These are tricky economic times for many people, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying the uniquely New Orleans food experience only available right here in and around the city. NOLA.com food writer Ian McNulty has a new list out of uniquely New Orleans restaurants divided by price point that could be a handy tool for diners both local and visiting the Crescent City. McNulty includes in his listing several local spots where you can leave for around $30 per person (including drinks and gratuity). With plenty of people struggling to make ends meet, McNulty says he felt the need to create a category of restaurants that fall within that price range, as it’s the most relatable to many.
McNulty took issue with many guides to visiting New Orleans using the price of an entrée as the criteria in their price listings. “People don’t really eat like that,” McNulty pointed out. “You’re having a drink, you’re having an appetizer, you’re having a dessert. Suddenly that’s how you’ve spent $100 or more per person. That’s very typical now for fine dining,” he noted.
McNulty wanted his list to be more reflective of how real people eat when they’re trying to experience a restaurant, particularly for the first time.
Liuzza’s and Lil Dizzy’s were notable inclusions on McNulty’s list for being stable, long-time staples serving New Orleans classics in their own unique ways. “I send people to Lil Dizzy’s all the time. It’s in the Treme, it’s from the Baquet family, and it’s been there for a long time,” the food connoisseur emphasized. “I love it because all walks of life come through there. From NOPD brass to tourists who have only heard of the Treme. They have all the classics like gumbo, fried chicken, hot sausage poboys … it’s that kind of everyday New Orleans place,” McNulty added.
“Across town, Liuzza’s by the track has a similar thing (to Lil Dizzy’s), but with their own expression of it. They have gumbo and poboys, but it’s their own personality and their own expression of it,” the NOLA.com food writer points out. “The reason I love Liuzza’s is because all of the staple dishes are their own signature versions. They serve their roast beef poboy on garlic bread. It’s not just gumbo, it’s gumbo where they actually add the seafood at the very last moment so it pops. It’s not blended into the roux,” McNulty went on to detail.
While McNulty notes that these local spots are not necessarily inexpensive, they are dependable spots that rise above the normal dining experience. “You can dine really well without dropping $100-$200 per head,” he pointed out. Ultimately, he says New Orleans classics should be able to be experienced by everyone regardless of their financial status.