House of Blues   

For a music club that is essentially a corporate chain with locations scattered across the United States, the New Orleans House of Blues is not a bad place to see a show. The sound and sightlines are quite impressive. The upside: drinks are readily accessible from four different bars. The club books high-quality and in-demand acts from a wide array of musical genres -- bands such as the Neville Brothers, Gov't Mule, Karl Denson, Snoop Dogg and Slayer regularly perform at the House of Blues when they come through town. The club distinguishes itself from other venues with little touches, such as the bathroom attendants and the religion-based artwork over the stage. The House of Blues exists as both a live music venue and a dance club by hosting special events such as: Latino Night, Service Industry Night and Hip-Hop Night. The HOB chain prides itself on presenting a vaguely authentic recreation of classic Southern dining in its restaurants, so perhaps it's not too surprising that the French Quarter version doesn't embarrass itself in one of the world's finest dining districts. It's not authentic Creole, exactly, but you can catch dinner or lunch here while enjoying the music and not feel like you're missing out. It's no coincidence that the most popular meal here is musical -- Sunday's excellent Gospel Brunch.