Head-to-Head · New Orleans
Commander's Palace vs Emeril's
Commander's Palace for Garden District tradition since 1893, Emeril's for two Michelin stars. Book Emeril's for the modern Creole tasting.
The Verdict
Commander's Palace is the tradition pick. Open in the Garden District since 1893 at 1403 Washington Avenue, it runs Creole cooking under executive chef Meg Bickford, the first woman to lead its kitchen, and it has gathered multiple James Beard recognitions. The signatures are the turtle soup finished with sherry, the bread-pudding soufflé and the 25-cent martini lunch. It scores 9.5 for food, 9.7 for the room and 8.4 for value, the higher room score of the two.
Emeril's is the modern pick. The Lagasse flagship at 800 Tchoupitoulas Street in the Warehouse District holds two Michelin stars under E.J. Lagasse, who became one of the youngest chefs to lead a two-star kitchen in the first guide to the American South. The modern Creole menu is served as a tasting, and the restaurant placed on North America's 50 Best in 2026. It scores 9.6 for food, 9.5 for the room and 8.4 for value.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Commander's Palace | Emeril's |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 9.5 / 10 | 9.6 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 9.7 / 10 | 9.5 / 10 |
| Value | 8.4 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Classic occasion | Commander's PalaceMore than a century in the Garden District, with turtle soup and the soufflé, makes the city's signature night. |
| Modern tasting | Emeril'sTwo Michelin stars and a multi-course progression give the most contemporary meal of the two. |
| Value lunch | Commander's PalaceThe à la carte lunch and 25-cent martinis cost far less than a tasting dinner. |
| Impress clients | Emeril'sTwo stars and a polished Warehouse District room land a high-stakes dinner. |
| Birthday | Commander's PalaceThe room, the soufflé and the long history make a celebratory table that the city is known for. |
Price Comparison
Both sit at four dollar signs, but the way you spend differs. Commander's Palace runs à la carte and the famous weekday lunch with 25-cent martinis, so a midday visit costs far less than dinner. Emeril's is built around a two-Michelin-star tasting, which is the bigger evening bill. On value the Commander's lunch is the clear pick, while Emeril's earns its price as the only two-star kitchen of the two. Set both against the wider field in our fine-dining guide.
How to Book
Commander's Palace takes reservations by phone and online, with the weekday lunch and weekend brunch the most sought seats, so book a week or two ahead. Emeril's releases its tasting reservations online, and the two-star tables go first at the weekend. Plan Emeril's well ahead, and Commander's lunch you can often land sooner. Start from the New Orleans dining guide, then read the Commander's Palace review and the Emeril's review in full.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to the best anniversary restaurants, business-lunch rooms and birthday restaurants. For more New Orleans match-ups see Bayona vs Emeril's and Emeril's vs Restaurant R'evolution, and browse the full set on the compare index.