The section of the city that is made up of the Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods are typically second to only the French Quarter regarding their popularity for tourist attractions. These neighborhoods are filled with historic buildings and gorgeous architecture and provide a great backdrop for leisurely strolls for visitors who would like to get away from the French Quarter for a bit during their trip. These neighborhoods are also very accessible with the St. Charles streetcar line bringing people from the French Quarter to these neighborhoods 24 hours a day. There is also a great variety of restaurants to try among these streets.
The Chloe
The first restaurant I would like to showcase is The Chloe, located right on St. Charles Avenue, near the Napoleon intersection. This is a former Queen Anne Victorian mansion which has been converted into charming a Bed and Breakfast, complete with a pool in the backyard. The front yard features a raised porch and shaded patio that is filled with picnic furniture. The raised patio in particular makes for an excellent location to have a nice brunch while watching the streetcars pass by right in front of the restaurant. The Chloe features a variety of fresh, healthy culinary options that combine a mix of local recipes along with their own takes on home-cooking. During our first trip to The Chloe, we enjoyed their goat cheese and olive oil platter, which has become one of our favorite menu options that they offer. Whether it’s their cajun cuisine such as the royal red shrimp roll, fusion items such as the mushroom melt French dip sandwich, or something more unique to them such as their Chloe wedge salad that features shrimp and crab fat; this restaurant can offer options to a variety of palates. In addition to the food, The Chloe also offers many cocktail options to enhance your meal.
Casamento’s
From a restaurant that was able to refurbish a historic building while retaining its classic charm, to a restaurant that appears preserved in time; Casamento’s was originally opened in 1919 and has since become a neighborhood icon, known for their oysters and seafood loafs. It also maintains a vintage ambiance with an appearance and character that seems pulled out of the 1950’s with an old-school ring-cash register and other retro décor. The staff at Casamento’s don their 1950’s Americana diner gear while providing terrific service. Casamento’s has among the best char-grilled oysters I've had in the city. Located within a few blocks of the Chloe, along Magazine Street, this is a great restaurant to try out if you're in the mood for some seafood. Magazine Street itself is a great reason to visit these New Orleans neighborhoods as it offers several miles of restaurants, local stores, and boutique shops which visitors can easily spend the day exploring.
Nirvana
Beyond the Cajun and creole food that New Orleans is known for, there are so many international flavors to try within the Uptown and Garden District neighborhoods. The first such restaurant I’ll feature here is the Indian cuisine of Nirvana located a few buildings away from Casamento’s. As with the previous two restaurants, Nirvana puts a lot of effort into creating a terrific ambiance for its patrons through their décor. The restaurant is filled with velvet plush seating and walls filled with decorative woods, tapestries, and Indian art. The effort Nirvana puts forth to try to translate its visitors to India really shows through and is matched by great service as well. Trying out yet another neighborhood restaurant that's a short walk from our house. On my first visit to Nirvana, I wanted to try a variety of their menu so wound up trying some chicken pakora, seekh kebab, Bombay wings, butter chicken, malai kebab, and saag paneer. Every item that was brought out was exquisite with the perfect combination of flavor and spice.
Mister Mao
A few blocks towards the river from Nirvana, you can find a hidden local gem known as Mister Mao. This restaurant features a fusion menu that combines varieties of flavors from across the Asia. During our first visit to this restaurant, we tried some ginger noodles, oyster mushrooms, and lechon kawai. Their menu is constantly changing and evolving as the restaurant proprietors are not afraid to experiment with different flavor combinations and happily change their offers to keep the dining experience their fresh. Located along Tchoupitoulas Street, right across from a large grocery store; this is an easy restaurant to pass by without realizing it is there. This laid-back ambiance and unique culinary options, make Mister Mao a great place for a relaxing lunch or dinner for anyone that wants to try something new during their adventures in New Orleans.
La Boulangerie
Our final restaurant is located back on Magazine Street and features a European inspired café-bakery. During my travels through Europe, one of my favorite things about it was the café culture of many cities. I could wander around the streets in the morning and see endless cafes which fresh baked breads, display cases filled with stacks of European breakfast sandwiches, and an incredible variety of pastry options. La Boulangerie really reminded me of these experiences I had in Europe. Out of all the restaurants showcased in this article, this is the newest of them having only opened a few years ago. In that time, this café has garnered a tremendous reputation around the neighborhood which leads to lines being found throughout the day and lines out the door not being unusual. When we first visited La Boulangerie, we tried out their salmon bagel, quiche, and Danish and were not disappointed by a single item. In addition to the tremendous food, the coffee served here was also very high quality. Between the European breakfast sandwiches and French style pastries; this place has managed to carve out a little piece of Europe for the city New Orleans. Since that first trip, I have visited this café several more times as it had become among my favorite neighborhood options for breakfast or brunch, and I have no doubts I will be dining there many more times in the future.
While the French Quarter of New Orleans will always be known as the central location that attracts visitors to the city, New Orleans has much more to offer travelers beyond the French Quarter. Neighborhoods such as the Garden District and Uptown have a great deal of history on their own and can show case a completely different side of the city to those that visit it in addition to providing countless culinary treats. There are many more restaurants that are worth a visit in this and other New Orleans neighborhoods as well. But that is a story for another day…
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