Sammy's Seafood Restaurant, New Orleans

Sammy's Seafood Restaurant sits at the center of the French Quarter, surrounded by 18th-century buildings and iron balconies that personify the district. A candy-stripe awning shields a dining patio, filtering sunrays and airborne Mardi Gras beads while offering a view of Bourbon Street's perennial foot traffic. In this quaint setting, chefs prepare fried alligator and crawfish étoufée, just two of the seafood dishes on the creole-inspired menu. Blackened, fried, and heavily spiced dishes comprise the majority of options, hearkening Cajun preparation techniques. Patrons who dine indoors find themselves in a cozy dining room flanked by wooden walls and a brick fireplace.