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12 stellar special-occasion restaurants in New Orleans

A photo of Red logo
by Beth D'Addono
Updated December 18, 2023

New Orleanians mark time by food seasons, not calendar flips. The hottest months belong to frozen daiquiris and technicolor snoballs. Spring brings families and friends together over spicy spreads of boiled crawfish. Carnival season is all about sweet and savory king cakes. In other words, in a city that puts food at the center of its life—and not just the center of the table—eating and drinking is always a special occasion.

When it comes to celebrating a birthday, graduation, or just feeling alive in the Big Easy, the stage is set with buckets of seafood, cocktails in James Beard Award-winning bars, and grand dining rooms that have hosted generations of milestone events.

Read on for a guide to the 12 best restaurants to book across New Orleans to get the party started.

A photo of Arnaud's restaurant
4.7
4.7 (7420)
$50 and over
Creole
French Quarter
About the restaurant

With gracious attitudes and pitch-perfect timing, the staff at Arnaud’s is as happy about your special occasion as you are. Celebrate with tasty Creole plates and an effervescent French 75 cocktail. Not to mention an exquisite view: Arnaud’s beveled glass windows overlook charming Rue Bienville. Add a swinging jazz brunch on weekends, and toasting an occasion at this French Quarter classic is a no-brainer. In addition to the main restaurant, there’s a more relaxed sibling spot, Arnaud’s Jazz Bistro (set next to Arnaud’s main dining room) and a smaller annex called the French 75 bar for drinks.


Top review
Lisa
Dined 1 day ago
This is the best food we’ve had in NOLA, in the warmest, most elegant and most welcoming setting! Janine, Davi and Justin were excellent guides to the historic traditional menu. The smoked pompano with capers, sliced so thinly and smoked in-house, was a beautiful starter. My husband had the quail and seafood boudin, crunchy outside and tender within; and I loved the speckled trout meunière with perfect haricots verts and. Crabmeat; and those soufflé potatoes—oh my! Also loved the Mille-feuille for dessert…light as a feather!
A photo of Brennan's restaurant
4.8
4.8 (11908)
$31 to $50
Creole
French Quarter
About the restaurant

This storied restaurant has anchored Creole dining on Royal Street since 1946 and is a go-to for birthdays or anniversaries. No festive meal here is complete without the bananas Foster, a flaming bowl of bananas, butter, and rum invented by founder Owen Brennan in the early 1950s. The cinnamon-scented show is the perfect ending to breakfast at Brennan’s, where the highlights are Creole-accented egg dishes. Stop by the courtyard every Friday at 5 pm sharp, when the staff sabers a bottle of Champagne (call ahead to make sure the courtyard is not reserved for a private event).


Top review
DanielaVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Amazing Food. The steak was delicious. You have to try the world famous banana frosted. Recommend %100
A photo of Yo Nashi restaurant
4.8
4.8 (467)
$50 and over
Japanese
Central Business District
About the restaurant

Yo Nashi isn’t just omakase in New Orleans—it’s New Orleans omakase. Which means that Japanese techniques and styles collide with in-season New Orleans ingredients for an occasion-worthy eight- to 10-course omakase dinner. The menu changes regularly, but past dishes have included caviar and cream with sake gelée and bluefin tuna tartare with black garlic vinaigrette and mango. The omakase concept is relatively new for New Orleans diners, making Yo Nashi a unique celebration spot to book.


Top review
Jon
Dined on Jan 14, 2025
Always an exceptional dinner. Omakase is the way to go.
A photo of Antoine's restaurant
4.6
4.6 (11373)
$31 to $50
Creole
French Quarter
About the restaurant

Antoine’s has managed to survive and thrive since 1860. The storied restaurant has outlived the Great Depression, two World Wars, Prohibition, and a pandemic. Through it all, a celebration at Antoine’s mattered. The kitchen cranks out some of the city’s most famous dishes, such as oysters Rockefeller and eggs Sardou. While dinner is a given here, there’s also a special jazz brunch. The grand restaurant can seat over 700 people at one time in several rooms that one could get lost in. During Prohibition, a door in the ladies’ room led to a secret chamber where a coffee cup full of booze was the reward. Finding the way back—well, that was another story.


Top review
craig
Dined 1 day ago
We visited from Florida for a second time to celebrate a milestone birthday 8 years to the day on the 20th of January. We were greeted with excitement and smiles from the wonderful staff. The dining room was warm and cozy given New Orleans was expecting unprecedented temperatures and snow! The staff were professional and friendly even though the Parrish was preparing for their family’s safety and own well being with upcoming major road closings they truly went out of their way to celebrate with me and my husband! We were given complimentary champagne. My last experience, I ordered Cherries Jubilee and was given a table side show beyond my expectations. This time I gleefully inquired about it again as it was not on the menu. The Maitre’D assured me he would do whatever he could to make my day special and he did not disappoint! He put a show and even poured the fire on the tablecloth in front of me! The dessert was amazing and will bring me back! The food, ambiance and overall service was outstanding and I will certainly return in another 8 years to this wonderful establishment! Hopefully it will not be in the middle of a snowstorm again!
A photo of Shaya restaurant
4.9
4.9 (5097)
$31 to $50
Israeli
Uptown
About the restaurant

Sleek, monochromatic Shaya was made for big nights out. Step into the uptown blue-tiled space, where the smell of wood smoke offers a preview of what’s to come. Pillows of pita bread, slow-cooked lamb, spiced hanger steak, and gulf shrimp kebabs are baked to perfection in a wood-burning oven. The menu draws from Tel Aviv’s ultra-original food scene, a blend of culinary influences from North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Greece. With all that going for it, it’s no surprise the celebration-worthy spot earned a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2016.


Top review
Brooke-Lynn
Dined 1 day ago
Great food per usual a little pricey but still great
A photo of Lola's restaurant
4.2
4.2 (752)
$30 and under
Spanish
Mid-City / City Park
About the restaurant

This intimate neighborhood Spanish tapas restaurant on Esplanade Avenue might just be the perfect date night or anniversary spot. The dining room is full of two-tops big enough to hold a large pan of paella to share, but small enough to have a quiet conversation. The menu’s greatest hits include tender strips of grilled calamari, garlicky mushrooms, and fideuas (an angel hair pasta-based paella). Save room for housemade almond nougat ice cream; it comes in a large parfait glass and is big enough for two.


Top review
Angel
Dined on Jan 6, 2025
Service is great, although you have your own server, the other staff does not ignore you if you seem to need something. The cooks make sure the food is seasoned and cooked perfectly. The outdoor patio feels great, well lit, and has a nature feel with trees around it.
A photo of Café Sbisa restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1469)
$30 and under
Cajun
French Quarter
About the restaurant

Chef and co-owner Alfred Singleton shines at this historic restaurant, which traces its origins to 1899. Café Sbisa is one of the oldest French Quarter restaurants and known for turning Gulf seafood into one spectacular gumbo, made with court bouillon (broth) from co-owner Craig Napoli’s seafood business. Toast to a special occasion in the main dining room; for a more intimate affair, the restaurant offers private dining on its two upper floors.


Top review
Nakia
Dined 3 days ago
We have been visiting restaurants for months and most visits have been mediocre to say the least. Born and raised in New Orleans, unless you visit the known , hidden gems, finding a different place to dine can be hit or miss. We have known about Cafe Sbisa since forever. I’ve tried it once, but couldn’t enjoy the experience for reasons (not at the fault of the restaurant, but at the fault of personal work related reasons) but I vowed to visit again when my husband and I had time. I am so angry we waited so long to visit this gem of a restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious. The service was top notch. The live band made the experience so special and memorable. After the first bite, we were hooked! And it takes a lot for my husband to give credit to restaurants. This restaurant made the top 3 of his list. Kudos to me for booking this long awaited dining experience . I’m mad at myself for being a local and not returning sooner!! We are in anticipation of returning. I haven’t stopped talking about this restaurant since visiting!!
A photo of La Petite Grocery restaurant
4.8
4.8 (5887)
$31 to $50
French
Garden District
About the restaurant

Chef and owner Justin Devillier, whose expertise landed him a 2016 James Beard Award: Best Chef South, takes traditional New Orleans cuisine to the next level at this charming Cajun spot. From blue crab beignets to shellfish stew with collards, Devillier’s riffs on Southern flavors are spot on. The chef and his team can also create a specific menu experience just for your party, depending on what you’re celebrating. As for its name, the Creole-style cottage started its journey as the Central Tea, Coffee, and Butter Depot in the late 1800s, and the genuine hospitality is still alive and kicking.


Top review
TimothyVIP
Dined 1 day ago
We had not been to this restaurant in over ten years. The first time we dined, I had the rabbit and it was delicious. I ordered it, again, this visit, and it did not disappoint! My husband had the turtle bouillabaisse and it was also delicious. For dessert, we had the butternut squash sponge cake which was moist and tasty. Lilly, our server, made us feel very welcome and her service was" spot on". We really appreciated her dimming the lights as it was brighter than a cafeteria when we arrived which was not conducive to a romantic dinner.
A photo of The Grill Room restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1586)
$50 and over
Unspecified
Central Business District
About the restaurant

Classy and sophisticated, the Grill Room promises a very splashy special occasion-meal. Its glitzy setting—wall-length, hand-painted murals, mirrored ceilings, and one dazzling chandelier—is fit for a grand proposal. Expect an impressive spread of modern Louisiana dishes presented with an artistic eye. Executive chef Vlad Kogan and chef de cuisine Alex Kuzin design an always-changing menu of dishes like wild mushroom steak and fried South Carolina quail, and, if it’s offered, the strawberry pavlova with basil panna cotta is a must. If you’re not here to pop the question, consider coming for the popular lunch special—a luxe take on the meat and three.


Top review
Jolene
Dined 3 days ago
My boyfriend and I had reservations for his birthday last night. Everything was perfection. Our server, Ken, was top notch, his recommendations were on point, and he made sure we were well taken care of. The manager on duty, female (unable to remember her name), checked on our table and even took a few pictures of us per my request, and really cared to make sure my boyfriend and I had a wonderful time. The chef even sent complimentary dishes to our table that were phenomenal. We will definitely be back!
A photo of The Rib Room at the Omni Royal Orleans restaurant
4.2
4.2 (1879)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
French Quarter
About the restaurant

New Orleanians have celebrated anniversaries and birthdays at the Rib Room for more than 60 years. The restaurant earned a 2023 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience award for its wagyu dish served on fried rice cake with Cajun caviar and torched bearnaise, and it continues to consistently outdo itself. Chef Ronald Proano goes way beyond king cuts of prime rib and dazzles with local seafood like the crab salad with heirloom tomatoes and burrata. Before or after, keep the celebration going with a drink at Touché bar next door.


Top review
kia
Dined on Jan 14, 2025
We had a wonderful experience at the Rib room. Sarah was a wonderful, personable waitress and I am grateful to Chef Mike for preparing a delicious dinner and coming out to meet my 11yo son. My son was blown away by the service and food, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The restaurant went above and beyond for us. Thank you.
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