Want to take my parents to one of these classics. Which one is best?

Sorry - in New Orleans.

I've eaten at Antoines and Galatoires. I prefered Antoines. Oh the oysters rockefeller! What a meal ! Loved it. Order the baked alaska for sure and ask to sit in the back room. The front room is social siberia. Ask your server for a tour of the smaller dining rooms and the wine celler, very cool.

Galatoires, hands down. Less touristy, better food, great service. Full of locals celebrating just about anything on any given day.

I loved it 40 years ago, I loved it 20 years ago and I loved it this past spring. A classic that doesn't change and does classic cuisine perfectly. I love their lemon sole Amandine. This is the opposite of trendy in the best possible way.

Galatoire's...for all the reasons the previous poster mentioned and more. Another great choice out of the French Quarter: Commander's Palace. Both Galatoire's and Commander's Palace have retained the world famous reputations they've had for decades.

Not Antoine's. I ate there in May 2001, and it has seen better days.

arnaud's, without a doubt.

I ate at Antoine's last winter and was very underwhelmed to say the least. Service was pleasant and efficient and the food was good but hardly remarkable. Very overpriced for what we got - I can't recommend it.

All of these tend to be over-priced tourist traps in my opinion. & you can add Commander's to that list. They were all wonderful 40 years ago & continue to rest on their laurels. Try NOLA, 56 degrees, Cuvee or Gamay instead. Back me up New Orleans. Look @ the Fodor's board as well...

I'd take lunch at Commander's over NOLA any day but I do like SA's suggestion of Cuvee and Gamay. 56 degrees is mediocre and expensive, IMHO.

Go figure! - everyone seems to have strong opinions about each location. I'd be remiss if I didn't post my vote
for Arnaud's. Last May I tried it and
also Galatoire's and found that our dinner at Arnaud's was almost moving, it
was so thoroughly charming. The small live jazz band which plays right in the dining room and the very attentive, liveried service staff (2 per table!) made us feel that we'd stepped back in time. It was truly one of the most magical restaurant experiences I can recall.
Altho, we loved the looks of the old
dining room at Galatoire's we found the a la carte menu expensive and the staff
almost brusque (maybe it was just an off night).
Oh,yes.... P.S. the meal at Arnaud's
was delicious, not just beautifully presented!

Irene's Cuisine. Far and away the best (and classiest) meal I have ever had in New Orleans, and that includes NOLA, Galatoires, and Emeril's.

Thanks for all of your replies. We will be in NO for three days/nights and already have plans to go to other restaurants - Irene's, GW Fins, Resataurant August (any comments on this one would be appreciated). NOLA's and Commanders Palace for lunch. And I HAVE to go to Ugelisich's for lunch one day. I thought I would try Galatoire's or Arnaud's for lunch. Doesn't look like Antoine's is as great as I remembered it 15 years ago. Thanks again -- keep repsonding!

GW Fins was excellent when I went there in May, 2001! My dinner there was better than that of Commander's Palace.

Hi!

We ate at Arnoud's and it was lovely, but we had a less touristy and more delicous meal at Elaine's.

But our favourite BY FAR (if you like adventure!!) was Uglesich's - Whoo hoo.... a little out of the way place (check the address) but listed in Gourmet magazine as "secretly the best place to eat in New Orleans!" sooooo fun to go there! a little diner-like place with a TON of character!

Where is Elaine's? Do you mean Irene's? I'm not familiar with "Elaine's" but may have just missed it!

Yes, of course I mean Irene's - yikes - sorry!

I agree that Irene's is pretty darn good. You had me worried about missing this Elaine's place! I'm a concierge, after all!

You guys make me laugh! Go figure that the most entertaining and witty reparte is being held concerning N'awlins! GREAT city and wonderful experience. I'm searching for NYC tips myself, but OK, I HAVE to chime in on this discussion:

I really DID love Antoine's. The Oyster's Rock, well - ROCKED! and we found the service great. Our waiter was very entertaining, and even suggested a CHEAPER bottle than we planned on. Afterwards I felt badly though.....we sat in "Social Siberia"....still nice.

I echo the sentiments of Commander's Palace. It was wonderful, but sorry, their souffles are dissapointing. Great Charles St. St. Car ride there though. I loved walking around the old antebelum houses as well.

Galatoire's - OH MY! We HATED it - all caps HATED IT! It was NOT an off night the service IS brusque and we left ZERO tip -- a first in 30 years!! The food S-U-C-K-E-D and I'm a chef. I can't say more!

Try a place called the Palace Cafe for Sunday Brunch -- the crabmeat cheesecake (that's right) is to die for. It is so popular, they keep photocopies of the recipes hidden away too. We were serenaded to Louis Armstrong's Kiss to Build a Dream on. Wonderful!

Enjoy your trip. If you're anything like me, the crazy French Quarter will intimidate you at first. Be careful; don't argue with ANYONE in the street (as if you would - but seriously, a common trick that pre-empts your being robbed!) and have a good time!!

All the best! (and if anyone knows where I can celebrate my 30th in NYC, please advise!) Looking for a tier 1 food experience and fun atmosphere -- just got dumped by the fiancee adn going with a girlfriend!! THANKS

Don't know when your birthday is, but there are lots of places on Park Avenue South, one in particular is Park Avalon, gorgeous restaurant and crowded on the weekends with lots of 20-30 somethings. You should make a reservation. You might check out BRGuest's website. Another place of theirs is Blue Water Grill.