•Petite Amelie
There are a number of fast-casual companions to traditional gourmet sit-down restaurants in the French Quarter, but Petite Amelie is my favorite. This little sister of the also-lovely Café Amelie offers sandwiches, salads, soup, quiche, pastry, coffee, and other easy-to-enjoy gourmet treats at surprisingly low prices. The light-filled room offers plenty of window seats for people-watching, too.
900 Royal St. / (504) 412-8065 / petiteamelienola.wordpress.comMore »
•Bayona
Chef Susan Spicer’s flagship restaurant has been serving up high-end Louisiana food with international flair for over 25 years. The restaurant itself, tucked into a sweet old Creole cottage with a gorgeous courtyard, is as lovely and elegant as the menu. Soups, salads, and a variety of composed plates are on offer at lunchtime. The carefully-curated wine list is, too.
430 Dauphine St. / (504) 525-4455 / bayona.com
•Verti Marte
Verti Marte’s got you covered if your idea of lunch is a po-boy on the go. Find your way to the counter in the back of this hole-in-the-wall bodega and make your selection from the enormous list of ingredients. (Overwhelmed? An oyster po-boy is always a solid choice.) Grab your sammich, a bottle of Barq’s, and a bag of Zapp’s chips and stroll to the nearest bench (Jackson Square’s not far) to dig in.
1201 Royal St. / (504) 525-4767 / vertimarte.comMore »
•Muriel's
Lunch on a balcony overlooking Jackson Square? Yes please! Even better, Muriel’s offers a steal of a two-course lunch deal: soup or a salad plus one of a variety of traditional Creole entrées (blackened catfish, shrimp and andouille-stuffed mirliton, and duck cassoulet are just a few of the options), for just $17.95.
801 Chartres St. / (504) 568-1885 / muriels.com
•EAT New Orleans
This unassuming restaurant sits in a less-trafficked residential stretch of the lower French Quarter and is a favorite of locals on their lunch breaks and the occasional lucky traveler. Alongside a nice selection of seasonal soups and salads are Cajun-inspired small plates, inspired hot sandwiches and po-boys, good all-day breakfast options, and $18 plate lunches consisting of Cajun and Creole specialties like eggplant and shrimp casserole, crawfish stew, and chicken and dumplings with a choice of carefully-prepared side veggies and a nice Caesar salad.
900 Dumaine Street / (504) 522-7222 / eatnola.com
•Antoine's
To call Antoine’s a French Quarter institution would be an understatement. Opened in 1840, it claims to be the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States. The food is classic Creole (Oysters Rockefeller was invented here), and sort of proudly dated, and the decor and typical clientèle are entirely old-line New Orleans. Three-course lunch specials are $20.15, and at that price, it’s a worthy way to spend a couple of hours, for sure.
713 St. Louis St. / (504) 581-4422 / antoines.comMore »
•K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
K-Paul’s is the home of Chef Paul Prudhomme, the enigmatic Opelousas-born chef who was largely responsible for introducing traditional and contemporary Cajun food to the world. K-Paul’s only serves lunch a few days a week (Thursday through Saturday) unless there’s a special event happening in town. Their “deli-style” Cajun and Creole plate lunches are absolutely delicious, though, and worth not only planning around, but even splurging a bit (entrées start in the mid-twenties).
416 Chartres St. / (504) 596-2530 / kpauls.com
•Green Goddess
This snug little restaurant sits on Exchange Alley, a short pedestrianized street in the Upper Quarter, and offers some sweet outdoor seating in the alley itself — a great option on nice days. The food is centered around local ingredients but is prepared with a worldly approach; expect everything from Vietnamese to Indian to Afro-Latin flavors on the often-shifting menu, and don’t be surprised if there’s nothing resembling Cajun or Creole food to be found. (The proprietors will point out that there’s no shortage of that in the neighborhood.) Vegetarians and vegans in particular should check Green Goddess out, as a large number of dishes on the menu either are veg or can easily be made veg by the knowledgable staff. (Meat-eaters, don’t worry, you’re taken care of, too.)
307 Exchange Pl. / (504) 301-3347 / greengoddessrestaurant.com
•Central Grocery
If you’re looking for the iconic on-the-go lunch in New Orleans, the muffuletta at Central Grocery is it. This sandwich, made with mixed Italian cold cuts, provolone cheese, and chunky olive salad, was invented by the grocery’s Sicilian owners to feed the young men working on the nearby docks. The docks are gone, but there are still plenty of Sicilians afoot, and the muffuletta is now coveted by locals and visitors from all walks of life. A half plus a bag of chips is more than enough for all but the hungriest adult. A few tables and a counter are available inside the grocery, but there are also benches just across the way in the French Market where you can sit quietly and enjoy.
923 Decatur St. / (504) 523-1620
•SoBou
SoBou belongs to the Commander’s Palace family of restaurants, and, like its glamorous uptown sister, offers a smashing lunch special. Two gourmet courses for under $20 and — the kicker — 25-cent martinis to go with. Reasonably-priced small plates, salads, and sandwiches, all focused on local ingredients and elevated southern flavors, offer à la carte options, as well. If you’re dining alone, SoBou has a particularly nice bar where solo diners are made to feel right at home.
310 Chartres St. / (504) 552-4095 / soubounola.com