Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in New Orleans

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine 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 favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bistro Daisy

5.0

5 (1373)

$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

Louis

Dined 5 days ago

The food was outstanding as always. The service was exceptional. A good to restaurant for any very special celebration.

The Kingsway

4.9

4.9 (30)

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

Uptown

About the restaurant

The Kingsway is a fine dining Asian restaurant by Chef Ashwin Vilkhu, a 2025 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: South, and the next chapter from the family behind the acclaimed Saffron NOLA.
Inspired by the deeply personal flavors of childhood dinners and the cultural crossroads of Asia, The Kingsway offers a contemporary interpretation of tradition—refined, intentional, and rooted in heritage.

Set in a Japandi-Scandinavian inspired space defined by clean lines, natural textures, and understated elegance, the dining room mirrors the philosophy of the kitchen: thoughtful, minimal, and quietly bold. Precision and warmth guide each guest experience, from the first pour to the last bite.

Top review

MicheleVIP

Dined 6 days ago

The service was great, the decor very comfortable and clean and the food was outstanding.

Dakar NOLA

4.9

4.9 (91)

$50 and over

African

Uptown

About the restaurant

Dakar NOLA is a modern Senegalese tasting menu restaurant. The menu is inspired by Chef Serigne Mbaye’s most cherished memories of his childhood in Dakar, Senegal.
Dinner at Dakar NOLA features a pescatarian tasting menu with some dishes served family-style.
We are a reservations only concept open Tuesday through Saturday and our dinner experience lasts 2.5 hours.
Our menu changes often and is mostly dairy and gluten-free.
Reservations are open 42 days at a time with a new period opening at 10 am central time.
We are unable to accommodate the following allergies: Fin fish, soy, shellfish aroma/fumes, allium, honey
**We can accommodate shellfish allergy and peanut if noted in the reservation.
We can NOT accommodate a Vegan diet or a vegetarian that does not eat food cooked in seafood broth.
We are able to accommodate a gluten intolerance/allergy
In order to minimize disruptions to the kitchen, late arrivals will be served the current course being served

Top review

Nichole

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing! The food, the service, the experience all amazing!

Discover more

Experience

Tasting Menu - Communal Dining

Experience

Tasting Menu - Private Table

Saffron NOLA

5.0

5 (791)

$31 to $50

Indian

Uptown

About the restaurant

SAFFRON NOLA, the culmination of the Vilkhu family’s lifetime of passion for culture and food. Their James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2018 was hard-earned after gracing the New Orleans community with a catering business for 26-years and a pop-up restaurant for 6-years. In its sixth year, SAFFRON NOLA continues to garner accolades such as JBF Best Chef South 2024, 2025 and New York Times Best 25 Restaurants in New Orleans. They continue to charm guests by tying in culture, local ingredients, and hospitality.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 6 days ago

I wanted comfort food for dinner so returned to Saffron for the chicken biriyani and was pleased as always. Mr. Vilkhu stopped by our table to welcome us. We had a good time and will return.

Bon Sake Sushi & Bar

4.9

4.9 (126)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Covington

About the restaurant

BON SAKE sushi & bar
Sushi Restaurant
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:00am-9:00pm • Fri & Sat 11:00am-10:30pm

We look forward to serving you.

Top review

TonyVIP

Dined on Jun 9, 2025

I just love Bon Sake it my favorite sushi place and the service is always consistently great. The sushi is just top notch and the owner is Jamie and her brother Kody are just fabulous… I love this place Tony Drake

Shaya

4.9

4.9 (5193)

$31 to $50

Israeli

Uptown

About the restaurant

Originally inspired by the many amazing meals with family and dear friends throughout the Middle East, Shaya has been a trailblazer in modern Levantine cuisine. Drawing inspiration from the diverse cuisines & cultures of the Middle East, Meditteranean, and across North Africa, Shaya has set the benchmark for contemporary Mediterranean cuisine by honoring the age-old culinary traditions of the people who invented hospitality as we know it. Our fluffy hand-crafted pita bread baked to order in our wood-fired oven with delectable vegetable-driven dips, salads, and spreads will transport you to an exotic place. Today we hope that our food and hospitality will help you create delicious memories with your friends and family using the very best of our local and sustainably harvested ingredients, prepared and served by people who truly care.

Top review

PaulVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Shaya is a unique and innovative restaurant in a city of great restaurants. The menu is diverse, meets the needs of almost anyone, and their fresh pita is to die for. Will never hesitate to try to eat here whenever I’m in NOLA.

Discover more

Desi Vega Steakhouse Covington

4.9

4.9 (1054)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Covington

About the restaurant

Thank you for choosing Desi Vega’s Steakhouse Northshore, located in the heart of Covington.

If your preferred reservation time is not available through Open Table, please call the restaurant directly to check availability at (985) 276-4994.

Our dining experience is also available at the Bar. Bar seats are on a first come first serve basis.

Top review

Joan

Dined 3 days ago

My only complaint about the food was that my ribeye was somewhat thin in my opinion. But it was tasty and hot. The sizzling plate that the steak was brought out on splattered onto my shirt. In other restaurants with similar presentation, i was warned to put my napkin up to protect my clothing. Conner and Ty were excellent servers.

Discover more

4.9

4.9 (8305)

$50 and over

Contemporary French / American

Central Business District

About the restaurant

August is a Contemporary Creole restaurant creating unique dishes with a focus on Louisiana ingredients and inspired by classical training. Located in a historic 19th century French-Creole building in New Orleans’ Central Business District, the main dining room caters to the most unique dining experience. The interior is rich with original architectural details, gleaming hardwood floors, soaring columns, mahogany paneling and antique mirrors.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 1 day ago

August was highly recommended and it exceeded expectations. All around excellent experience. Warm atmosphere, exciting menu options and personable service.

Discover more

Popular dish

torchon of foie gras

Popular dish

red snapper Pontchartrain

Popular dish

blackened grouper

Tavi

4.8

4.8 (505)

$30 and under

Israeli

Covington

About the restaurant

Tavi is an Israeli restaurant serving made-to-order pita from a wood-fired oven, elaborately finished hummus plates, and small and large plates drawing from the same modern Israeli inspiration as its sister restaurant, Shaya. The name Tavi is inspired by the Hebrew word meaning “good or beloved” and that’s what Tavi aims to deliver to the Covington community. The menu will highlight staples from the Shaya menu plus an array of small plates, hummus, sandwiches, and slow-roasted meats.

Top review

Ruben

Dined 3 days ago

Overall, it was a great dining experience. The hostess seemed a little despondent. I suspect there was very little coordination with the servers. We sat for approximately 15 minutes before a server noticed no one had taken our order yet. However, Andrea took notice and apologized for the wait. She did an excellent job taking care of us through the meal. Because of her and the great food, we will be back.

Discover more

Atchafalaya Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (6688)

$31 to $50

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Garden District

About the restaurant

Atchafalaya is a true New Orleans neighborhood eatery where the eclectic yet elegant atmosphere is only outshone by the attentive service and delicious local fare. Nestled under the oaks on the edges of the Irish Channel, Magazine Street, and historic Garden districts, this hidden gem is one the best contemporary Creole dining experiences that one can find in the city. Neighbors, locals, and out of towners alike will become regulars after experiencing the brand of hospitality offered by New Orleans’ only five “A” restaurant. If having standards such as a gumbo du jour, blue crab raviolo, or shrimp & grits, a nightly seafood special, or a filet paired with a selection from the world class wine program you will not be disappointed. The introductions of brunch, live music, cocktails, and now an extensive happy hour continue the newest culinary chapter for a storied local haunt, embracing New Orleans’ culinary culture while placing contemporary spin on traditional New Orleans cuisine.

Top review

Joel

Dined 1 day ago

We had the fried oyster appetizer and it was excellent. The thin sliced pickled peppers and foamed cheese it was served with were very complimentary to the oysters. I had seared yellowfin tuna and my wife had the cabbage steak. Both were superbly cooked and presented well with complementary flavors. The duck fat washed Sazerac was great.

Discover more

Popular dish

Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits

Explore Diners' Choice best of New Orleans

Explore more Diners' Choice lists