Mother’s Restaurant

Mother's Restaurant opened in 1938 on Poydras Street, then known as a restaurant row, where its owners, Simon and Mary "Mother" Landry, served po'boys to longshoremen, labourers, newspapermen and lawyers. During and after the Second World War it became a favourite with US Marines, and five of the seven Landry children joined the Marine Corps themselves. It remains one of the city's best-known places for simple, filling New Orleans food.

The dish to know is debris: the pieces of roast beef that fall into the gravy as the meat roasts, served in sandwiches and on plates. The Ferdi Special combines baked ham, roast beef and debris on a po'boy with dressing, and Jerry's Jambalaya is a Creole-Italian rice dish with chicken, sausage and tomatoes. Breakfast is served all day, which makes Mother's a dependable choice for a late start. The food is hearty rather than refined, so come hungry.

Mother's is open every day from 7am to 10pm. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Mother's Day, and closes at 5pm on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve. Reservations are not accepted, so expect to wait at busy times, particularly at weekend lunchtimes. You can also order by phone for collection, order online through a delivery app, or have dishes shipped nationally. Weather can occasionally interrupt service, and the restaurant posts updates on its social media.

The restaurant suits families, groups, solo travellers and anyone on a budget. It is informal, with no need to dress up. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, including ordering and eating.

The all-day breakfast is a good choice before an early tour, while the po'boys and plates of debris make a satisfying late lunch after sightseeing. If you are short of time, order by phone and collect, and if you fall for the food, the restaurant can ship dishes nationally through Goldbelly. Groups should arrive outside peak hours, as there are no reservations to hold a table.

Mother's is downtown in the Central Business District, where it started on Poydras Street. It has a large private car park, which is unusual in this part of the city. Use the directions link on the restaurant's website to find it, and combine a visit with the aquarium or The National WWII Museum.