Any New Orleans suggestions?

[erin elizabeth]

Has anyone out there been to the Big Easy? I really don't know much about the city, but have the opportunity to travel there with a good friend in September. All I know is I have to hit Cafe du Monde for beignets and chicory coffee and hear some jazz on Bourbon Street. Any hotel, restaurant, activity suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am going to do some research between now and then, but a personal recommendation is always welcome!

[swquilts]

Here's a bunch!

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57949&highlight=Orleans

I love it there.....

[erin elizabeth]

Thanks! I searched twice with New Orleans and was surprised when nothing came up--I should have searched a third time! :D :rolleyes:

[RunnerKim]

Erin - the problem with searching for New Orleans is using the word "new" it messes up the search. Just put in Orleans. I had the same problem.

The best part about the city is the food. Amazing. (and there's great recommendations here)

Kim

[swquilts]

I had to just use Orleans too. Go figure.....:rolleyes:

[Jessica]

We just went there in March. Our favorite restaurant was Stella!, which is in the Quarter. It was recommended by greta on this board. You need a reservation and it is not cheap, but I had one of the best meals of my life there and it is not touristy at all.

Check it out: http://www.restaurantstella.com/

[Meg O'C]

DH and I were there in May and LOVED it! We can't wait to go back. We ate like kings! We had so many restaurant recos and only managed to scratch the surface. Our faves included:

-Commander's Palace (we took the St. Charles street car, had lunch, and then did a self-guided walking tour of the Garden District)
-NOLA (one of Emeril's places)
-Louisiana Pizza Kitchen (casual, reasonably priced)

We also enjoyed:
-Red Fish Grill
-Bacco
-Brennan's (for a real splurge of a breakfast)

We hadn't planned to eat at so many restaurants in the Brennan family but after we got there, we learned many of the places on our list were in the Brennan family . . . and we were never disappointed.

I also recommend spending some time at the National D-Day Museum (we spent almost a full day there). We thought the River Boat Cruise was a little disappointing. We really loved walking along the river and around the French Quarter, browsing in the shops, having beignets at Cafe du Monde, hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's . . . can you tell we had a fun time??

When we go back we've talked about getting out of the city for some day trips to tour the plantations and take a swamp cruise. We were only there for three full days but easily could have kept ourselves busy with several more days of activities and weeks worth of restaurants!

Have fun!

[schuh]

I haven't been there in years but Commander's Palace sticks out in my mind. Wonderful food there.

Also Cafe du Monde (although I didn't like the chickory coffee -- give me the regular stuff any day).