Top Ten Romantic Restaurants in New Orleans

It's coming up on Valentine's Day, which is one of those days in New Orleans where you better have made your dinner reservations well in advance or you're eating at Popeye's. Where to go for dinner can be a big problem, however, because so many of our best restaurants are not conducive to nice, quiet, romantic dinners. Galatoire's? Bright lights, lots of noise, doesn't take reservations. Mr. B's? Encourages families with small children these days. (While that doesn't mean it's a bad place to go, it's just that lively kids nearby don't usually make for a romantic evening. Emeril's? Way to noisy. The list goes on.

There's hope, of course, and here are my top ten picks for romantic restaurants:

Honorable Mention:

The Chart House

801 Chartres St. in the Quarter
Doesn't take reservations, otherwise it would be a full-fledged member of the list. Excellent prime rib, OK steaks, and an outdoor balcony that overlooks Jackson Square.

The List:

10. Crescent City Steak House

1001 N. Broad in Mid-City
Great steaks, every bit as good as Ruth's Chris, but the atmosphere is a good bit different. Chris' on Broad is a hangout for political types, etc., and is the kind of place where you go for a business lunch that lasts several hours. Crescent City is where you take a date.

9. Christian's

3835 Iberville, in Mid-City
Christian's is located in what once was a church. Great seafood, relaxed atmosphere, and the church architecture invokes images of weddings.

8. Snug Harbor

626 Frenchman, Faubourg Marigny
Snug Harbor is less rowdy than it's cousin Port Of Call. The half-pound burger and baked potato are still excellent, and the menu also includes some good seafood choices. Catch regulars Ellis Marsalis and Charmaine Neville in the music room for a great evening out

7. Bella Luna

914 N. Peters St. (Dumaine St. and N. Peters in the French Market)
The place is a little too busy to be high on the romance list, but the view of the river from here easily compensates. Solid Italian dishes, with lots of innovative items on the menu.

6. Chez Daniel

2037 Metairie Road, Metairie
While most "French" places in town are Creole-French like Antoine's, Chez Daniel is a classic small Parisian bistro.

5. Sazerac at the Fairmont Hotel

123 Baronne St., CBD
In nany other towns, going out to the fanciest place around for dinner means going to a restaurant like Sazerac. The catch is that this is New Orleans, so the food is also as good as the atmosphere. This is traditional grand dining, with dishes like Dover Sole and Beef Wellington, but with a bit of a Creole flair. It's hard to beat Sazerac for decor and atmosphere. While many places in town pride themselves in the fact that they don't spend a lot of money on atmosphere and looks, Sazerac is a class act.

4. Crozier's

3216 W. Esplanade, Metairie
Another classic French place, as opposed to Creole-French, Crozier's is a small, family-run restaurant that regularly gets a 5-star rating from local critics. Its quiet and unassuming, and then the food knocks you off your feet. Try the Chateaubriand for two.

3. The Grill Room at the Windsor Court Hotel

300 Gravier St., CBD
Lots of antiques, artworks, and chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful places in town to get a meal. The food is innovative and some of the best in town. There are only half a dozen places in town that most critics locally rate as 5-star, and The Grill Room is one of them.

2. Petra

541 Oaklawn, Metairie
So, how does a place that's only been open for a few months beat out 5-star restaurants and some of the most lavishly appointed places in town? Two words: private booths. This location used to be the old Beef Baron, and it used to make the list back then. Now that T.J. and Chef Pete (both formerly of Andrea's) have taken over the location, the food has changed from steaks to Creole- Italian. Get one of the curtained booths set in the walls around the dining room, and let T.J.'s grace and charm get you into the mood for a relaxed, romantic dinner.

1. The Rib Room at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel

621 St. Louis in the Quarter
Cozy atmosphere. It's in the Quarter. Great food. Tables looking out on Royal St. Quiet. Solid service. Time was when the Rib Room was just another hotel restaurant. That didn't make it bad, just undistinguished. The kitchen has improved immensely since those days, making the Rib Room one of the best places to eat in town. The furnishings, location, and overall ambience make it a great place for a memorable evening.

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