Memorable Dishes I Tried in NOLA 🍽️✨

First that comes to mind is the crispy duck. I expected it to be overly sweet, but I couldn't stop eating — it was layered and thoughtfully crafted. Two pieces of dry-aged duck breast, cooked medium-rare — tender, fragrant, not gamey. The skin was brushed with honey, and crushed hazelnuts added a nutty aroma that elevated the sweet-crispy texture and distracted from the rich fat. The duck jus was tangy and salty, cutting through the richness. Served with brown butter sweet potato purée (so smooth and sweet) and roasted squash — soft, subtly sweet, with sage for savoriness. A truly satisfying dish 🦆🍯. These restaurants also serve a famous turtle soup — next time for sure! We started with roasted oysters and foie gras. The oysters came with kale and cracker crumbs, topped with shallots — interesting combo! The foie gras was fine, but the transparent hawthorn jelly underneath was delicious 😋. A thin seed-studded crisp paired nicely. For dessert, the famous Bananas Foster (said to originate here) — we saw the flambé表演 five times during our meal 🔥! We ordered lemon tart and Basque cheesecake. The tart had yuzu mousse and lime jelly with a hint of bitterness. The Basque cheesecake used Gorgonzola cheese — a must for blue cheese lovers 🧀. It came with poached pear, spiced walnuts, and honeycomb — almost like a savory dish. Then there’s the all-fried seafood spot — huge portions, easily enough for two. Nothing special, but okay if you’re really hungry. Irene’s had the best ambiance and decor — warm staff, great value, my top meal of the trip. Bread service was bruschetta — tasty start. Signature baked oysters with bacon and goat cheese were rich and satisfying. The seafood stew was massive with six kinds of fresh seafood — incredibly fulfilling. Provençal-style lamb chops were fragrant, though not mind-blowing. Classic tiramisu for dessert. Great drinks and live jazz too 🎷🍷. Another spot delivered on portion, flavor, and value. We ordered halibut and steak — each alone was a bit plain, but sharing made them shine together. The pea shoot butter sauce stood out, and the side of red shrimp risotto was delicious. The dry-aged, charcoal-grilled steak had a腊肉-like flavor — too salty on its own. Desserts were hearty: caramel ice cream pie and coconut ice cream — generous but could’ve had more layers. Beignets are a must-try — hot and delightful 🍩. After five minutes, the baking soda taste comes through, so extra powdered sugar helps. Bring cash! 💵 Luke’s — only tried breakfast, and it was extremely salty 😅. Had to balance it with sourdough bread. Overall: delicious, satisfying — can’t wait to return! #NewOrleans #Travel #WillReturn #RestaurantRecommendations 🎉🌟🍴