COOLinary: What’s on the Menu in August
Photo courtesy of COOLinary New Orleans
There’s no better time to dine at an award-winning restaurant during your visit to New Orleans (or while you play tourist in your own city) than in August. Not only do you get to experience cuisine that is an integral part of the New Orleans heritage, but you’ll be doing so at a discount. This is your chance to try out that new restaurant or revisit the old favorite!
COOLinary was conceived by New Orleans & Company (formerly the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau) as a promotion to lure diners to local restaurants in the slower summer months — the month of August especially — during which restaurants all over the city offer discounted dining deals. It’s the only dining program of this caliber that offers deals this time of year, though you can enjoy similar perks during the citywide holiday Reveillon promotion in December and the Restaurant Week New Orleans (June 17-23, 2024).
Ever since COOLinary came into existence 19 years ago, it kept growing in size and popularity. In the past few years, the number of participating restaurants has grown to reach 100, and kept going, some with multiple locations across the city. The restaurants that are taking part in this annual summer promotion are spread all over the city, including the Marigny, CBD, Uptown, and the French Quarter, and run the gamut from the iconic to the smaller casual ones.
In the past few years, the list included the famous Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Bayona, Commander’s Palace, and Galatoire’s. The Uptown’s Brigtsen’s and CBD’s Maypop both joined this enviable roster in the past. Some more casual participants included local chains like Zea Rotisserie and Bar, and the popular eateries located as far as Harvey and Kenner.
The menus and the list of the participating restaurants are typically announced in June, but, basically, expect:
- Two-course lunch menus for $25 or less
- Two- or three-course dinner and brunch menus for $50 or less
Once posted, the restaurant list is searchable by location, with each listing accompanied by a sample menu that includes the price, and you can also make a reservation right then and there.
Many of the restaurants that participate in these promos are located in the French Quarter or downtown, within walking distance from many historic hotels. So, book a hotel, make a reservation, and get out there and enjoy the culinary gems New Orleans has to offer!
