Commander's Palace (Creole)
A classic New Orleans destination for upscale Creole dining in a historic turquoise landmark.
Official website
Restaurants along The Great Southern Parkway
New Orleans, LA:
Galatoire's (French-Creole)
An iconic Bourbon Street restaurant known for old-line French-Creole service and celebratory atmosphere.
Official website
Dooky Chase's Restaurant (Creole/Soul Food)
A legendary Creole restaurant tied closely to New Orleans food history and the legacy of Leah Chase.
Official website
Cochon (Cajun/Southern)
A favorite for Cajun-inspired meats, seafood, and boudin in a lively industrial-chic space.
Official website
Acamaya (Mexican Seafood)
A modern seafood-focused restaurant drawing from Mexican coastal flavors and the Gulf's ingredients.
Official website
Paladar 511 (Italian)
A stylish neighborhood spot known for housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a polished but relaxed vibe.
Official website
Pizza Domenica (Pizza)
A dependable local favorite for Neapolitan-style pizza, antipasti, and easy group-friendly meals.
Official website
Budsi's Authentic Thai (Thai)
A well-liked neighborhood restaurant for Northern Thai specialties and bright, balanced flavors.
Official website
Sweet Soulfood (Vegan Soul Food)
A standout plant-based counter serving vegan takes on classic New Orleans and Southern comfort dishes.
Official website
Mister Mao (Global Small Plates)
A creative, eclectic option for globally inspired plates that feels distinct from the city's classic Creole canon.
Official website
N7 (French/Japanese)
A tucked-away, highly regarded destination blending French and Japanese influences in a romantic courtyard setting.
Official website
Mosquito Supper Club (Cajun Tasting Menu)
A sought-after reservation for an immersive Louisiana bayou-style communal meal and tasting experience.
Official website
Cane & Table (Caribbean/Cuban)
A lively French Quarter restaurant with Caribbean-influenced dishes and one of the city's better tropical-cocktail programs.
Official website
Dakar NOLA (Senegalese/West African)
An acclaimed tasting-menu restaurant bringing Senegalese and broader West African flavors into the city's dining scene.
Official website
Cochon Butcher (Barbecue/Charcuterie)
A standout New Orleans choice for smoked meats, sandwiches, housemade charcuterie, and a more barbecue-forward take from the Cochon team.
Official website
Natchez Trace Parkway:
The Camp Restaurant (American/Southern)
A relaxed bluffside stop near the Parkway's southern end with river views, burgers, and Southern comfort food.
Official website
The Mayflower Cafe (Seafood/Greek-American)
A long-running downtown Jackson institution known for seafood, Greek-American favorites, and old-school character.
Official website
Ajax Diner (Southern Comfort Food)
A dependable Oxford stop for hearty Southern plates and comfort-food classics just off the Trace corridor.
Official website
Neon Pig Cafe (Burgers/Butcher Shop)
A casual Tupelo favorite for creative burgers, butcher-driven specials, and a strong craft-food reputation.
Official website
Loveless Cafe (Southern Breakfast)
A famous roadside-style stop for biscuits, country ham, and classic Tennessee comfort food.
Official website
Nashville, TN:
Hattie B's Hot Chicken (Hot Chicken/Southern)
One of the city's best-known hot chicken stops for spice-level choosing and a fast-casual Nashville staple.
Official website
Prince's Hot Chicken (Hot Chicken)
The original name most closely associated with Nashville hot chicken and still a must-know local classic.
Official website
Arnold's Country Kitchen (Meat-and-Three)
A beloved meat-and-three for Southern comfort plates, cafeteria-style service, and Nashville food credibility.
Official website
The Southern Steak & Oyster (Steakhouse/Seafood)
A polished downtown option for oysters, steak, and Southern seafood with easy access to Broadway.
Official website
Biscuit Love (Brunch/Southern)
A popular brunch stop known for scratch biscuits, bonuts, and easy pre-show or morning-stop appeal.
Official website
Two Ten Jack (Ramen/Izakaya)
A well-liked East Nashville restaurant for ramen, yakitori, and Japanese pub-style plates.
Official website
Epice (Lebanese)
A polished local favorite serving Lebanese dishes in a warm neighborhood setting.
Official website
Lyra (Eastern Mediterranean)
A stylish restaurant centered on Eastern Mediterranean cooking, wood fire, and vibrant mezze.
Official website
The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden (Burgers/Beer Garden)
A longtime crowd-pleaser for burgers, housemade sausages, and a large beer garden.
Official website
Peg Leg Porker (BBQ)
A strong Nashville barbecue stop for dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, and classic sides.
Official website
Butcher & Bee (Mediterranean)
A highly regarded restaurant known for inventive Mediterranean-inspired plates and seasonal ingredients.
Official website
Degthai (Thai)
A local favorite for bold Thai street-food flavors that add something different from the city's Southern staples.
Official website
Barcelona Wine Bar (Spanish Tapas)
A lively stop for tapas, charcuterie, and wine in an easy-to-share format.
Official website
Kisser (Japanese Home Cooking)
A much-praised neighborhood restaurant focused on Japanese comfort food and carefully prepared lunch plates.
Official website
Bastion (Contemporary Tasting Menu)
A respected choice for a more inventive, chef-driven dinner that stands apart from Nashville's classic tourist lineup.
Official website
Cherohala Skyway:
Tellicafe (Southern Diner)
A straightforward local favorite for breakfast and lunch before climbing onto the Skyway.
Official website
Tellico Grains Bakery (Bakery/Cafe)
A small-town bakery and cafe with breads, pastries, sandwiches, and a great pre-drive coffee stop.
Official website
Iron Works Grille (American Grill)
A casual riverside grill at the gateway to the Skyway with burgers, sandwiches, and outdoor appeal.
Official website
Tapoco Tavern (American Tavern)
A scenic mountain stop near the Dragon with riverfront seating and a menu built for riders and road-trippers.
Official website
Gatlinburg, TN / Tail of the Dragon / Cherokee, NC:
Crockett's Breakfast Camp (Breakfast/Southern)
A popular Smokies breakfast stop known for oversized portions, cinnamon rolls, and hearty start-of-day plates.
Official website
The Peddler Steakhouse (Steakhouse)
A longtime Gatlinburg classic for steaks and riverfront dining near the national park entrance.
Official website
Tapoco Tavern (American Tavern)
A useful Dragon-area meal stop with a scenic setting and easy appeal for drivers, bikers, and day-trippers.
Official website
Native-Brews Tap & Grill (Pub Fare/Brewpub)
A Cherokee stop for burgers, comfort food, and local beer after the mountain sections of the route.
Official website
The Old Mill Restaurant (Southern Family Style)
A classic Smokies gateway restaurant for Southern family-style meals in a historic mill district.
Official website
Blue Ridge Parkway (Cherokee to Asheville):
The Dining Room at Pisgah Inn (American/Southern)
One of the most on-route dining rooms on the Parkway, pairing mountain views with an easy scenic lunch or dinner stop.
Official website
Joey's Pancake House (Breakfast)
A dependable mountain breakfast institution for pancakes, omelets, and a classic pre- or post-Parkway meal.
Official website
Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen (Southern/Farm-to-Table)
A polished downtown Waynesville stop for farm-to-table Southern cooking that fits well as a Parkway detour meal.
Official website
The Buttered Biscuit (Brunch/Biscuits)
A friendly brunch-focused option for biscuit sandwiches, benedicts, and mountain-town comfort food.
Official website
Asheville, NC:
Curate (Spanish Tapas)
A nationally known Asheville restaurant for Spanish tapas, a lively dining room, and destination-worthy plates.
Official website
Chai Pani Asheville (Indian Street Food)
An award-winning favorite for Indian street food that has become one of Asheville's signature meals.
Official website
White Duck Taco Shop (Tacos)
A casual Asheville staple for inventive tacos and quick counter-service meals near the river arts area.
Official website
Tupelo Honey Cafe (Southern/Brunch)
A longtime downtown pick for Southern brunch and polished comfort food in the heart of the city.
Official website
Asheville Proper (Steakhouse/Wood-Fired)
An upscale wood-fired option for steaks, seafood, and a more celebratory evening meal in town.
Official website
Bee Thai Kitchen (Thai)
A downtown option for Thai curries, noodles, and classic dishes in a compact, well-liked setting.
Official website
Modesto (Italian)
A central Asheville restaurant for wood-fired pizza, pasta, and Italian comfort food.
Official website
Salsa's (Mexican-Caribbean)
A longtime local favorite blending Mexican and Caribbean flavors with a downtown Asheville feel.
Official website
Maguro (Japanese/Sushi)
A Japanese option for sushi, ramen, and casual seafood-forward meals.
Official website
Plant (Vegan)
A well-regarded plant-based restaurant offering more refined vegan dining than a typical casual stop.
Official website
Posana (Contemporary American/Gluten-Free)
A polished downtown restaurant known for seasonal contemporary American dishes and a gluten-free kitchen.
Official website
Nine Mile (Caribbean)
A longtime Asheville favorite inspired by Caribbean flavors, especially Jamaican-influenced plates and pasta dishes.
Official website
La Rumba Restaurant Latino (Latin American)
A solid choice for Latin American comfort food when you want something outside the downtown-standard lineup.
Official website
UKIAH (Japanese Smokehouse)
A distinctive Asheville restaurant combining Japanese influences with smokehouse techniques and craft cocktails.
Official website
RendezVous (French Bistro)
A French bistro-style option for crepes, mussels, and classic European comfort dishes.
Official website
Buxton Hall Barbecue (Whole-Hog Barbecue)
A widely recognized Asheville barbecue destination known for whole-hog cooking and wood-smoked Carolina-style flavors.
Official website
Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville to Virginia):
The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge (Fine Dining/American)
A scenic special-occasion restaurant with Blue Ridge views and a refined mountain dining experience.
Official website
The Speckled Trout (Appalachian Trout House)
A strong downtown Blowing Rock choice for Appalachian-inspired cooking and a convenient Parkway-town stop.
Official website
Bistro Roca (Wood-Fired American)
A cozy local favorite for wood-fired dishes and easy access from the Boone and Blowing Rock Parkway corridor.
Official website
Peaks of Otter Lodge Restaurant (American/Southern)
A practical and scenic Parkway stop for a sit-down meal beside one of Virginia's signature Blue Ridge landmarks.
Official website
Shenandoah Parkway (Skyline Drive):
Pollock Dining Room at Skyland (American Lodge Dining)
A classic Shenandoah lodge dining room with ridge views and one of the easiest full-service meals on Skyline Drive.
Official website
Spottswood Dining Room at Big Meadows Lodge (American Lodge Dining)
A convenient central-park dining room for travelers looking to eat without leaving the scenic drive.
Official website
Elkwallow Wayside (Casual Park Cafe)
A grab-and-go park stop useful for sandwiches, snacks, and quick refueling in the northern section of Skyline Drive.
Official website
Circa '31 at The Mimslyn Inn (Fine Dining/American)
A historic inn dining room that works well for a more elegant meal just off Skyline Drive.
Official website
Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers (Burgers/Frozen Custard)
A casual Front Royal favorite for burgers, fries, and frozen custard near the northern end of the drive.
Official website
Washington, D.C.:
Old Ebbitt Grill (Classic American/Seafood)
A classic D.C. institution near the White House, known for oysters, crab cakes, and old-school atmosphere.
Official website
Ben's Chili Bowl (Hot Dogs/Chili)
A landmark local stop for half-smokes and one of the city's most recognizable casual meals.
Official website
Founding Farmers DC (American Farm-to-Table)
A busy from-scratch American restaurant popular with visitors staying near the National Mall and White House area.
Official website
Le Diplomate (French Brasserie)
A polished French brasserie that remains one of D.C.'s best-known destination restaurants.
Official website
Oyamel (Mexican)
A lively Jose Andres restaurant for creative Mexican small plates close to downtown attractions.
Official website
Chercher (Ethiopian)
A well-liked D.C. choice for Ethiopian dishes and one of the easiest ways to add a distinctly local cuisine highlight.
Official website
Menya Hosaki (Ramen)
A much-praised ramen spot for focused Japanese noodle bowls and a more neighborhood-driven dining experience.
Official website
Lapis (Afghan)
A warmly regarded restaurant serving Afghan food in a colorful and intimate setting.
Official website
Zaytinya (Greek/Turkish/Lebanese)
A destination restaurant for mezze and Eastern Mediterranean flavors from the Jose Andres group.
Official website
Rasika (Indian)
A longtime standout for modern Indian cuisine and one of the city's most consistently recommended dining rooms.
Official website
Pisco y Nazca (Peruvian)
A lively downtown restaurant for ceviche, grilled dishes, and broader Peruvian flavors.
Official website
The Red Hen (Italian)
A highly regarded neighborhood restaurant known for handmade pasta and a strong local following.
Official website
Sushi Taro (Japanese/Sushi)
A top-tier sushi destination for omakase, traditional Japanese dishes, and special-occasion dining.
Official website
Maydan (Middle Eastern)
A celebrated open-fire restaurant with Middle Eastern and North African influences and a destination feel.
Official website
Mazi (Mediterranean/New American)
A contemporary downtown option blending Mediterranean flavors with a more modern American restaurant style.
Official website
2Fifty Texas BBQ (Texas Barbecue)
One of the region's most praised barbecue spots, known for central Texas-style brisket, ribs, and careful wood-smoked technique.
Official website