Where to dine like a star in New Orleans

New Orleans has long been an accidental playground for celebrities, with countless actors and musicians visiting regularly and a surprising number calling the city home (at least part of the time)—stars like Jennifer Coolidge, John Goodman and Solange. Last spring, between Jazz Fest, major headliner tour stops and the Bocuse d’Or, many famous visitors flocked to New Orleans, and they made sure to support the city’s restaurants, old and new. Here’s a rundown of where these well-known figures have eaten so you, too, can eat like a star.

Kat Kimball/Eater NOLA

Megan Thee Stallion at Morrow Steak

Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion made a highly anticipated tour stop in New Orleans on June 10, and during her stay, she visited the city’s most exciting new restaurant: Morrow Steak. The buzzy downtown steakhouse, which local restaurateur Larry Morrow just opened earlier this month, posted photos of Megan and GloRilla at the bar on Instagram with the caption, “Private dinner,” a few days after her performance at the Smoothie King Center.

Keith Lee at Fantasy Tacos

TikTok food critic Keith Lee visited Baton Rouge in mid-June for his recent food tour, leaving mixed reviews for the four restaurants he visited (The Bayou Affect, Smoke Bayou, Dr. Feel Good, and Fork N Spoon). But he couldn’t leave Louisiana without a quick stop in New Orleans, which he declared his favorite food city of 2023 after visiting last year. At the end of his week in Baton Rouge, he made the hour-and-a-half trip to Fantasy Tacos, a Mexican fusion restaurant in Gretna on New Orleans’ west bank. Similar to his previous experiences at New Orleans spots like Monday (a restaurant owned by Larry Morrow) and B Sweet Bistro, Lee had high praise for the restaurant.

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Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller at Emeril’s and Miss River

On June 12 and 13, New Orleans hosted the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Americas Selection—the first time this international competition was held in the United States. As such, some of the world’s most famous chefs descended on town and made sure to spend their free time eating well. On the final night of the competition, Emeril Lagasse and his son, EJ Lagasse, hosted Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Gavin Kaysen (who together make up Ment’or) at Emeril’s, Lagasse’s flagship restaurant in New Orleans. The group also visited Miss River, Alon Shaya’s Four Seasons New Orleans restaurant, enjoyed flaming Baked Alaska and had lunch delivered to Team USA from Turkey and the Wolf, Mason Hereford’s acclaimed sandwich shop, during the competition. It’s very likely that Turkey and the Wolf’s kale melts and fried bologna sandwiches helped them win.

Lana Del Rey at Tic-Toc Cafe

Lana Del Rey first made Cajun Country buzz in mid-May when she posted a photo of herself in Des Allemands, Louisiana, less than an hour outside of New Orleans, visiting Airboat Tours By Arthur for a swamp tour. As it turns out, that wasn’t the only stop she made en route to Hangout Fest in Orange Beach—last week, she posted shots from New Orleans, an artistic compilation of cinematic photos of the singer on the city’s streets, in front of a Budweiser painting in the French Quarter, and at the Tic-Toc Cafe, a diner in Metairie. We probably would have recommended one of New Orleans’ other excellent food spots, but the aesthetic was perfect.

Mick Jagger at Antoine’s and Commander’s Palace

In late April and early May, when Jazz Dads and their ilk descended on New Orleans, one of Jazz Fest’s most anticipated headliners dined all over town before and after his performance. Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger dined at New Orleans’ grande dame of fine dining, Commander’s Palace, on Wednesday, May 1, ahead of the Rolling Stones’ performance on Thursday, May 2. According to the restaurant, chef Meg Bickford served the singer’s group soft-shell crab, the restaurant’s famous shrimp and tasso henican, gumbo and bread pudding soufflé. Then on Friday, May 3, Jagger visited Antoine’s, a French Quarter regular, for lunch, where he posed with a Jazz Fest-style Baked Alaska.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Murderers of Atchafalaya

The Killers were also in town for Jazz Fest 2024, helping to kick off the first weekend of the festival with a performance on Friday, April 26 (and a performance at Tipitina’s the night before). Band members Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Dell Neal and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. dined together at Atchafalaya, Tony and Rachael Tocco’s Creole restaurant in Uptown known for brunch, shrimp and grits and gumbo.