Best Late Night Eats in the French Quarter
We keep strange hours in New Orleans and especially in the French Quarter. You may think of New York as the city that never sleeps. Well, neither does New Orleans. With 24 hours in a day, we have figured out how to fill most of them with a good time. So, after a late night of drinking, dancing, and partying, it’s easy to work up an appetite (and even easier to let your alcohol intake outpace your food intake).
After a night on Bourbon Street or Frenchman, where are the best places for a satisfying plate of food? And, when I say “late night” I’m not taking about 11 PM or midnight. C’mon, this isn’t amateur hour. I’m talking 1 AM or later.
Verti Marte1201 Royal Street
Let’s start off with a place every local knows about. And the best part is, they are open 24 hours a day. Slip through the front door and walk to the food counter in the back. Po’ boys, sandwiches, entrees, sides - nearly anything you could want from a roasted half chicken, to dirty rice, to shrimp po’ boys. You could eat every meal here for a week and barely test their menu. The servings are generous, and the prices are fair. The downside is there is no inside seating and they are cash-only, so keep your AmEx in your pocket and grab your food to go.
Port of Call
838 Esplanade
Port of Call barely makes the list since they are open only until 1 AM on Friday and Saturdays. But, for you amateur partiers that might just be late enough. Port of Call is best known for their ½-pound hamburgers and obscenely loaded baked potatoes. They make a strong case for having one of the best burgers in the French Quarter if not all of New Orleans. The place is popular, so be prepared for a line. Grab a spot at the bar (if you can get in the front door) and have a drink while waiting on a table.
Coop’s Place1109 Decatur Street
Coop’s is another local favorite that barely makes the list due to it’s 1 AM closing time on Friday and Saturday. But, sometimes they hang around a bit later. You never know. If you weren’t a local, Coop’s is a place you would walk by a hundred times with nothing to tip you off that this was a special place other than the line that usually forms down Decatur. Their crab claws, shrimp Creole, rabbit and sausage jambalaya, and Chicken Tchoupitoulas are guaranteed to satisfy. The place is 21+ only, and they are particular about that.
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Clover Grill900 Bourbon Street
Clover Grill, at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine, has been a French Quarter mainstay since before I can remember. Opening in 1939, they have been serving their famous steamed burgers and some of the best breakfasts to party professionals and regular folks alike. And, they do it for a very rakish 24 hours a day. Not doing the walk of shame off Bourbon Street until 6 AM? Heh, no worries. They understand. Clover Grill is there for you.
700 Club700 Burgundy
Why do we love 700 Club? Let us count the ways - Mac & Cheese Bites, Piggyback Fries, a very generously priced Bistro Burger, and an equally generous 4 AM closing time. What’s not to love?
Deja Vu400 Dauphine Street
Ah! Another local favorite that doesn’t know the meaning of “closed.” Their entire menu including breakfast, burgers, steaks, and creole favorites such as gumbo and jambalaya are available 24 hours a day. This is another joint that won’t win you over on looks, but at 6 AM after a hard night of partying, Deja Vu will look beautiful.
Palm & Pine308 N Rampart
The kitchen at Palm & Pine closes at 2 AM on Friday and Saturday, and up until that hour they are serving some delectable dishes. Where else would you find Chocolate Flan Napolitano, TX BBQ Shrimp, and a Yellowfin Tuna crudo at that hour? That’s right. Nowhere. Except Palm & Pine. Chase that fine dish with one of their Beer & Shots combos like Victoria & Peloton Mezcal. Hey, it’s only 2 AM. We still have time for shots. Don’t judge.
There you have it. Our favorite spots for late night (early morning) meals in the French Quarter. While it may surprise some of you professionals out there, all of these places are also open at more domesticated hours, so you don’t need to wait until the wee hours to drop in for a meal.
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