Top Best Italian Restaurants in New Orleans

"For a taste of the Creole-Italian cuisine that is one of New Orleans’ culinary signatures, follow the smell of garlic to Irene’s new French Quarter home. The family-owned restaurant has cooked classics like house-made pasta topped with soft shell crab and a cream sauce, duck St. Philip, and lasagne Bolognese since 1992. The new location on Bienville exudes all the charm of the original."

"Established in 1993, Irene’s does country-style Italian and French fare with a strong dose of New Orleans influence out of a charming “hole in the wall” in the heart of the French ..."

"529 Bienville St., (504) 529-8811; www.facebook.com/irenesnola. Oysters Irene are baked on the half shell with pancetta, pimento and Pecorino Romano cheese. Reservations recommended."

"The chefs at Paladar 511 bring a modern Californian charm to New Orleans, and while the starter list has Italian favorites like homemade ravioli, beef Carpaccio, and arancini with short rib rags, you'll also find a zesty Yellowfin tuna crudo with orange and avocado that whisks you west. It’s a similar story with the pizzas. A basic cheese and tomato pie is delightful, but you can also try homemade lamb sausage or buttered leeks."

"511 Marigny St. I love that this restaurant is located in our building. But even if it wasn’t, we would eat brunch here, often. For a casual brunch, this would be my top choice."

"Ace Hotel stands in the Warehouse District, where you can check out Alto, the hotel’s rooftop garden. Get a mix of seasonal cocktails, wines, craft beers, frozen drinks and rotating on-tap specials at Alto’s bar. Poolside dining includes a selection of Italian-inspired small plates for any growing appetites."

"Josephine Estelle is an osteria from James Beard Award-nominated chefs, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, and showcases their signature culinary style of combining the craft-centric philosophy of Italian cooking with flavors of the American South. Our seasonal menu--available daily for breakfast,...See More"

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. The perfect Domenica trifecta: Lasagne, Calabrese, & Squid Ink Tagliolini. Remember, we have happy hour until 5pm and dinner is served until 9pm!"

"A traditional Neopolitan-style Italian eatery located in the heart of New Orlean’s Central Business District (CBD), Domenica has become a favorite among both locals and critics sin..."

"The Roosevelt New Orleans, 123 Baronne St., (504) 648-6020; www.domenicarestaurant.com. Tortellini is served with wild mushrooms, asparagus and robiola cheese. Reservations accepted."

"About BBQ Shrimp: Pascal’s Manale s known for its amazing take-out BBQ since 1913 and is home to New Orleans’ original BBQ Shrimp. With Cajun spices and fresh shrimp, you’ll truly feel like you are in the South. Pascal Manale Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm."

"Pascal's Manale of uptown New Orleans is famous for creating barbecued shrimp. Pascal's is located at 1838 Napoleon Avenue. MoreCallReserveStart Your ReservationWebsite"

"A lot of people don’t realize that “Italian Creole” is a specialty in the 504, but you’ll find some of the best po-boys nestling side by side with chicken Parm and veal scallopini at some of the finer neighborhood joints in the city. And nowhere is there a more spectacular embodiment of this phenomenon than Mandina’s, which never fails to disappoint with everything from turtle soup to soft-shell crab meuniere and, of course, spaghetti with meatballs."

"Mid-CityJust because you’re not a 100-year-old French Quarter Creole queen doesn’t mean that you aren't just as fiercely beloved by the natives. Sebastian Mandina opened up an Italian grocery at the turn of the 20th century, and it’s been an institution ever since, even if it's an un-fancy one. Go for the Italian fare like veal and eggplant Parm, and if you really want to get serious, order the Gulf fish (or soft-shell crab) meuniere or amandine."

"3800 Canal St., (504) 482-9179; Azalea Shopping Center, 4240 Highway 22, Mandeville, (985) 674-9883; www.mandinasrestaurant.com. A fried shrimp and oyster platter is served with french fries. Reservations accepted for large parties."

"If you’ve been doing a lot of Netflix and chilling lately, then maybe it’s time to really lean into the laziness and add a hot pizza to the equation. The folks at Pizza D are here to help: you can get a little festive with a rotating selection of pizzas daily, like with a vegan cauliflower pie, but you can’t ever go wrong with the margherita. Cost: $19 for a margherita, and $19 for the vegan cauliflower pizza; order via Postmates or Grubhub"

"The gist: What started as a weekly pop-up is now a Bywater institution. There are few things as comforting as pizza, which means you, too, can wrap yourself in a warm cocoon of floppy, New York-style slices and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. (Oh, just me?)The food: Giant foldable slices, perfectly greasy garlic knots, tangy Caesar salads, and housemade pastas round out the menu."

"617 Piety St Bywater Area, New Orleans, LA 70117-6221American, Pizza, ItalianLunch, DinnerDelivery, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol+1 504-676-8482http://www.pizzadelicious.com"

"French QuarterCleo’s provides healthy, high-quality food and service for every one of the 24 hours it's open, with an expansive menu and a wood fired oven for made-to-order pita bread. The menu takes its cues from all over the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, with lots of tabbouleh, hummus, falafel, zaatar, and olives. You can’t go wrong even with the simplest items."

"7724 Maple St., (504) 518-6735; www.facebook.com/catalinosllc. Kak’ik is Guatemalan turkey stew made with tomatoes, onions and cinnamon served with corn tortillas and rice."

"From Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, walk towards the Mississippi River and cross Decatur Street for an elevated perch to capture the Instagram-worthy view overlooking the square! At this point, you’ll have surely smelled the powdered sugar sweetness floating through the air around the Square and Cathedral. Cafe du Monde and their famous beignets are just a few steps away, on the same side as the river."

"Stroll along Decatur Street & the French Market. Decatur Street is, in many ways, one of the main drags of the French Quarter, and is home to some of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants (don’t worry, we’ll get to those in the food section below)."

"Formerly known as "Place d'Armes" in the 18th century and later renamed as Jackson Square in honor Andrew Jackson who was a hero in the Battle of New Orleans, the historic Jackson Square is a beautiful space and popular tourist attraction in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Facing the Mississippi River and surrounded by historic buildings, including the Louisiana State Museums of the Cabildo and the Presbytere, and the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral, this famous landmark is packed with things to see and do. A favorite site for visitors and locals, the Square has shops, restaurants, cafés and coffee shops, galleries, museums and more, along with a renowned open-air artist colony who has been displaying their work on the square's iron fence for more than 50 years."

"The square is a National Historic Landmark and a natural gathering spot. The palm tree-lined square, named after Andrew Jackson, has a statue of him riding a horse in honor of his victory in the Battle of New Orleans against the British."

"Whether you want a chocolate cake for a special occasion or to satisfy a sweet tooth, Heavenly Sweets will not disappoint. Their decadent chocolate cake is a must-try the next time you’re looking for a special treat."