New Orleans restaurant recommendations
 

Hi! I did a search for New Orleans restaurant recommendations and the most recent reply was back in June. I know that restaurants come and go, so I'm not too sure that I should rely on those responses.<BR><BR>We are heading to New Orleans at the end of the week. Anyone have recent (last two months) recommendations? Fiance wants to try creole. I just want good food and a nice atmosphere.<BR><BR>If anyone has any sightseeing recommendations, we'd love to hear those too. We'll only be there for a long weekend.<BR><BR>Thanks!

One of the best meals of my life has been at Irene's Cuisine. Great romantic atmosphere, not a tourist trap (still attended by many locals), reasonable for the quality of food (~$100/couple). Not creole cooking, although there may be an item or two on the menu (the menu is in front of the restaurant, so walk by during the day and check it out before you plan your nite around it)<BR><BR>Only negative is no reservations, so get there near opening or be prepared to wait. If you must wait, they do have a piano bar area in the back (also called &quot;the garage&quot;) which you can sit and have a drink.

Check out travelandleisure.com. They have a current article on New Orleans restaurants that I thought was very good. I would line up one or two reservations for next weekend before leaving town. We enjoy Peristyle and Galatoire's (in the quarter) and Commander's, Gautreaux's, Upperline, and Brightsen's in the Garden District and Uptown. I hear that Indigo, Stella's, and August are wonderful. Bon appetit!

I second Peristyle, its wonderful and the service is amiable and efficient.<BR>Commanders, well, even the iced tea is memorable and what can you do to iced tea? Dickie Brennans is nice, but its more steakhouse than creole. Louisiana Pizza Kitchen has outstanding lasagne and certainly not fancy cafe Maspero is definitely not fancy, but good and lots of locals. Its hard to get a bad meal in New Orleans but heres a few that are less than stellar. Alpine, Rita's, Antoines(unless you live here)<BR>Pere Antoine is so so and Royal Cafe is a mixed bag, great views great gumbo, but overall nothing to brag about. Oh, I forgot Gumbo Shop is pretty good, very casual but also very authentic.

Thanks for the replies. And Ann, thanks for the tip on the travelandleisure site. I wanted to find one &quot;nice&quot; restaurant and then roam and find local spots. You guys gave me some great info! Thanks!

Kelly,<BR><BR>The one good thing about New Orleans is that it is almost impossible to have a bad meal. New Orleans is rated as on of the top 10 places in hte world.<BR><BR>Please keep in mind that for the fine restaurants you may want to make your reservations 2 weeks prior, otherwise you will not get in!<BR><BR>Here is my recommendations, but I could go on and on and on.<BR><BR><BR>Expensive (for 2 appr. $ 150)but amazing:<BR><BR>Nola's - Cajun fusion <BR>GW Fins - seafood<BR>Commanders Palace for Sunday brunch <BR><BR>Known to locals:<BR><BR>Camille's grill for breakfast (must go)<BR>Liuzza's by the Track - jeans/t-shirt<BR>ACME Oyster House - cheap but good<BR>Central Grocery - home of the Muffalato<BR><BR>Clubs/Bars:<BR><BR>360 in the World Trade Center<BR>Loa's <BR><BR>Have fun

Richard, did you like GW Fins? I keep hearing about it but I could swear theres one in Boston too? NOLA is interesting, but I dont know if its still as great. ACME is still very popular, but I think you might be referring to the Camelia Grill? Its very local but the service is borderline surly, yet people like it for that reason. :)

GW FIn is definately local, and was opened I think last year. It is not part of a change thought hey may have stolen the name. That happens here a lot (Cheesecake Factory for example)<BR><BR>Yes I liked it. I was reluctant at first, as it is a BIG restaurant, and somehow it has that &quot;chain&quot; feel about it. But my wife and I had heard nothing but good things, and went. We both had the daily specials (fish) and it was truly amazing!<BR><BR>It is pricy but it was one of the better meals we ave had here.<BR><BR>As for Nola's we eat there about twice a month. Still my favorite, and the menu changes enough to be always interesting. It is fusion, and it is a load South Beach style restaurant, but I think it is one of the best restaurants in the country!<BR><BR>Camile Grill is just a dinner where you sit on stools! The breakfast is delicious, and it is like participating in a time warp back to the 60's.<BR><BR>You could end up sitting beside a hung over movie actor, bum, business man, or college kids! Locals, tourist and everyone alike goes here, and often the line extends all the way out the door on weekends to get in. The staff is 5 african american guys, who never shut up, singing, lughing, joking with the cutomers, or harrasing the cook the whole time. I've been there enough, they always hi-5've me when I leave. It is a fun place, and the food is good ole dinner type food. I highly recommend this as a must try once!

Here's another vote for GW Fins. Beautiful restaurant, fantastic food and superb service. If you want fresh seafood in an upscale environment, it's the place. Think &quot;Ruths Chris, but with fish!&quot;

Yeah Dan and I agree on a restaurant...it really is good. How come your not complaining about the wine prices here?? I found them pretty high? Seems to be a beginning trend....boo!<BR><BR>A little note on Acme, I like to send people there, because it is a good place to sample everything real cheap and then when you know what you like, go elsewhere and get it better.<BR><BR>New Orleans Medley for $7.00 will let you taste most of the local fare.<BR><BR>The Oyester however I think are among the best in the country, and along with the local Abita Amber wow! you can't go wrong! Jeans and t-shirt type place!<BR><BR>I heard of a better place for Oysters recently, cannot remember the name, hard to believe it can be better! meaby Dan knows the place, it is in the Quarter.<BR><BR>So many places to eat here....gota go and get back on the treadmill now!

Hi Kelly, just to throw my two cents in. Some friends and I (there were 7 of us) ate at Nola's in late October. I had the baked chicken and pasta. It was one of the worst meals I have had in New Orleans. Everything on the plate had the same (unpleasant) taste, so if you go to Nola's, I would avoid that dish. Most of my other friends had the special, which was filet mingon (sp?), I believe. I tried their's and it was good. It was one of the few times I wished I had ordered beef. Also, I tried what the server described as their signature dessert (banana something) which also was less than great. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either.<BR><BR> The one great thing I can say is that the service was fantastic, especially considering the number in our party.<BR><BR>Anyway, wherever you go, have a great trip!<BR><BR>Chazz

My husband and I ate at NOLA once and that was enough. I had caramelized onion soup as an appetizer that was absolutely awful. It had a thick layer of grease on the top and what was underneath didn't taste any better. We both had entrees of sirloin tips on potatoes and the meat was so bad it was disgusting. It was filled with gristle and fat. Our server was very efficient and we sat at a table next to Loni Anderson, but that wasn't enough to get us back!! Our food made us - quite literally - sick.

Wow I cannot believe some of these Nola reviews! I'm beginning to think it is the same person or an &quot;establishment conspiracy&quot;.<BR><BR>I eat their twice a month, and have never had a bad meal, or ever heard of a bad meal among my friends!<BR><BR>Greasy soup!!! Grizzle Fat beef! Come on get real, and just go back to Galatoires.<BR><BR>As for Pasta, why would you order that in a Cajun Fusion restaurant??<BR><BR>If you want pasta go to Mosca's....and if anyone tells me Semolina's then I really know your full of baloney!

Kelly, I didn't see anyone mention &quot;Jacques-Imo's&quot; during my quick scan of this thread. (Actually had work to do this Monday=eye strain).<BR>We were there in October and all of us had a wodnerful time and great meals!<BR>A killer stuffed pork chop!!!<BR><BR>Located in the Carrollton/RiverBend edge of the Garden Distr. area. About a $15/20 cab ride from the FQ (incl tip).<BR>If we go back, we'd take the St Charles street car out to the end and cab it from there.<BR>Don't let the outside fool ya!<BR><BR>Are Mrs Kal the only two people who ever had a good meal at NOLA's? Then again, some people would argue that I've never had a bad meal anywhere!<BR>Kal

I have always enjoyed Outback Steakhouse. The long lines are a testament to its quality but I think somewhatintimidating for some posters here. Don't let them sway you--this is one great restaurant!!!<BR><BR>They decorate this place to look like an old ranch house in the Australian outback. Really!! It is very cool and there are neat artifacts on the wall.<BR><BR>The food is outstanding! Steaks and shrimp &quot;on the barb&quot;. Everyone loves this place.<BR><BR>I think they have a new program where you can phone in your arrival so you don't have to wait long when you get there.<BR><BR>If you want a special time in New Orleans go to Outback Steakhouse!!1

I'm going to ask a stupid question, but here goes...Has anyone been to Arnaud's? Someone told my fiance about it but has never personally been there. And is NOLA the Emeril restaurant? <BR><BR>I'm really looking forward to trying beignets too. They look sinful!<BR><BR>Thanks so much for the great advice. I will have to keep walking around the city to make up for all the great dining I will be doing this weekend!

Yes. NOLA's is Emeril's.<BR><BR>When we were at Cafe Dumonde in Oct. they were filming a new Dustin Hoffman movie...and yes...the beignets are deadly, in fact, about the only pastry I like. My body's a temple-a big fat temple.<BR>Kal

I went to GW Fins in May 2001, and had a nicer meal there than at Commander's Palace or Emeril's. The man who invited me there said it was run by the same people that started Ruth's Chris, and they were hoping to turn it into a similar, high-end chain. Chain or not, my meal there was excellent.

I have been all over and you can't beat the consistent quality of an Outback Steakhouse. Price, VALUE and atmosphere. <BR><BR>The others will come and go. Outback Steakhouse beats them all.

NOLA is an Emeril restaurant.<BR><BR>I have been to Arnaud's I liked it, has a southern historical feel to it. They also do quite a presentation with Bananas Foster. <BR><BR>I think I read somwhere that it is one of the oldest restaurants in the U.S.<BR>