Laurie

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

JeanH

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

Byrd

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

MzPossum

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

laurieb_nyny

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)

J_Correa

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

dita

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

benj

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

Laurie

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

dfinley

Mothers for lunch, great fried shrimp.

Laurie

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

Heartburn3

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.

dita

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

Dutch

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.

Laurie

Gumbo Shop is now on our list! Thanks!

atticus

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).

Laurie

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

atticus

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!

J_Correa

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.

Gina2003

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.