Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in New Orleans / Louisiana

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in New Orleans / Louisiana? 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!

The Kingsway

4.9

4.9 (40)

$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

SuzanneVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Highly recommend this new gem in New Orleans! Excellent food and service!

Foundation Room House of Blues New Orleans

4.7

4.7 (282)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Foundation Room is now open with an incredible redesign and ambiance. We look forward to welcoming you back to the finest in food and craft cocktails!

Top review

Cameron

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Foundation Room is a MUST DO! Loved this place—will be back!

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Experience

Live music in the Lounge at Foundation Room

Pat's Rest Awhile

4.6

4.6 (719)

$30 and under

Seafood

Mandeville

About the restaurant

Casual, water front seafood restaurant and bar helmed by renowned chef Pat Gallagher. Enjoy local favorites such as Gulf Fish Almondine, Oysters Rockefeller and Gumbo alongside classics such as Grilled Steaks and burgers. Other seafood selections include Redfish, Tuna and Swordfish.
Outside dessert $3/person.

Top review

TeriVIP

Dined 1 day ago

The chicken and waffles were amazing as were the charbroiled oysters. Cody our server was great. Highly recommend !!

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Popular dish

Classic Gulf Fish Almondine

Social

4.6

4.6 (37)

$31 to $50

Peruvian

Madisonville

About the restaurant

Welcome to Social, where every meal is an invitation to connect and be social. Our modern peruvian dishes are meant to be enjoyed in good company, because the best moments happen around the table.

Top review

PATRICKVIP

Dined 1 day ago

New restaurant, it seems they are still getting settled in re: staff, service, etc. so I can’t judge harshly for small issues. Servers were friendly and knowledgeable, food and drinks were delivered promptly. The vibe, decor etc is very cool and a much needed addition to the madisonville/mandeville scene

Saltgrass Steak House - Metairie

4.5

4.5 (345)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Metairie

About the restaurant

Saltgrass Steak House is an award-winning steakhouse in Metairie, LA famous for serving Angus Beef steaks. Each steak is cooked to perfection with Saltgrass-7 Steak Spice, and topped with garlic butter. All breads, dressings, soups and desserts are made from scratch daily. Great food and legendary hospitality make Saltgrass an enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Top review

Amy

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Our waitress was great! She was such a sweetheart! Thank you, Dasia!

Habanero's - Metarie

4.5

4.5 (35)

$30 and under

Mexican

Metairie

About the restaurant

Habaneros brings the distinctive flavors of Mexico's urban eateries to your table, drawing inspiration from the street foods and laid-back dining experiences found in the vibrant cities of Mexico. Our well-traveled menu showcases the diversity of Mexican ingredients, elevating classic dishes with a contemporary twist while staying true to their authentic flavors. At the heart of our menu is a dedication to serving fresh, made-from-scratch creations. From our salsas and sauces to our marinades, spices, and rubs, everything is handcrafted with care. Our cocktails are no exception, with each one expertly mixed to perfectly complement your meal.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

The chicken rice bowl was excellent, service adequate

Fountain Lounge

4.4

4.4 (592)

$30 and under

Bistro

Central Business District

About the restaurant

The Fountain Lounge a New Orleans Bistro at The Roosevelt Hotel, a beloved restaurant since 1938, offers a modern take on traditional Southern cuisine. Using fresh South Louisiana ingredients with creative flair, it blends timeless New Orleans flavors with innovative twists. From classic Fried Chicken Mondays, featuring a four-generation recipe, to our inspired approach to creole cuisine, our bistro menu provides a warm yet surprising welcome to both travelers and locals.
Enjoy live entertainment Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 6:00PM to 10:00PM

Top review

danielVIP

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

service and food excellent atmosphere is nice variety of food is very good

M bistro

4.3

4.3 (841)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Farm-to-table and authentic New Orleans cuisine come together in the French Quarter at M bistro, where the chefs take an indigenous approach to the preparation of meats, seafood and produce from farmers in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. Three velvet-draped semi-private “Cheater’s Booths” and a private Wine Room offer additional venues for a special meal.

Our restaurant and lounge are conveniently located on the third floor lobby level of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Top review

MelissaVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

We went for the NOWFE dinner and it was absolutely outstanding! All the dishes were delectable and beautiful!

Easy Virtue

4.3

4.3 (26)

$30 and under

Southern

Warehouse District

About the restaurant

Inhibitions run free at Easy Virtue, the newest culinary venture curated by Executive Chef Chad Roldan in the trendy Warehouse Arts District. Indulge and imbibe in irresistible brunch dishes daily, craft cocktails and a premium bourbon and wine selection, tempting your senses and persuading you to stay and play. All. Day. Long.

Our menu infuses classic brunch dishes with creative flavors for an unforgettable experience. From the Bananas Foster French Toast, a local favorite with a twist, to the Pig Pop Tart, a whimsical reinvention of a childhood favorite. Striking the perfect balance between sweet and savory, The Jones is an ode to Chef's son that takes the classic cinnamon roll to new heights.

Top review

ann elise

Dined 5 days ago

I’m not one to generally order a salad while eating out, but decided to order the Caesar with grilled shrimp. The salad was so good I’m still thinking about it and can’t wait to have it again soon. Kudos to the chef. Eric and Jarrod were also so attentive and thorough. Jarrod was our main server- he was very eager to please and seems to take pride in his job. We had a really enjoyable lunch and will be back soon!

Alma Cafe - Mid City

4.2

4.2 (23)

$31 to $50

Latin / Spanish

Mid-City / City Park

About the restaurant

Alma Mid-City is a Honduran restaurant located on Carrollton Avenue. Alma has its roots deeply entrenched into Honduran tradition and celebrates Honduran culture, food, and music as experienced by Executive Chef Melissa Araujo. Melissa is a two time nominee for the James Beard Award Best Chef -South award.

From Pollo Chuco, to Bloody Mary's and avocado toast, Alma offers an extensive array of dishes focusing on Honduran Food. Alma pay’s tribute to Chef Araujo’s grandmother and her cooking with hearty dishes like the Alma Breakfast, Baleadas and Pollo Chuco. This New Orleans cafe also serves delicious dishes like Carne Asada, Platano Maduro, Pupusas, and Marmahon

Alma means soul in Spanish. Created to showcase Chef Melissa Araujo's Honduran heritage and take each guest on a journey through food and culture. The Soul has many stories to tell; Alma tells shares them through it's dining experience.

Top review

StephanieVIP

Dined on May 18, 2025

Hudson was Amazing as usual. The staff is so friendly and attentive, I love coming here

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