Because cuisine is a regional obsession, it's actually difficult to find a bad meal here, even at the lowliest diner. Euro-strength coffee and beignets . For a full-course breakfast. Pastries and coffee in what appears to be a former Turkish Bath. A favorite with local residents.
Lunch is a less expensive version of their excellent dinner menu.
Fine Italian cuisine at neighborhood prices. For reasonably priced lodgings with charm, try the Hotel Villa Convento at 616 Ursulines Street. Try MapQuest . Finally, if you haven't already done so, please read the Vinyl Tourist's Caveat . The vinyl section is very well organized and there is an amazing collection of 78's sorted by genre and style in boxes beneath the LP bins.