award winning Honduran restaurant located in the historic New Orleans Bywater, just outside the French Quarter.

Alma means soul in Spanish. The menu showcases Chef Melissa Araujo's Honduran heritage and takes each guest on a journey through food and culture. The Soul has many stories to tell; Alma's tale is shared through it's dining experience. From Pollo Chuco, to Bloody Mary's and avocado toast, Alma offers an extensive array of dishes focusing on Honduran Food.

Chef Araujo’s Father was Born in La Ceiba, Honduras and her memories of her childhood are centered around this particular view of the city. The mountains in the back, the ocean, the cool air in my face, my best memories were made in this city. Alma has given me the opportunity to recreate these memories and share them with our guests.

Reservations available Monday- Thursday, Waitlist only on Weekends.

Top review

LindsayO

Dined 1 day ago

Lived up to the ig photos! Fantastic flavors, great service & pricing. Will definitely be back!

Mayas

4.7

4.7 (607)

$30 and under

Latin American

Garden District

About the restaurant

Mayas Restaurant is a captivating Latin dining experience with exciting social rhythms. We feature the cuisines of multiple countries of Latin American, but rather than simply transferring dishes we pay compliment to the ingredients that are natural to Latin America. Our food is prepared from scratch using classic and modern techniques but always remembering the aromas and flavors of our mother's and grandmother's kitchen. We invite you to choose your own escapade by selecting from our Plantains, Ceviches, Empanadas, Curries, Steaks, and Small Plates for a multi-course dining experience.

Top review

Janevip

Dined 7 days ago

Love it there! Best ceviche in town! And their curry dishes! Delicious! And their wait staff is perfect 🤩

Discover more

Popular dish

Ceviche De Dorado

Louisiana Pizza Kitchen- French Quarter

4.7

4.7 (538)

$30 and under

Italian

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Enjoy an authentic Louisiana Pizza Kitchen experience in the French Quarter. Each gourmet pizza is fired in a wood-burning oven on either an unbleached white or untreated whole- wheat flour crust. All our meat and poultry are organic and free-range. We source quality, local Louisiana products whenever possible. And our wine cellar has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for four years running. Don’t forget to check out our excellent selection of local, micro-brewed, and specialty beers from around the world.

Top review

Jodievip

Dined 7 days ago

The food was great and service very pleasant. Our waitress gave us great recommendations for the area also

Discover more

Popular dish

Hawaiian

Cafe Degas

4.7

4.7 (2931)

$31 to $50

French

Mid-City / City Park

About the restaurant

Voted Most Romantic Restaurant in New Orleans, this Faubourg St. John Bistro offers simple, yet artfully executed, classic French cuisine featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy a fine dining experience in a casual outdoor cafe atmosphere on the beautiful and historic Oak-lined Esplanade Avenue.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Oct 2, 2024

Everything was wonderful… from the service to the delectable dishes. Must haves include the French onion soup and savory hangar steak. The ambience is spectacular, making you feel as though you’re truly at a French bistro. Absolutely loved their music & it’s vibe. The only concern was a mildewy smell that lingered. We were seated inside. Overall, a 5 star score!

Discover more

Experience

Copy of New Year's Eve 2024 9 PM

MoPho

4.7

4.7 (443)

$30 and under

Southeast Asian

Mid-City / City Park

About the restaurant

MOPHO strives to be a true neighborhood restaurant, combining the flavors of Southeast Louisiana and Southeast Asia. From rich pho broths, to hand ground curries, and our signature bubble tea cocktails; everything at MOPHO is made from scratch with care and attention to freshness and flavor. We also serve whole roasted hog brushed with lemongrass, garlic, and chiles every Saturday for lunch.
In 2014, MOPHO was nominated as one of Bon Appetit's Top 50 Best New Restaurants. It was also named Restaurant of the Year by New Orleans Magazine and People's Choice Best New Restaurant by Gambit Magazine in 2014.

Top review

Judith

Dined on Aug 14, 2024

I have been to mofo twice in the last two weeks and was absolutely delighted. The food was excellent and I had the same server both times who was knowledgeable, competent and efficient. I did not feel it all rushed and he very much knew the menu and the wines. One of my new favorite places.!

Porter & Luke's

4.5

4.5 (462)

$30 and under

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Metairie

About the restaurant

Porter & luke's opened in 2012 and was selected as one of the top ten new restaurants in New Orleans. We have also been Featured in the new Fox TV food show Flip MY Food w/ Chef Jeff. We are focused on fresh quality ingredients and great service. We pride ourselves in our guests having the premier dining experience. We offfer a great variety of selections from : Italian ,Creole, Cajun as well as traditional New Orleans Cuisine. Come by porter& luke's and try one of our fabulous dishes.

Top review

Cameron

Dined on Aug 23, 2024

My go to place for great service, food, and drinks!

Discover more

4.2

4.2 (1238)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

French Quarter

About the restaurant

In the late 1800’s, Royal Street was home to a famous “curio” shop, a place where curiosities from all over the world could be had for a dollar or two. Today, the shop is no more, but the feeling of excitement and wonder still exists on Royal Street today. And so in the heart of the most premier art district in New Orleans, we’re bringing back the curiosity – reintroducing New Orleans to a circus of flavor so vibrant it makes other restaurants nearby pale in comparison.

Top review

Andie

Dined on Oct 1, 2024

This restaurant at the corner of Royale and Bienville has bar, indoor and balcony seating. We went in for a light supper on a Monday evening which appeared to be a slow night. We were seated in the open upstairs dining room where they had 2 televisions playing different football games but on mute. The cocktail menu wasn't as long as some other NOLA restaurants we'd tried but covered most classics and a few fun twists. We ordered the red beans and rice with andouille sausage since we hadn't tried any during our stay. It was quite tasty with a large seared andouille sausage and perfect cooked rice. It was a good size for us to share as a light dinner since we wanted dessert. For dessert we had the S’Mores Brownie. This was outstanding. It was a gooey brownie with a good layer of torched marshmallow making for wonderful bites without any element being too much. I enjoyed Curio and would go back for the S’Mores Brownie alone.

Tonti's Cocktail Bar & Bistro

4.2

4.2 (72)

$30 and under

Bistro

Algiers Point

About the restaurant

Established by long-time Algiers’ Point residents, Tonti’s serves fabulous food and cocktails Thursday through Monday, with brunch served on weekends.

Part restaurant, part cocktail bar, part café, Tonti’s combines the elegance of an old world bistro with the casual nature of a neighborhood eatery. The dining room is a light-filled space perfect for a long lunch, a nice sit down dinner, or even a last stop for an after dinner drink.

Our delightful patio is an amazing place to sit and catch up with friends.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jun 30, 2024

We had a wonderful experience. The space is very welcoming like going for dinner at a friend’s house. Impeccable service and both the cocktails and food were perfectly prepared. The onion soup is exceptional. Even though it was unbearably hot outside, the soup was still worth it! The shrimp and grits was an interesting presentation using grit cakes that were more manageable, creamy and soft. Avocado caprese salad, lightly dressed and perfect to let the taste of the heirloom tomatoes come through. Smash burger, nice crust loaded with flavor. No ketchup needed. Key lime pie for dessert was served as a tartlet with a graham cracker crust. Perfect ending. A great night out and a ferry ride back across the river with a very full belly.

Explore Diners' Choice best of New Orleans

Explore more Diners' Choice lists