Can anyone please recommend any buffet-style, all-you-can-eat restaurants in New Orleans? Are the brunches (Commander's Palace, etc.) all-you-can-eat and are they served only on weekends? Thank you very much!

The only place I've heard that has a buffet in New Orleans is the House of Blues, and I think that's only for their Sunday brunch. I've never been there, so I'm not sure. Commander's Palace and other fine restaurants are definitely NOT all-you-can-eat, but what you get is certainly wonderful and worthwhile! And yes, the brunches are on weekends.

I've been doing a lot of searching for a trip to N.O. next week. I went to a website to get see some coupons offered, and there is one for "buy one lunch BUFFET, get one free" at The Praline Connections Gospel & Blues Hall. It says $26.00 Value, so i'd assume that's the cost of one buffet (and it's good mon-fri, which answers your other question).

Like i said, i'm not familiar with the place and i probably won't end up using the coupon (unless somebody responds to this message about how good this place is), but you can print your own at:

http://www.neworleanscvb.com/new_sit...snewevents.cfm

(click the Restaurant section, but be forwarned, the page is in Adobe Acrobat and takes a LONG time to load up, even longer if you have an old computer)

Also, if it's just a buffet you are looking for, i'd bet (pun intended) that Harrah's has a buffet.

Harrah's has a buffet, but it hardly deserves being called food. No kidding, and I really like food at the buffets of most casinos. Eat anywhere except there...

Thank you all for the great comments and suggestions, and for taking the time to post such informative replies. I appreciate your kindness.

I agree with everyone else. Buffets are few and far between here and the ones we have simply aren't very good. (House of Blues' gospel brunch is not bad but it's expensive!) Better to go to a place like Praline Connection, which has huge portions.

The only all you can eat buffet brunch I would recommend is Court of Two Sisters. They have a buffet/brunch every day. The food is mediocre but the atmosphere is very nice with a beautiful patio and a good jazz trio.

I would NOT go to the Court of Two Sisters. My husband and I went there a few years ago for our anniversary and were horribly disappointed. The food was ok--some very good, some not so good. Lots of the dishes on the buffet line were left sitting under hot lights for way too long. The jazz musicians never played through one entire song. It seemed that they spent the entire hour we were there "warming" up and then took a break. I was very disappointed in this place and wrote a letter to their management once I got home. They basically sent a chain letter back saying "sorry, too bad." This place is a rip-off!

As others have said, Court of Two Sisters is famous for their brunch buffet, and several of the larger hotels have them too. also, don't forget that Harrah's Casino has the mandatory buffet. However, any of these can only be recommended if your desire runs to quantity over quality. By definition, buffets are not the best food you can find, and sometimes they are downright awful.

In a city known for food excellence, it would be a shame to stoop so low. Portions in New Orleans' restaurants are large, and prices are generally more affordable than other eating cities. Many of our best restaurants usually offer a version of the "degustation" -- a six-to-eight-course tasting menu concocted by the chef to showcase their creations. Look for these on menus. If you don't see them, ask the waiter. Many places will do it for you if you ask.

Patrick