The Bodda Getta

Best bar: Avenue Pub

Favorite food: Cochon Butcher, Squeal, Cafe Rani

Unless you are under 21, stay out of the French Quarter / Bourbon Street. It's the biggest hassel / bad time in the city.

Man, you're getting some good advice. The Marigny District (Frenchman Street - between Esplanade and Elysian Fields) is awesome. Off the beaten path for tourists, so mostly locals. Awesome jazz bar if you're into that. Several good restaurants in this area. Port of Call on Esplanade is supposed to have best hamburgers in NO. Central Grocery on Decatur for a muffuletta. Acme Oyster House. Mothers on Poydras. Pascal's Manale in Garden District (ride the trolley). Any of the Brennan restaurants (6 or 7 of them close to Canal Street). Cafe du Monde for coffee and bignets LATE at night. The wife and I enjoy wandering the French Quarter and just choosing a restaurant and/or bar at random. We've been very lucky with this technique. Frank's on Decatur (made up our own veal dish and Frank cooked it for us!) Wander into any bakery on the NE side of the Quarter (away from tourists). Explore, take some chances, and have fun!

Jacques-imo's uptown is a must. Fairly casual and only moderately pricey. Wait can be long though, so either get there early or have a drink or four at Maple Leaf Bar next door, which is also a great place to see live, mostly local music.