Reputedly built as a haven for Napoleon if he escaped from exile, Napoleon House is a wonderful corner cafe with a juke box that plays only opera. Special Bread Pudding Bread pudding is New Orleans' traditional dessert. Commander's is a wonderful New Orleans experience.
Dinner is expensive but lunch is quite reasonable.
As an added bonus, it is just off the streetcar line a block down Washington Avenue from St. Charles, so you can combine a streetcar trip, a wonderful meal, and a walking tour of the Garden District. Be sure to pick up one of Commander's Garden District walking tour brochures and plan to spend an hour or two strolling through the beautiful historic neighborhood. For watching ships ply the Mississippi River, try Woldenberg Park, the Moon Walk, or RiverWalk at the foot of Canal Street. The RiverWalk festival mall is a wonderful place to enjoy a bowl of gumbo while watching the river traffic go by. Many people don't know that New Orleans has a strong Italian heritage and is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the country.