lauramsgarden

So if you had only 4 nights in New Orleans and wanted to thoroughly experience New Orleans cuisine, balancing it between elegant and casual, creole and cajun and just wonderful...which four restaurants would you recommend for the ultimate NOLA dining experience?

travisblue

Galatoire's
http://www.galatoires.com/

Felix's
http://www.felixs.com/

Commander's Palace
http://www.commanderspalace.com/

August
http://www.restaurantaugust.com/
August has wonderful $20 prix fixe menu at lunch

notbob

don't forget that you should also have 3 or four lunches and breakfasts in there too.

I'd keep Galatoire's but add the following:

Bayona
http://www.bayona.com/

Cochon
http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/

Brigsten's
http://www.brigtsens.com/

Mr. B's Bistro (for the BBQ shrimp)
http://www.mrbsbistro.com/

Parkway (po-boys)
http://www.parkwaybakeryandtavernnola.com/

Mosca's (hard to get to w/o a car)
http://moscasrestaurant.com/

Love him or hate him, I think you should probably include one of Emeril's properties. The flagship is Emeril's in the warehouse district, although I like NOLA in the Quarter especially for lunch.

SAnParis2

I would go w/Mr B's for Brunch, Acme for oysters & a Dixie &/or red beans & rice - Cafe Maspero for a Muffaletta.
For Dinner - Cochon. An Emeril property, a Brennan property & Gautreau's.

spirobulldog

I vote for Commanders Palace and Mr. B's Bistro too.

starrs

Do you know about the Taste of New Orleans tour? I think you would really enjoy it.

Bayona, especially if you stay next door in the Hermann House rooms at the Dauphine Orleans.

sf7307

We love Emeril's, and have also had very nice meals at Commander's Palace and Bayona. For casual breakfast and lunch, Camellia Grill and Johnny's Po-Boy.

bachslunch

Check out my NOLA food thread from last year:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...experience.cfm

SOCALOC

Another vote for Emeril's.
Highly recommend Friday Lunch at Galatoire's! It's a fantastic experience in New Orleans.

sf7307

If you do decide to visit Emeril's, do NOT miss the banana cream pie, which is celebrated for a reason! Big enough for six people to share

Trisha123

Antoines has the most fabulous food and dining rooms. The history behind this restaurant built in 1840 is fascinating, but the food remains delicious.

riccar79

If you can swing transportation, the best ever authentic cajun food is at Prejeans in Lafayette. We had the best time there, the greatest seafood gumbo, and live music. Prices were modest and the atmosphere was fantastic.

http://www.prejeans.com/

Bowsprit

All of the above Except for Commander's Palace for dinner. I enjoy CP's for lunch but dinner offerings always remind me of wedding/banquet fare. Lunch is better.

bachslunch

While I agree that the dining rooms at Antoine's are worth a wander-through, I do not agree that their food is a must given my experience there -- especially if you only have four dinners in NOLA. The competition is just too strong.

Were I to choose given my experience, I'd have the four dinners be at Galatoire's, Mr. B's, K-Paul's, and Commander's Palace (lunch could also work for at least some of these options). Given my experience, I'd also make sure to hit Cafe du Monde for beignets and coffee, Central Grocery for a cold muffuletta as well as Napoleon House to try a hot version of this sandwich, Johnny's for a po-boy, either one or both of Acme Oyster House or Felix's for oysters, Angelo Brocato's for ice cream, and any of the major local coffee houses for a cup of java.

hawksbill

"The best ever authentic Cajun food is at Prejeans in Lafayette"? I don't think the OP is likely to travel to Lafeyette anyway, but I felt compelled to offer my two cents on this. I thought the gumbo at Prejeans was fine, but everything else I tasted was really awful. And I don't think it's particularly authentic, either. I mean, crawfish enchiladas?

Also, I was there on a Sunday night, and the "band" was just two guys, one with a horribly out of tune guitar, and the other screeching away on a fiddle and singing badly. I will acknowledge that they may have much better bands during the week.

For a similar experience right in the touristy area of New Orleans, one could go to Mulate's. The food is not good, but it's no worse than Prejean's. The atmosphere is great, and they have good Cajun bands and dancing.

lauramsgarden

Love this conversation, thank you so much, keep the ideas coming - we are going crazy trying to choose

spirobulldog

I like Prejeans, Breakfast is good there too.

Littleman

Commander's Palace has a weekday special lunch and 25 cent martini's. Ask for a table in the Garden Room overlooking the courtyard. Some of the best dining is in the FQ and the CBD across Canal Street. There's also great restaurants in the Garden District and Uptown. If you are staying in the FQ you will have to take a cab or the streetcar 15 minutes or so Uptown which is not bad. Some people that stay in the FQ prefer to dine there so they can walk. Are you interested in fine dining or casual restaurants. If you prefer to stay in the FQ I like Galatoire's, Muriel's, Bayona, Stella, Irene's, Brennan's, Mr. B's and NOLA. Don't miss lunch at Galatoire's. On Friday there is a party all afternoon so choose your day as you please. Go to The Davenport Lounge at The Ritz Carlton Hotel and listen to Jeremy Davenport's jazz on Friday and Saturday at 9 PM.
Galatoire's @ 209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 525 - 2021.
http://www.galatoires.com/
Muriel's @ 801 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 568 - 1885.
http://www.muriels.com/html/home.html
Bayona @ 430 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 4455.
http://www.bayona.com/
Stella Restaurant @ 1032 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 587 - 0091.
http://www.restaurantstella.com/
Irene's Cuisine @ 539 St. Phillip St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 529 - 8811.
Brennan's Restaurant @ Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 9711.
http://www.brennansneworleans.com/
Mr. B's Bistro @ 201 Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 2078.
http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.php
Nola Restaurant @ 534 Saint Louis St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 522 - 6652.
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/
There are numerous lunch and dinner special's in NOLA. Mr. B's has a 2 course prix fixe lunch for $20.00. Domenica is a casual John Besh Italian restaurant in the Roosevelot Hotel a block from Canal Street. They have happy hour specials from 3/6 half price pizza and drinks. Dining at the bar at Domenica is fun. Luke is another John Besh restaurant in the Hilton on St. Charles. They have a 2 course express lunch for $15.00 and 3/6 Happy Hour half price drinks and 50 cent oysters. Dining at the bar at Luke is fun also. Antoine's is in the FQ and they have a prix fixe 3 course lunch for $20.00.
Domenica @ 123 Baronne St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 648 - 6020.
http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/
Luke Restaurant @ 333 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 378 - 2840.
http://www.lukeneworleans.com/
Mimi's in the Marigny and Port O Call are fine places for inexpensive dining. The burgers at Port O Call are outstanding. Buffa's Lounge has good tamales.

lauramsgarden

absolutely fantastic - thanks everyone so much...favorite cajun food?