Choosing from New Orleans’s dining options can be overwhelming. When visiting the Crescent City, every meal counts, and opinions on can’t-miss meals are as varied as the range of options. Every local has felt the pressure of trying to show off the city’s best to a visiting friend, though even our worst is better than some cities’ best, right?

This guide was built to help cut through the noise and satisfy both tourists and New Orleanians, made up of essential restaurants, iconic dishes, classic joints, and neighborhood guides. The next time someone is in town, take the pressure off and point them here.