Any Suggestions for Nice Restraunts and fun restaurants. I have reservations at K-Paul's for 1 night and Commander's Place for brunch. If thoughs are not great other suggestions would be appreciated. I also need a more casual fun restuarant for 1 night potentially Crawfish and oyster?
Thanks in advance for any help.

I prefer NOLA to K-Pauls but just my not so humble opinion. I also found Mr. B's gumbo to be the best in town.

I agree with digger... We just got back from New Orleans a week or so ago and we loved both NOLA and EMERIAL'S for great food. Another interesting restaurant we found while taking a tour was AL Copelands Cheesecake Bistro. Al is the founder of Popeye's Fried Chicken and he has at least 2 restaurants along St Charles Ave (just a quick ride on the streetcar). I had a great Mahi Mahi topped with fried shrimp..... As for fun and casual you have to try Cameila Grill on Carrollton Street - This hole in the wall is near the zoo and is FUN. While they are known for the burgers and HUGE Ommelets and homemade pies (the Chocolate Pecan Pie was out of this world) just hanging out there is an expierence and one you should not miss...

Commander's Palace is where Emeril Lagasse got his training (after all, he is a carpetbagger from Fall River, Massachusetts), and my Cajun mom used to swear by their Turtle Sauce Piquante as well as their gumbo. But Emeril is a star, and he does very well by Louisiana cuisine. Commander's Palace is still fine for brunch. K-Paul's is a Nawlins institution, although my mom thought M. Prudhomme was a bit heavy-handed on the cayenne (well, heavy-handed defines ol' chef Paul, doesn't it?!).

I second the vote for Camelia Grille. When we would go to New Orleans to visit family, my late father would make a beeline there for the burgers and the fun.

If you want casual and can handle the caloric assault, may I suggest Ralph and Kacoo's on Rue Toulouse? You want crawfish and oysters? They have crawfish and oysters. As well as alligator, crab, shrimp, gumbo, and hushpuppies. Is that Louisiana enough for you?

We were there in December. Loved Arnaud's. Their Jazz room featured a 3 piece combo. Food was fantastic.

Hi Digger! My friends and I were in New Orleans last fall and had a wonderful meal at a FUN restaurant/pub called Coops on Decatur, right across from the French Market and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. I highly recommend the smoked duck quesadillas, but their whole menu looked great. The atmosphere is that of a small pub where locals hang out, not touristy at all, they have Tom Waits on the jukebox and a very nice, beautiful waitress named Victoria. The first time we went was after a pretty powerful tarot reading, the three of us were sitting in the booth being very emotional and Victoria came over with shots for all of us, including herself! We went back the next day for a late lunch. 1104 Decatur.

Also, if you go to Pat O'Brien's, the coconut shrimp is excellent. Have fun!!! Drink a daquiri for me!!!

Peristyle is one of my favorites. For fun, Jacques-Imo's in the River Bend area (out near Tulane) isn't upscale, but the food is some of the best I've ever had. Worth the cab ride from the Quarter.

alan64 beat me to the punch on
Jacques-Imos! VERY casual and VERY fun. If Jacques can't get you to have fun, you never will.

Port o' Call also another casual fun place even tho when you think of NOLA, burgers and baked taters really don't leap to mind.
I thought KPaul's had the best jambalya because of his heavy handed caynne use. My nose is still sweating. ;-)

We loved our dinner in the courtyard at Bayonna.

Flwrhead-Is Coops in the old Maximo's spot or totally separate restaurant?

Let the goood times eat!
Kal "Big Daddy" Kahuna

I recommend NOLA for a fun atmosphere and great food, also we loved the food and atmosphere at Mr. B's (shrimp gumbo was out of this world). Another recommendation ... Bayona for great outdoor courtyard dining.

What? No mention of Acme Oyster House yet?! I love this place. It will fit into your "fun" category with crawfish and oysters. Extremely laid back and relatively inexpensive to boot. Everything we tried we loved, from the freshly shucked oytsers to the fried soft shell crab and poboys. They have a website: http://www.acmeoyster.com

Acme is a fun place. Whatever you do, though, don't try Felix's across the street. They get a lot of Acme's overflow and it's just not very good food. Service is poor, too!

If Acme is crowded, try Deanie's on Iberville and Dauphine, just one block away.

Kal -- no, Maximos is at 1117 Decatur and Coop's is at 1104. Interesting neighborhood, too. Maybe I'll check out Maximos the next time I'm there.

All this talk has made me want to go NOW!!!

Got back from New Orleans last week...
loved Nola ( call for a reservation NOW), couldn't get into Peristyle, but hear that's great . Acme's for oysters delicious and very casual Try Petunia's -Creole cottage, excellent meal there, reasonable, mostly locals (in the French quarter). Bayona also very good, more formal, very slow service that night , though. I hear that the Quarter Deck, part of the Monteleone Hotel, is another good spot for oysters and gumbo and is very reasonable.

We had great experiences at Bayona (my favorite~dine in the courtyard if the weather is nice), Commander's Palace (Hubby's & kids' favorite), Emerils, and Nola's. Camillia Grill was a fun excursion on the St. Charles Streetcar. Biggest dissapointment in food was Antoine's, but it had an interesting atmosphere. I haven't been able to reserve at Peristyle, but it's #1 on my list for places to try.

I just wanted to add that the "New Orleans BBQ shrimp" at Emeril's is the BEST! I tried this dish also at his restaurant in Las Vegas in the MGM Grand, and it wasn't as good as it was in New Orleans. I actually made it at home at a dinner party, and it turned out great.

My comments on NO old standbys are old & tired. Resting on their laurels, etc. Please look under NO & also check the Fodors rants & raves. I have many comments in there as well. Perhaps Nolas has finally gotten their act together...

Hmmm.... Haven't been back to New Orleans in a little while, and Ralph and Kacoo's is now closed, it seems! Oh well....

Like others above I've had a great meal at Bayona. Another one of my favorite casual (not cheap, but not super-expensive) spots for lunch is known as Ugly's.

Uglesich's is on Baronne St. a little outside of the Quarter and it's only open for lunch. No reservations, but you can eat fresh oysters (the best I've had in N'Awlins) while you wait. It's nothing to look at but the food's so good top chefs from the big-name places come here to eat lunch.

Lived in New Orleans for a few years and ate almost everywhere. Honestly, if you want the best food, you have to get out of the Quarter. That said, there area few exceptions:
Lulu's - a lunch spot in apretty little spot on Exchange Alley. Not in the guidebooks, and some of the best food in town. Only about 9 tables though.
As mentioned, Peristyle and Bayona are wonderful and beautiful. My favorite place for local food is Coop's.

In the business district my favorite is Herbsaint on St. Charles - go for lunch, the place just glows with light. The chef is the same from Bayona, Susan Spicer.

Uptown I recommend Upperline. The owner is a quirky little art collector, and she often stops by to say hello. The tasting menu is amazing. Brigtsen's in the Riverbend is also gorgeous, and widely recognized as one of the best places in the city.

Try not to eat just in the touristy places! N.O. locals are passionate about the food, and will be happy to tell you where to get the best crawfish, Po'Boys, coffee...

Thx Flwrhead.
Haven't been back to Maximo's in over 4yrs., but it was a very good meal.

NOLA: Too many restaurants-So little time!
Kal