Explore the Best Women-Led Restaurants in New Orleans for 2019

The OpenTable Team

March 8th is International Women’s Day. In celebration, we created a list featuring some of the most exceptional women in New Orleans’ culinary scene. This colorful, flavorful city—alive with costume parades, French vibes, and creole food—is musically big and easy to love. Next time you’re in town, we invite you to celebrate women (and eat something delicious) at one of these top spots.

9 Restaurants

Updated March 02, 2020

Restaurants:	Compère Lapin, Bywater American Bistro, Coquette…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	American, Bistro…
Neighborhoods:	Central Business District, Bywater, Garden District…

Compère Lapin

$$$$·American·

Central Business District

2,689 reviews

Fit for Foodies
Creative Cuisine
Good for a Date

"Compere Lapin is the brainchild of its chef/co-owner Nina Compton, a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: South in 2018, who also gained fame as a Top Chef runner-up. In creati…Read more

95% recommended

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Bywater American Bistro

$$$$·Bistro·

Bywater

757 reviews

Fit for Foodies
Neighborhood Gem
Good for a Date

Following the success of Compere Lapin, James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef/owner Nina Compton opened her second restaurant, Bywater American Bistro, in the spring of 2018. C…Read more

94% recommended

Fit for Foodies in New Orleans / Louisiana

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Coquette

$$$$·American·

Garden District

3,238 reviews

Fit for Foodies
Good for a Date
Creative Cuisine

Kristen Essig, chef and co-owner of the Garden District bistro Coquette, came to the restaurant in 2016 following an impressive run through some of New Orleans eateries. Joining Mi…Read more

98% recommended

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Zasu

$$$$·American·

Mid-City / City Park

402 reviews

Good for a Date
Creative Cuisine
Special Occasion

"Zasu, which opened in Mid-City on New Year's Eve 2018, is the first solo venture of chef/owner Sue Zemanick, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2013. She also s…Read more

97% recommended

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Mr. B's Bistro

$$$$·Creole·

French Quarter

3,145 reviews

Special Occasion
Good for a Date
Good for Anniversaries

Mr. B's Bistro, one of the most celebrated restaurants in New Orleans, owes its continuing success to two women: owner Cindy Brennan and chef Michelle McRaney. Cindy Brennan, of th…Read more

95% recommended

Creole in New Orleans / Louisiana

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Red Fish Grill

$$$$·Seafood·

French Quarter

6,107 reviews

Casual
Good for Groups
Good for a Date

The owner and namesake of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group joined the famous family business over 30 years ago, and his own venture continues its legacy of celebrating the culina…Read more

92% recommended

Good for Groups in New Orleans / Louisiana

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Vessel NOLA

$$$$·Contemporary American·

Mid-City / City Park

836 reviews

Neighborhood Gem
Handcrafted Cocktails
Good for a Date

Chef Amandalynn Picolo and pastry chef Amelia Watts drive the menus at Vessel, a Mid-City restaurant famously housed in a former church. Diners are drawn to the circa-1914 building…Read more

92% recommended

Vibrant Bar Scene in New Orleans / Louisiana

Table for 2 today

Arnaud's

$$$$·Creole·

French Quarter

5,502 reviews

Special Occasion
Good for Anniversaries
Romantic

Arnaud's is a true New Orleans institution, founded in 1918 by Arnaud Cazenave and spanning almost a full city block in the French Quarter. This formal fine-dining institution, who…Read more

88% recommended

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Cafe Minh

$$$$·Vietnamese·

Mid-City / City Park

353 reviews

Neighborhood Gem
Creative Cuisine
Great for Lunch

Cafe Minh's co-chef/co-owner Cynthia VuTran came to New Orleans from Vietnam, as did her partner in the venture, chef Minh Bui. VuTrain worked in restaurant kitchens from a young a…Read more

90% recommended

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