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The French Quarter is the oldest, most famous, and most visited neighborhood in New Orleans, and while there is no shortage of sights, sounds, and events to check out, it can sometimes be tough to find delicious food that isn’t a little on the pricey side. Here are 5 restaurants, some well-known and some a little more unrecognized, where you can grab some food without breaking the bank.
Verti Marte (1201 Royal St)
Verti Marte is a hole in the wall with aisles so narrow you need to walk down them sideways. It’s open 24 hours a day, and has an extensive selection of po-boys that are nice and cheap. One of their more popular sandwiches is called “All That Jazz” and it’s described as a medley of grilled ham, turkey, and shrimp, Sand American cheese, accompanied by grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, on grilled French bread with original “Wow Sauce.” This is not a place for sitting down and eating, and they’re cash only, but with their long hours and cheap sandwiches, it’s a great place for a mid-day meal or a drunken feast.
Felipe’s (301 N Peters St)
Felipe’s serves solid Tex-Mex that has yet to fail me. There are two distinct ways to eat at Felipe’s; you can get in and out quickly if you’re on a lunch break or generally in a rush, or you can sit at the bar and get bombed if you have a little more time. You place your order at the counter, they make your food right in front of you, and you take it back to your table. The portions are big; a plate of beans, rice, veggies, and a few tortillas goes for around $6. For a couple dollars more, you can get a 12 inch Super Burrito, which are so filling that I usually need to sit and take a breather after polishing one off. If you’re not in a rush, you can take your food over to the bar and fire up some margaritas. The bar has drink specials every weekday: cheap cocktails on Mondays, cheap sangria and bottles of wine on Tuesday, $4 margaritas on Wednesday, $1 off beer on Thursday, and those $4 margaritas once more on Friday. Nice!
The Jimani (141 Chartres St)
This place has the feel of a friendly neighborhood dive bar, and I’m pretty sure nothing on the menu is over $10. The staff are friendly, and the crowd is usually good-natured, which is a welcome surprise considering the proximity to Bourbon Street. It’s marketed as a sports bar, and there are TVs playing UFC and a range of sports (the NHL Center Ice Package is a blessing to this Canadian) but beyond that The Jimani is, at its heart, a great place to grab a burger and a cheap beer.
Angeli’s (1141 Decatur St)
It’s little more expensive than the other places on this list, but Angeli’s is great if you’re looking for pizza, pasta, or (because let’s face it, this list could use something healthy) a salad. They have a lot of vegetarian options, and a giant Drew Brees mural to stare at you while you eat. It’s open late every night, and until 4 in the morning on the weekend. Aside from the pizza, highlights on the menu are the divine portobello appetizer and their calzones.
Mojo Lounge (1140 Decatur St)
The Mojo Lounge is just across the street from Angeli’s and is my go-to whenever I can’t decide what I want to eat. They have an assortment of wraps and sandwiches at wonderfully low prices that come with a garden salad, pasta salad, or potato salad. The chicken Thai wrap is great, as is the ham, apple and Brie panini. The same staff have been working there for years, and they’re extremely nice and willing to joke around or trade stories. There really doesn’t seem to be much more you could ask for when it comes to meals that are under $10.
These five picks represent some of the finest cheap dining in the Quarter for me, but let us know in the comments below if any of your favorites were snubbed!
