13 Best Restaurants in Bywater, New Orleans

Elizabeth's

$ | Bywater Fodor's choice

"Real food, done real good" is the motto at hipster-haven Elizabeth's, where the vinyl-print tablecloths look just like grandma's and breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The menu offers everything from po'boys to a stellar seared duck, but the highlight is the buzzy weekend brunch served from 8 am to 2:30 pm that includes "lost bread" (also known as French toast), "redneck eggs" (fried green tomatoes with poached eggs and hollandaise), and a traditional country breakfast with a smoked pork chop (there's also bottomless mimosas, if you want to start the party early). The fried-oyster po'boy is huge and irresistible. The staff is spunky, and so is the Bywater neighborhood clientele. The praline bacon is a must. Breakfast is served every weekday as well, also from 8 to 2:30, and has almost the same options. Reservations are accepted only for dinner.

N7

$$ | Bywater Fodor's choice

It might seem unlikely that a restaurant specializing in canned fish would be one of the most romantic places to dine in New Orleans, but N7 is just that. Once you find this hidden gem, tucked behind a barely marked large wooden fence on a quiet street off of St. Claude Avenue, the adorable, candlelit courtyard and Parisian bistro interior will whisk you away to a dreamy European evening. The canned delicacies, mostly imported from Portugal and Spain, are the most exciting things on the menu (don't leave without trying the habanero-smoked oysters), but the salads, crudos, and desserts also hold their own. A small, carefully curated wine and cocktail list add to the charm of the experience.

Bywater American Bistro

$$$ | Bywater

The latest project from chef Nina Compton, Top Chef contestant and owner of popular Compère Lapin in the Warehouse District, is a real neighborhood place, a friendly yet refined bistro where friends can get together to enjoy a good meal. The atmosphere here is upscale and dinner is on the pricey side, but there is a warm and homey quality to the experience.

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Bywater Bakery

$ | Bywater

This is everything you could want from a neighborhood coffee shop: delicious coffee, premium baked goods, and hearty sandwiches and comfort food for a quick breakfast or lunch. The pies are great around the holidays, as are the king cakes during Carnival season. The café often displays local art for sale on its walls, and hosts events and small concerts.

Capulet

$ | Bywater

This lofted space has great vegetarian options and hearty sandwiches that skew creative; think a BLT with kimchi and thick-slab bacon or smoked cauliflower, broccoli falafel, and braised beef with Bloody Mary seasoning. Cocktails are equally unique, utilizing shrubs, fresh juices, and kombucha. At night, the industrial space and romantic rooftop is used for private and community events.

Frady's One Stop Food Store

$ | Bywater

Both a convenience store and a lunch counter, this friendly neighborhood institution is the perfect place to stop for a cold drink and a delicious carry-out po'boy.

Galaxie

$ | Bywater

Inside this gas station–turned–taco shop, meats are spit-roasted and masa is crafted by hand. The casual, open-air space serves counter-service tacos and snacks inspired by Oaxaca and Mexico City, but much of the focus is on the large bar, where seasoned local talents craft rum, mezcal, and tequila-based concoctions.

Jack Dempsey's

$$ | St. Claude

As the Bywater dining scene has largely shifted towards the new, trendy, and exploratory, this historical location on Poland Avenue has stood its ground, remaining one of the only classic New Orleans dinner joints in the area. Expect large portions of fried and boiled seafood favorites, like catfish, redfish, oysters, and shrimp, as well as po'boys, stuffed flounder, and surf-and-turf plates. It's a fun, casual spot, and you will not leave hungry.

Pizza Delicious

$ | Bywater

Hipsters, lifelong Bywater residents, and locals far across town all take great pride in "Pizza D" as one of the only (and best) places to get authentic New York–style pizza in New Orleans. A tall can of PBR and a slice of cheese will satisfy most, but delve into the specialty pies, pastas, and surprisingly pleasing salads for the full experience. There's plenty of room to eat in this converted garage (and yard out back) with a decidedly divey ambience, but expect long lines at the counter during weekends.

Red's Chinese

$ | St. Claude

The funky, Mission Chinese–style Asian fusion served here pairs well with late night dancing and drinking on St. Claude Avenue. Expect flavor bombs like the sweet-and-spicy fried chicken, kung pao pastrami, and creamy crawfish wontons, hipster attitudes and service, and a fun meal different from the New Orleans norm.

Saint-Germain

$$$$ | St. Claude

The seasonal five-course menu changes constantly at this romantic Parisian-style bistro, which is quickly becoming one of the finest dining experiences in New Orleans. Optional wine pairings and a lovely courtyard add to the romance of this special, date-night spot. The food is exciting, the dining room is small, and reservations go quickly. If you aren’t lucky enough to get a dinner spot (book as far as a month in advance), the chic front bar and courtyard are just for walk-ins, with a menu of natural wines, cocktails, and bar bites. Dinner is usually set at $65 per person (without wine) and is chef's choice, but you can communicate dietary restrictions ahead of time.

Suis Generis

$$ | Bywater

Devotees of this unassuming neighborhood spot wait with bated breath on Friday afternoons, when a new menu is posted online (and outside the restaurant) showcasing the offerings for that week. The space is intimate and funky, and the food is the same, where ingredients from local farms inspire risottos, curries, housemade ice creams, slow-roasts, and marinades and spices from around the globe. Thursday service changes it up from the regular menu for a popular Taco Night.

The Joint

$ | Bywater

You can't miss this bright, yellow-striped building, but it's the smell of the meat—pork shoulder, pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken—cooking in the custom-made smoker that will draw you in. In a town not really known for great barbecue, the Joint is an exception, which is why it draws hungry patrons from far and wide. The meat is the thing, but don't skip the side dishes, which go above and beyond in concept and execution, particularly the sweet-and-spicy baked beans and the crispy-on-the-outside mac 'n' cheese. Pecan, key lime, and peanut butter pies are fitting country desserts, particularly if you want to linger in the lush outdoor courtyard a bit longer.

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