Restored cotton warehouses on Tchoupitoulas and Magazine. Cochon, Peche, Compere Lapin, Emeril's, Mammoth Espresso. The contemporary kitchen-cluster of New Orleans.
Cochon in New Orleans is Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski's James Beard winning Cajun room on Tchoupitoulas, an ode to whole-hog cookery in a converted Warehouse District building.
Signature: Louisiana cochon with cracklins, Wood-fired oysters
Order: The cochon with turnips and cracklins. Then the rabbit and dumplings.
Tip: Cochon Butcher around the corner sells the same charcuterie at a counter; cheaper and equally good for lunch.
Compere Lapin in New Orleans is Nina Compton's James Beard winning Caribbean Creole room inside the Old No 77 Hotel on Tchoupitoulas, with goat curry and conch on a Bocuse trained plate.
Signature: Curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi, Conch croquettes
Order: The curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi, on the menu since 2015.
Tip: The bar runs walk-in; the kitchen sends the same menu and the cocktails are sharper than most of the city.
Peche in New Orleans is Ryan Prewitt, Stephen Stryjewski and Donald Link's James Beard winning Gulf seafood room on Magazine and Julia, with a wood-fired grill and a daily whole fish.
Signature: Whole grilled fish, Smoked tuna dip
Order: The smoked tuna dip to start, then a whole grilled fish to share for the table.
Tip: The bar walks in best at 17:30; the kitchen sends the same menu and the oyster service is tighter.
Restaurant August in New Orleans is the 2001 modern Creole flagship in an 1830s Tchoupitoulas warehouse, originally John Besh's room and now in the 2025 Michelin Guide for the American South.
Signature: Gulf fish in lemon butter, Truffled potato gnocchi
Order: The truffled potato gnocchi, on the menu in different forms for two decades.
Tip: Tasting menu is the most-rewarded path; book a window-side table for the brick-arch view.
Cochon Butcher in New Orleans is the Donald Link sandwich counter and butcher case beside Cochon, with a muffuletta and Le Pig Mac that have outsold the dining room next door.
Signature: Muffuletta, Le Pig Mac
Order: The muffuletta with the house olive salad. Add the Le Pig Mac.
Tip: Lunchtime is queued; come at 11:00 or after 14:00. Same kitchen as Cochon, faster turn.