SOCALOC

(As far as narrowing things down to three from this list -- that's kind of like asking someone to narrow down only three Beethoven piano sonatas as "musts" from the 32 he wrote. There are so many first-rate possibilities and a good bit of difference between them.)


Brilliant and truthful reply bachslunch. That was a silly question. LOL My enthusiasm, especially for NOLA, can get the best of me.

I know I won't get enough of Cajun/Creole while there.

I think for now, the best thing is to categorize, take notes , recommendations and go with the flow. Including yours as part of my source.

Thanks bachslunch- you've been very helpful and really enjoyed the Beethoven comparison.

J_C_Whitfield

Generally the food was excellent in New Orleans. However, I had a less enjoyable experience at one of the recommended restaurants just outside New Orleans in Gretna. Clementine's Belgian Bistro was included in the "$9-16" category. The dinner entrees were generally $20-$25. When I ordered the spinach crepe with parmesan crust ($9), the server was disappointed. She was not unpleasant, but she clearly wanted our party to hurry along.

SAnParis2

topping for beg

Deb15July

Visiting this year for Mardis Gras and haven't been since the spring of Katrina. I love your trip report...we seem to have very similar tastes. I've been to Breakfast at Brennan's several times and it is expensive, but the food and service are excellent. I'm a huge Bananas Foster fan! Napolean House, Central Grocery, Galatoire's, Commander's Palace...I don't have enough time on this trip.

However...quite a few new restaurants are now being touted as must visit locales. Please give advice on Herbsaint, Irene's, Stellas, GW Fins, August, Bayonna. Many restaurants will be closed for MG during our stay and the reservation times now available are limited. Advise please!

SusanCS

Hi, Deb! I can tell you love NO, and so do we! However, the OP's review is a year old, and you say "quite a few new restaurants are now being touted as must visit locales."

None of these: Herbsaint, Irene's, Stellas, GW Fins, August, or Bayonna are new, in fact most have been around for a long time. So lucky you, you'll have lots of new places to try!

Deb15July

Thanks Susan,
I was familiar with Bayona on my last visit (and did not go there) but it's seemed to fall out of favor. I was actually born in NOLA and my mother has some great framed menus from Brennan's. Prices are extremely funny...but hey...it was the 50's. They ate very differently back then. When is the last time you saw Aspic on a menu?

My last visit was with my children, sister-in-law (and her kids) and mother (sans hubby), so we had a little different agenda on dining options. I'm lookig forward to some more sophisticated options on this trip!

Littleman

Galatoire's does not require a jacket for men at lunch now days.

gelatolover

This is a dream thread for a foodie! Thank you for sharing - am looking forward to a first visit to NOLA in a few weeks, and your thread answered so many questions that I had.

jomagpie

When I was researching for places to eat, I can across this blog: http://christineinvancouver.blogspot...l#comment-form

She went to a lot of the restaurants mentioned here, and there's pictures!

mes2525

I missed post when you first submitted it but wanted to comment that I go to NOLA on a regular basis having family in Louisiana. I'm glad you liked Galatoire's - one of my favorite restaurants; for something different I would recommend Bayona. Both outstanding but each has a different perspective on using local ingredients. For less formality, Napoleon House has a great muffelata, a salad and some jambalaya. I had breakfast at Stanley's twice (love their oysters). The menu at Brennan's is expensive and doesn't have an appeal to me. Antoine's is worth a visit for its history but I would only order its specialities. Your comment about Commander's Palace service was interesting. When I went the waiters will almost over bearing. Food was good but it seemed a little corporate. Couchon has great pork dishes and is near the D-Day Museum. In short, whether you want formal/informal you should be able to enjoy some tasty food in NOLA.

SusanInToronto

Fun to read, especially since we're going to New Orleans for 4 nights in April.

BadgerJayhawk

What a great post! Thank you. I'm going to share it w/ my brother & sister-in-law as we are going to New Orleans at the beginning of June...

Dukey1

"Morning Call" where you should have gone for the morning coffee and hot milk fix

shormk2

Loved the report! Makes me want to book a trip to NOLA soon. Thanks for the write up.

fishee

best post ever. the "foof" will make it easy to find for future reference in fodors lore.....

JJ5

Booked our trip to New Orleans without any knowledge of any of this. THANK YOU.

Great information. And like sf's husband- my SO won't dress with jacket either or may not have approved shirt- so all of the information was just exactly what was needed.

Great Fodors foodie thread!

Littleman

Some of the best dining is in the FQ and the CBD across Canal Street. There's also great restaurants in the Garden District and Uptown. If you are staying in the FQ you will have to take a cab or the streetcar 15 minutes or so Uptown which is not bad. Some people that stay in the FQ prefer to dine there so they can walk. Are you interested in fine dining or casual restaurants. If you prefer to stay in the FQ I like Galatoire's, Muriel's, Bayona, Stella, Irene's, Brennan's, Mr. B's and NOLA. Don't miss lunch at Galatoire's. On Friday there is a party all afternoon so choose your day as you please. Go to The Davenport Lounge at The Ritz Carlton Hotel and listen to Jeremy Davenport's jazz on Friday and Saturday at 9 PM.

Galatoire's @ 209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 525 - 2021.
http://www.galatoires.com/

Muriel's @ 801 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 568 - 1885.

http://www.muriels.com/html/home.html
Bayona @ 430 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 4455.
http://www.bayona.com/

Stella Restaurant @ 1032 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 587 - 0091.
http://www.restaurantstella.com/
Irene's Cuisine @ 539 St. Phillip St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 529 - 8811.
Brennan's Restaurant @ Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 9711.
http://www.brennansneworleans.com/
Mr. B's Bistro @ 201 Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 2078.
http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.php
Nola Restaurant @ 534 Saint Louis St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 522 - 6652.
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/

Have a po boy at Johnny's in the FQ and eat on a bench in Jackson Square. Napoleon House in the FQ is nice for drinks and lunch also. Stanley's is outstanding for breakfast/lunch. Mena's Palace is a local's favorite that serves NOLA comfort food for breakfast and lunch. They serve 25/30 different po boys. Johnny's Po Boy's is in the FQ on St. Louis and has outstanding po boys. Felipe's has great Mexican food using local ingredients. Clover Grill is open 24/7 for breakfast and good burgers and it's inexpensive. Rampart Food Store has good po boys. They are all in the FQ.
Johnny's Po Boys @ 511 Saint Louis St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 524 - 8129.
http://www.johnnyspoboy.com/
Napoleon House Bar & Cafe @ 500 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 524 - 9752.
http://www.napoleonhouse.com/
Stanley @ 547 St. Ann St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 593 - 0006.
http://stanleyrestaurant.com/
Mena's Palace @ 200 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 0217.
http://www.menaspalace.com/
Felipe's Taqueria @ 301 N. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 267 - 4406.
http://www.felipesneworleans.com/index.html
Clover Grill @ 900 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 598 - 1010.
http://www.clovergrill.com/
Rampart Food Store @ 1700 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 944 - 7777.

There are numerous lunch and dinner special's in NOLA. Mr. B's has a 2 course prix fixe lunch for $20.00. Domenica is a casual John Besh Italian restaurant in the Roosevelot Hotel a block from Canal Street. They have happy hour specials from 3/6 half price pizza and drinks. Dining at the bar at Domenica is fun. Luke is another John Besh restaurant in the Hilton on St. Charles. They have a 2 course express lunch for $15.00 and 3/6 Happy Hour half price drinks and 50 cent oysters. Dining at the bar at Luke is fun also. Antoine's is in the FQ and they have a prix fixe 3 course lunch for $20.00.

Domenica @ 123 Baronne St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 648 - 6020.

http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/

Luke Restaurant @ 333 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 378 - 2840.
http://www.lukeneworleans.com/

Mimi's in the Marigny and Port O Call are fine places for inexpensive dining. The burgers at Port O Call are outstanding. Buffa's Lounge has good tamales.


Mimi's in the Marigny @ 2601 Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 872 - 9868.
Port of Call @ 838 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 0120.
http://www.portofcallneworleans.com/
Buffa's Lounge @ 1001 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 949 - 0038.
http://www.buffaslounge.com/

There's Sunday Brunch at Antoine's, Arnaud's and Mr. B's in the FQ as well as Commander's, Cafe Atchafalaya and Dante's in GD and Uptown. Ralph's on the Park and Lil Dizzy's has Sunday Brunch.

You can walk to the CBD just across Canal easily for lunch/dinner at Bon Ton. They close on the weekends. Go to Luke for happy hour/cheap oysters and Domenica for happy hour and half price pizza.

Bon Ton Cafe @ 401 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 524 - 3386.
http://www.thebontoncafe.com/


Emeril's is my favorite restaurant in the WHD in NOLA. They have a 3 course prix fixe lunch for $19.50 Monday/Friday. Dinner is outstanding. Feast is a new restaurant that just opened. Herbsaint and Iris are great fine dining restaurants in the CBD. Le Foret is a romantic fine dining choice for dinner. Tommy's is a block from Emeril's and serves outstanding classic creole Italian cuisine.

Emeril's @ 800 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 528 - 9393.

http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/1/...s-New-Orleans/

Feast Restaurant @ 200 Julia Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 304 - 6318.

https://sites.google.com/site/feastneworleans/

Herbsaint @ 701 Saint Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 524 - 4114.

http://www.herbsaint.com/

Iris @ 321 North Peters St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 299 - 3944.

http://www.irisneworleans.com/

Le Foret @ 129 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 553 - 6738.

http://www.dmillanleforet.com/

Tommy's Cuisine @ 746 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 581 - 1103.

TDudette

Are you reading this Fodors????


Great info.

Littleman

There are some great places for cheap eats in the FQ.

Mena's Palace is a local's favorite that serves NOLA comfort food for breakfast and lunch.. They serve 25/30 different po boys. Johnny's Po Boy's is in the FQ on St. Louis and has outstanding po boys. Felipe's has great Mexican food using local ingredients. Clover Grill is open 24/7 for breakfast and good burgers and it's inexpensive. Rampart Food Store has good po boys. Antoine's has 25 cent martini's at lunch. Commerce Restaurant is a couple of blocks W of Canal in walking distance of FQ and has good inexpensive breakfast and lunch. Buffa's Lounge has good tamales. Daisy Dukes serves good breakfast, lunch and dinner open 24/7. Here's a link to NOLA specials.

http://www.nomenu.com/summer/

Mena's Palace @ 200 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 525 - 0217.
http://www.menaspalace.com/
Johnny's Po Boys @ 511 Saint Louis St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 524 - 8129.
http://www.johnnyspoboy.com/
Felipe's Taqueria @ 301 N. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 267 - 4406.
http://www.felipesneworleans.com/index.html
Clover Grill @ 900 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 598 - 1010.
http://www.clovergrill.com/
Rampart Food Store @ 1700 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 944 - 7777.
Commerce Restaurant @ 300 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 561 - 9239.
Buffa's Lounge @ 1001 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 949 - 0038.
http://www.buffaslounge.com/
Daisy Duke's @ 121 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 561 - 5171.
http://www.daisydukesrestaurant.com/

　

　

Go to Port O Call in the Marigny for good burgers or Praline Connection. Buffa's has reasonable food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And tamales too.

Port of Call @ 838 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 0120.
http://www.portofcallneworleans.com/

Praline Connection @ 542 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 943 - 3934.
http://www.pralineconnection.com/

Buffa's Lounge @ 1001 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 949 - 0038.

http://www.buffaslounge.com/

　

　

Go to Port O Call in the Marigny for good burgers or Praline Connection.

Port of Call @ 838 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 0120.
http://www.portofcallneworleans.com/
Praline Connection @ 542 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 943 - 3934.
http://www.pralineconnection.com/

The Trolley Stop Cafe on St. Charles Avenue has outstanding breakfast and lunch that's inexpensive. Go for the early bird $2.99 special. Angeli on Decatur has cheap late night eats such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches and pasta with a Mediterranean flair. Cafe Maspero serves very good reasonable NOLA cuisine also.

Trolley Stop Cafe @ 1923 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 0090.
Angeli on Decatur @ 1141 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 566 - 0077.
Cafe Maspero @ 601 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 504 - 523 - 6250.
http://www.neworleansonline.com/dire...?locationID=83

Spend half a day in By Water. Walking is not bad in NOLA if you can stop and rest every so often. Walk to Lost Love Lounge for a few bloody mary's and then walk to The Joint or JD's for lunch about 1PM or so. Then walk to Markey's and hang out for a few hours. After a few there walk to Bacchanal and have a few drinks outdoors and then dinner. They might even feel like going by Vaughn's. Pretty good plan.

Lost Love Lounge @ 2529 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 400 - 6145.
http://lostlovelounge.com/
The Joint @ 801 Poland Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 949 - 3232.
http://www.alwayssmokin.com/
Bacchanal Fine Wine and Spirits @ 600 Poland Ave., New Orelans, LA 504 - 948 - 9111.
http://www.bacchanalwine.com/
Jack Dempsey's @ 738 Poland Avenue, New Orleans, LA 504 - 943 - 9914.
http://www.jackdempseysllc.com/
Markey's Bar @ 640 Louisa Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 943 - 0785.
Vaughn's Lounge @ 800 Lesseps St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 947 - 5562.

Adolpho's is casual reasonable Creole Italian above the Apple Barrel bar.

Adolpho's @ 611 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 948 - 3800.
Apple Barrel Bar @ 609 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 949- 9399.

Elizabeth's in Marigny is good for breakfast but you will have to take a cab. They also have a great Sunday Brunch. Surrey's is another good spot for breakfast in Lower Garden District.

Elizabeth's @ 601 Gallier St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 944 - 9272.
http://www.elizabeths-restaurant.com/home.html
Surrey's Cafe & Juice Bar @ 1418 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 524 - 3828.
http://www.surreyscafeandjuicebar.com/

You can take the St. Charles Streetcar to Uptown/Garden District for lunch/dinner at some fine restaurants there. Commander's Palace would be a good one. You should have lunch at Commander's in the GD for $25.00 and 25 cent Martini's. Coquette is another great restaurant a few blocks from Commander's on Magazine. You should plan an afternoon walking and visiting the fine shops and restaurants on Magazine Street in the 3,000 to 5,000 block area. Take the street car to Washington and walk 2 blocks to Commander's. After lunch walk 3 blocks to Magazine. I like Cafe Atchafalaya in the GD also. Have a few drinks at The Column's Hotel on their porch off St. Charles. Patois, Clancy, Dick and Jenny's and Brigtsen's are outstanding restaurants Uptown. Bistro Daisy is fun also. You will have a lot of decisions to make planning in NOLA. Bon Appetit.

Commander's Palace @ 1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 899 - 8221.
http://www.commanderspalace.com/
Coquette @ 2800 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 265 - 0421.
http://www.coquette-nola.com/index.html

Cafe Atchafalaya @ 901 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 891 - 9626.
http://www.cafeatchafalaya.com/
The Columns Hotel @ 3811 Saint Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 504 - 899 - 9308.
http://www.thecolumns.com/
Patois @ 6078 Laurel St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 895 - 9441.
http://www.patoisnola.com/
Clancy's Restaurant @ 6100 Annunciation St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 895 - 1111.

Dick & Jenny's @ 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 894 - 9880.

http://dickandjennys.com/

Brigtsen's Restaurant @ 723 Dante St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 861 - 7610.

http://www.brigtsens.com/

Bistro Daisy @ 5831 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 899 - 6987.

http://www.bistrodaisynola.com/

If you want to dine in the FQ go to Antoine's or Arnaud's for Sunday Jazz Brunch. I like Antoine's the best. Be sure to check out Hermes Bar at Antoine's or Hermes Bar at Arnaud's. Mr. B's has an outstanding Sunday Jazz Brunch. It's across from Hotel Monteleon.

In Mid City near City Park is Ralph's which has a fine SB and outdoor dining. If you go to the GD or Uptown go to Coquette or Patois for Sunday Brunch. Cafe Atchafalaya has a Sunday Jazz Brunch. I really like CA. It's a unique neighborhood restaurant near the Irish Channel W of the GD.

Dante's is Uptown and has Sunday Brunch.

Antoine's @ 713 Saint Louis St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 581 - 4422.

http://www.antoines.com/

Arnaud's @ 813 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 5433.

http://www.arnaudsrestaurant.com/

Mr. B's Bistro @ 201 Royal St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 523 - 2078.

http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.php

Muriel's @ 801 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 568 - 1885.

http://www.muriels.com/html/home.html

Ralph's on the Park @ 900 City Park Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 488 - 1000.

http://www.ralphsonthepark.com/index.php

Coquette @ 2800 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 265 - 0421. http://www.coquette-nola.com/index.html

Patois @ 6078 Laurel St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 895 - 9441. http://www.patoisnola.com/

Cafe Atchafalaya @ 901 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 891 - 9626.

http://www.cafeatchafalaya.com/

Dante's Kitchen @ 736 Dante St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 861 - 3121.

http://danteskitchen.com/

Here's a link to Sunday Brunch restaurants in NOLA.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/cuisine/rest

　

JJ5

Littleman, I've bookmarked this and you have been immensely helpful for my upcoming Gulf Coast and NOLA trip.

Sincere thanks.