Dozens of restaurants across Louisiana have been recognized for having some of the best wine lists in the world by a respected lifestyle magazine.
Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards are given to restaurants with a wide, unique selection of wine that pairs well with their cuisine, while satisfying all wine lovers across the board. This year, over 3,700 restaurants earned awards in three separate categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
The winners are spread across the globe in all 50 states and over 75 countries and territories, from restaurants located in infamous European wine regions like Italy and France to small towns in Louisiana.
All in all, 42 Pelican State businesses made this year's list.
Yearly recognition for Louisiana
This is far from the first time that restaurants in Louisiana have earned spots in the wine ranking.
The world-famous Brennan's Restaurant has been recognized by Wine Spectator since 1983. The French Quarter restaurant took home the Grand Award — the highest level of recognition by the magazine — every year. However, 2005 marked a halt in the restaurant's annual win, after Hurricane Katrina sparked a long-winded power outage that ruined its vaulted wine collection.
Past Wine Spectator Grand Awards line a wall leading to the wine cellar at Brennan's Restaurant, which again won the Grand Award in 2021. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Brennan's took back its Grand Award in 2021. And, though it took the restaurant sixteen years to regain its once-annual wine recognition, another world-famous establishment owned by the Brennan family was filling in the gap. Commander's Palace has been a Grand Award winner since 2012.
Wine Spectator has shined light on restaurants in nearly all corners of Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette, for decades.
What do the awards mean?
When selecting its winners, the magazine uses a specific ranking system that includes three separate awards.
Award of Excellence is given to establishments that offer at least 90 wine selections created by high-quality producers. The choice of wines should pair well with both the price and style of the restaurant. This year, there were 2,150 winners in this category.
The Best of Award of Excellence is given to restaurants that feature selections of 350 or more wines from winegrowing regions or top producers in the world. The winners of this category serve as an attraction for devout wine drinkers. Over 1,500 restaurants earned the award this year.
The Grand Award is the most prestigious award offered by the magazine. The winners have 1,000 or more selections of wine that are served to customers with the highest level of service and presentation.
Winners in Louisiana
In 2023, Wine Spectator handed awards to 22 restaurants in New Orleans. This year, the city's booming culinary scene earned 27 awards. The ones that earned honors were:
- Fogo de Chão
- Josephine Estelle
- Desi Vega's Steakhouse
- Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse
- Mr. B's Bistro
- Galatoire's
- Galatoire's 33 Bar and Steak
- The Grill Room
- Justine
- GW Fins
- Meril
- The Pelican Club
- Broussard's Restaurant & Courtyard
- Brennan's Restaurant
- Briquette
- Chemin a La Mer
- Miss River
- Emeril's
- Tableau
- MaMou Restaurant
- Effervescence
- Jack Rose
- Gabrielle Restaurant
- Commander's Palace
- The Country Club
- Ralph's on the Park
- Clancy's
There were six restaurants in Baton Rouge that earned awards. The winners were:
- The Gregory
- Solera
- Sullivan's Steakhouse
- Mansur's on the Boulevard
- Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar
- Bin 77 Bistro and Sidebar
Two Lafayette restaurants, Marcello's Wine Market and Cafe and Charley G's, were given awards. Superior's Steakhouse in Shreveport took home an award, as well as 2Johns Steak and Seafood in Bossier City.