New Orleans is known for many things, including a thriving culinary scene. The main reason behind this rich food landscape is the various black-owned restaurants. They serve some of the best cuisine in New Orleans. Whether you crave seafood, Caribbean delicacies, or traditional Southern dishes, these dining establishments have got you covered. Black-owned restaurants, bars, and cafes are spread over every neighborhood in New Orleans. Without wasting any more time, let’s dive into a list of the must-visit Black-owned eating places in New Orleans.
Best 9 Black Owned Restaurants in New Orleans
1. Backatown Coffee Parlour
Backatown Coffee Parlour is a locally-owned coffee boutique with a mission that goes way beyond providing just coffee and espresso drinks. These drinks are a medium to accomplish its bigger goal of being an authentic gathering space that helps the neighborhood thrive by fostering innovative ideas and friendly conversations. Besides premium coffee beverages, the parlor also serves juice, freshly baked pastries, loose-leaf teas, desserts, and light meals. The place is equipped with Wi-Fi and jazz-infused seating arrangements, ensuring that your experience here is every inch memorable.
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2. Willie Mae’s Scotch House
Founded in 1957, Willie Mae’s Scotch House built its reputation on its distinctive Louisiana and Mississippi cuisine. It has been honored with the James Beard Award for America’s Classic Restaurant for the Southern Region. Willie Mae closed operations after being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Fortunately, it re-opened in 2007. The pride of the place is its fried chicken, which has even attracted from the Food Network!
3. Lil Dizzy’s Cafe
Want to dine at New Orleans’s most laid-back dining place? Hop on over to Lil Dizzy’s Café. One of the most loved meals here is the trout Baquet, served on paper plates in a drizzle. The pan-fried fish has a topping of crabmeat sauteed with garlic, parsley, and onion. It is a traditional Creole dish with many takers. Lil Dizzy’s Café is unlike any other. There’s a salad bar right next to soda case stacks. The place is most loved for its Creole soul cooking. Lil Dizzy’s superlative gumbo is crowded with meat and seafood. The restaurant’s hot sausage is made from a historic family recipe. If you are in New Orleans, Lil Dizzy’s is one of the must-visit black-owned dining establishments.
4. Beaucoup Eats
For lovers of Creole comfort cuisine, there is perhaps no better place than Beaucoup Eats. The neighborhood eatery offers a healthier version of classic New Orleans flavors. Every meal is prepared from scratch using locally grown, seasonal, and fresh ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s gardens. Some worth trying delicacies at Beaucoup Eats include catfish, vegan stuffed pepper, and the Fan Favorite Wings. The place serves vegans and vegetarians equally well with its special assortment of dishes. Beaucoup Eats offers endless types of entrees, appetizers, and desserts, along with their famous homemade fresh fruit lemonade.
5. Jewel of the South
Situated in a historic home in the French Quarter, Jewel of the South is named after a 19th-century local bar that first served cocktails. The historic charm of this bar doesn’t end here. Everything, from its dark woods, to bare brickwork to names on the menu, reflects the early days. Cocktail enthusiasts who also happen to be history buffs won’t tire from soaking in the old charm of this place. A sought-after drink served in Jewel of the South is the Crusta. It also serves cobblers and sours. The chefs prepare delicacies like veal sweetbreads, crisp tribe, and roasted chicken in the kitchen. Jewel of the South will give you a taste of the pre-modern cocktail era.
6. Morrow’s
Morrow’s is the brainchild of a mother-son duo, Lenora Chong (chef) and Larry Marrow (event curator). Located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, Morrow’s serves authentic Korean dishes and classic New Orleans cuisine. The restaurant’s menu of soul food delicacies has earned it national acclaim. Some worth mentioning items include the heavenly gumbo ramen and other types of seafood. Morrow’s offers takeout, delivery, and dine-in. The restaurant is frequented by celebrities and tourists alike. This alone reflects the reputation the place has earned for itself.
7. Café Abyssinia
Erimas Alemu noticed the glaring absence of Ethiopian dishes in New Orleans, prompting him to found Café Abyssinia to make Ethiopian food accessible to Americans in the city. He had moved from Chicago with this vision in mind. Situated on Magazine Street in New Orleans, Café Abyssinia not only offers traditional Ethiopian flavors but also gives an authentic experience of family-style hand-eaten meals shared among loved ones. The place offers the Ethiopian staple, injera, a spongy bread, along with an assortment of entrees. If you want to soak in the flavors of Ethiopia, you’ll not regret walking into café Abyssinia in New Orleans.
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8. Nice Guys Nola
Nice Guy’s NOLA is another restaurant worth checking out in New Orleans. It offers a curated mix of chargrilled oysters, messy fries, burgers, and more. Located on Earhart Blvd, Nice Guys Nola is a stone’s throw away from Downtown. The distinctive vibes of the place are noticeable just upon entering. Owners Allison Charles and Glenn ensure that every single dish on the menu offers something unique to the guests. Nice Guys Nola is famous for serving delectable brunch and cocktails, as well as offering fall-off-the-plate specials.
9. 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant
14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant aptly takes its name from the 14 parishes of Jamaica. The interiors are casual and vibrant, with colorful artwork and a relaxed ambiance. The pride of the place is chef Charles Blake. His interest in cooking from the young age of 14 led him to don the hat of a chef at various restaurants. Blake fell in love with New Orleans after settling here with his wife, and he opened 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurants.
Final Words
The plethora of black-owned restaurants enhances the thriving culinary scene of New Orleans. Each offers something unique for the palate. From heartwarming Creole dishes to authentic Ethiopian cuisine, these dining establishments tantalize taste buds as they positively influence the cultural fabric of the city. Walk into any of these places during the day or night, and you’ll surely leave with memories of not only great food but so much more!
