When it comes to a truly great restaurant, it’s not just about the food, it’s about the atmosphere and the memories you make.
In the South, great food and cozy hospitality often go hand in hand, making the region’s restaurants some of the best.
In fact, to highlight the historic restaurants that make dining more than just good food, Southern Living has released a list of the South’s most legendary restaurants.
New Orleans Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace in New Orleans is one of the Crescent City’s most famous restaurants and was named one of the South’s Most Legendary Restaurants in 2026 by Southern Living magazine.
Commander’s Palace has enjoyed a great reputation since it opened in 1880, but its real popularity came in 1974 when the Brennan family took over. This restaurant is known for its excellent chefs and fine Creole cuisine.
The restaurant, with its iconic turquoise building in the Garden District, is known for its 25-cent lunch martinis and dishes like turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé.
Featuring an all-star culinary lineup including Jamie Shannon, Tory McPhail, Emeril Lagasse and Executive Chef Meg Bickford, Commander’s Palace offers exceptional cuisine and warm hospitality.
The South’s Most Legendary Restaurants, as Selected by Southern Living
Larry Brennan (front left) and Ty Martin (back left), owners of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, throw their chef’s toque to Meg Bickford, the restaurant’s new executive chef. (Courtesy of the Commander’s Residence) Commanders Crop of September 23, 2020
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Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia
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Old Mill and Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
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Bern Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida
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Colombian Restaurants in Tampa, Florida
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Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina
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Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach, Florida
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Mary Mike’s Tea Room in Atlanta, Georgia
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Poogan Porch in Charleston, South Carolina
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Mrs. Wilkes’ Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia
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Bottega is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, West Virginia
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Loveless Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee
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Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Louisiana
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Captain Anderson’s Restaurant (Panama City Beach, FL)
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Patty settled in Grand River, Kentucky in the 1880s
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Hayman’s Seafood Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina
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Mickey’s Tavern in Charlottesville, Virginia
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Smith House in Dahlonega, Georgia
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Made at Boone’s Tavern in Berea, Kentucky
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82 Queen Charleston, South Carolina
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Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee
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Captain’s Home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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Blue Paradise in Key West, Florida
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Pirates’ Home in Savannah, Georgia
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Hudson’s Seafood House on the Pier in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
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Hugo in Fayetteville Arkansas
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Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer, AL
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Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas
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Red Fox Inn and Tavern in Middleburg, Virginia
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Jack Fry in Louisville, Kentucky
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City Grocery Store in Oxford, Mississippi
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Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for USA TODAY’s Louisiana Deep South Connect team. Find her via X @PresleyTyler02 and email PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared in the Shreveport Times: Southern Living names this Louisiana restaurant a legendary Southern restaurant
