Beli, a popular food ranking app, recently came out with a “Tulane’s Top 10 New Orleans Eats” list, showing that Tulane University students have a heavy preference for fine dining. Beli is a mix of Yelp and Letterboxd app structure, allowing people to review and rank different spots they have been to, ranging from restaurants to coffee shops.

Beli recently added a feature for college students to join their college and see other students’ accounts and ratings. Tulane

ranked 42 amongst 200 colleges on the app, with over 150 students using the app. 

Beli recently published a list compiling the rankings of all the Tulane students: 

1. Lilette, $$$; French; Uptown
2. N7, $$$; French, Japanese; St. Claude
3. Shaya, $$$; Israeli, Lebanese; Touro
4. Jacques-Imo’s, $$; Creole; Leonidas
5. Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits, $$; Wine Bar; Bywater
6. Osteria Lupo, $$$; Italian; Uptown
7. Pigeon and Whale, $$$; Seafood, Cocktail Bar; Freret
8. Saba, $$$; Israeli, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean; Audubon
9. Costera, $$$; Spanish; Uptown10.
10. Paladar 511, $$$; Italian, Pizza; Marigny

While this list shows a great deal of geographic diversity with spots ranging from Uptown all the way to the Bywater, the list only has two spots that are not in the $50-100 range on Google Maps. Tulane students are still stuck in a bubble of popular spots amongst other students – even when eating in the Bywater. There are no hole-in-the-wall spots or hidden gems that stand out.

The list does not include any Black-owned restaurants or New Orleans dining staples that have been here for decades. Jacques-Imo’s is as close as it gets to an establishment of that sort, and it only opened in the 90’s. The second oldest spot would be Lilette in 2001 and the third oldest is Bacchanal in 2002.

Personally, I have been to 5 out of 10 of the spots and am a huge fan of some. For example, Shaya has an incredible hummus and the freshest pita I have had in my life. Osteria Lupo has standout Italian cuisine and unique twists – one being their radiatori with jalapeno, basil and Louisiana blue crab. 

Pigeon and Whale has standout seafood, especially with the quality and range of oysters. Possibly more importantly, they have a rainbow negroni menu and happy hour including the negronis and oysters. Bacchanal has a really special vibe, mixing the music and simplicity of no table service outside with great wine, cheese and food. 

One spot fell short of the hype for me, which was Paladar 511, with lackluster food and beverages that didn’t deliver on the flavors. 

In terms of cuisine, Beli’s list presents some diversity but seems to lack the Creole and Asian food cultures that are prominent in New Orleans. The fine dining scene for these cuisines, especially Creole, is huge, and it’s surprising not to see these establishments on the Tulane student radar.

This list should be taken with a grain of salt, but it leads to bigger questions about restaurant ranking in general, with service, cost and atmosphere being as important as the food itself. Places like N7 and Bacchanal have beautiful outdoor areas and an exceptional vibe that sets them apart.

At the end of the day, food is personal preference and everyone’s list can and will look different, and that is part of the fun. Branching out and trying something new is exciting, but the tried and true establishments have their own kind of magic.