Cheeseburger @ Lüke
The past few years in eating have been marked by an almost insane rush to open new, high-end hamburger stands. However, this has gone a long way toward improving the national dish. Among the claimants to the title Best Burger In New Orleans, Lüke is among the most credible. And at $16.50, it had better be. It's a classy piece of work. John Besh's cooks have been instructed to make the hand-made ground beef patties crusty and juicy. If you like bacon on a burger (I don't), it will be Allen Benton's bacon, which is as good as bacon gets. The fries that come are hand-cut in house. Grilled onions are a free option. Even the bun is unusually good. The place looks like a French bistro, but the burger is All-American.