Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in New Orleans / Louisiana

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in New Orleans / Louisiana? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bon Sake Sushi & Bar

4.9

4.9 (121)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Covington

About the restaurant

BON SAKE sushi & bar
Sushi Restaurant
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:00am-9:00pm • Fri & Sat 11:00am-10:30pm

We look forward to serving you.

Top review

AlanVIP

Dined on 10 May 2025

Great hidden spot. Moved here two years ago and have been missing out.

Foundation Room House of Blues New Orleans

4.7

4.7 (282)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

French Quarter

About the restaurant

Foundation Room is now open with an incredible redesign and ambiance. We look forward to welcoming you back to the finest in food and craft cocktails! PARK at Premium Parking location #145 on 716 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 for $15 for up to 8 hours of parking. Use promo "HOBNOLA24" at checkout: https://www.premiumparking.com/P145.

Top review

bubbaVIP

Dined on 25 Apr 2025

Service great Food surprisingly good Atmosphere great Good menu

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Experience

Live music in the Lounge at Foundation Room

Pat's Rest Awhile

4.6

4.6 (714)

$30 and under

Seafood

Mandeville

About the restaurant

Casual, water front seafood restaurant and bar helmed by renowned chef Pat Gallagher. Enjoy local favorites such as Gulf Fish Almondine, Oysters Rockefeller and Gumbo alongside classics such as Grilled Steaks and burgers. Other seafood selections include Redfish, Tuna and Swordfish.
Outside dessert $3/person.

Top review

Janet

Dined 2 days ago

The meal was wonderful, and our server Cody was gracious and most efficient. We really enjoyed our celebration. The crabmeat and asparagus soup had too much pepper for my taste, but the rest of the meal was delicious!

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Popular dish

Classic Gulf Fish Almondine

The Red Maple Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (55)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Gretna

About the restaurant

The Red Maple was originally owned and operated by the Trauth Family, a German-American family of restaurateurs spanning 100 years in Gretna. And what began in 1963 continues to this day, holding to its German roots through its rustic Alpine lodge decor, extensive beer selection and annual Oktoberfest celebration. In fact, it was a red maple tree in the side yard that inspired the name of the bar – The Red Maple – with the restaurant being added in 1965.

Now for over 50 years, The Red Maple has been the rendezvous spot for West Bank movers and shakers known for its Prime cut steaks, New Orleans favorites and fresh Louisiana seafood.

Today, under the passionate guidance of Proprietor Brent Trauth and his sister, Carroll Gales, The Red Maple continues to deliver on its reputation for delicious food, exceptional service and rich Louisiana history. A rich and storied past that is only upstaged by the dining experience itself.

Top review

kennyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

It’s my go to steakhouse on the West Bank. The owner is there, the service is friendly and the steak is juicy.

Habanero's - Metarie

4.6

4.6 (33)

$30 and under

Mexican

Metairie

About the restaurant

Habaneros brings the distinctive flavors of Mexico's urban eateries to your table, drawing inspiration from the street foods and laid-back dining experiences found in the vibrant cities of Mexico. Our well-traveled menu showcases the diversity of Mexican ingredients, elevating classic dishes with a contemporary twist while staying true to their authentic flavors. At the heart of our menu is a dedication to serving fresh, made-from-scratch creations. From our salsas and sauces to our marinades, spices, and rubs, everything is handcrafted with care. Our cocktails are no exception, with each one expertly mixed to perfectly complement your meal.

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined on 5 May 2025

Thank you so much for holding our early dining reservation on Cinco de Mayo! The food and drink here are fresh and delicious. One of our 3 had a longer wait for the entree; not sure what happened. The sopapilla dessert is a favorite. The margaritas are varied and flavorful. Servers should check in a bit more often. Yes it was CDM but we were early and the server was not too busy yet to provide regular attention for drink refills etc. I have dined here often and will return.

Fountain Lounge

4.5

4.5 (585)

$30 and under

Bistro

Central Business District

About the restaurant

The Fountain Lounge a New Orleans Bistro at The Roosevelt Hotel, a beloved restaurant since 1938, offers a modern take on traditional Southern cuisine. Using fresh South Louisiana ingredients with creative flair, it blends timeless New Orleans flavors with innovative twists. From classic Fried Chicken Mondays, featuring a four-generation recipe, to our inspired approach to creole cuisine, our bistro menu provides a warm yet surprising welcome to both travelers and locals.
Enjoy live entertainment Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 6:00PM to 10:00PM

Top review

Kim

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely waitress! She was friendly and went out of her way to make our graduate feel special! Thank you!

Saltgrass Steak House - Metairie

4.5

4.5 (340)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Metairie

About the restaurant

Saltgrass Steak House is an award-winning steakhouse in Metairie, LA famous for serving Angus Beef steaks. Each steak is cooked to perfection with Saltgrass-7 Steak Spice, and topped with garlic butter. All breads, dressings, soups and desserts are made from scratch daily. Great food and legendary hospitality make Saltgrass an enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Top review

MartinVIP

Dined on 9 May 2025

Excellent, attentive service and great tasting food.

Bayou Bar

4.3

4.3 (15)

$30 and under

American

Uptown

About the restaurant

Bayou Bar is now offering the added amenity to reserve a table in advance for Jazz Shows Tuesday-Thursday.

Reservations are NOT required. All shows are open to the public with no cover charge. Should you want to take advantage of the added option to reserve your table in advance, you can do so via OpenTable for shows Tuesday-Thursday.

If you do not see availability, that does not mean a show is sold-out. It only means the specific number of tables available for reservations have already been reserved. Please do join us anyway!

The cost is $25 per seat at the table you reserve.
Please note that the $25 per seat is only to have the table held for you. It is not a cover charge, nor is it a deposit.

Top review

VickiVIP

Dined on 8 May 2025

The music is why I come here and it's always fabulous!

Alma Cafe - Mid City

4.3

4.3 (22)

$31 to $50

Latin / Spanish

Mid-City / City Park

About the restaurant

Alma Mid-City is a Honduran restaurant located on Carrollton Avenue. Alma has its roots deeply entrenched into Honduran tradition and celebrates Honduran culture, food, and music as experienced by Executive Chef Melissa Araujo. Melissa is a two time nominee for the James Beard Award Best Chef -South award.

From Pollo Chuco, to Bloody Mary's and avocado toast, Alma offers an extensive array of dishes focusing on Honduran Food. Alma pay’s tribute to Chef Araujo’s grandmother and her cooking with hearty dishes like the Alma Breakfast, Baleadas and Pollo Chuco. This New Orleans cafe also serves delicious dishes like Carne Asada, Platano Maduro, Pupusas, and Marmahon

Alma means soul in Spanish. Created to showcase Chef Melissa Araujo's Honduran heritage and take each guest on a journey through food and culture. The Soul has many stories to tell; Alma tells shares them through it's dining experience.

Top review

chuckVIP

Dined on 29 Apr 2025

Very Authentic. Reminded me of my time spent in Honduras.

Los Jefes Grill

4.2

4.2 (19)

$30 and under

Mexican

Metairie

About the restaurant

We’re in the heart of Fat City in Metairie on the corner of 18th Street and Edenborn Ave, near Lakeside Shopping Center, close to the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, also about 10 mins from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Whether a local, or a visitor traveling to Louisiana, our cuisine is a great treat! As has been noted by many, Los Jefes Grill in Metairie has been chosen as their favorite Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Metairie, New Orleans and surrounding areas for takeout, delivery, dine-in and catering.

Top review

santiago

Dined 5 days ago

Gabriel was outstanding in handling the large party we had. Any issues that arose were addressed immediately, which contributed to a memorable experience for all. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her BDAY and it was many of our first time @ Los Jefes. It will not be our last...

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