Best NO resturants?
 

What are peoples favorite resturants in New Orleans? I am going in august( I know its really hot!) for my 30th birthday, and would like to eat well.

Price is not really a concern

I love crawfish, and there is nothing like the local dive Frankie and Johnny's for a no-nonsense crawfish dinner and stuffed artichokes.

For a fancy lunch and if your a fan of Emeril, try for a seat at the chef's counter at NOLA.

If price is no object then Emeril's Delmonico or Commander's Palace is my suggestion. We are going to Commander's for our anniversary in 2 weeks. It has always been a favorite. The service is great & makes you feel like you have stepped back in time to when elegance was common. Try the chocolate fudge Sheba for dessert if you like chocolate. The turtle soup is excellent as well. Just about everything is great. Ask for the garden room if possible.

We are staying at the sheraton on canal street. How far is commander palace from there - we will not have a car( do we need one in NO?)

also have anyone been to a resturant called PERISTYLE ? it gets the top NO food ranking on Zagats -

I agree with benj's recommendation of Commander's Palace. It's really a New Orleans institution...no trip to NO is complete without at least one meal there. You will, however, need to take either the trolley out Canal Street or a cab (probably a better idea in the heat and humidity of August).

I've eaten at Peristyle, and while the food was good, I don't think it's as good as many other NO restaurants.

Peristyle has new owners and a new chef. I can't comment on what changes they have made but Peristyle could only go down from where they were!

how about UGLESICH'S for lunch ???
And Bayona ? anyone tried these?

Any other suggestions? How far in advance do you need reseravtions in NO

Okay, I'm going to get beaten up for suggesting a "tourist trap", but we really liked K-Paul's. My in-laws loved it so much they made us go back the next night (and I wanted to try one of the many other NO restaurants!) :'(
You can check out their menu at kpauls.com.

Bayona was good, but I found the service to be less than excellent. They were running late that night (another group waited an hour to be seated for their reservation), and after our appetizers came out, it was over an hour wait to get the main course. It was delicious, but since we were starving when we got there, we were a bit edgy to eat!

I haven't read any other issues like this at Bayona, so perhaps it was just an anomaly. I did think it was a bit odd that no one apologized for the delay.

I called about 2.5 weeks in advance for a Saturday reservation and the earliest seating I could get was 9:30 for a party of 5. They seated us at about 9:50, and we didn't get our meal until right before 11:30 pm.

Galatoire's is our favorite. We also love Cammander's Palace, and have had very good dinners at Stella! and Lillette (both are among the newer NO restaurants).

Byrd

We loved Muriel's. Right off Jackson Square. Great food. Short walk afterwards to Pat O'Brien's for an after dinner Hurricane. ((b))

My wife and I went to the Big Easy over Memorial Day. Arnaud's Sunday brunch is a real treat. Service is excellent, food is wonderful, and there was high quality dixieland music. We had a disappointment at Antoine's for lunch. We were served dirty napkins and silverware and the wait staff was rude. It was a very disappointing $75 lunch.

Although we usually eschew celebrity chefs, we had one of the best meals ever at Emeril's NOLA.

My current favorite restaurant in New Orleans, and my vote for most under-rated restaurant, is the Pelican Club. We also love GW Fins and Irene's.

I really don't care for the 'cajun' food in NO. Also, I think it is extremely mistaken to think of NO as cajun.

My #1 pick would be Galotoire's. By far. Commanders is ok, I would do the brunch on Sunday.

Also, to get you in the mood for Galotoire's, read "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Also, fyi, crawfish are out of 'season' now. As well as Oysters. Don't go raw in the summer.

Our favorite was Marisol. And Jacques Imo's was fun!

Ugliches (sp) for lunch is the best. When we went we did Commander's Palace, Mr. B's, Brightsens and others considered really good but Ugliches was the best!

I went to NO a couple of years ago and I would have to say my favorite upscale resturant was Irene's Cuisine. My second favorite was K Paul's. For a po boy you have to visit Acme Oyster Bar. Ate there 3 times....Enjoy

Thanks tons for all the responses. Is it really true that I wount be able to get oysters and Crawfish?? or they just wont be any good this time of year.

You'll be able to get both. The old saying used to be that you don't eat oysters in months that don't have an "R" in them. That would mean most summer months because the oysters aren't as good. Did you plan to eat them raw or cooked? You wouldn't be able to really tell much difference in the cooked ones. Boiled crawfish are pretty much over because of the hot weather. Some places might still have some though. Dishes with cooked crawfish are still around because crawfish can be frozen & then used in cooking. There is always boiled shrimp if you have the urge to peel some seafood.

dgruzew-

You can get all that stuff, however, its not in season. Shrimp are though!!!

Oysters-don't don't don't eat them raw in the summer. I don't care what anyone else says. Take marine biology to find out why. Basically bacteria are really nasty in the summer. Cooking will fix this, eat them baked or otherwise. Seriously, tons of people will say, "I live there and have done this for x years". I speak from experience. I take a boat to the beds and pull my own.

Crawfish-You will find dishes cooked with crawfish this time of year. They boiled ones will be very small. A LOT of the cooked crawfish come from SE Asia this time of year, they have a thin watery taste to them. Less fat-has to do with the amount of good ole dissolved organics in the soil down there.

Shrimp are great. Enjoy the baked oysters. Blue crab is always good.

Also, for restaurants, NOBODY suggested getting a muffalata at Central Grocery. That is one experience that is incredible! Very good quality for cheap and enough to feed two people for lunch easily!

My new FAVORITE restaurant in NO is Lilette. Food, wine, atmosphere... all excellent. I also love Bayona, but was less impressed with Peristyle and Commander's Palace.

On my next trip, I will try Cuvee and August.

I live in New Orleans, and here are my recommendations. If you want raw oysters, to to Brunning's at the lakefront (West End Park) We had raw oysters there on 7/10, and they were truly awesome. And, the shucker threw in some laginappe. I think we bought 3 dozen and got at least another half dozen for free. He did appreciate an extra tip.

Commander's Palace is best for lunch/bruch. It can get pricy at night. If you do go, notice how they move the salt and pepper shakers. It's a tip to the entire wait staff that they have taken the drink order. The service is the best in the city!

Acme is always good.

Skip Emeril's. Very pricey and not that great. He owns Emeril's and Delmonico. Been to both, and I think they are over-rated.

K-Paul's is good, if you like to wait outside and sit with people you don't know. Must pay cash, also.

Thanks for adding that price isn't a concern. I disagree about another writer's comments on Antoine's. We go there every year for anniversary/birthday. It's one of our favorites. But, we are local and know our waiter.

Breakfast at Brennan's is always fun. Get Eggs (yes, I meant to spell that with a capital E) but save room for Bananas Foster. Start with a Ramos Gin Fizz.

I know you said price wasn't a concern, but if you want one of the best shrimp or oyster po-boys in the city, get on the Canal St. streetcar line and get off at Canal and Carrollton. Michael's Mid City Bar and Grill is running a summer special with half price po-boys (shrimp or oyster) that includes your choice of a side dish (slaw, fries, or tater salad) for $4.50. Michelob draft is $1. For under $10, you can get a great meal. The special is good all day Saturday, but lunch would be better for taking the street car.

Enjoy!

Melissa

K Paul's accepts reservations now and hasn't had community seating for 7 years! FYI.