New Orleans has a long and proud culinary history. While locals and visitors alike enjoy classic dishes and cocktails like jambalaya, beignets and Sazeracs, restaurants in The Big Easy are constantly innovating by riffing on their heritage. 

Located inside the city’s Ace Hotel, which opened in 2016, Seaworthy Seafood Bar celebrates New Orleans seafood with a contemporary touch. There are cold seafood platters; a variety of seafood rolls (the Gulf Coast roll has Gulf shrimp, blue crab and lemon-dulse emulsion, served with hijiki-seasoned French fries); oysters from the Gulf, East and West Coasts; and a Seaworthy Benedict (fried Louisiana oysters, poached farm eggs and caviar-chive hollandaise).

Dat Dog has three locations in New Orleans, all serving a range of creative dogs (alligator, crawfish, duck and vegan eggplant). The more than 30 toppings reflect favorite New Orleans dishes, such as andouille sauce, creole mustard and crawfish étouffée. The chainlet also serves a burger and a chicken sandwich, the latter available either grilled or fried.

Vessel Cocktail Bar serves a number of nibbles to accompany its cocktails, like this smoked Gulf fish dip.

Vessel Cocktail Bar’s name puts the emphasis on drinks, but it also serves a mean menu. Smoked Gulf fish dip, blue crab au gratin and garlic-brown-butter fries with white rémoulade are complemented by a Tipping Point cocktail (Tito’s vodka, Quinta do Tedo Rosé Port, Cointreau, St-Germain and lemon) and a Down for Debauchery quaff (Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Amaro Nonino, demerara, Angostura bitters).

Contact Marcella Veneziale at [email protected]