Between the experiences at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the concerts at the Caesars Superdome, the Essence Festival of Culture will keep attendees busy. But people still need to eat, and there are plenty of Black-owned businesses to show some love to during Essence Fest weekend and beyond.
Below is a round-up of 20 Black-owned restaurants close to or within a short drive of the Essence Fest action, from brunch options to late-night spots with cocktails, Creole institutions to international menus.
This list isn’t comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination but just a small collection. A quick search will turn up many more restaurants that might be closer to your neighborhood and your tastes. We also recommend checking out Where Black NOLA Eats, which highlights Black-owned restaurants and bars in the city on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Addis NOLA
2514 Bayou Road, (504) 218-5321; addisnola.com
The family-owned restaurant serves an array of Ethiopian options, including vegan to lamb-based dishes. There’s also a unique brunch menu. Godin tibs are beef short ribs sauteed with onions and tomatoes. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Baroness on Baronne
339 Baronne St., (504) 522-8664; baronessnola.com
This craft cocktail lounge has a food menu with small plates, charcuterie, pizza, sandwiches and more. The cocktail menu has several local classics as well as specialties, like the Queen Bee, made with gin, fresh lemon and house-made vanilla and honey syrup. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sun., late-night Fri.-Sat. $$
Biscuits & Buns on Banks
4337 Banks St., (504) 766-9493; biscuitsandbunsonbanks.com
The popular Mid-City brunch spot has dishes like Belgian waffles, chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos, omelets and more. The Magnolia Slim is an omelet made with onions, spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper, tomato and cheddar cheese. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$
Essence Magazine launched the Essence Festival of Culture in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the publication. Last year, the annual …
Cafe Sbisa
1011 Decatur St., (504) 522-5565; cafesbisanola.com
Co-owner and chef Alfred Singleton serves a menu of classic French-Creole dishes at this fine-dining institution. The trout Eugene is topped with shrimp, crawfish tails and crab in champagne cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
Compere Lapin
535 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 599-2119; comperelapin.com
Chef Nina Compton, who will take part in events during Essence Fest, draws from her Caribbean roots and Louisiana ingredients for her seasonal menu. Curried goat comes with sweet potato gnocchi and cashews. There also is a prix fixe menu celebrating the restaurant’s 10th anniversary. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily, brunch Sun. $$$
Dakar NOLA
3814 Magazine St., (504) 493-9396; dakarnola.com
Chef Serigne Mbaye and Effie Richardson’s Senegalese restaurant won the 2024 James Beard Award for best new restaurant. Dakar serves a frequently changing tasting menu merging the cuisine of Senegal with Louisiana seafood and produce. Reservations required. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Dooky Chase’s
2301 Orleans Ave., (504) 821-0600, (504) 821-0535; dookychaserestaurants.com
The Chase family’s storied Creole fine-dining restaurant received a James Beard America’s Classics Award earlier this year in recognition of its cultural impact. The menu includes favorites like shrimp Clemenceau, chicken Creole, pan-seared redfish and more. Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase also carries on the family legacy at his restaurant, Chapter IV, in the CBD. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Fri.-Sat. $$$
Fritai
1535 Basin St., (504) 264-7899; fritai.com
Chef Charly Pierre’s Treme restaurant serves Haitian cuisine with some Caribbean and Creole dishes. Sos pwa is white rice, coconut black bean sauce, fried green plantains and choice of Creole chicken or tofu. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Mon. $$$
Jalence Isles’ go-tos and picks for Black-owned brunch spots, new restaurants and more.
Headquarters
445 S. Rampart St., (504) 217-6851; headquartersnola.com
Nice Guys NOLA’s sister establishment serves craft cocktails and Cajun-style plates and sandwiches in the CBD near the Superdome. The brunch menu includes catfish and grits, oxtail and eggs Benedict, omelets, burgers and more. There also are sweet and savory beignet options. Reservations accepted. Lunch Mon.-Fri, dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
JusTini’s
3162 Dauphine St., (504) 308-5098; justinisnola.com
Jessica Robinson’s Bywater restaurant and cocktail bar serves elevated New Orleans-inspired dishes. The Spain Street tacos include citrus-glazed salmon topped with corn, jalapenos and mango pico. The signature cocktail menu includes the Fuego, made with tequila, muddled jalapeno and lime and topped with pineapple. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat., late-night Fri.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
1500 Esplanade Ave., (504) 766-8687; lildizzyscafe.net
The Treme mainstay serves a variety of Creole classics and daily specials, including red beans and rice, fried catfish with smothered okra, and shrimp grillade. Shrimp grillade is the Saturday special, with grits topped with cheese, grilled shrimp, onion, tomato, mushrooms and gravy. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Mon.-Sat. and Sunday, July 6. $$
Meals from the Heart Cafe
1100 N. Peters St., (504) 525-1953; mealsfromtheheartcafe.com
The restaurant in the French Market serves Creole dishes and has a number of vegan options. Vegan gumbo is made with okra, zucchini, squash, roasted red peppers and sauteed mushrooms and served with rice and bread. There also are gluten-free options. No reservations. Late breakfast and lunch daily. $$
The Essence Festival of Culture hosts ‘experiences’ at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center July 4-6.
Morrow’s
2438 St. Claude Ave., (504) 827-1519; morrowsnola.com
Restaurateur Larry Morrow has several restaurants, including Morrow Steak, Sun Chong and Monday NOLA and the clubs Treehouse and Hide / Seek. In Marigny, Morrow’s has a Creole menu with some Korean influences. The Cajun crawfish pasta is made with Louisiana crawfish, linguini and Cajun sauce and comes with two pieces of fried catfish. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
Neyow’s
3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neworleans.neyows.com
This Creole restaurant serves classics like gumbo, po-boys, barbecue shrimp and fried oysters. Gulf shrimp can be ordered grilled or fried and come with two sides, such as mixed vegetables, carrot souffle, hush puppies or sauteed potatoes. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch and early dinner Sun. $$
Queen Trini Lisa
4200 D’Hemecourt St., (504) 345-2058; queentrinilisa.com
“Queen Trini” Lisa Nelson brings the flavors of her native Trinidad and Tobago to New Orleans. On the menu are doubles, a vegan Trinidadian street food made with curried chickpeas served with chutney between two slices of turmeric flatbread. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Stuph’d Beignets and Burgers
3325 St. Claude Ave., (504) 459-4571; Instagram: @get_stuphd
This St. Claude shop specializes in beignets stuffed with sweet or savory options as well as burgers and wings. Savory beignet options include grilled shrimp, Philly cheese steak and the Creole Queen with crabmeat, crawfish and shrimp. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sun. $
Sweet Soulfood’s Pick 3 Plate, located at 1025 N. Broad St. in New Orleans.
Sweet Soulfood
1025 N. Broad St., (504) 821-2669; sweetvegansoulfood.com
Vegans can get their fix of New Orleans and Southern classics at this beloved spot. The rotating daily menu includes barbecue cauliflower, corn chowder, cashew mac and cheese, yakamein, collard greens and bread pudding. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch Mon.-Sat. $$
Vaucresson’s Creole Cafe
1800 St. Bernard Ave., (504) 267-3850; vaucressonsausage.com
The sausage maker and cafe traces its roots of family-owned butcher and restaurant businesses to 1899. It is known for its hot sausage, which can be ordered on Leidenheimer bread or charcuterie-style. The cafe menu also offers various types of appetizers such as boudin balls and chicken cracklings. No reservations. Lunch Tue.- Sat. $$
Vyonne’s Restaurant
412 Girod St., (504) 518-6007; vyoone.com
Vyoone Segue Lewis’ restaurant serves a contemporary menu blending French, African and Creole influences. Duck a l’orange is confit duck quarter served with mushroom bread pudding and asparagus and topped with oranges and ginger sauce. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$$
Willie Mae’s
898 Baronne St., (504) 354-8194; williemaesnola.com
The family-run establishment offers soul-food classics along with their acclaimed fried chicken. Fried chicken combos come with a choice of sides such as fried okra, butter beans, green beans, mac and cheese and more. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Mon. and Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Mon, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
More than 175 restaurants to try this summer.
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