First trip to NOLA!!

The places below come to mind for me as places with good food outside of the busy parts of town.  Metairie is on the outskirts of New Orleans, but it's a really nice, quiet place to stay and eat.  I hope this info helps!

Tiffin Inn Pancake House (Top 3 of best pancakes I've ever had)

Breakfast Spot
6601 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70003

Ted's Smokehouse BBQ (best BBQ I've had in 2014)

BBQ Joint
3809 Williams Blvd, Kenner, LA 70065

The Trolley Stop Cafe (good breakfast food at reasonable prices)

Diner
1923 Saint Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Grab a meal on Frenchmen Street at ADOLFOS, and be sure to stop for a drink Royal Street Inn & Bar.  Oh!  And call and order an All that Jazz Verti Marte.  They deliver, and they are to die for!

If you love food you should definitely venture into the bywater for dinner and drinks, I'm a bit biased that its the best neighborhood in New Orleans because I live there. If you are looking for good southern food I suggest Elizabeth's. Booty's Street Foodand Red's Chinese are also really good. Though there are lots of tourists, Frenchmen Street is definitely a great place to have drinks and listen to live music at night. One of my favorite things to do on a day off is ride my bike to New Orleans City Park and spend the day if the weather is nice.

Just went here for my first time in May and got shown around by a local. NOLA is a great place. People are friendly and have so much pride in their city. The French inspired architecture is stunning. The jazz music scene can't be beat, and the creole food is fantastic (lots of spices and rich!)

Food Recs: 

- Jacques-Imo's: their alligator cheesecake is something I haven't found anywhere else. They have good main course fish/ seafood dishes, and their cornbread (on the house) is delicious. 

- Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar: local, neighborhood place for some good po-boys.

-Bevi Seafood Company: seafood galore! crawfish boil, fresh oysters, etc. It's on the outskirts of town, near the freeway. 

The first two places aren't within walking distance to the French quarter, so you'll have to take a cab there. Can't recommend those places enough though. Definitely have a local feel and you know it's not a tourist trap. Have fun! 

If you're a foodie, be sure & have dinner at Café Adelaide. It's in the Loews Hotel located on Poydras St. We eat there every time we go to NO. 

NO is a biker friendly town.  Rent a bike and head to marigny/bywater by day for some cool new restaurants, art, parks, etc.  Take a bike, car or street car up st. charles and check out some of the homes/architecture of the garden district/uptown areas.  Also, hit up magazine street anywhere between jackson and jefferson.  Audubon park/zoo also a nice area.