The Best Caribbean Food in New Orleans
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The best Caribbean food in New Orleans, according to the experts: Eater, the James Beard Awards, and the Michelin Guide have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Compère Lapin comes out on top.
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Fritai and Queen Trini Lisa hold the next two places. Eater shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with the James Beard Awards next.
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Rank 1. Compère Lapin
New Orleans Caribbean
Curried goat over sweet potato gnocchi is the dish that quietly explains Nina Compton's whole project here. This Caribbean-inflected restaurant sits inside a converted coffee warehouse in the Warehouse Arts District, all exposed brick and mosaic tile, and the menu pulls together her St. Lucia roots, New Orleans flavors, and stints in Florida kitchens. The bar holds its own, and the service runs warm enough that a James Beard Outstanding Hospitality semifinalist nod makes a certain sense.
The awards
- Eater Eater: The All-Time Eater 38
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Nina Compton
- Michelin Guide Michelin Guide: Selected Restaurant
- Eater The All-Time Eater 38
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Nina Compton
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 2. Fritai
Haitian
Pulled pork pressed between two fried plantains, dressed with mango sauce and pikliz, is a reasonable introduction to what this Treme restaurant is doing with Haitian cooking. Fritai is a bright, welcoming room where the Caribbean flavors run vivid and the bar leans on clairin, the Haitian cane spirit that most New Orleans cocktail menus haven't caught up to yet. A James Beard semifinalist two years running.
The awards
- Esquire Esquire: #37 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- The Infatuation The Infatuation: The 27 Best Restaurants In New Orleans
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2022 · Semifinalist · Best New Restaurant
- Esquire #37 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- The Infatuation The 27 Best Restaurants In New Orleans
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Semifinalist · Best New Restaurant
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Rank 3. Queen Trini Lisa
Trinbagonian Caribbean
Doubles, the Trinidadian street snack of curried chickpeas on soft flatbread, landed in New Orleans largely because of this sunny Mid-City cafe. Chef-owner Lisa Nelson runs a compact menu of Trinbagonian cooking in a room that feels like it's been around forever. The fried fish on coco bread with plantains and hot sauce makes a strong case for the city's sandwich conversation. A neighborhood spot where you order at the counter and eat slowly.
The awards
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in New Orleans Right Now
- Eater 38 Essential Restaurants in New Orleans
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Rank 4. Afrodisiac Nola
Caribbean
The awards