Essence Festival: Restaurants in New Orleans

New Orleans has a plethora of good restaurants.

If the Essence Festival does attract a record number of attendees this year, you'll need a long list of restaurants to try because the lines at all the popular spots are going to be very, very long in New Orleans.

So, it is strongly recommended that you have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C ready just in case you get to a spot and they say the wait is 45 minutes or more.

WATCH: The video playing at the top of the story to learn about the history of New Orleans.

Also, bring your patience as good New Orleans food takes time to cook.

We've surveyed a group of multi-year Essence Festival veterans and here is the result of that extensive conversation, which is a comprehensive list of New Orleans establishments to try while you are visiting from July 4-7, 2019 for the Essence Festival.

Click on the name of each establishment to be redirected to its website for menus, hours of operation, directions, etc.

New Orleans Restaurants Favorites

(listed in alphabetical order)

ACME Oyster House: (724 Iberville St, 504-522-5973)

Antoine's Restaurant: (713 St Louis St, 504-581-4422)

Bertha's Place Bar & Restaurant: (1355 St. Bernard Ave, 504-593-9777)

Brennan's Restaurant: (417 Royal St, 504-525-9711)

Cafe du Monde: (800 Decatur St, 504-525-4544)

Cafe Fleur de Lis: (307 Chartres St, 504-529-9641)

Casnet Seafood: (10826 Hayne Blvd, 504-244-8446)

Coop's Place: (1109 Decatur St, 504-525-9053)

Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro: (2001 St Charles Ave, located inside the Clarion Hotel Grand Boutique, 504-593-9955)

Court of Two Sisters: (613 Royal St, 504-522-7261)

Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar: (509 Canal St, 504-323-2109)

Daisy Dukes: (121 Chartres St & 123 Carondelet St), 504-561-5171)

Deanies Seafood: (841 Iberville St, 504-581-1316)

Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse: (716 Iberville St, 504-522-2467)

Dooky Chase's Restaurant: 2301 Orleans Ave, 504-821-0600)

Drago's Seafood Restaurant: (2 Poydras St...Inside the Hilton Riverside Hotel) (504) 584-3911

Emeril's Delmonico: (1300 St Charles Ave, 504-525-4937)

Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar: 739 Iberville St, (504) 522-4440

Fiorella's Cafe: (1136 Decatur St, 504-605-4816)

Gene's Poboys: (1040 Elysian Fields Ave), 504-943-3861)

Grand Isle: (575 Convention Center Blvd, 504-520-8530)

Heard Dat Kitchen: (2520 Felicity St, 504-510-4248)

Hobnobbers: 139 Carondelet St, (504) 525-5428

House of Blues: (225 Decatur St...for the Sunday Gospel Brunch),(504) 310-4999

Jimmy J's Cafe: 115 Chartres St, (504) 309-9360

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen: 416 Chartres St, (504) 596-2530

Lil Dizzy's Cafe: 1500 Esplanade Ave, (504) 569-8997

Ma Momma's House of Cornbread, Chicken and Waffles: 5741 Crowder Blvd, (504) 244-0021

Muriel's Jackson Square: 801 Chartres St, (504) 568-1885

Mulates: 201 Julia St, 504-522-1492

New Orleans Food & Spirits: (210 Old Hammond Hwy, Metairie, LA...need to Uber/Lyft/Taxi there), 504-828-2220

New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Company: 4141 St Charles Ave, (504) 247-9753

Neyow's Creole Café: 3332 Bienville St, (504) 827-5474

NOLA Poboys: 908 Bourbon St, 504.522.2639

NOLA Tropical Winery: (500 Port of New Orleans Place...Inside the Riverwalk Outlet Mall), (504) 561-6010

Oceana Grill: 739 Conti St, (504) 525-6002

Parkway Bakery & Tavern: 538 Hagan Ave, (504) 482-3047

Port of Call: 838 Esplanade Ave, (504) 523-0120

Poydras & Peters: (300 Poydras St, Inside the Loews New Orleans Hotel), 504-595-3305)

"Offering approachable and affordable American fare that invokes curiosity and fun, Poydras & Peters is the new restaurant and bar concept at Loews New Orleans Hotel, and uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the dynamic landscape of New Orleans cuisine. This new restaurant concept pays homage to the cultural diversity and historical significance of the Poydras Market of 1838. The Poydras Market (1832-1938) occupied the land in the center of Poydras Street between South Rampart and Baronne Street, featuring local seafood and produce brought to the area by the New Basin Canal. Poydras & Peters takes inspiration from the melting pot of cultures represented at the Market, and brings beautifully diverse flavors to each dish on the menu. The bar program at the restaurant serves up seasonal craft cocktails and locally inspired small plates, while also offering local craft beers, over 45 whiskeys and a local rum flight."

Royal House Oyster Bar: 441 Royal St, (504) 528-2601

Ruby Slipper: 200 Magazine St, 1050 Canal St, (504) 525-9355

Saints and Sinners: 627 Bourbon St, (504) 528-9307

Sammy's Food Services & Deli: (3000 Elysian Fields Ave, 504-947-0675)

Superior Grill: (3636 St Charles Ave, 504-899-4200)

Superior Seafood & Oyseter Bar: (4338 St Charles Ave, 504-293-3474)

The Commander's Palace: (1404 Washington Ave, 504-899-8221)

The Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill: (500 Port of New Orleans #83...outside the Riverwalk Mall near the Hilton Riverside Hotel, 504-569-3380)

The Munch Factory: (1901 Sophie Wright Pl, 504-324-5372)

The Original Cajun Seafood: (1479 North Claiborne Ave, 504-948-6000)

The Rum House: (3128 Magazine St, 504-941-7560)

The Trolley Stop Cafe: (1923 St Charles Ave, 504-523-0090)

Willie's Chicken Shack: (630 Bourbon St & 707 Canal Street, 504-558-9044)

Willie Mae's Scotch House: (2401 St Ann St, 504-822-9503)

Sherlon Christie has regularly attended the Essence Festival in New Orleans since 2010. He's walked through almost every corner of the convention center and the superdome. He's eaten a lot of good seafood at New Orleans restaurants. He's attended some of the best Essence Festival concerts. He's partied like a rock star at the hottest day parties and the best concert after parties that New Orleans has to offer during Essence Festival weekend. So, don't be shy and reach out to him via the methods below.

E-mail: schristie@gannettnj.com

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