Mid City

Five Happiness
3605 S. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 482-3935
Now open for almost three decades, Five Happiness is consistently voted as “Best Chinese Restaurant” by New Orleans Magazine and Gambit Weekly. No other Chinese restaurant seems to be able to replicate their brown-gravy and peanut covered Mandarin Chicken, with just a hint of cinnamon on a bed of lettuce. The chefs recommend House Baked Duck, Shrimp with Honey Roasted Pecan and Asparagus with Chicken. Big groups can rent the next door Imperial Room for private parties of up to 150 people. After Hurricane Katrina, the restaurant was completely renovated and remodeled; the dining room is “sleek and chic with subtle Asian feel.”

Ye Olde College Inn
3000 S. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 866-3683
Don’t get confused if you look in an old phonebook: The new College Inn re-located right next door to the old one. Either way, you should be able to tell what’s what when you get there judging by which building has people eating messy-delicious roast beef po’boys on top of white linen tablecloths. Ye Olde College Inn has been around since 1933 and evolved right along with the city; the regulars find their same spots at the bar every night. If you eat here first, you’ll get a discount at Rock’n’Bowl lanes right down the road, since the same family owns both. Hit up a Zyde-Cajun breakfast on the weekends for good food and good music.

Angelo Brocato
214 N. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 486-1465
Despite their location in a neighborhood that was under feet of water post-Katrina, Angelo Brocato’s re-opened about a year afterwards with a big cause for celebration. It was their 101st anniversary! Obviously, anything that’s been going on for that long has to be good, and you’d be right to assume that. Their homemade gelatos and Italian ices (lemon is the store’s best seller) use passed-down Sicilian recipes to cool down hot summer days. The mini cannoli are hand-stuffed while you wait and tied up in a box with an old-timey string bow. Also for sale are homemade spumoni and a huge variety of Italian cookies. Perfetto! Closed on Mondays.

Venezia
134 N. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 488-7991
Venezia has been in its current location for the past 50 years, and all of the New Orleans history it’s been soaking in is evident from the feel of the place right when you walk in the door. Advertising “traditional, home-cooked Italian food” hits the nail on the head. Classics like Veal Parmesan and Spaghetti and Meatballs sit next to Eggplant Vatican and stone oven-baked pizzas, making decisions difficult, but have no fear: Any which way, you’ll walk out wishing you’d worn an elastic waistband. But it’ll be worth it.

Fellini's Cafe
900 N. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 488-2155
A patio with a view of Carrollton Avenue and a menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired food combine to make Fellini’s a perfect choice for lunch or a casual dinner. The building used to house a gas station, which explains the odd but character-lending shape. Try anything with shrimp, artichokes and the warm, pillowy lavash bread.