Best Dinner Places to Eat in Westwego

"Commander's Palace has been around since the late 1800s, but under Ella Brennan’s leadership starting in the 1970s, the restaurant essentially redefined New Orleans cuisine and catapulted into stardom with the help of celeb chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse. Today, the menu and service are top notch with James Beard Award-winning chef Tory McPhail leading the kitchen and Ti Martin and Lally Brennan running the show. Go for lunch and make sure to end the meal with the bread pudding soufflé and whiskey sauce."

"Garden District Not all classic New Orleans restaurants live in the French Quarter. Uptown in the Garden District, right across from Lafayette Cemetery No.1, is the famous Commander’s Palace. You might recognize the former head chef’s name: Emeril Lagasse, who helmed the Palace’s kitchen in the '80s, long before “Bam!"

"Visitors can pop into boutique shops, voodoo stores, art galleries, iconic restaurants like Brennan’s, be entertained by street performers, admire the architecture and wrought iron balconies, and even visit inside the historic Gallier House. You might also notice Cafe Beignet on Royal Street which some say has better beignets than Cafe du Monde. You’ll have to compare and decide for yourself. As for me, it was a toss-up."

"Brennan's, in the heart of the French Quarter, is famous for breakfast any day and a full brunch on the weekends. There are 8 dining rooms. Most rooms overlook the courtyard, which is also used for dining."

"Galatoire's is another of the French Quarter's grand, family-owned restaurants, sharing much in common with Antoine's. It was opened on Bourbon Street in 1905 by Jean Galatoire, a French immigrant, and focuses on French-Creole cuisine. The main dining room is at street level and features a high ceiling with fans, mirrors along the walls, and numerous coat hooks that hang above them."

"Gumbo is a traditional Louisiana dish that has been around since the early 18th century. While there are many variations on the stew, one of the best restaurants offering the dish is at Galatoire’s Restaurant, a fine dining establishment in the French Quarter which was founded in 1905. The Gumbo here is so good it was awarded the ‘Best Gumbo in New Orleans’ by Southern Living."

"This New Orleans stalwart provides a sophisticated reprieve from Bourbon Street’s frenetic party scene. The dining rooms are elegant, with chandeliers and mahogany, the waiters wear tuxedos and the menu features French-Creole favorites. One menu staple not to be missed are the Soufflé Potatoes, which were featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

"GW Fin's is a classy restaurant in New Orleans that's perfect for celebrations like birthday dinners, anniversary dinners, or even a date night. After a large and delicious dinner, you need to save room for dessert, because their Salty Malty Ice Cream Pie is so good. The mix of sweet and salty makes for the perfect after-dinner treat and is great for sharing."

"GW Fins is one for classic desserts, the kind whose ingredient list fills you up just from reading the menu. Customer favorites include the samoa, the “Salty Malty,” an ice cream pie with a pretzel crust, and white chocolate and caramel bread pudding."

"Marigny: This location of weenie and beer emporium Dat Dog has the best balcony for people watching on Frenchmen, whether it's lunchtime or late night."

"Vegans can choose from among a Spicy Chipotle Dog, Field Roast Italian Dog, and a Smoked Apple Sage sausage. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPTgHxZgqGz/"

"Highway 190, Suite A, Covington, (985) 867-8292; 3501 Severn Ave., Suite 1, Metairie, (504) 304-8441; www.albashabr.com. Moussaka features layers of eggplant, ground beef, potato and bechamel and is served with rice, feta salad and pita. Reservations accepted."

"Piscobar does exactly what it says it does — Pisco, exceptionally well. Located on the 13th floor of the lovely Catahoula Hotel in the Central Business District, this equally lovely rooftop terrace is the perfect perfect place to kick back after a day sightseeing. Decorated with bare wood panelling, sunloungers and a tikki-bar, it’s a private oasis in the midst of office building skyscrapers."

"A post shared by Simon Gommerud (@sgommy) on Dec 16, 2019 at 4:50pm PST. Perched inside the Catahoula Hotel in downtown New Orleans, the Piscobar specializes in a number of cocktail mixes keeping pisco at its forefront. Pisco is a brandy that is manufactured in the wine-making regions of Peru and Chile and is the national spirit of Peru."

"The Catahoula Hotel is not only beautiful but home to Piscobar. Piscobar is a vivid vegan Taiwanese restaurant and bar using the freshest ingredients and flavorful spices. The food is out of this world and so are the drinks!"

"Toast is a friendly neighborhood bakery with several locations around the city that offer a comfortable spot for a quick coffee and warm croissant or cinnamon roll, a healthy plate of fresh fruit, homemade granola and yogurt, or a heartydishess of eggs, bacon, country fried steak, potatoes, grits, biscuits, and gravy. Patrons sit at the breakfast bar and dine on three-egg omelets and egg scrambles, toast with a variety of toppings from bacon to beef, and French toast. The café’s signature dish is pancake-like aebleskiveras that are served with a selection of homemade sauces such as lemon curd, blueberry sauce, and strawberry jam."

"Toast NOLA is known for their spin on various breakfast toasts— avocado with an egg, chocolate with bananas, or even honey, prosciutto, and ricotta. These pancake puffs sprinkled with powdered sugar and your choice of a Nutella, chocolate, jam, caramel, lemon curd, or syrup dipping sauce on the side are the perfect treats to follow a healthy slice of avocado toast. I mean, hey, it's all about balance."

"Toast is just far enough from the main tourist haunts to make you feel like you’re really in the know. Inspired by the cozy cafes of Paris, you won’t be able to accommodate your Mardi Gras crew, but that’s not why you’re here. Order a latte and the menu’s must-try item: the Aebleskivers, Danish pancake balls smothered in powdered sugar and a host of sweet condiments."

"Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., (504) 309-5344; www.lacocinitafoodtruck.com. A Venezuelan sampler includes a brisket and cheese arepita, pork pataconcito, a cheese empanada and avocado salsa."

"The quintessential museum of Louisiana, the permanent collection includes nearly 40,000 world-class works of regional, national and international art, such as Picasso, Braque, Dufy and Miró, and drawings by Degas, who worked just blocks from the museum when he visited maternal relatives in the early 1870s. Lectures, book clubs, film presentations, art classes and musical performances are all presented with aplomb – and you can even take yoga classes in the sublimely beautiful Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works of the 20th century's master sculptors reside in a sub-tropical sanctuary. 1 Collins C Diboll Circle, noma.org."

"New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 482-1264; www.cafenoma.com. An Americana grain bowl includes chicken breast over wild rice, sweet potatoes, cranberries and baby spinach with warm bacon vinaigrette."

"Features an impressive collection of original paintings, works on paper, and sculpture by some of history’s most revered artists. Representing over five centuries of fine art, we specialize in original works from the old masters to the modern masters, as well as a select group of renowned contemporary artists."

"Formerly known as "Place d'Armes" in the 18th century and later renamed as Jackson Square in honor Andrew Jackson who was a hero in the Battle of New Orleans, the historic Jackson Square is a beautiful space and popular tourist attraction in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Facing the Mississippi River and surrounded by historic buildings, including the Louisiana State Museums of the Cabildo and the Presbytere, and the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral, this famous landmark is packed with things to see and do. A favorite site for visitors and locals, the Square has shops, restaurants, cafés and coffee shops, galleries, museums and more, along with a renowned open-air artist colony who has been displaying their work on the square's iron fence for more than 50 years."

"Often called the heart of New Orleans, Jackson Square is full of energy and activity. Facing the Mississippi River and directly across from the St. Louis Cathedral, the Square stands in the shadows of the Andrew Jackson statue, erected for his heroism during the Battle of New Orleans. Here you will find street artists painting during the day and jazz musicians by night, along with fortune-tellers and other kinds of street theater."

"Initially laid out with the rest of the old French Quarter, Jackson Square sits in front of the St. Louis Cathedral. Also called the Place d’Armes, it is the oldest space in the city. Trees and walkways were added to it in the 1830s and the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson was added in 1856."

"A scenic ride through Uptown on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line takes you right to the park’s entrance. Stunning oak trees draped with Spanish moss, tranquil lagoons, and sprawling green lawns can be found in every corner of the park, along with exciting attractions like the Audubon Trail Golf Course and Audubon Zoo. This natural space dates back to 1898, and its beautiful landscape draws visitors and locals alike."

"Audubon Park boasts a great green lawn overhung by live oak trees in Uptown. One of our favorite spots for river-watching, the Fly, is located here. At the Fly, you can stroll along the riverside while kids play and pets poke around the trees."

"Previously called Upper City Park, Audubon Park is located across from Tulane University. Audubon dates to the 1800’s. Audubon was originally part of the Bore Family Plantation."

"A Larry Bird sandwich features roasted Springer Mountain Farms chicken, bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce and aioli on ciabatta from Breads on Oak."

"Dining poolside feels like being on vacation and that’s exactly the vibe radiating from the Country Club in Bywater every day of the week. Enjoy chef Chris Barbato’s global menu - don’t miss the silky sweet corn and blue crab bisque and the panko-crusted fried cauliflower swabbed with an Asian sweet and savory sauce. Tables are social distanced so you and your honey can whisper sweet nothings and really get away with it."

"Beat the Louisiana heat and lounge at one of New Orleans’ best kept secrets. During the daytime, if the temperature is warm and you are feeling up for a dip, The Country Club has a beautiful swimming pool bar. They also offer a delicious brunch!"

"634 Louisa St., (504) 945-0742; www.thecountryclubneworleans.com. Fried Gulf oysters are served with pickled mustard seed and fontina cream. Reservations accepted."