Best Cheap Food in New Orleans French Quarter
 

Hello All,
We will be going to New Orleans in early July. I know, it will be hot!

I would like to know your opinions for the best cheap restaurants in the French Quarter and the surrounding area.

We have been to N.O. before and have enjoyed Cafe Maspero, Petunias, Red Fish Grill and Uglesichs. Any suggestions for other inexpensive eateries?

Thanks for your help! Laurie

Acme Oyster has wonderful oysters and pretty darn good sandwiches as well.

Deanie's has good fried seafood.

Napoleon House has awesome hot muffeletta sandwiches (I know, purists say that they should be served cold). If you want a cold one, head for Central Grocery on Decatur, although our last couple from there haven't had a lot of 'stuff' in them.

Port of Call on Esplanade is supposed to have great burgers, but since I don't eat much beef, I haven't been there. We'll be staying right around the corner at Maison Marigny starting tomorrow, so will check it out then.

Jean

Mike Anderson's on Bourbon Street offers lots of good seafood for very reasonable prices.

Their po-boys are so good and big (it's permissable to share one), as is the "Crab Seven Ways".

Byrd

The enclosed shopping area on the Riverwalk (where the cruise ships dock) has a food court and the food is not bad at all! French Market Cafe is inexpensive and has live music Sundays (and I think Saturdays) at lunch time

I would not hesitate to recommend any of the following:

Cajun Cabin (try the "Cajun Sampler")
Maximos (Italian)
Cafe Pontalba (Creole)
Johnnys Poboys (& Muffalettas)
Mothers (Poboys or Muffalettas)

And of course, don't forget beignets at Cafe du Monde.

ACME is the best, cheap or otherwise.
Best jambalaya in town
Delicious Oyster Po Boy Sandwich
Excellent Oysters and crawfish.

My family visits N.O. every year first and foremost for the food and antiques.
Every year we mix it up with the most expensive restaurants as well as the best finds.
ACME is unanimously the family's FAVORITE. Eating at the BAR definitely ADDS to the experience. Long lines all the time but it moves fast.

GALOTOIRE's - pricey but excellent
COMMANDER'S Palace - BIG let down, Do yourself a favor and don't waste your money. There's not a single good thing about it worth going back to or even talking about it. SUCKS, plain and simple and we're a group of 14 people, all FOOD lovers from NYC. We love great food , expensive or cheap, doesn't matter.

RED FISH GRILL is excellent
MR. B's Bistro excellent
PALACE CAFE , good food and atmosphere.
PETUNIA's - OK.
MOTHERS - must stop for sweet potato pie, bread pudding , jambalaya, etouffe, soft shell crab po boy.

ENJOY THE FEAST !!!!!!!!

PS> the PELICAN CLUB was also good.
LOUIS the XIV is horrible and expensive

The Gumbo Shop on St Peters is good too. Prices are reasonable & good choice of food.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! We are really looking forward to all the great food!

Thanks for reminding me of Acme Oysters. We ate there a couple of years ago and we also thought it was very good. We have thought about trying Port of Call before and never made it there. Maybe this time we will.

Thanks again for all your great recommendations! Laurie

Mothers for lunch, great fried shrimp.

I have seen several people that have recommended Mother's. Most say it is very good and some say it has gone downhill.

Anyone been there recently? Maybe we will have to try it and report back!
Thanks again! Laurie

I don't consider Mother's "cheap" but the food is fantastic. My Mom grew up in N.O. and we went in search of the classic Po Boy she remembered from years gone by. Mothers was the only one that she liked. We paid about $60 for 3 Po Boys, 3 sodas and one order of fries to share. $20/pp for lunch is not CHEAP in my book. However, if the food is really, really good, then the price might not matter. Anyway, I'd say a trip to Mother's is well worth it.

MOTHER's is always my first meal upon arrival in N.O. Was just there in December. Great food is waiting for you.

Another vote for the Gumbo shop. It meets your definition of good cheap food in the quarter. I used to go to Mothers every time I was in NO. After my last visit, I'll never go back. Long wait for pricey, greasy food.

Gumbo Shop is now on our list! Thanks!

Just got back from NOLA. Central Grocery has been much maligned lately....found their Muffaletta to be most wonderful. Stopped by there again on the way out of town and bought 3 to bring home. If there is a line (and there was) it was worth it. (and I don't usually do lines).

Acme....I echo the applause here. Wonderful shrimp and oysters-best I have ever had, any way you like them.

Did Commanders Palace for lunch. (not as pricey)and found it to be wonderful. Had a fabulous lunch, food was great. Walked back to the trolley to the French Quarter.

Felix was good.

Arnaud's was good, but Commander's, was better. Loved the Pompano Duarte and the Oyster Arnaud's which was a sampler of their different baked oysters.

Did Johnny's. Their muffaletta was good, but not even close to Central Grocery. (Wish I had tried the po-boy)

Went to Napolean House. Also tried the muffaletta. Again, it was very good. Better than the one at Johnny's, but not as good as the one at Central. I think maybe the olive relish had a better "zing" at Central and they seemed to use more olive oil.(just guessing). The Pimm's Cup was great. Will definitely go back there and do more of those!

Pat O'Brians was....fun......

Each trip we aim at different eating places...but keep adding to our "must do" places (eg. Acme was the first, now have added Central Gro., of course, Cafe Dumonde)

But to get to the heart of the question, the best cheap restaurants (not just a sandwhich shop) we have found have been Acme and Deanie's (on Bourbon).

Thank you for the reviews, atticus.

I had not heard of Deanie's before I started this thread. Jean H mentions it also. Do you also recommend it for the fried seafood?

How do Central Groceries muffalettas compare with Cafe Masperos? We love Cafe Masperos!

Thanks again for your help! Laurie

I must admit that the fried seafood is the only thing I have had at Deanie's. Huge portions!

I have not tried Cafe Maspero's muffaletta, so I can't compare. But I certainly will on the next trip. Best thing I can offer would be to try Central and see. Boy, that's a heartbreaker....having to go to NO to do muffaletta tasting!

Heartburn - $60 for 3 lunches at Mothers!!!???!!! We were there 2 years ago, and although I don't remember what the cost of the meal was, it certainly wasn't anywhere near $20/person (I would have definitely remembered that!!) and we ate basically what you did. Our total couldn't have been more than $20 for 2 people.

Just returned from New Orleans - weather was great. Muffeletta from Central Grocery (outside of French Market) was fabulous - I think it was on this bulletin board that I saw the recommendation. No line but we went on Monday morning. Acme and The Gumbo Shop - 2 big favorites for me. I personally liked the jambalaya at Gumbo Shop better but one of the best deals is the combination plate - a little bit of jambalaya, gumbo, red beans/rice, sausage! Line moved fast.Enjoy.

Yep, 3 shrimp po' boys, one large order of fries and 3 sodas. It all came to between $55 and $60. I think the sandwiches were about $14-$15 each. Add the other stuff and, of course, tax, and it was waaaaaay up there. The food was great, but it was still pricey for lunch. Fortunately, we ate mid-afternoon so we only needed a light dinner.

Hi Laurie,
Here's a few suggestions from a local. Would you consider leaving the quarter? There is a lot of great food outside of the quater.... much more. None of the below restaurants are terribly expensive.

*Irene's
539 St. Philip St. (Chartres St.)
*Herbsaint
701 St. Charles Ave. (Girod St.)
*Louisiana Pizza Kitchen
Near the French market.
*Palace Cafe
605 Canal St. (bet. Chartres & Royal
Sts.)
*Creole Kosher Kitchen
115 Chartres St. (Canal St.)
*Maximo's
1117 Decatur St. (bet. Governor Nicholls St. & Ursuline Ave.)
*Lulu's
307 Exchange Alley (Bienville Ave.)

Bon Appetit. Tim

Interesting to see all the recomendations for the Gumbo Shop...that was one of my first meals in NO when I came to check out Loyola when I was 17...37 years ago!!!!!
My new favorite resaurant is Marisol's on Esplanade right outside of the quarter. Incredible buffet that they keep refilling,for lunch...Very mediterranean style food, reminds me a lot of Italy and Spain. And yes it is cheap! You will not be disappointed. It has a lovely inside dining area as well as a french quarter style patio.And yes you will be HOT!

Thank you for your suggestions, Tim and Nancy! I have made notes and hope to try some of them.

Tim, We tried Irene's a couple of years ago. The portions were very large but my chicken dish was just okay. It was a little dry. Is there something is particular that they are know for? I have heard lots of good reviews of this restaurant and I would be willing to give it another try.

I have never heard of Creole Kosher Kitchen. We will check it out.

We would be willing to go outside the quarter, but we will not have a car and do not want to spend alot on cab fare.

I have heard that Brigtsens is good and we may spring for a taxi to try them.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions! Laurie

Irene's is noted for their manicotti ,Shrimp dishes,veal, and baked Alaska... among others.

I love Brigsten's. Go for the early dinner and get three delicious courses for about $20. I believe their early dinner special is from 5-6pm, but call to make sure. The restaurant is located about two or so blocks from the St. Charles streetcar,so you could reach it that way. I would consider your safety, however, and not walk after dark in small numbers.

Mite, Irene's is one of my favorite restaurants in the Quarter. Great suggestion.

Irene's owners recently split, and Tommy opened his own restaurant a few blocks away fromthe Windsor Court Hotel away from the quarter. We LOVED it! You think you're inj Italy! It's called Tommy's. I think you'll prefer it to Irene's. Most of the staff followed Tommy to his new restaurant. Also very reasonable. If I think of any more I'll post them. There was just an article about cheap NO food a few months ago in Southern Living. If I have time to lacate it I'll add those. I'm leaving for Australia Sat. so I don't have much time. There's a great place across the Lake called Alex Patout's. Has Sunday brunch, you can sit on the balcony and view the Lake. Haven't been there myself but my brother isin town working onthe Kate Hudson movie that's being filmed here and he needed a good rec for a producer who went, loved it and said he would rec it to the rest of the crew. It's in a nice old home or something on the Lake. Gotta start packing but will check back later.

Thank you for your suggestions, Mite and Nancy. That was a good tip about Tommy's. We will check that out! Thanks again! Laurie

Dear Laurie: Cafe Reconcile is perhaps the best lunch value in all of New Orleans - located on Oretha Castle Haley - best to take a cab from the Quarter if you don't have a car. They live up to their slogan of "gourmet food at blue collar prices". In the Quarter, the Napoleon House at St. Louis and Chartres is a perennial favorite of locals (wonderful atmosphere, too, plus a non-smoking area). For a list of "can't miss" restaurants from a native New Orleanian, visit my web site at www.hystericalhistory.com.

Hysterically yours,

The Nac