Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in New Orleans / Louisiana

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

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!

Cristiano Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (673)

$31 to $50

Italian

Houma

About the restaurant

We allow online reservations only for parties up to 4 people. If you have a party of 5 or more, please call the restaurant to make your reservation, otherwise we may not be able to seat your party. We are allowing 2 hours dining time per table, so we cannot hold tables for parties that are late. There will be a 15 minute grace period allowed and then the table will be released. Please keep in mind that lounge and patio seating is also by reservation only.

Top review

Gary

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent food service and ambiance. Great experience

Bon Sake Sushi & Bar

4.9

4.9 (77)

$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

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Absolutely AMAZING!!! The food is so delicious and the people that work here are so outgoing and very nice!!

Peacock Room at The Hotel Fontenot

4.8

4.8 (769)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Warehouse District

About the restaurant

Effortlessly blending the eccentric personality of New Orleans’ bar culture with the old-world charm and sophistication of a classic social club, Peacock Room delivers a bright and vibrant feel during the day and a sexy, moody atmosphere come sundown, perfect for an afternoon aperitif, social dinner or an end-of-evening nightcap. The bar is stocked with everything from the classics to hard-to-find spirits, with an impressive collection of rum and madeira and an emphasis on drinks that are light and floral. The sipping is complemented by an elevated selection of small plates from Chef Samuel Peery that feature refined shareable interpretations of regional and international classics.

Top review

Juan Cristian

Dined 1 day ago

I was pleased with the overall experience on christmas night.

Discover more

Marcello's - Covington

4.8

4.8 (240)

$30 and under

Italian

Covington

About the restaurant

Please call for reservations. Due to Covid - 19 restrictions online reservation will be suspended until further notice. 985-400-5668
Our hours of operation will be:
Sunday & Monday - closed
Tuesday - Thursday - 4 pm - 9 pm
Friday - 11 am - 9 pm
Saturday - 4 pm - 9 pm
Happy Hour - Tuesday - Friday 4 pm - 6 pm
1/2 price appetizers
1/2 price glasses of wine and specialty cocktails

Top review

gwen

Dined 6 days ago

It was a holiday so extra noise was expected but one large table was very noisy. Management addressed the situation and was very concerned about our dining experience. We really appreciated their acknowledgment of the situation. We will definitely return as the service and food were excellent.

Discover more

Superior Grill - New Orleans

4.7

4.7 (727)

$30 and under

Mexican

Uptown

About the restaurant

Add some real spice to your life! Superior Grill has been rated consistently as one of Louisiana’s best Mexican restaurants since 1983 when our first establishment opened in Shreveport. Our New Orleans location opened in 1997 and has become a landmark in fine quality foods with a festive Mexican atmosphere. Superior’s authentic Tex-Mex food is made from scratch every day with only the freshest ingredients. Our tortillas are hand-rolled with care all day long. For added flavor, all of our meats are cooked over a mesquite grill. We are proud of what we make and how we prepare it. Superior Grill is “the place to be” for happy hour, birthdays, office parties, and large groups. In addition to our festive indoor dining room, we offer a memorable outdoor dining experience on our landscaped patio featuring beautiful flowers and one of the best views of St. Charles Avenue. Superior Grill New Orleans is one of four locations including Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Birmingham.

Top review

Jane

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

Wide variety of consistently good Mexican dishes. Guacamole & margaritas especially delicious. Always a reliable spot for family gatherings.

BABs

4.7

4.7 (787)

$30 and under

Bistro

Bywater

About the restaurant

To us, BABs is a place for friends, or those who will soon be. BABs is a casual energetic place with yummy food, authentic hospitality, great libations and friendly faces.

We cook ingredient driven food where inspiration comes from our personal experiences or one of the many cultures represented in our area, past and present. Our cooking is inspired by small local farms, using ingredients that are seasonal and raised or caught with care.

New Orleans is our home. It’s a place with an amazing sense of community where we’ve created meaningful relationships, and met extraordinary people along the way. We’re excited to continue feeding visitors and the people like us, who call it home.

-Nina Compton, Larry Miller, and the BABs Team

Top review

Joby

Dined 5 days ago

As usual, absolutely amazing. From the time of walking in to leaving. A definite must.

SukhoThai - Uptown

4.6

4.6 (286)

$30 and under

Thai

Uptown

About the restaurant

SukhoThai, serving our "Classical Thai Cuisine" in New Orleans since 2003, is the only restaurant in Louisiana awarded a Thai Select Premium certification by the Royal Thai Government for quality Thai cuisine, superior service and beautiful interior design. We are well known for our excellent seafood dishes, wok-fired stir-fries, traditional curries and noodles, and our extensive vegan menu. We don't hold back when it comes to spices - we are serious about Thai chilies! But we always customize the spice level to your liking.

We look forward to seeing you!

Top review

Jacqueline

Dined 6 days ago

Good food and excellent service and nice ambiance.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - New Orleans, LA | Central Business District

4.6

4.6 (614)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Warehouse District

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

EdwardVIP

Dined 1 day ago

1st time there, server PT was excellent in walking us through the offerings. Food was great and service was quick but not rushed.

Saltgrass Steak House - Metairie

4.5

4.5 (309)

$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

Tara

Dined 1 day ago

Very good as always everyone enjoyed their meal and ambience

Discover more

Popular dish

Pat's Ribeye

JusTini's

4.5

4.5 (90)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Bywater

About the restaurant

Located in the Historic Bywater Neighborhood, this restaurant is the perfect ambience for a romantic date, night out with friends or a business lunch meeting.

Top review

Tamika

Dined 5 days ago

Everything was wonderful. The food, staff, and atmosphere 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Explore Diners' Choice best of New Orleans / Louisiana

Explore more Diners' Choice lists