Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in New Orleans / Louisiana

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

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

Bon Sake Sushi & Bar

4.9

4.9 (117)

$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

Lindy

Dined on Apr 4, 2025

Server Cody was outstanding. He knows the menu thoroughly and was very attentive. Place gets busy from 6:30 to 7:30. Tuna Nigiri was our favorite

Foundation Room House of Blues New Orleans

4.7

4.7 (279)

$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

Teresa

Dined 5 days ago

The atmosphere and restaurant decor is out of this world. So much fun. Live music was amazing. Food was amazing. Great service and very knowledgeable.

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Experience

Live music in the Lounge at Foundation Room

The Red Maple Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (52)

$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

DorianVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Enjoyable experience as usual. Will always recommend to friends and family.(My wife and I also had our wedding reception here back in 2020)

Habanero's - Metarie

4.6

4.6 (30)

$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

Traion

Dined 5 days ago

The food and service was amazing. Our waiter was very polite, pleasant and professional.

Los Jefes Grill

4.4

4.4 (16)

$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

Reginald

Dined on Feb 14, 2025

Waitress was great. All the staff and managers were great!

Alma Cafe - Mid City

4.4

4.4 (17)

$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

Rebecca

Dined on Apr 9, 2025

We love Alma in Bywater and were thrilled that one opened up closer to us. We have been there twice, and both times, the food, drinks, and service were outstanding. We need to spread the word. Both times, it was not packed, and it should have been. This is an excellent spot in Mid City that folks should love and support!!!

Brewery Saint X

4.2

4.2 (76)

$30 and under

Brewery

Central Business District

About the restaurant

We are open for lunch, offering full bar and Devil Moon’s menu! Walk-ins only for lunch service.

For parties over 8 please call for reservations.

Brewery Saint X, located at the corner of Girod and Loyola on the ground floor of The Odeon at South Market, will feature a full array of craft beer styles, focusing especially on classic German and British offerings, with a nod toward traditional lager brewing and cask ale production along with hop-forward ales and experimental sours.

Our brewery will pour no fewer than 12 drafts and 2 casks for on-site enjoyment, along with a selection of freshly canned beer available to-go. The state-of-the-art draft and cask system will ensure that all beers are served at the proper temperature and with proper texture; in addition to the traditional hand-pump cask system for dispensing real ale, Czech-style side-pull faucets will be utilized to best express the creamy softness of great lager beer.

Top review

James

Dined on Mar 10, 2025

I had never been to this brewery and I wasn’t disappointed. Friendly staff, good food and excellent beers. I tried three different beers, as did my friend, and each one was excellent. The food was very good, especially the pulled pork. The only slight disappointment were the sides that were a little bland. We stayed past closing and the staff was very accommodating about letting us finish our beers without rushing us out. The noise level was a little high but not where it had a negative effect.

Fountain Lounge

4.1

4.1 (582)

$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

JosephVIP

Dined on Apr 4, 2025

For quick bite very good , service is great and food comes out quick

Public Service

3.7

3.7 (536)

$30 and under

American

French Quarter

About the restaurant

A dynamic community gathering place, Public Service is a casual-yet-sophisticated restaurant with a menu honoring the Gulf Coast’s hard-working fishermen and farmers. Our chefs prepare contemporary cuisine in an open-display kitchen highlighted by an open-flame rotisserie.

Join us for a relaxing meal with family or friends, a quick bite in our bar or pull up a stool at the open kitchen to experience a meal guided by our chefs. At Public Service, the recipe is simple: combine confident Southern hospitality with a menu that allows the ingredients to speak for themselves.

Click on our virtual tour to step inside Public Service! https://visitingmedia.com/tt8/?ttid=nopsi-hotel-icms#/3d-model/0/1?b11t0=1&a10ph=1&i2d0a=1&j2ck2=1

Top review

Matt

Dined on Mar 6, 2025

Service, food, and drinks were all so great! Also they had a live band that was incredible. Great place!

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Experience

Jazz Brunch at Public Service Restaurant

Experience

Wine Down Wednesdays at Public Service

House of Blues Restaurant & Bar - New Orleans

3.6

3.6 (1261)

$30 and under

American

French Quarter

About the restaurant

The restaurant at House of Blues New Orleans is open Thursdays - Sundays from 4 PM - 10 PM. Rock- & blues-themed chain with Southern dishes such as po' boys & jambalaya, plus live music. 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. Additionally, House of Blues New Orleans has partnered with ParkWhiz to offer other easy & reliable parking options. Reserve parking here - https://www.parkwhiz.com/house-of-blues-new-orleans-parking-1?pwa=pa-1269&utm_medium=LiveNation&utm_source=1269&utm_campaign=Web_LN_ParkingPage_VenueLink

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 21, 2025

Hannah our server was so sweet! The chicken sandwich was tasty. The jambalaya is spicy but tasty. It was spicy though! Just saying.

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