Mandy's 30th

Central Grocery, 923 Decatur Street, French Quarter
The home of the muffuletta, and a must-visit. Many consider this to be the quintessential muffuletta in the city, and as great (and historically significant) as it is, these days I'll usually avoid the lines and go elsewhere. Still though, if you've never been to Central, you've gotta go. Over the years the muffuletta operation has expanded greatly and limited the grocery store space; they have some indoor seating now for muffuletta lovers. Me, I like to take mine to go and eat it on a bench in Jackson Square or on the Moonwalk. They do a brisk to-go business, and big jars of olive salad are available for you to buy and take home. I like my muffuletta with a Barq's from their big Barq's machine in the back, even though it's not locally-made anymore.

Napoleon House, 500 Chartres St. at St. Louis, French Quarter
Napoleon House is one of the world's greatest and most civilized drinking establishments, with excellent food to boot. The Napoleon House muffuletta is considered by many to be the "other" definitive version, different from most others in that it's heated. I personally prefer my muffulettas cold, but that said, they do an excellent sandwich here. Don't forget to order their signature drink, the Pimm's Cup, while you're waiting for your muff to arrive.

From Lonely Planet:

A Top Day in New Orleans

My first goal would be to find a way to turn my day into several. Maybe I can accomplish this at one of the voodoo shops in the French Quarter? Meanwhile, breakfast is in order, probably at one of the cafes in the lower Quarter, not too early though, as this is New Orleans. Here I find locals pondering the newspaper and their hangovers. Suitably refreshed I head over to the Mississippi River for a boat ride. Old Man River has been the reason for the Big Easy's existence from the start and it's from here that you can best see what the area is all about. Back ashore, I spend a few hours strolling the shops in the Quarter. Royal St is a good place to start. Now it's time for a scene change. If the amazing and historic St Charles Ave streetcar is running again, I head uptown to the Garden District for an amazing po'boy at Parasol's Bar. Then it's time to wander the imposing mansions and lush gardens of this storied district. Late in the day, I head back down to the French Quarter for a cocktail. The Sazeracs at the Napoleon House are fine. Next up it's time for dinner at one of the justifiably famous restaurants like NOLA, K-Paul's Kitchen or Galatoire's. Then after a brief amble along Bourbon St to take in the spectacle, I head up to the Marigny where there are all kinds of mellow bars and clubs to enjoy through the night.