Don’t Overlook the Food at Cocktail Bar Jewel of the South | Eater New Orleans

"French Quarter spot with numerous cocktail awards and founded by two longtime bartenders, but don’t skip the food. London native chef Phil Whitmarsh turns out hearty British fare—savory pies and a soft, decadent chicken liver pâté served with currant-studded toast and tea prunes—that surprisingly suits a night of drinking. For drinks, the Jewel martini, made with Monkey 47, Meursault vermouth, and orange bitters, is a smooth sip, and the Brandy Crusta, an 1850s cocktail resurrected by co-owner Chris Hannah, is another standout. I don’t normally have to Google menu items, but there’s always something out of my knowledge range here—recent specials like a crown of duck (duck with the legs removed) or Baron Bigod, a wheel of brie, run around $100 and are best shared. Set in a 19th-century Creole cottage just far enough from the Quarter’s chaos, the space feels cozy and sunlit, with exposed brick, a bar with only a few seats, scattered tables, and a charming patio with cast-iron furnishings, drawing industry folks and New Orleans natives; you don’t have to dress up, but with $29 cocktails, why not? Insider tip: there’s no mirror by the bathroom sink, but look out the window to the one on the wall outside—it’s not great for checking your teeth, but it makes a fun selfie." - Erin Perkins