New Orleans is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, and for good reason. There is nothing that epitomizes a mixture of Cajun history with the southern hospitality that comes with being in the south. The city has been through so much in the past 11 years, but that doesn’t mean it’s not been rebuilt and redone and made even more amazing. When we think of N’awlins, we think of Saints football and Drew Brees. We think of the French Quarter. We think of Mardi Gras. We think of Café du Monde and the most amazing beignets in the world. We also think of beads and inappropriate shenanigans, and that’s what makes the city so much fun. What we don’t always think of is the romance and the high-end accessibility that the city has to offer. We’re there for fun and a little bit of craziness, but we do have to admit that some of the most expensive restaurants in New Orleans are just as good – if not better – than some of the downhome cooking we all know is really the best.
Antoine’s – $150 per person
This American restaurant serves classic dishes that make your mouth water every single time. From your favorite seafood to your favorite comfort food, you will find it all here. To dine here, you can expect amazing food, the suggestion that you don a jacket (without one you can eat at the Hermes Bar and order off the Antoine’s menu but you cannot come into the restaurant) and service that leaves a lot to be desired. You will need a reservation to dine here.
Brennans – $100 per person
Known as Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, this place is a classic. What you get is some of the best cuts of meat in the world, each cooked with what the restaurant refers to as their “New Orleans” flair. You’re going to feel almost as if you are in the Waldorf Astoria’s steakhouse in New York City with the wood paneled walls and the dark ambiance. It’s old-school in here, but it’s worth the price and the time spent sipping old-fashioned cocktails.
Broussard’s – $100 per person
The food is good, yes; but it is the courtyard here that will make you want to come back time and time again. The dishes here are southern and they are exceptional, but the view is one you will not likely forget in this lifetime. Of course, our favorite is the Sunday brunch complete with exceptional mimosas, spicy bloody Mary’s and the live Jazz. This is the place to go for a true New Orleans feel, and that’s what makes it our favorite.
Restaurant August – $100 per person
This is the place that will take you back into some sort of old French country. It’s dark. It’s decorated with chandeliers. It’s heavy on the brocade, and it feels a lot more like your grandmother’s formal dining room than anything else, but the food is extraordinary. The menu changes seasonally since the head chef prefers that everything is fresh and perfect, and the service is some of the best in the city.
The Grill Room – $100 per person
If you love class, you will love this place. If you love celebrities, expect to see them here if they are in town. This is the restaurant in New Orleans that is the most upscale, the most elegant and the classiest of all of them. The food is good, too. Chef Daniel Causgrove was trained at Le Cirque – one of the most amazing restaurants in the world. It’s a traditionally creole-inspired menu, but the food is worth trying every bite of.
