Soul food$$$$carrollton-riverbend
Boucherie in New Orleans is Nathanial Zimet's Carrollton tasting-menu room, a former food truck turned Southern-modern five-course degustation.
Signature: Five-course tasting, Krispy Kreme bread pudding
Order: There is no choice; the five-course tasting changes with the produce. End with the Krispy Kreme bread pudding.
Tip: Bourree next door is the daiquiri and wings spinoff; sit there first for a cocktail before dinner.
Modern Creole$$$garden-district
Atchafalaya in New Orleans is the Louisiana Avenue Creole room on the edge of the Garden District, known for a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the duck.
Signature: Duck hash, Shrimp and grits
Order: The duck hash with sunny eggs, then build a Bloody Mary at the bar.
Tip: Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday with live music; arrive at 09:30 or hold for the 13:00 turn.
Cajun & Creole$$$uptown
Saffron NOLA in New Orleans is the Vilkhu family's Indian Creole room on Magazine Street, a James Beard nominee with Louisiana seafood and Indian spice.
Signature: Crawfish vindaloo, Andouille shrimp curry
Order: The crawfish vindaloo; then the lamb rogan josh with Creole spice.
Tip: Dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00. The wine list runs short but pairs aggressively with the chilies.
Seafood$$$$french-quarter
GW Fins in New Orleans is Tenney Flynn's Bienville Street fine-dining seafood room, with a daily-changing menu sourced from the Gulf and the docks.
Signature: Scalibut, Sizzling oysters
Order: Whatever runs as the daily catch. Then the warm biscuits, which arrive without prompting.
Tip: Reservations are easier on weeknights; bar dining serves the same menu with shorter waits.
Modern Creole$$$$warehouse-district
Restaurant August in New Orleans is the 2001 modern Creole flagship in an 1830s Tchoupitoulas warehouse, originally John Besh's room and now.
Signature: Gulf fish in lemon butter, Truffled potato gnocchi
Order: The truffled potato gnocchi, on the menu in different forms for two decades.
Tip: Tasting menu is the most-rewarded path; book a window-side table for the brick-arch view.
Creole$$$$garden-district
Commander's Palace in New Orleans is the 1893 Garden District grande dame on Washington Avenue, the Brennan family flag with turtle soup, jacket-required.
Signature: Turtle soup, Pecan-crusted Gulf fish
Order: The turtle soup with sherry tableside. It has been on the menu since the dining room opened in 1893.
Tip: Book the upstairs Garden Room for the live courtyard view; the dress code requires collared shirts at dinner.