New Orleans dinging-update??
 

Heading to New Orleans in 2 weeks and I've been reading the boards sans a fully functional search engine. No clear consensus on where to dine has emerged from the muddle of posts. Here are the places I'm considering... input and comments and on need/timing for reservations additional suggestions and appreciated.<BR><BR>Lemon Grass<BR>Del Monico<BR>Brennans<BR>Comanders Palace or Nola<BR>Muthers for lunch<BR>Cafe Mezparo (sp?)for lunch<BR>Cafe du monde... anytime<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Also staying at the International House- any thoughts?<BR><BR>John

Mother's - We ate there for lunch, have heard they have good breakfast too. Long lines at lunch, but it moves fast. You're on vacation anyway, so it's not like you have to get back to work. <BR><BR>Cafe Du Monde - We made a habit of skiping dessert at dinner (too full anyway) and hitting Cafe Du Monde a few hours later. It was too warm for beingets during the day, but they really hit the spot about 10 or 11 at night.

If I were you, I'd skip all three of Emeril's restaurants, which are now being manged by someone else. Those three are Emeril's, Delmonico and NOLA. Of the 3, NOLA gets the best reviews but my personal experience there was awful. Commander's Palace is considered one of the top restaurants in the country, and if you can fit in a weekend jazz brunch there, you should be delighted. Make reservations now! Skip Brennan's, especially the brunch, which is pretty much a tourist trap. Lemon Grass has a good reputation but I haven't eaten there. By all means go to Cafe du Monde...it's a NO institution! Other great choices are Mr. B's Bistro, Galatoire's and Bayona.

I'd add "Irene's Cuisine" to the list, located in the Quarter, but is mostly a locals place with nice atmosphere. Often a wait, but you wait in an area called "the garage" because it's litteraly the restaurant's garage, and there is a piano player. One of the best meals i've eaten, ~$100/couple.

Nola's was/is my favorite restaurantin N.O.

We ate dinner in the Vietnamese/fusion restaurant that's in the International House (I think it was Lemongrass or something like that). It was tres cool decor and okay service with good but not spectacular food for the $$. You are far better off going somplace less trendy for more authentic Vietnames if that's your thing. Definitely far better dining choices in NO but we checked out the hotel lobby and bar area after dinner and were impressed. We were looking for info on distance to and transportation options to Rock 'n Bowl (an area institution). Worth noting that there's a Thai restaurant in the shopping plaza where Rock 'n Bowl is located - it was packed and were were advised that it's considered by many to be the best Thai in NO and is very popular with the locals. We ate at Antoine's one night (which you didn't mention) - it's way past it's prime and IMHO grossly overpriced. It wasn't bad but just wasn't worth the money. We had late dessert one night at Nola's and would like to return for dinner to check it out again - tyoung somewhatr green wait staff but food looked good and dessert was very tasty. We also had lunch one day at Olivier's - worth a visit and nice but on the casual side (jacket or tie not necessary). The hotel front desk staff at International House was very helpful even though we weren't guests and I sensed that it's a really friendly and down to earth staff. My GF spoke to a couple of women in the ladies room who were staying at the hotel as part of a vacation on which they were checking out a variety of boutique hotels - they were quite pleased with their room and the facilities.

If you don't mind taking a cab to uptown, my 3 favorites for a really nice meal are Brigsteen's (sp?), Dick and Jenny's, and Jacques Imo's.

Thanks for the replies. There are multiple negative messages on Emeril's restraunts so I'll likely stay clear. Its been years since I visited NO but the last time I ate at Michaels on the Avenue (couldn't remember the name) and commanders palace and loved both. <BR><BR>Any thoughts on Michaels or perhaps Bella Luna?<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>John

We enjoyed the Red Fish Grill, Bacco, Acme Oyster Bar.

JHS<BR><BR>Right across the street from the International House is the Hotel Monaco which has a new Susan Spicer (of Bayona fame) restaurant called Cobalt's. Friends ate there and thought it was wonderful.

All this info but I still haven't received any useful info regarding my question:<BR>where's NO's best dinging?

No more dinging at Michael's on the Avenue...it's been gone for years!

On second thought, I think the name was Mike's on the Avenue...still long gone.

I was unimpressed by Bella Luna. Granted I am spoiled by Sonoma County food, but it was a let down for us. The view was nonexistent( Combination of condensation and darkness) and it was expensive.