N7

"Eating at N7 feels like you’re in on a secret. It’s located on a random side street in the Bywater, has almost no signage, and unless you knew otherwise, you’d think it was just a swanky house that hosted a lot of outdoor dinner parties. They serve a mix of French and Japanese dishes, along with a variety of canned seafood, and have an extensive wine and cocktail menu. But it’s the combination of great food, the Christmas light-covered garden patio, and the sense that you stumbled upon something undiscovered that makes N7 such a special spot." - chelsea brasted, megan braden perry

"N7 is still a hotspot, and the outdoor setting is no small reason — the chic bistro boasts a lovely candlelit outdoor space, one of the best in town. Add to that some dishes not easily found on New Orleans menus — smoked mackerel, wagyu tataki, and duck l’orange, for example — and a huge menu of wines from small producers across the globe (including lots of natural varieties), as well as rare spirits, and sipping drinks out back can feel like a mini-vacation." - Clair Lorell, Missy Frederick

"N7 is a tucked-away gem on Montegut Street, a nonchalantly chic French-meets-Japanese eatery in Bywater with a gorgeous, candlelit patio, a soundtrack of cool French pop music, and bistro fare like mussels, steak au poivre, and duck l’orange." - Clair Lorell, Beth D'Addono

"Named for the highway that carries Parisians south for summer holidays, N7 used to be a tire shop. When the restaurant opened stealthily in 2015, it didn’t have a phone or any way to make reservations. The French-ish place was so far under the radar, it was hard to find the entrance. Things have changed some — still no phone, but you can reserve on Resy. And owners, filmmaker Aaron Walker and chef Yuki Yamaguchi, just opened a sister restaurant in Kyoto. The menu ranges from escargot and frogs legs to bouillabaisse and housemade charcuterie. Expect a gorgeous, candlelit courtyard, cool French pop music, and bistro fare shot through with Japanese sensibility. Guests must be 18 and over to dine." - Beth D'Addono

"You can reserve up to 30 days in advance for a table at N7, a hidden gem of a French restaurant in the Upper 9th Ward. What awaits at this unassuming bistro tucked in a former tire shop behind a wooden fence just off of St. Claude Avenue is a gorgeous, candlelit courtyard, French pop music, bistro fare like steak au poivre and mussels along with mostly imported seafood in a can (think smoked sardines and spiced calamari). The wine list is excellent, to boot." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell