LA · Fancy
The 10 best fancy restaurants in New Orleans.
The birthday restaurant is the one people cite for years. That is the bar. Not the balloon. Not the complimentary dessert. The meal. Harry's list is ranked by Harry Score, and when you're paying for the scene, the card says so.
New Orleans has two kinds of fancy: the old-line Creole institutions (Commander's Palace, Dooky Chase) and the newer room doing serious contemporary cooking. Both are worth your time; they are completely different experiences. The old institutions are about ceremony as much as food. The new ones are about the food.
What earns the price
Expensive ≠ good. Harry has opinions.| Top two price tiers | Only restaurants priced in the top two tiers. The price tier Harry falls back to when a source says nothing is the second-lowest, so every place here is priced high by a real source. |
|---|---|
| Harry Score 75+ | A higher floor than Harry's other lists: at these prices the room has to be clearly better than fine. Critic coverage feeds the score, so a Michelin or broadsheet trail counts. |
| No warnings | Anything Harry rates a tourist tax or a false economy is out. A room that's mostly paying for the scene can stay if the food scores, and its card carries that verdict. |
Harry's ten — New Orleans
Ranked by Harry Score.- 01GW Fins
seafood — 808 Bienville St, New Orleans
4.8 across 5.5k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Eater 38 and James Beard Foundation.
Occasion WorthyHarry
89
Worth It
78
- 02Atchafalaya Restaurant
brunch · seafood — 901 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans
4.7 across 3.3k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and Eater 38.
Occasion WorthyHarry
87
Worth It
77
- 03Brigtsen's Restaurant
american — 723 Dante St, New Orleans
4.8 across 868 Google reviews, and Tripadvisor lands in the same place; praised by Eater 38 (Eater 38 — New Orleans (2026)).
Occasion WorthyHarry
87
Worth It
77
- 04Commander's Palace
american — 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans
4.5 across 10k Tripadvisor reviews, and Google lands in the same place; named by World's 50 Best and Eater 38.
Occasion WorthyHarry
87
Worth It
76
- 05Irene's
italian — 529 Bienville St, New Orleans
4.5 across 2.5k Tripadvisor reviews, and Google lands in the same place; praised by Travelers Choice (Tripadvisor Travelers Choice 2025).
Occasion WorthyHarry
86
Worth It
76
- 06Paladar
italian — 511 Marigny St, New Orleans
4.7 across 1.6k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; local & imported talent helm the kitchen at this sleek spot serving pizzas, pastas &….
Occasion WorthyHarry
86
Worth It
76
- 07Emeril's
american — 800 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans
4.4 across 2.9k Tripadvisor reviews, and Google lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and World's 50 Best.
Caveat: You're getting an experience. Whether you needed it is up to you.
Paying for the SceneHarry
86
Worth It
74
- 08Clancy's Restaurant
american — 6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans
4.7 across 795 Google reviews, and Tripadvisor lands in the same place; listed in the Michelin Guide.
Occasion WorthyHarry
85
Worth It
76
- 09Pêche Seafood Grill
seafood — 800 Magazine St, New Orleans
4.6 across 5.7k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; praised by James Beard Foundation.
Occasion WorthyHarry
85
Worth It
76
- 10August
french — 301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans
4.6 across 2.3k Tripadvisor reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; listed in the Michelin Guide.
Caveat: You're getting an experience. Whether you needed it is up to you.
Paying for the SceneHarry
85
Worth It
74
How this list is built Restaurants across New Orleans in the top two price tiers with a Harry Score of 75 or more. Nothing Harry rates a tourist tax or a false economy. Chains with several branches get one entry. Ranked by Harry Score. No restaurant pays to appear. Scores last recomputed .