Will be passing through New Orleans after a beach week on the Gulf Coast in May, and have narrowed our Saturday night dinner choices to either Bayona or Peristyle. Which would you recommend, if you could only eat at one of them? How far in advance do we need to make reservations? And, as we will be coming from the beach, will my husband be OK in neat khaki shorts and a polo, or should he pack pants?

Thanks for your help!

Both are excellent. Bayona may already be sold out (no kidding) and Peristyle doesn't take reservations so far in advance. Six weeks, I think...

I forgot to add...NO SHORTS at either place. He'll need a nice shirt and khakis at a minimum.

I've been to both and liked each very much, but my nod goes to Bayona. That may not be fair as I only ate at each once, but I felt the quality of food was better at Bayona.

Peristyle is smaller and the crowd was older while Bayona is larger and had a more lively buzz about it.

Ditto what John said about the shorts.

If you can get into Bayone, GO. It is a great experince.

Here's the skinny: For me it Bayona and Brigtsen's at the top of all NOLA restaurants. Period! End of discussion.

Although excellent, I have found Peristyle to not be quite in the same class as the other two.

In terms of decor, Bayona is more upscale, but Brigten's is quite lovely , but in a more homey way.

Reservations at Bayona are next to impossible. Brigtsen's and Peristyle are slightly easier!

Enjoy.