New Orleans Weekend
Mar 24th, 2015, 12:51 PM
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New Orleans Weekend
Spent last weekend with five female friends in New Orleans. We stayed in an apartment on Royal a few blocks west of Esplanade. None of us live in Louisianna, but one of the members of the group has an annual lease with two or three other couples. Four of the group drove in Thursday afternoon. My friend, Jan, and I drove in Friday, arriving around 1:00 p.m Due to time constraints, the four ladies who were already in NOLA were to take a cab and meet us at Commander's Palace at 1:30. Although CP has complimentary parking, we easily found a parking space around the corner. We were early, so we had time to walk around the lovely Garden District.
We were able to dine in the Garden Room. I was driving, so I did not imbibe, but my friends certainly enjoyed the $.25 Martinis. Service was generally good, considering the number of people they deal with on any given day. The only issue was one of the waiters brought the wrong type of drink on two separate occasions. We suspect he made the mistake on purpose, so he would have a little drinkie.
The meal itself was very good. I had the Crispy Crawfish and Fried Chicken Salad. It was a huge plate of food. I considered ordering the BBQ shrimp, but since I live on the Gulf Coast, decided to try Crawfish, which is not so plentiful at home. We ordered two bread puddings and one strawberry shortcake for dessert to share Both were delicious, but I think the strawberry was the best, and I am not even a fan of strawberies.
We all crowded into my car and headed to the apartment. It was a bit harrowing, as I had five tipsy 50 something year old ladies singing and laughing while I was trying to navigate! We got caught in the rush hour and Friday evening tourist traffic, but finally made it to the apartment and unloaded our luggage. I had to park my car in a public lot near Cafe Du Monde and walk back. We had plans to go out about 9:00 pm, but we never got going. We jut sat around the aprtment, nibbled on appetizers, laughed some more, and had a few glasses of wine.
The next morning, a few of us got up and going by 8:00, taking walks/runs. I walked down to the French Market and bought a few souvenirs for SD, SS, DH and the secretaries in my office. Came back, showered, had coffee and waited on the other ladies to get ready to go for brunch. And waited. And waited. Finally, about 11:30, we walked six or seven blocks east into Fabourg Marigny to eat at the Ruby Slipper on Burgundy. It was in an old bank building. Very good breakfast and great bar drinks. Very reasonable prices. Huge omelet with lots of meat and cheese with grits on the side for less than $9.00.
We then began an afternoon of shopping along Royal Street. We split up, as some were looking for replacement pieces for silver place settings, some looking for antiques, and some just window shopping. I found some pepper sauce for my daughter, who is a pepper sauce aficionada. Enjoyed sampling the pralines in several shops. Met at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone for a glass of wine, then walked down to the river and back through the French Market. Headed back to the apartment before sunset and had a glass of wine.
Headed out again on foot to Felix for dinner. Had a fairly long wait, as we were a table of six. Enjoyed talking to young men in line who were students at Texas A & M and who were there for a bachelor party. We are all Bama grads, so we enjoyed some trash talk about SEC football. Service was not so good. The last time I was there, service was poor. I didn't have a say in where we dined, or I would have advised another resturant. I had a cup of etoufee and it was very good. A few of my group got chargrilled oysters, and they looked delicious. One friend got the shrimp po boy, and it was huge and also looked amazing. Prices very reasonable.
Left Felix and headed to Bourbon Street, which was packed and smelled awful. Imagine that! Stayed at Spirits on Bourbon for a few hours. Enjoyed the dueling Piano Players. Stopped by Pat O'Brien's for the one lady in our group who had never been. Jan and I had to leave the next monrning, so around midnight, the two of us walked back to the apartment. We felt a little wary a few times, but we walked quickly and made it home without incident. The rest of the group, we learned later, went to Lafitte's before arriving home around 2:30 am.
The next morning, Jan and I hit Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets before heading home. It was a great trip, just not enough time to enjoy all New Orleans has to offer.
We were able to dine in the Garden Room. I was driving, so I did not imbibe, but my friends certainly enjoyed the $.25 Martinis. Service was generally good, considering the number of people they deal with on any given day. The only issue was one of the waiters brought the wrong type of drink on two separate occasions. We suspect he made the mistake on purpose, so he would have a little drinkie.
The meal itself was very good. I had the Crispy Crawfish and Fried Chicken Salad. It was a huge plate of food. I considered ordering the BBQ shrimp, but since I live on the Gulf Coast, decided to try Crawfish, which is not so plentiful at home. We ordered two bread puddings and one strawberry shortcake for dessert to share Both were delicious, but I think the strawberry was the best, and I am not even a fan of strawberies.We all crowded into my car and headed to the apartment. It was a bit harrowing, as I had five tipsy 50 something year old ladies singing and laughing while I was trying to navigate! We got caught in the rush hour and Friday evening tourist traffic, but finally made it to the apartment and unloaded our luggage. I had to park my car in a public lot near Cafe Du Monde and walk back. We had plans to go out about 9:00 pm, but we never got going. We jut sat around the aprtment, nibbled on appetizers, laughed some more, and had a few glasses of wine.
The next morning, a few of us got up and going by 8:00, taking walks/runs. I walked down to the French Market and bought a few souvenirs for SD, SS, DH and the secretaries in my office. Came back, showered, had coffee and waited on the other ladies to get ready to go for brunch. And waited. And waited. Finally, about 11:30, we walked six or seven blocks east into Fabourg Marigny to eat at the Ruby Slipper on Burgundy. It was in an old bank building. Very good breakfast and great bar drinks. Very reasonable prices. Huge omelet with lots of meat and cheese with grits on the side for less than $9.00.
We then began an afternoon of shopping along Royal Street. We split up, as some were looking for replacement pieces for silver place settings, some looking for antiques, and some just window shopping. I found some pepper sauce for my daughter, who is a pepper sauce aficionada. Enjoyed sampling the pralines in several shops. Met at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone for a glass of wine, then walked down to the river and back through the French Market. Headed back to the apartment before sunset and had a glass of wine.
Headed out again on foot to Felix for dinner. Had a fairly long wait, as we were a table of six. Enjoyed talking to young men in line who were students at Texas A & M and who were there for a bachelor party. We are all Bama grads, so we enjoyed some trash talk about SEC football. Service was not so good. The last time I was there, service was poor. I didn't have a say in where we dined, or I would have advised another resturant. I had a cup of etoufee and it was very good. A few of my group got chargrilled oysters, and they looked delicious. One friend got the shrimp po boy, and it was huge and also looked amazing. Prices very reasonable.
Left Felix and headed to Bourbon Street, which was packed and smelled awful. Imagine that! Stayed at Spirits on Bourbon for a few hours. Enjoyed the dueling Piano Players. Stopped by Pat O'Brien's for the one lady in our group who had never been. Jan and I had to leave the next monrning, so around midnight, the two of us walked back to the apartment. We felt a little wary a few times, but we walked quickly and made it home without incident. The rest of the group, we learned later, went to Lafitte's before arriving home around 2:30 am.
The next morning, Jan and I hit Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets before heading home. It was a great trip, just not enough time to enjoy all New Orleans has to offer.
Mar 24th, 2015, 02:40 PM
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I love that your report focused on me. That's what I think of when I think of New Orleans. I make my dinner reservations before I buy airline tickets! Isn't that strawberry shortcake at CP to die for? Oh my! Sounds like a wonderful trip.
Mar 24th, 2015, 02:42 PM
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Oh my gosh, I'm so rude! The first sentence should say "I love that your report focused on food"!! I swear I'm not a narcissist! My iPhone screen gets weird with Fodor's sometimes and I can only see a couple words at a time. Sorry!
Apr 12th, 2015, 09:19 AM
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I am starting to do some research on New Orleans. It is somewhere I had my heart set on viusiting, but I am from the UK so not that familiar with its reputation. Others seem to be warning me away from it. What are your own views - should I be less risk averse and go there?
Apr 12th, 2015, 07:35 PM
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Hobbert!Stevelyon, we were planning a trip to New Orleans next month before cheap round trip tickets to Italy changed our minds.
From what I've read, I think you'll be fine if you use common sense.Lee Ann
Apr 12th, 2015, 07:57 PM
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Stevelyon
We just came back from LA and our relatives in who live the various suburbs of NOLA kept on warning us about not being out after 9 PM.
No one can assure the safety of another under any circumstance and we are from NYC but we ignored them and a wonderful time. For NOLA itself, best meal at Mr. B's Bistro, the beignets at Cafe du Monde are as good as ever and Irvin Mayfield who usually plays at his namesake lounge on Wednesdays was absolutely sensationalcombination of great musicianship and fun.
We just came back from LA and our relatives in who live the various suburbs of NOLA kept on warning us about not being out after 9 PM.
No one can assure the safety of another under any circumstance and we are from NYC but we ignored them and a wonderful time. For NOLA itself, best meal at Mr. B's Bistro, the beignets at Cafe du Monde are as good as ever and Irvin Mayfield who usually plays at his namesake lounge on Wednesdays was absolutely sensationalcombination of great musicianship and fun.
Apr 13th, 2015, 03:36 PM
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Just use your head--no dark alleys and normal caution--and enjoy yourself. My sister, 74; brother, 71; and I, 78; spent several days there last month, walked wherever we wanted to, and had zero problems. We stayed at Place d'Armes in the French Quarter.
Apr 13th, 2015, 05:04 PM
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Stevelyon, New Orleans is so worth the trip. I was there recently with my mom (in her 60's) and never once felt unsafe. Just take the usual precautions as in any city and you'll be fine. I don't typically repeat vacations but I make an exception for New Orleans
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