La Petite Grocery

This corner restaurant on Magazine Street in the Garden District is a local mainstay serving French-Creole food in a lovely, dimly-lit atmosphere. While the regular menu serves inventive cuisine using local ingredients, the daily specials are the real stars and not to be missed. Try the handmade papperdelle with braised duck legs and crème fraîche for a hearty but heavenly starter. The subtle design is as welcoming as the waiters—on a recent visit my friends and I were welcomed to stay well after closing time.