Suggested restaurants in New Orleans
 

We will be spending a week in New Orleans, and are looking for suggestions for the best restaurants in the city. I am particularly interested in an elegant, romantic venue for our anniversary dinner. We will be staying at the Windsor Court, and would like to find some nice restaurants to visit for dinner during our stay.

Paul, back up and look through past threads in the Louisiana section of this forum. You'll find MANY restaurant ideas. My short list would include Bayona, Pelican Club, Marisol, Cuvee, and the Windsor Court's own Grill Room.

My favorites: Commander's Palace, Court of Two Sisters, Brennan's, Galatoire's, Antoine's, Emeril's (not a quiet place, but the food is superb) and La Provence. La Provence is located on Lake Ponchartrain, about 45 minutes from the city. It is very romantic and the view is wonderful. The cuisine is southern French.

Has Emeril's quality slipped as several posters have suggested in the past? His LV eatery is superb!

I must disagree with Donna about Court of Two Sisters and Antoine's. Both are tourist traps living off of past glories. Two Sisters feeds busloads of tourists every day...hardly a gourmet meal!

Hi...I'll throw in my suggestion. Bella Luna. Right on the river in the quarter. Lovely view, romantic atmosphere and lighting. The food was wonderful when we were there- imaginative menu, and the service was good. Reservations in advance a must. ENJOY. Oh and I agree about Antoine's we enjoyed it, but definitely got "tourist" level service...we were seated in the front room even with reservations, and the lighting is bright, and the service lacked warmth. Food was good, but over-oriced considering the service and atmosphere.

Go to Irene's in the French Quarter. Also, try Feeling's Cafe in Fauburg Marigny (a short cab ride from the Windsor). I'm a local, and those are my two favorites. If you are in the Garden District, try Commander's Palace for their Lunch/Brunch.

Paul, <BR>We just returned from a 20th anniversary trip to New Orleans where we had a wonderful time. Our anniversary dinner was at Bella Luna, a very romantic venue as every table looks out onto the river with the passing boats. The food was very good and the service was very friendly and attentive. Our favorite meal was at Bayona. Maybe not as romantic a setting as Bella Luna but the service was great and the food was unbelievable. I wouldn't recommend the Pelican Club for an intimate anniversary dinner. The tables are too close together and the room is large and loud. The food was good but the night we were there the service was very slow and impersonal. New Orleans certainly has no shortage of fine restaurants! Have a wonderful trip and happy anniversary.

Great suggestions so far - other than Court of Two Sisters. I'd add Le Bistro at Maison de Ville. I love the chef, the staff, the service - and of course, the food is incredible. Ask to be seated in the courtyard if the weather is nice. Of the places suggested, Bayona and Bella Luna would be my choices for the most romantic places. <BR> <BR>I don't think there's anything remotely romantic about Antoine's or Galatoire's. I've only had brunch at Feelingss, but it's a great out of the way place with decent prices. <BR> <BR>ENJOY!

I would recommend Commanders Place. My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and the service was excellent.

Paul, Bayona would be an excellent choice, as well at Brigtsens, which is in the Garden District. We have had dinner at both places; service and food were excellent. We had Sunday brunch at Commanders Palace, and to this day that was the best meal we ever had.

I'll second brunch at Commanders Palace. Ask for the Garden Room. There are too many things about this award winning restaurant I love, and the price was reasonable. Take a cable car ride out to the Garden District. <BR>Forget Antoines...it may have been a great place once, but things have changed. It was the most expensive and the worst food we had.

I rarely post, but have been going to N.O. for the past 35 years. Always staying in the French Qtr, I usually eat there, too, so am limited in that respect. My overwhelming favorite is Galatoires. It may not be romantic in the sense of low light and super fancy, but it is the place the love of my life and I always have our special night out in N.O. It's classic, simple, and the Trout Amandine is to die for. <BR>Comments on other posts: Irene's is a wonderful place, too & one of our recent favorites....it is low light romantic and quite reasonably priced. Bayona's was excellent, also, but to tell you the truth, after 10 years, I remember it, but it doesn't stand out or come to mind. It is more the new style type of eatery.

Commander's Palace is the hands down perfect place for your anniversary.

By all means Bayona and Peristyle - both run by female chefs who have now finally been recognized. For oysters and turtle soup, Felix or Acme in the Quarter. Some may disagree but the old place Galatoire's (refurbished a few years back, new chef, renewed interests in the dishes that made them famous - sell an excellent cookbook, by the way. Their starter of oysters with four sauces is amazingly wonderful). I would have to disagree about Emeril's slipping - a week ago I found myself seated on a plane with the lead chef (Robert Brooks) and had a very nice discussion about what they are doing. It is comfort food all the way - much along the lines when Emeril himself personally cooked at his two places in NO, and before that when he really put Commanders Palace on the map when he ran their kitchen. By the way, CP offers a wonderful mint julep, and will make you a French 75 (gin, cointreau and champagne - to be drunk seated only). Yes, the Garden Room is best, although sitting in the kitchen is fun (but hectic). Have a wonderful trip - some of the best food in the world. Ciao

I loved Emeril's. Our entire table ordered the 7 course chef's degustation and everything, from the food to the service, was excellent. I travel a good deal and have eaten in many excellent restaurants in the U.S., and my meal at Emeril's has been the best overall dining experience I have had.

We had dinner at Irene's Cuisine a few nights ago when in N.O., and could not recommend it more highly. Very cozy and romantic. Both the food and the service were excellent. One of our best restaurant experiences ever.

Goto NOLA's.

Paul, <BR> <BR>We just got back from New Orleans--Galitores is excellent, as well as Commander's Palace. <BR> <BR>We had Sunday brunch at Commanders, which featured a live jazz band, which went around to perform in each of the rooms. Commanders is probably one of the best meals that I've ever had. <BR> <BR>I looked at their dinner menu and it looked fabulous. If you go, be sure to make reservations, and ask for a seating in either one of the rooms that only has 4 tables (if you want real romance, because there is also a balcony in the room we ate in), or the Colleseum Room, which was a bigger, but very pretty. <BR> <BR>At Galitores, get their house specials, which they list first--the Galitores Sardou, with large crabmeat, artichoke hearts, spinach, and a great sauce is outstanding. Also make sure to get their special coffee drink (can't remember the name), which is served with bourbon and lit on fire at your table! <BR>Enjoy!

I loved Brennan's. If your interested I have quite a list of New Orleans websites. <BR>

Stacey, how long did you have to wait at Irene's? We tried to go on a Thursday night around 7:00 during a slow week in December and were told it was an hour and twenty minute wait. Is there a better way to get into this place (other than eating at 5:30)?

Irene's is notorious for being very crowded since it's so popular...and good! However, they also overestimate the wait time quite often. Last week we were told an hour. Since we wanted wine anyway, we waited. We had a table in 20 minutes. This isn't uncommon.

another vote for Nola's.

Recently went to Emerils and found the food had gone downhill and the wait staff was rude. For a high ticket price restaurant it was unacceptable to us. Also, they did not abide by their dress code and we were seated next to a bunch of guys in shorts, fatigues, etc. The crowd is noisy and it is too loud to "dine". Alas, it has just become a tourist place.

Antoines a rip...another vote for Commanders Palace, call months, if possible, in advance for res...do take the trolly car..it stops at their door. If u go for lunch, leave time to take the self guided walking tour of the "fabulous" homes in the Garden District. <BR>Enjoy

NOLA (not NOLA's by the way) is better than Emeril's flagship location in my opinion. I find Emeril's staff to be a little too impressed with themselves. And I agree with the previous poster about Antoine's...she ain't what she used to be!

Arnauds - **** <BR>French Qtr <BR>Bourbon & Bienville <BR>French Continental <BR> <BR>Expensive, but definitely worth it. Ask your waiter to show you the Mardi Gras Museum upstairs <BR>

If you're in the mood for Italian go to Frank's Restaurant on Decatur between Dumaine and St. Philip. Easy to get in, friendly staff, AWESOME food. Ask about the Gaglioni special -- to die for!!

the monalisa on royal st. is GREAT! (not for your anniversary) local hangout. great italian food - great atmosphere! Cuvee' or Emerils good.

Oh dear! Someone is actually recommending Mona Lisa??? I wouldn't! My last TWO meals there have been marginal at best, with bad service to boot. I won't be back. The place is nearly empty most nights as locals have abandoned it.

I was down in December and my girlfriend and I absolutely loved K-Paul's and Mulate's. Johnny's Po' boys is a good place for lunch. stay away from Louis the 16th. Louis the 16th has food that really is that great.

I will be bringing my teenagers in a few months. I thought they might have fun with the cajun dance lessons at Mulates or Micaule on St Charles. Which one do you recommend? <BR>

Feelings in the Marigny--Gamay's in The Bienville House Hotel--Marisol's on The Esplanade--Irene's on St. Phillips..breakfast--Old Coffee Pot on St. Peters and Petunia's!! Burgers---((jumping up and down----PORT O CALL))))

Why did you post this message in Minnesota disscussion? I suggest if you ever travel to Minnesota, McDonald's!

I really enjoyed NOLA'S!!! We cruised right off of Bourbon and into this fabulous restaurant that had unspeakably wonderful desserts. Great food, good service, cool atmosphere, fine wine and only a beat from Bourbon Street. I hope you have a wonderful trip to New Orleans.

Tell them its your anniversary when you make reservations. My husband and I ate at K-Pauls last time we were in NO. The inside didn't look romantic (very bright and crowded) but the hostess asked if we wanted to eat in the courtyard. It was quiet (seemed to be only couples out there), darker, and the tables were farther apart than inside. All in all, a very romantic atmosphere. We would never have known to ask to eat out there, but we were talking to the hostess and mentioned it was a special night.

We just got back from NO yesterday. We absolutely LOVED Camellia Grill for breakfast, or anytime really(past the garden district on the streetcar line) It was the most fun we had on our trip. It is an open grill with a counter for the diners and the servers and cooks are so funny. A jewel of a place that we found just off of Bourbon Street (dont let that bother you) on St. Louis was Petunia's. They have decadent dinner crepes that were huge and the service was excellent. Very quaint and cozy with just a few tables. We loved it.

<BR>I live in NOLA, we LOVE Dick and Jenny's and Brigtsein's. Both very quaint and romantic. Also off the beaten path, less touristy.

There are tons of great restaurants in the quarter. You can check out the menus many post just outside the door. My wife and I ate at several restaurants that way, without reservations, and they were all good--some very good. <BR> <BR>The one meal for which we made reservations was at Susan Spicer's Bayonne. If you're interested in paying a lot of money for marginal, ill-prepared food and snippy service, this is the place for you. The night we went they had one seafood offering--Alaskan Salmon. Now, how the h*ll does that make sense?

I concur with Clay....Bayona not pleasant and highly touted garlic soup absolutely awful. Our food looked pretty but tasted average. Service was poor, prices high. It is too upscale to be tasty!