Best New Orleans Area Restaurants. Your opinions?

Being that this is the slowest time of the year here, I wanted to get your opinions on the best restaurants and diners in the New Orleans area. So, I am going to query you all by type.

By sharing your recommendations, you're not just helping those of us living outside the area to discover new dishes for the upcoming games, you may also be helping others within the area who are looking for variety, and honest opinions, which is far more valuable than any food advisor site.

For those that wish to participate, you can pick and choose which you answer. Name the restaurant/s as well as your favorite menu items. Safer areas are preferred.

I'm not expecting a lot of responses, however, I am very interested. I am pretty bored with visiting the same restaurants over and over when I am in the area and want to try some different places this coming season.

  • Best Seafood?
  • Best American food?
  • Best Burgers?
  • Best PoBoys?
  • Best BBQ?
  • Best Chinese?
  • Best Thai?
  • Best Sushi?
  • Best Soul Food?
  • Best Steakhouse?
  • Best Bakery?
  • Best Cajun Cuisine?
  • Best Creole Cuisine??
  • Best Fried Chicken?
  • Best Chicken Wings?
  • Best Boudin?
  • Best Plate lunches?
  • Best Japanese Restaurant?
  • Best Vietnamese?
  • Best boiled Crawfish?
  • Best Breakfast?
  • Best Brunch?
  • Best Mediterranean?
  • Best Muffalettas?
  • Best Sandwich shop?
  • Best Pizza?
  • Best Italian Cuisine?
  • Best European otherwise?
  • Best Gumbo?
  • Best Other?

Optional: Name restaurants to avoid, and the reason/s.

I take issue with "best" but otherwise I'll take a shot at a few of these. Keep in mind, I don't keep up with the restaurant stuff like I used to - it has gotten super-expensive and I cook a lot these days. Omitting categories I usually cook myself or don't eat out much

GW Fins for fancy. Keep in mind I can't eat crawfish anymore (allergy). Station 6 (Bucktown) is good, as is NO Food and Spirits across the street.
That's not otherwise listed? I pick tacoes. (Also, for lack of a better place to put it - try Rosedale - Lakeview)
Company burger (Freret)
Depends on your taste, but I'm a Parkway guy. Hot sausage patty, dressed add cheddar, extra pickles. Oysters ($$$) on Wednesday are worth it for a treat. Closes at 6 and on Mon (maybe Tues) these days. My fave roast beef place closed and I haven't found a replacement yet.
Blue Oak, Carrollton, but has also gotten pricey. Good bar though.
Thai'd Up. Gentilly Blvd. It's tiny - order takeout early or get a reservation
Prob Mr Johns. Crescent City for experience, though not the best steak. Manale's (New Orleans Italian) has a surprisingly good steak
Not my jam, but Bread on Oak has great breads and some interesting vegetarian/vegan options
Yeah, not going there with Andrus
The big names, probably, but that's also a broad category
McHardy's (N Broad) is great, but honestly Lakeview Grocery is killing it lately (also, Popeye's)
go to Meat and Three on Oak, but it will probably be crowded.
I already took out Sushi, above
My favorite pho restaurant is gone, but Mopho (City Park) for something different. Otherwise you're going to the Westbank (Tan Dinh or there's a Pho Tau Bay branch on Tulane)
Can't
There are some good places in Metairie, but the various locations of Byblos are good. Nothing in the city is really on my radar.
Cochon Butcher is probably the best. Napoleon House (warmed, how I like) and Central are not slouches
There are many but Cido on S Carrollton (Italian) is a hidden gem
Prob Pizza Delicious (Marigny) but apparently St Peter (LGD) is winning awards
Depends what you like, but I would say Vincent's (St Charles, Metairie) or Irene's (FQ)
Gianna, Crepe Nanou