Parkway Bakery & Tavern

Parkway Bakery & Tavern at 538 Hagan Avenue in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood is the city's most-honored po'boy shop, having won numerous 'Best Po'Boy in New Orleans' awards from local publications and food guides over multiple decades. The restaurant's roots go back to 1911, when it operated as a bakery; it was revived in its current po'boy-focused form in 2003 and has become a pilgrimage destination for visitors who want to understand what distinguishes a New Orleans French bread po'boy from any other sandwich. The bread is central: Parkway uses Leidenheimer French bread, baked fresh daily, with a shatteringly crisp crust and airy interior that holds up to wet fillings without collapsing. The roast beef po'boy — served fully 'dressed' with shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, pickles, and mayo — is the flagship, with thick-sliced roast beef and ladles of brown gravy poured over the entire sandwich. The shrimp po'boy features Gulf shrimp fried to order in seasoned cornmeal batter; the oyster version uses plump Gulf oysters; the Peacemaker combines shrimp and oysters in one roll. The dining room spans a converted corner building with indoor seating, a back patio, and a long bar serving cold Louisiana beer and cocktails. Lines can be substantial on weekends, stretching out the door and along Hagan Avenue. The kitchen is open until 10 PM most nights, making Parkway one of the few serious po'boy establishments open late.