Mandina's in New Orleans is the 1932 Mid-City Italian-Creole corner room on Canal Street, founded by Sicilian immigrant Sebastian Mandina and still serving trout amandine.
Signature dishes: Trout amandine, Crawfish bisque
Must order: The trout amandine. Add the spaghetti with red gravy and a side of bread.
Tip: Sit at the bar for the streetcar view; the kitchen runs faster off the bar pickup.
Address: 3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Liuzza's by the Track in New Orleans is the Bayou St John lunch counter near the Fair Grounds that invented the BBQ shrimp po-boy, still the room's anchor dish today.
Signature: BBQ shrimp po-boy, Gumbo
Order: The BBQ shrimp po-boy, invented on this very counter.
Tip: Cash only at peak; check the Jazz Fest schedule, the room turns into a circus on festival weekends.
Mother's in New Orleans is the 1938 CBD lunch counter at Poydras and Tchoupitoulas, home of the Ferdi Special po-boy with ham, roast beef and debris served from a cafeteria line.
Signature: Ferdi Special po-boy, Red beans and rice
Order: The Ferdi Special po-boy with debris. Add a side of red beans.
Tip: Lines are real; arrive at 11:00 or after 14:00 for the shortest wait.
Casamento's in New Orleans is the 1919 Sicilian-American oyster room on Magazine Street, with crackle-crusted fried oysters between thick slabs of pan bread on the original oyster loaf.
Signature: Oyster loaf, Fried oyster plate
Order: The oyster loaf, with the oysters fried crackle-crisp and packed between thick pan bread.
Tip: Closed June through August (oyster R-months rule). Cash-only counter service.
Acme Oyster House in New Orleans is the 1910 Iberville Street oyster bar between Bourbon and Royal, with char-grilled oysters and a shucker counter rebuilt after the 1924 fire.
Signature: Char-grilled oysters, Oysters on the half shell
Order: A dozen char-grilled oysters with garlic butter and Parmesan.
Tip: Walk-in only and a queue is the norm; aim for 11:00 open or after 21:00 for shortest waits.
Felix's in New Orleans is the Iberville Street oyster bar opposite Acme, founded 1948, with a long shucker counter, oysters Bienville and a quieter room than its neighbour.
Signature: Oysters Bienville, Char-grilled oysters
Order: Half a dozen char-grilled and half a dozen raw on the half shell.
Tip: Less queue than Acme across the street; the kitchen is open until 23:00 most nights.
Atchafalaya in New Orleans is the Louisiana Avenue Creole room on the Garden District edge, known for a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the duck hash that draws weekend brunch.
Signature: Duck hash, Build-your-own Bloody Mary
Order: The duck hash with sunny eggs; build a Bloody Mary at the bar.
Tip: Saturday and Sunday brunch with live music; arrive 09:30 or hold for the 13:00 turn.
