In a town renowned for its neighborhood restaurants, Cafe Atchafalaya stands out. Located Uptown near Magazine Street, this renovated oyster bar now serves up Southern specialties with a distinctly flavorful twist. The airy dining rooms of Cafe Atchafalaya encourage leisurely weekend breakfasts, so be sure to call ahead. In addition to a selection of straight-ahead Southern standbys like chicken and dumplings, double-cut pork chops stuffed with cornbread and fried chicken livers with pepper jelly, owner Iler Pope spices up other home-style dishes with flavors outside the traditional Southern seasoning spectrum. The standard grilled chicken breast gets a much-deserved soak in ginger and lime juice marinade. The New Orleans brunch dish of grillades and grits undergoes a flavorful overhaul with tender beef tips and peppery brown gravy served atop creamy, jalapeno-spiked cheese grits.