Two kinds of restaurants found their ways onto this list. First are the places that really got a lot better during the past year. The others are the restaurant that weren't open long enough in 2012 to make it onto the Best New Restaurants list, and developed well in 2013.
1. 
La Petite Grocery. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 4238 Magazine. 504-891-3377. We've loved it since it opened, but lately the food, wine, service and bar have all been astonishingly good. That's what the five-star rating is about. Congratulations to Chef-owner Justin Devillier for lighting that last one.
2. 
Delmonico. Uptown 1: Garden District & Environs: 1300 St Charles Ave. 504-525-4937. After working in the background for years at Delmonico, Chef Tony Scanio has taken the reins, dumped the unsuccessful small-plates concept, and went for the roots of this 118-year-old classic. It's better than at any time post-K.
3. GW Fins. French Quarter: 808 Bienville. 504-581-3467. Where do you go after everybody says you have the best seafood restaurant in New Orleans? GW Fins figured that out, and now the food is more polished and consistent than ever.
4. Atchafalaya. Uptown 2: Washington To Napoleon: 901 Louisiana Ave. 504-891-9626. The already excellent Uptown bistro stepped things up further by bringing in Chef Chris Lynch, formerly the chef at Emeril's for quite a few years. He has added depth and uniqueness to Tony and Rachael's kitchen.
5. 
Munch Factory. Lakefront/UNO Area: 6325 Elysian Fields Ave. 504-324-5372. After moving from one side of Gentilly to the other, and braving the longtime paucity and mediocrity of that area's restaurants, the husband-wife team of owners now have the best restaurant ever in the UNO neighborhood.
6. Tujague's. French Quarter: 823 Decatur. 504-525-8676. Owner Mark Latter came through two crises in 2013. His father, who ran the 157-year-old restaurant for three decades, passed away. Then the building was almost sold from underneath Tujague's. Those matters handled, Mark renovated the dining room beautifully, and expanded the hours. Impressive!
7. Apolline. Uptown 3: Napoleon To Audubon: 4729 Magazine St. 504-894-8881. After a brief turn under the chefhood of Dominique Macquet (who is down the street new a few blocks), this renovated cottage brought in Chef Matthew Farmer. Who had a tough time attracting a clientele, but now has one. Don't go without a reservation now.
8. Café B. Metairie 1: Old Metairie: 2700 Metairie Road. 504-934-4700. After an uninteresting start a few years ago, Cafe B set its haute-Creole sights higher and became a much better restaurant as a result. It's getting tough to get a table.
9. 
Felix's. French Quarter: 739 Iberville. 504-522-4440. The old Felix's--where many New Orleanians had their first raw oysters--ran out of gas a couple of years ago. With new owners, a renovation, and a refreshed menu, it's essential again.
10. Cafe Reconcile. Warehouse District & Center City: 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. 504-568-1157. With a large infusion of cash from Emeril and John Besh, this combination lunch cafe and training ground for young people looking for new lives has undergone the most expensive renovation in town this year. It looks and tastes great.
11. Ye Olde College Inn. Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor: 3016 S Carrollton Ave. 504-866-3683. It's not the old Olde College Inn, and thank heaven for that. Chef Brad McGehee raised the standards to an astonishing degree. Beef Wellington at the College Inn? Vegetables from a farm next door? This is new and great.
12. The Chimes. Covington: 19130 W Front St. 985-892-5396. My wife and daughter are always dragging me into this branch of a Baton Rouge sport bar. But the food has improved enough that I don't mind. A great oyster bar is the prime draw. Good fried and grilled fish, too.
Written by Tom Fitzmorris January 02, 2014 16:14 in
