Best of Guide: New Orleans Appetizers

Start your Deanie’s experience with Barbecue Shrimp made with large head-on Gulf shrimp, sauteed in Deanie’s signature buttery blend of seasonings, and served with a French baguette for dipping. You’ll get your fingers a little messy with this one but, trust us, it’s worth it! Read our review.

New Orleans may be known for our Creole, Cajun and Southern cuisine, but we’re a fabulous place to come for Italian pasta. (Did you know that so many Sicilians came here in the last part of the 19th century that the French Quarter was dubbed, “Little Palermo?”) Although ANNUNCIATION in the Arts/Warehouse District isn’t an Italian restaurant per say, you’ll pronounce The Chef’s Choice Ravioli with homemade pasta “deliziosa.”

Few things beat a great plate of nachos – especially when you’re sharing with friends or family. You can order LOFT18 Fat City Nachos topped with chicken, pulled pork or steak, too – if queso, beans, corn jalapenos, diced tomatoes, pickled onions and queso fresco aren’t enough. Crunch away between golf swings. Read our review.

Like Beyoncé says, “Put a ring on it.” The tower of onion rings at Hard Rock Café is a must. If you’re deciding between it and another appetizer, order both. Read our review.

We confess - we usually like our alligator on swamp tours rather than on our plate - but this appetizer at the Gumbo Shop changed our minds. There's nothing gamey or fishy or slimy about it, and it's served with their yummy Fish Sauce, made with Creole mustard, orange marmalade, ketchup and horseradish. Get this gator now not later!

Until now, you had to go to a Cajun Country convenience store to find boudin balls this good. Our congratulations to Chef Craig Nutton. These are fantastic.

We’ve tried to order another app at Byblos, but once you’ve had the Drunken Halloumi you can’t go back. How can something as simple as tomatoes, cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic be so good? You’re just going to have to take our word for it: it is! Photo credit: Bybos Instagram

Don’t let anyone tell you gator tastes like chicken because it’s way better. This app from Mambo’s is marinated white meat gator tail served fried or blackened with delicious remoulade sauce. It’s best enjoyed on the rooftop.

You don’t have to wait for Jazz Fest to feast on Crawfish Bread. As apps go, the Crawfish Bread at Landry’s overlooking the Mississippi River is just the best one on the planet, as far as we’re concerned. Make your carbs count!

Everything at the Pelican Club looks as good as it tastes and their Tuna Poke made with onions, avocado crema and mango and served with tortilla chips is no exception. Exchange Alley is one of the most picturesque spots in the French Quarter. Take a seat outside and enjoy a memorable evening.

We’ve never met a crab dip we didn’t like but this one we love! This Old Metairie restaurant is known for this app, featuring fresh Louisiana crabmeat baked in a decadent parmesan cream served with warm crostinis. Tell ‘em you heard about it on NewOrleansRestaurants.com.

Me, oh, my, we love our crawfish hand pies in New Orleans and the ones on the menu at Felix’s are good inside and out. They’re perfectly seasoned and the crust is just right. You can enjoy them at both the French Quarter and Lakefront restaurants.

The lovely Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans is home to Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House. Our favorite app there is Oysters Rizzuto–and inspired combination of freshly shucked oysters, lemon, breadcrumbs, pecorino Romano and oregano. If you’re not from here, this is something to write home about.

This isn’t like any corndog you had at the parish fair, dawlin’! Made with a crispy cornmeal crust, hot sauce aioli, and sticky pepper jelly, the Shrimp and Tasso Corndogs at 3rd Block Depot Restaurant + Bar definitely belong in our Best of Guide: Appetizers.