I am looking for some good restaurant suggestions that a suit jacket is NOT required. We will be there in June--if it will be as hot as everyone says, it will be a bear trying to get my husband in a suit jacket.

This was posted a while ago "Deanie's on Iberville, for good fried fish and seafood. Only restaurant I've ever been in that brings hot, red, boiled potatoes to your table in lieu of bread. Nice and spicy." We didn't get pototoes like this but the restaurant was great. Huge portions. Lots of Acme Oyster Bar recos, but we couldn't get near the place.

Try the Gumbo Shop on Rue St. Peter's. The food is fantastic and the restaurant is casual, no matter what time you go. For beingets, you must go to Cafe Du Monde--very casual and the beingets can't be beat. Another place I like in the area is a chain french bakery/restaurant called Le Madelines. There is one right in the heart of Jackson Square and several more in other parts of the city. I highly recommend this place for any meal of the day. The pastries/desserrts are delicious too!

Nola(Emeril's other restaurant) is a nice upscale restaurant, with good food and ambiance where you don't need a jacket. Bayona is another one that comes to mind that we ate in without a jacket. I'm sure there are plenty of others(nice, upscale where jacket is NOT required). Anyone else ??

Might be easier to list the restaurants where jackets ARE required. Not many.

Petunia's in the Quarter.

If you take the St. Charles streetcar all the way from French Qtr. through the garden district, just when it starts to make a big right turn (this is a long ways away) you get off for the Camellia grille. It is a tiny plcae with a horseshoe-type counter that serves up burgers and the like. It is very old; it is like going back in time. Lots of character. Funny thing, however, when I went I bit into my burger, and they forgot to put in the meat patty. I asked the server, "Where's the Meat?!" He thought I was playing a joke on him, but when he realized I wasn't he was happy to get me another hamburger with a patty! The ride out there is definitely part of the experience.

All the restaurants we went to on a visit a few years ago didn't require a suit jacket (my husband doesn't own one) - Mr. B's Bistro, Red Fish Grill, Nola. Further downscale was Napoleon House, Port o Call, Sid Mar's. And a friend loves Jacques-Imo's and Camellia Grill.

Arnaud's is my favorite & no jackets are required in the casual room, which has a 3 piece combo I loved. (In fact, there were actually people wearing jeans on a Saturday night in December - entirely inappropriate, but there nevertheless.)

Thanks for all the suggestions! I can't wait to go.

Did someone mention Acme Oyster Bar? If so, I missed it...it's a VERY casual, good food place.

I like a place called Flanagan's Pub. It's a locals hang out, as well as a place tourists stop by. The food is good home-cookin' comfort food stuff. It's on St Philip Street, just off Royal.

We visited the following restaurants and I recommend them all:
For lunch: Get a shrimp poboy at Acme oyster house or a muffaleta at Decator grocery store
For Dinner: (make reservations)
Bayona's and/or Nola's - best filet mignon I've ever had

LET'S SEE............ QUARTER SCENE, MOTHER'S, FLANAGAN'S, CAFE ROMA, ANGELI.......... THOSE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE 'MUST EATS'.

Could someone tell me the name of the very old bar that has candles lighting instead of electric?

Lafitt's Blacksmith Shop? Was so dark in there last I wandered through, I'd lose my drink if I didn't keep my hand on it.

My husband liked Mike Andersons right on Bourbon street. IT was seafood and gets kinda packed but was reasonable and he was wearing jeans.

Tweety,

Who told you that a jacket is required anywhere in NOLA? *chuckle* Your restaurant choices will also be swayed if you're traveling with kids.

I was just there for a "Wives Running Away From Home Weekend" in September. As always, humidity is a big factor. Putting your guy in a suit jacket is just cruel and unusual punishment. lol

Cafe DuMonde is a must do. We went for a late breakfast and were serenaded by a terrific horn/banjo duo. The rest of the trip, we just popped in wherever we were nearby when we got hungry.

If you're going sans children, I highly recommend a dueling piano bar on Bourbon called Howl At The Moon. This was the one place we made sure we visited every single night... and twice closed it down.

~ Sheryl

Sorry... I forgot to add Camilla's Grille out past Tulane. We took the cable car out and it was a nice tour. This place is older than the hills and the food is diner style. We ended up shooting the breeze with the cook, waiter and manager for about an hour. The staff is fantastically fun and helpful.

~ Sheryl

PALACE CAFE - excellent food, casual but elegant.

MOTHERS - the best authentic everything.
they have everything for less. a legend,

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON COMMANDER'S PALACE.....bottom line, it sucks

cafe dummond - go every chance you get for cafe ole and bennae (i totally butchered this spelling, it's very late)

ACME oyster bar