"Chef Paul Terrebonne presides over the kitchen at this landmark on St. Charles Avenue, an Italianate-style mansion built for a wealthy tobacco merchant in 1883. Refined by a change of ownership five years ago, Columns offers a lovely dining experience on its front patio, with brunch a crowd-pleasing highlight. A thyme-scented shrimp and grits is one star of the menu, which includes a fine burger and an everything burger piled high with smoked salmon and capers." - Beth D'Addono