People flock to Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar, a local institution with unique corner bar charm, worn floor tiles, wood paneling and black vinyl barstools. This shop separates itself from the po boy pack with a friendly crew that’s worked at the shop for decades.
Owned by the Domalise family for more than a century, the down and dirty po boyy shop excels at making sandwiches filled with roast beef, seafood and even meatballs. Hamburgers and hot dogs are also on the menu; however, while they may be good, they’re not the thing to order here.
Domilise’s gained national fame when the late, great Anthony Bourdain visited the bar in his 2008 episode of No Reservations. But he’s not the only celebrity to eat po boys at Domilise’s. Famous folks like Brad Pitt, Anderson Cooper and Stevie Rae Vaughan have all broken bread at the corner shop. Literally.
Somehow, we never made it to Domilise’s until 2021. It was on our list but we always seemed to run out of time. Finally, we made it to the po boy pioneer in Uptown.
During our visit, we bellied up to the bar and ordered crisp beer and a po boy generously loaded with fried shrimp. The small ones are big enough to share, which is what we did, but we won’t judge you if you splurge and order a large and eat it all by yourself. The po boys at Domilise’s are that good.
Pro Tip
Avoid the crowd by eating at Domilise’s early. We arrived right when they opened and had our choice of tables.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar is located at 5240 Annunciation Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, United States.
3. Liuzza’s by the Track
Liuzza’s by the Track takes full advantage of its location near the Fairgrounds Race Course.
The restaurant encourages Jazz Fest attendees to stop both before and after they join the crowds for the music. As the owners assert on the website, “it’s a thang, y’all!” And by thang, they mean party.
Despite its location, Liuzza’s by the Track is far from a one-trick pony that only comes alive for Jazz Fest and horse races. Locals hang at this spot all year round. Adventurous food travelers seek out the tavern, looking for great bar food and a way to connect to local NOLA culture.
During your visit, expect a full bar as well as a menu that features burgers, salads and a full range of seafood plates. However, despite its varied menu, Liuzza’s signature dish is the BBQ shrimp po boy.
Make no mistake – the Liuzza’s BBQ shrimp po boy is a show stopper with its mass of sautéed fresh shrimp stuffed into a French bread pistolette. Tangy barbecue sauce completes the sandwich and makes utensils a must.
Pro Tip
Consider cheering on your team at Liuzza’s by the Track. The bar is open during Saints games even though the restaurant is technically closed on Sundays. However, if your team isn’t the Saints, you should probably keep quiet when your team scores.
Liuzza’s by the Track is located at 1518 N Lopez Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States.
