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August Restaurant
$$$$ · Contemporary · Central Business District, New Orleans
Restaurant in New Orleans, United States
The Read
CBD Contemporary Precision
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
August Restaurant holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and a World of Fine Wine 1-Star Accreditation, making it one of the more credentialed contemporary dining options in New Orleans. At $$$$ with Easy booking availability, it suits food-focused travelers who want serious sourcing and a strong wine list without the reservation friction of harder-to-access US destination restaurants.
About August Restaurant
Who Should Book August Restaurant; and When
August Restaurant is the right call for food and wine enthusiasts who want a serious contemporary dining experience in New Orleans without the wait-list pressure of harder-to-book US destination restaurants. If you are planning a milestone dinner, a business meal that needs to impress, or a solo evening with a well-chosen bottle, this is a strong option at the $$$$ price point. It holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and a World of Fine Wine 1-Star Accreditation; credentials that confirm kitchen consistency and wine program depth, that put it in a different tier from most of what the French Quarter offers at comparable prices.
The temporal anchor here matters: the Michelin Plate recognition in 2025 signals that the kitchen is being watched at a national level, even if a full star has not followed yet. For food-focused travelers, that gap between recognition and full stardom is often where you find the most interesting dining, technically serious, without the prix-fixe rigidity that Michelin-starred rooms sometimes impose.
What August Does Well
August's contemporary menu reflects a sourcing philosophy that connects the kitchen directly to Louisiana's agricultural depth. Gulf seafood, regional produce, local proteins are not window dressing here, they are the foundation the menu is built on. That approach is worth noting for the $$$$ price bracket: when sourcing is this intentional, you are paying for ingredient quality and kitchen technique together, not just for a room. For the explorer-minded diner, that is a meaningful distinction from restaurants at the same price tier that lean on imported luxury ingredients and classical European frameworks without the same regional grounding.
The address at 301 Tchoupitoulas St places August in the Warehouse District, which is useful context for planning your evening. The neighborhood is walkable to the CBD and Lower Garden District and is a different proposition from dining in the French Quarter, less tourist traffic, easier access, a room that skews toward locals and informed visitors rather than first-time New Orleans tourists.
The wine program, flagged by the World of Fine Wine accreditation, is a genuine reason to come here if wine matters to your evening. A 1-Star from that body is not honorary, it reflects a credentialed list, appropriate glassware, staff capable of guiding you through it. For wine-focused guests, that is a practical advantage over many New Orleans restaurants at similar price levels where the list is functional but not a priority.
What to Consider Before Booking
August is a $$$$ restaurant, which in New Orleans means you are at the top of the local price range. The question is whether the sourcing quality, the wine list depth, the room justify that spend compared with alternatives. For diners who prioritize regional ingredient storytelling and want a kitchen operating under national scrutiny, the answer is yes. For diners who want the full tasting-menu format or a deeper Michelin-credentialed experience, venues like Le Bernardin in New York City, The French Laundry in Napa, or Smyth in Chicago offer fuller tasting progressions with more accreditation behind them, at a higher price and with more booking friction.
Within New Orleans, August sits between the mid-tier contemporary options and the full-ceremony Creole institutions. It is less formal than Commander's Palace, more technically focused than Emeril's, better positioned for a wine-forward evening than most of its Warehouse District neighbors. See the comparison section below for a full peer breakdown.
Practical Details
| Detail | August Restaurant | Bayona | Commander's Palace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tier | $$$$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Cuisine | Contemporary | New American | Creole |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Moderate–Hard |
| Wine accreditation | World of Fine Wine 1-Star | Not listed | Wine Spectator award holder |
| Michelin recognition | Plate (2025) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Location | Warehouse District | French Quarter | Garden District |
Booking is currently rated Easy, which is a practical advantage over comparably credentialed contemporaries. You do not need to plan weeks out in most cases, though weekend evenings and holiday periods will tighten availability. See the FAQ section for specific booking guidance.
Pearl Picks: If You Like August, Also Consider
- Saint-Germain, for a more intimate New Orleans contemporary experience
- Bayona, New American, slightly lower price tier, French Quarter setting
- Zasu, $$$ American Contemporary, a step down in formality and price
- Re Santi e Leoni, Contemporary, comparable price, different flavor profile
- Bastion in Nashville, if you want a comparable $$$$ contemporary experience in another Southern city
- AnnaLena in Vancouver, $$$$ Contemporary, strong sourcing ethos, different regional context
- Lazy Bear in San Francisco, for a more theatrical sourcing-forward format
- Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, the benchmark for farm-to-table sourcing at the top end of the US market
- Providence in Los Angeles, if Gulf-coast seafood focus appeals and you want a Michelin-starred comparison point
For more dining options across the city, see our full New Orleans restaurants guide. Also worth exploring: New Orleans hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences.
Planning details
- Location
- 301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Website
- restaurantaugust.com
- Phone
- (504) 299-9777
The take
The Take
The Vibe
August occupies a converted commercial building in the Central Business District, and that provenance shapes the room’s character. High ceilings, angled light that flattens into amber by evening, and substantial architecture give the dining room a measured, weighty presence. The energy here deliberately contrasts with the French Quarter’s density and noise; instead, August reads as a composed, urbane place where contemporary fine-dining technique meets local context. Inspectors and critics position the restaurant within a national conversation about modern fine dining while the physical space retains the quietly imposing qualities of older commercial architecture.
Best For
August is best suited to dinner occasions that call for formality and focus: date nights, business dinners, special occasions and celebrations all fit the room’s tone. Its location in the CBD places it within reach of downtown hospitality and corporate life, and the restaurant’s 2025 Michelin Plate recognition signals a reliably elevated meal. The setting reads as evening-first—the description emphasizes amber late-afternoon light and an atmosphere that deliberately distances itself from louder tourist corridors—so reservations for an evening service are the natural way to experience what the kitchen and dining room offer.
Ordering Tips
Let the kitchen’s signature preparations guide your selections: the house Foie Gras Three Ways, Gnocchi with Crab and Truffles and Trout Pontchartrain are highlighted dishes that showcase August’s blend of technical precision and local sensibility. Michelin’s Plate designation suggests focused, well-executed dishes rather than novelty for its own sake, so favor the items the menu presents as signatures or that reference regional produce and seafood. Given the contemporary fine-dining context described, expect refined plating and seasonally driven preparations; choosing a selection of standout dishes gives a clear sense of the kitchen’s strengths.
Planning details
Location
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Also consider
Also Consider
- Emeril’s; Cajun, Cajun
- Re Santi e Leoni; Contemporary, €€€
- Bayona; New American, New American
- Pêche Seafood Grill; American Regional - Cajun Seafood, American Regional - Cajun Seafood
- Commander’s Palace; Creole, Creole
Restaurant context
At the $$$$ tier in New Orleans, August sits closest to Commander's Palace on price but diverges sharply on format. Commander's Palace is the choice if Creole ceremony, a legendary room, white-tablecloth tradition matter most; it has deeper historical authority and a harder table to get. August is the better call if you want contemporary technique, a wine-forward evening, a room that skews toward serious food travelers rather than special-occasion pageantry. Both earn their price; the decision comes down to what kind of evening you are building.
Bayona is the most direct value alternative. New American cooking at $$$, set in a French Quarter courtyard, consistently well-reviewed; if you want to spend less without sacrificing kitchen quality, Bayona is where to go. Emeril's operates in a similar Warehouse District orbit but leans into Cajun identity and name-brand recognition more than technical evolution; it is a solid choice for first-time New Orleans visitors but less interesting for food-focused repeat visitors. Re Santi e Leoni offers a contemporary alternative at a comparable price point with a different flavor profile if you want variety across a multi-night trip.
For seafood specifically, Pêche Seafood Grill is worth knowing: it costs less, focuses tightly on Gulf and regional seafood, is one of the more respected kitchens in the city at its price level. If the Gulf sourcing angle appeals to you but you want to spend closer to $$$, Pêche is the practical redirect. August is the stronger choice when the wine list and overall sourcing breadth are priorities, when the occasion calls for a room that can support a longer, more considered evening.
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Unlock the full August Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare August Restaurant
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August Restaurant | $$$$ · Contemporary | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of ExcellenceWorld's Best Wine Lists 20252025 Michelin Plate | Easy | |
| Emeril’s | Cajun | 2026 Food & Wine Top 10 US Restaurants · #52026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #202026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1012026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members | Unknown | |
| Re Santi e Leoni | Contemporary | €€€ | 2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | Unknown |
| Bayona | New American | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #5382024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3602023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #1632002 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #45 | Unknown | |
| Pêche Seafood Grill | American Regional - Cajun Seafood | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #1112026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #692025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #3672025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 Michelin Plate2025 Resy Best of the Hit List2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #175 | Unknown | |
| Commander’s Palace | Creole | Star Wine Lists 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #322025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 Esquire Best Martinis in America2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #394 | Unknown |
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How August Restaurant stacks up against the competition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book August Restaurant?
Book at least two to three weeks out for weekend evenings; a week may be enough for mid-week tables. August is a $$$$ contemporary restaurant with World of Fine Wine accreditation, so demand is consistent rather than frantic; but leaving it to the last minute for Friday or Saturday is a risk not worth taking. If your date is fixed, book the day you decide.
What are alternatives to August Restaurant in New Orleans?
For a comparable special-occasion register at lower cost, Bayona is the strongest alternative; Susan Spicer's Creole-influenced kitchen has held its reputation for decades. Commander's Palace is the choice if atmosphere and New Orleans tradition matter as much as the food. Pêche Seafood Grill is the right call if Gulf seafood is the priority and you want a more relaxed, a la carte format at a lower price point. Emeril's sits in the same Warehouse District neighbourhood and price tier if you want a direct comparison.
What should I wear to August Restaurant?
August is a $$$$ contemporary restaurant in a converted 19th-century building, the room expects guests to dress accordingly. Business casual is the floor; jeans and a clean shirt will pass, but this is not the place for shorts or trainers. If the occasion warrants the price, dress for it.
Can I eat at the bar at August Restaurant?
August has a bar area that has historically accommodated walk-in and solo diners, making it a practical option if you have not booked. At $$$$ pricing, eating at the bar is still a meaningful spend, but it gives you access to the kitchen without committing to a full reservation. Confirm availability directly with the restaurant, as bar seating policies can change.
Is August Restaurant good for a special occasion?
Yes; August is one of the cleaner choices in New Orleans for a celebration dinner. The World of Fine Wine 1-Star accreditation signals a wine program serious enough to match a milestone meal, the $$$$ contemporary format fits the occasion without tipping into theatrical excess. For pure New Orleans drama and history, Commander's Palace competes; for food-first seriousness, August holds its own.
Is August Restaurant good for solo dining?
Solo dining is workable at August, particularly at the bar, where the format is less formal and you are not occupying a four-top alone. At $$$$ per head, the spend is the same regardless of group size, so the question is whether you are comfortable committing that amount to a solo meal; which, given the World of Fine Wine accreditation and kitchen quality, is a reasonable case to make. For solo diners who want more counter-style interaction, Pêche Seafood Grill is a more natural fit.
