New Orleans Restaurants

[deb]

We will be vacationing in New Orleans in May.
Looking for restaurant suggestions. We have been reading so much about New Orleans restaurants..there are so many. Any help would be appreciated! Suggestions on ANY must do activites would also be great.

[kwormann]

It depends on your interests. Casinos are fun, if you like casinos. There are great parks and graveyards to see. I havent been to Emril's restaurants yet, but they all get RAVE reviews...go emeril.com to check out the menus for Delmonicos, Emerils and Nola....they all recommend reservations and I would do it NOW if you are interested!

Of course, there is the French Quarter with great jazz clubs, if you like jazz. There are also bunches of clubs with techno music if you prefer. I was mad when we went because I wanted jazz and DH's friend was looking for the 3-beer-for-a-dollar clubs...so guess what we ended up doing????

The mall is kind of neat, on the water. Most of the big hotels have HUGE (but expensive) Sunday buffetts. I think you would have a great time just walking around and doing what grabs you. BUT you MUST have a hurricane at a famous bar (the name escapes me at this moment.....help anyone???) It has a nice courtyard and the drink is GREAT!

Have fun!

Kim

[masimmons]

Lucky you! My husband & I were there for a long weekend last month; it is one of our favorite places. I suggest trying the Palace Cafe on Canal Street. It is owned by the Brennans (who own many restaurants there - Commander's Place probably most famous.) I had the crabmeat cheesecake which is to die for. It is billed as an appetizer, but was so rich (and wonderful) that I don't think I could have had more than a light salad along with it. Olivers is good too. I think it is on Decauter, but not sure - its across from the House of Blues. We also always eat the the Acme Oyster House in the Quarter. Nothing at all fancy, but great fried seafood, oysters and crawfish (when in season.) I have to warn you that this is not the time to worry about fat grams or extra calories, but just walk around a lot and that will help burn some of them off. Have a wonderful time.

[Gail]

Although you're bound to get new responses, here are a few old threads with information on the subject:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/004565.html http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/004744.html http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20010301-1-002349.html

Have fun!

[masimmons]

Famous bar - Pat O'Brians and famous drink - Hurricane. Lots and lots of fun. Be careful of the hurricanes - they are almost half rum and go down with wheels when it is hot and humid (in other words most of the time.)

[ebobbitt]

Unless I'm mistaken the "hurricane" place is Pat O'brien's.

[foodie]

I suggest a restaurant in New Orleans called Christians. It is not located in the French Quarter. You have to drive north of the quarter into an old neighborhood. It is an old church that has been renovated. It even smells like a church! If you have a car and want a good, but expensive, treat I think you would like this unusual restaurant.

[Kristen Lee]

New Orleans is a great place for food and fun . I've been there three times now and the last time was just a few weeks ago. Food is excellent anywhere. I definitely recommend NOLA's. Right now it stands as the best meal I have ever eaten. For something more casual there is Jimmy Buffet's Margarittaville. A great place to get po'boys is a little restaurant across from Jax Brewery that begins with an "M" but I can't remember the exact name. Things you should do are the aquarium, the french market, and Bourbon St. just because it is fun. If you have a car I would drive out to Oak Alley plantation. It is about a 45 minute drive but the place is gorgeous. Have a great time and definitely have a hurricane.

[eks]

I agree with Kristen Lee- NOLA's is the BEST!
Commander's Palace is also very good.

[mariakj]

I have visited New Orleans five or six times for Mardi Gras and the Sugar Bowl (Go Hokies!)and I have to say that eks is right. Commander's Palace is the best meal I have had there. It is really pricey, but out of this world and the service is outstanding. It is located in the garden district in a beautiful old home, but you can take the trolley there.

If you just want somewhere cheap and fun to go try Bubba Gumps located near the Jax Brewery. I normally don't do chain restaurants in New Orleans and was actually dragged into this one, but I have to say the food was great and the atmosphere is kinda fun.

Oh, before I forget. You also should try the Court of Two Sisters. It is in the French Quarter between Bourbon and Royale I think and they have this amazing jazz brunch everyday. They have all the creole classics like gumbo, etouffe (sp) jambalaya, king cakes. Plus they have a beautiful courtyard where you can eat and listen to the jazz band.

I guess these suggestions can get you started. If you need anymore just let me know. I just love New Orleans!

[greysangel]

My husband and I just got back from New Orleans yesterday! We were there for two weeks and had a blast. This is our second visit and we definitely have recommendations http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

1)NOLA...by far the best meals I have ever had. We went there twice. Believe me when I say this is a)worth the hype and b)worth the wait. I called two weeks in advance and they were BOOKED. We took their recommendation and did a "walk in". We went there twice in the two weeks we were there. I would recommend the walk in. If you go when they open for dinner (5pm) there will probably be between a 1hr - 2 hr wait. You can put your name on the list and leave and come back with no problem. So hub and I did exactly that! I'm telling you GO!

2)House of Blues - Sunday Gospel Brunch This is also something you need to book in advance. You buy tickets like for a concert. the website is www.hob.com (http://www.hob.com) If you do this, ask for tickets on the second floor if possible. The food is delicious and you get a great gospel concert to boot. This is an event not to be missed http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

3)Bacco - This is a pretty new place with absolutely incredible italian food. I think it is one of famous Brennan's restaurants.

4)Brunch at Commander's Palace - Reserve a place, do the "five star walking garden district tour" and then go there for a meal afterwards. The garden district is incredibly beautiful and Commander's was my 2nd favorite meal.

5)Santa Fe - This is a little place right outside of the french quarter in Fauborg/Marigeny area that serves incredible Southwestern. The shrimp and crawfish fajitas were out of this world.

I also have tons of other recommendations so if you need more suggestions, feel free to email me greysangel@hotmail.com

The Haunted History Tours are great...we did the voodoo/cemetary tour, and the vampire/ghost tour. I wouldn't recommend other "haunted" tours...no one can touch this group.

I also recommend the creole du monde walking tour..they tour courtyards in the french quarter usually hidden away behind houses as well as give you history on the Laura Locul family...this was an excellent tour.

There is so much to do..you will not be bored I assure you!

The audobon zoo is also worth a visit http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Have fun!
JeAnne

[KellyD]

What an awesome list Andrea - thanks!!

[andrea]

French Quarter Area
1. House of Blues (225 Decatur)—Gospel Brunch on Sunday, get tickets early!!!
2. Napolean House (500 Chartres)—Lunch, great muffalettas & atmosphere
3. Nola (534 St. Louis)—Emeril’s place, nice, new orleans food and fish
4. Bayona (430 Dauphine)—very nice, french food, great atmosphere, reservations
5. Port of Call (838 Esplanade)—fun, bar, music, food place
6. Mother’s (401 Poydras)—Cheap lunch, great bread pudding, debris po-boys
7. Café Du Monde (Jackson Square)—Beignets & coffee—breakfast or late-night

*Other good places…Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Bacco, Galatoire’s, Palace Café, Peristyle
*Basically, don’t eat anywhere around Jackson Square (except Le Madeline) or on Bourbon Street (except Acme Oysters & others specifically mentioned)…Those places are yucky, overpriced tourist traps!

Lee Circle Area
8. Uglesich (1238 Baronne)—very local dive, fried seafood, oysters, etc.—Lunch only!
9. Praline Connection (901 St. Peter)—good local & soul food, possibly live entertainment... also, a second location in the faubourg mariny (sp?)
10. Emeril’s (800 Tchoupitoulas)—very nice, reservations

City Park Area-- near the Fest Fairgrounds!!!
11. Café Degas (3127 Esplanade)—nice, french, great atmosphere
12. Lola’s (across the street)—spanish, small but nice atmosphere, bring your own wine

Uptown
13. Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington)—famous, historic restaurant in Garden District
14. Bluebird Café (3625 Prytania)—Great breakfast! Home fries, pancakes, huevos, always a line!
15. Camellia Grill (Carrollton-end of streetcar)—famous breakfast counter
16. Jacque Mo's (Maple Street near Carollton)-- dive atmosphere with high quality food, shrimp and alligator cheescake!

TO DO (Day)
A. Aquarium
B. Garden District—walk thru beautiful neighborhood of homes & gardens
C. Prytania Cemetary (in Garden District)—a safe cemetary to walk through
D. Audubon Zoo—well known zoo, interesting southern animals and habitats
E. Haunted History Tour

TO DO (Night)
F. Pat O’Brien’s (FQ)—wait for the piano bar! It’s worth it!!!
G. Preservation Hall (FQ)— lines and crowded (maybe standing room) but great local jazz!
H. Maple Leaf Bar (Uptown)—good local bands, next door to #16 above
I. Half Moon Bar (Magazine)—local, cool atmosphere, incredible cheese fries
J. Columns Hotel (St. Charles)-- elegant but fun for cocktails, great veranda porch

[deb]

Oh my gosh..thanks for all the info and previous threads everyone! I have also purchased 2 travel books and I am doing research on the web. There is just so much to do and so many places to eat in New Oreleans. We will be there only 4 nights so the hard part is picking the BEST places! We made lunch reservations at Commander's Palace..could not get in for dinner..even though we called 7 weeks in advance...seems it is prom week or graduation week or something like that and all the locals have taken the dinner reservations. We are also considering the acme oyster co. I have heard that's where the local chefs go out to eat. I think we will go on a plantation tour, and swamp tour. Also we will be taking a canjun/creole, 2 or 3 hour cooking class. I'm getting hungry just thinking of all this great food!