Le Bon Temps Roule   

Few bars are as defiantly dedicated to the spirit of the Crescent City as Le Bon Temps Roule. When the national chain House of Blues decided to extend a tentacle to New Orleans some years ago, LBTR responded by dubbing its stage ''The House of Dues'' and booking only no-cover-charge local acts who've never courted (or been courted by) the mainstream. A similarly hardcore local stance permeates everything in this unpretentious, friendly establishment; while there's a great beer and hard liquor selection, and regular drink specials, you won't be served any of those famous ''specialty'' drinks tourists thirst for. In keeping with the neighborhood bar motif, Le Bon Temps offers free oysters on Fridays and dollar beers during Saints games. The crowd is a seemingly random cross-section of Big Easy denizens, most of whom are regulars. There's also an excellent grill out back at the second bar, featuring homemade chow ranging from po-boys to meatloaf to quesadillas. In the last reel, though, music is the big drawing card for this establishment. Trad-jazz trumpeter Kermit Ruffins plays every Wednesday, and Joe Krown plays a Traditional Piano Night every Monday; a seat once held (in another location) by none other than Professor Longhair. There's also a wide array of local acts on the House of Dues stage. Local only, of course. -- Rob Fontenot