Everyone knows that New Orleans is one of the nation’s most famous cities, and it’s obviously because of its food scene. NOLA has it all, from trendy, new restaurants catering to your adventurous side, to the classic cajun restaurants that my uncle still raves about from when he was a Tulane student. It’s safe to say that New Orleans has a restaurant for everyone. Here are 10 of the oldest restaurants in New Orleans–go give them a try, because it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere.
1. Commander’s Palace
Commander’s opened in 1893 and has been a New Orleans staple ever since. Travelers come from near and far to experience this restaurant’s atmosphere, giving them an idea of what NOLA is all about. Customers always love the restaurant’s bread pudding soufflé, but what it’s really known for is the turtle soup (yes, you read correctly). If you can get past the hesitation, you’ll agree that it’s one food you can’t leave NOLA without trying.
2. Brennan’s
If you close your eyes and imagine a true NOLA dining experience, that image is Brennan’s. Since its establishment in 1946, Brennan’s has been known as a true New Orleans dining experience. The staff treats you like royalty, with its wait staff in bowties (and all that jazz). You can never go wrong with classic breakfast dishes such as eggs Benedict or French toast, but Brennan’s infamous Bananas Foster is a must. It’s prepared at your table, right in front of your eyes.
3. The Camellia Grill
This is the place if you’re looking for some inexpensive and greasy, yet insanely tasty, breakfast to cure your hangover or even just to satisfy your stomach. You can never go wrong with their fluffy omelets with hash browns on the side or some mac-and-cheese bites to top it all off. Ever since 1946, Camellia has been serving and making their food with nothing but love.
4. Galatoire’s
In one word, Galatoire’s is extravagant, and the fact that it’s located on Bourbon Street makes it even more so. For over one hundred years, Galatoire’s has been serving up some of New Orleans’ best seafood dishes, from fried oysters to shrimp etouffée. I’d recommend the Seafood Gumbo– crabmeat, shrimp, and vegetables always create the most tasteful and rich combo.
5. Antoine’s
Antoine’s opened in 1840 and is still a family-run restaurant, five generations strong. Open breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Antoine’s is always special, but you really feel the New Orleans spirit at their Sunday Jazz Brunch. From Oysters Rockefeller to fried soft-shell crabs, Antoine’s never disappoints. When it comes time for dessert, be sure to order the Baked Alaska, it’s prepared (aka, lit on fire) right at your table.
6. Pascal’s Manale
In 1913, Pascal’s Manale was transformed from a grocery store to a now fifth-generation family-run restaurant and has never gone back. Most well known for their oyster bar and traditional Italian fare, Pascal’s is an Uptown gem that keeps us coming back for more. At Pascal’s, you can never go wrong with the Original Barbecue Shrimp–it’s what the restaurant is known for, and they have the perfect, tangy kick.
7. Hansen’s Sno Bliz
Not all of the good food in New Orleans is savory. In fact, NOLA is known for its sno-balls, created by Ernest Hansen, the founder of Hansen’s Sno-Bliz. In 1939, the dive was operated by Ernest, who shaved the ice, and his wife Mary, who made the syrups that go on top. Snowballs are more than treats, they’re a New Orleans tradition, and Hansen’s is one of the most authentic places to get them.
8. Acme Oyster House
Acme is right, “Life is more fun with seafood.” Since 1910, Acme has served New Orleans with some of the best seafood the city has to offer. Starting with their original location in the French Quarter, Acme has expanded and now has seven locations throughout the Southern United States. From raw and chargrilled oysters to fried shrimp and crawfish, Acme is what heaven looks like to a seafood lover.
9. Dooky Chase’s
In 1941, what started as a sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet two years prior turned into a restaurant and institution beloved to the New Orleans community. Known for New Orleans classics such as gumbo and stuffed shrimp, Dooky Chase’s is considered home to so many, not just the family it’s run by.
10. Domilise’s Po Boys
If you’ve ever heard the expression “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” this is where you should use it. From the outside, Domilise’s does not look like somewhere to write home about. The restaurant sits in an old, yellow house on the corner of an Uptown street, marked with a handwritten sign that says “Domilise’s Po-Boys and Bar.” Founded in 1918, Domilise’s is a fried-food and sandwich haven where NOLA residents, tourists, and celebrities wait for hours for fried shrimp, fried oyster, and countless other types of po-boys.
There you have it, some of the oldest restaurants in New Orleans that will for sure give you the meal of a lifetime. This city is meant for foodies, young and old. Now, it’s time to make your way down South and go back in culinary time.