Essential Nola Restaurants

Old world elegance, dark wood, soft piano music, an atmosphere I can only describe as sensual. It's largely an Italian place but there is French influence that makes the food a bit more experimental.

If you think I love this place just because it feels like a Wes Anderson movie, you're absolutely right, and the mac and cheese is amazing so I'm happy to die on this hill.

no.

Well fitting name aside, their short rib made me feel things that I'm still not quite done unpacking.

Italian, again. Equally amazing but more modern than Irene's. They are not putting out innovative dishes, they are serving flawlessly executed classics. If you want to be "wowed" within the confines of your comfort zone, this is the place.

If their dinner is Cheers, their brunch is Frasier. It doesn't get the same spotlight and is almost an afterthought when tossing around brunch ideas, despite serving what I would argue are the best chicken and waffles in the city. Diets beware.