New on Resy: Compère Lapin, Luvi, Galatoire’s, and More

Honestly, because no list of must-dine places in the Crescent City is complete without a stop here. Nina Compton’s cooking is electrifying — with its blend of influences, from Saint Lucia and France to New Orleans and Italy. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on the pasta.

Compton’s follow-up to her award-winning Compère Lapin aims to be your favorite neighborhood restaurant — but it’s arguably much more, a proper dining destination of its own, wherever you are. Bywater excels at distilling Sicilian, Creole, Caribbean and Cajun flavors that sing in every dish.

What can we say? Galatoire’s is one of New Orleans’ quintessential dining experiences. Indeed, lunch in its dining room, even in these table-spaced, socially distanced times, remains a must-do. You start with a Sazerac, of course, and then move into crab Yvonne or shrimp etouffée — a benchmark for that dish — or the current selection of fish with a meunière sauce. You match it up with a white Burgundy. Pro tip: Check the deep list of Bourgogne Blanc, and get the perfect reminder why dining in this city is an essential pleasure.

Named for executive chef Hao Gong’s two daughters, Lulu and Violet, Luvi is a love letter to his family and the many places he’s called home, from Shanghai to California to New Orleans. Tuck into the Shanghainese lion’s head meatball made with crab and pork, or succulent Mama’s dumplings, or try some of the inventive takes on sashimi or ceviche. Whatever you order, you can’t go wrong.

Because locals know this is where to dine and drink in the French Quarter. The drinks, riffs on classics like the Sazerac and Old Fashioned, are strong. The menu is comfort food, perfected. Think pimento cheese plates, cast-iron cornbread, sweet potato gnocchi, and, last but not least, that Sylvain chicken sandwich.

An updated Uptown/Garden District mansion from the 19th century sets the perfect stage for the beautifully executed and comforting coastal fare that emerges from the kitchen: catfish court-bouillon, yakamein, squid-ink gnocchi, and a stirring list of classic cocktails, too.

Garden District charm goes a long way at this 14-room boutique hotel. Todd Pulsinelli’s cooking is best described as contemporary and classic, not without its surprising twists, like a black garlic ice cream accompanying beef tartare, or shrimp étouffée that arrives in dumpling form. 

Locals love flocking to this Garden District stunner where you’re guaranteed to feast on some of the city’s most creative Southern cooking. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on chef Michael Stoltzfus’ housemade charcuterie, or his gulf-seafood stew infused with saffron. There’s a reason he’s been a James Beard award finalist multiple times.

Dining in Bacchanal’s garden, listening to live jazz, is something no one should miss. Old World (and Old World-inspired) wines are free flowing, and the food is always fortifying. It’s one of the best spots in the Bywater to spend an evening.

This beloved neighborhood spot merges the flavors of Southeast Asian bar food with Gulf Coast fare: Think chilli butter gulf shrimp, Thai-style crab and persimmon salad, and crispy pig knuckles. Whatever you do, don’t leave without ordering yourself a slice of Hank’s cornbread, topped with butter and Poirer’s cane syrup.

The best local restaurants are those that give you a neverending list of reasons to go back, and Thalia is just that kind of place — with its comforting, inventive fare from chefs and co-owners Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus. Weekly specials, like schnitzel Tuesdays and vegetarian food on Wednesdays, provide a familiar rhythm for regulars. And in 2019, sous chef Ana Castro was named a James Beard finalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

Chefs Blake Aguillard and William “Trey” Smith, along with co-owner Drew Delaughter, used the wine bars and neobistros of France to create a neighborhood spot that highlights a wine-friendly experience. The dining room serves an ever-evolving, five-course tasting menu, while the walk-in bar is more freeform.

Not your average hotel bar, nor your average hotel. The Elysian Bar is housed within a 150-year-old rectory, and the entire Peter & Paul hotel itself is housed within a lovingly restored church, school, and convent that will leave your jaw dropping. This dreamy setting is perfect for the bar’s cocktail list of classics, and for its all-day fare, brought to you by the same team behind Bacchanal.