Camellia Grill

I heard that the Grill is closed and will not be re-opening. Is that true?

[lmead]

Ate there day before yesterday, early afternoon and there weren't more than 6 other people in the place. Other than the pieces of raw bacon on the floor in front of the grill it seemed clean enough. We had a chocolate and a coffee freeze which were great and split a tuna sandwich which, strangely enough, was the best I've had in a restaurant in years. Had just the right amount of chopped pickle and mayo.

[dfm1981]

The Camellia Grill reopened last year (April 2007) and they have announced that they are expanding to add a location in Baton Rouge, LA and eventually one in Florida (probably in the panhandle area like Destin, FL)

[Bill Hunt]

OK, we are heading into May. What is the definitive answer to Camillia Grill? We'll be back in September, and I hope that they are up to speed. We missed even looking in the windows in March, as we were on Canal St. and did not get up St Charles. Please offer a review, especially if it can be predicated on pre-K experiences.

Thanks,
Hunt

[JGrey]

As far as I could tell, it's exactly the same, with a new paint job and nicer bathrooms.

[Bill Hunt]

OK, they cleaned the bathrooms. BUT, did they clean the waffle-irons? I hope not. I keep telling my wife to NOT clean our waffle-iron, to try and duplicate their "Nutty Waffles."

Gotta' try them in September.

Hunt

[Guy Caballero]

Was just there last night. No complaints whatsoever, not much has changed. I don't know if they're open 24 hours though.

Don't forget your antacids.

[Hungry Celeste]

And I was there last weekend...it was just as it always was, except that the line was a little disorganized. Be sure that you pay attention while sitting on the green banquettes, as the hostess might pass over you. The restored marble countertops do seem to amplify the ambient sound quite a bit, so if the joint is full, you're in for a roaring loud time. I had a bacon cheeseburger, fries, a chocolate cherry freeze....no substantial changes from pre-K, except that the bacon seemed more plentiful on this last visit. And yes, the ladies' room has been refurbished, and you still get a nice walk thru the kitchen on your way to it.

[Bill Hunt]

In the "old days," they closed ~ 2:00AM, until ~9:00AM. I never knew them to be open for 24 hrs.

Hunt

[jfood]

Bill

Jfood has been twice in the last few months and heading back to NOLA on Friday. And according to the AMEX bill, little jfood seems to be able to both find it and enjoy it.

[cor]

Yes, my favorite thing about CG now is that they accept credit cards!! They did not do that pre-K.

[Bill Hunt]

Jfood,

I'm glad that little Jfood is learning Economics 101. Think of this as an Economics "field-trip," and a learning experience - though it might be for you and Mrs. Jfood. At least it's Camilla Grill and not Friar Tuck's!

Hope to try them again, come September.

Hunt

[Rum Runner]

It had been closed for so long that I'm having problems making comparisons. But I have no complaints after three visits there. Most of the original kitchen staff is back. Ditto the waiters. The place is much, much cleaner than pre-Katrina. The only real physical changes are the marble-top counters (replacing Formica or something similar), and a total renovation of the rest rooms. The hamburger, orange freeze and chocolate freeze are as good as ever. The fries never were the best, but they were acceptable, I was never a fan of the omelets, but I like the chili a lot. The chili omelet turns me off completely, especially because of the ridiculously large size of it.

[Bill Hunt]

Wife agrees with you about the chili omlets. I am a fan, however. To each... I also liked those fries, even though they were not the best, there was an "element" to them, that made them special, even if they were frozen and "industrial." Wish I could capture the "magic."

Thanks for the update,
Hunt

[meekorouse]

dude..your caplock is on ;)

loved eating at Camilia when I lived in New Orleans. Took my dad there when he came to visit. I try to stay away from there during tourist season, because it, like so many other local hangouts gets swamped with folks.. glad to see it's going to reopen but wow I hope whoever takes over doesn't change it.. Post-K I know the love was there because so many people left notes for it to hurray back.. =)

[MIKELOCK34]

IT DOES NOT LOOK FROM THE OUTSIDE AS THOUGH ANY WORK HAS BEGUN ON THE INTERIOR. JUST A BANNER ABOVE THE DOOR STATING "COMING BACK TO SERVE NEW ORLEANS."

[ckonowitz]

Any update on Camillia Grill?

[Frolic]

They stripped the paint a few weeks ago. When I drove by this weekend, it had a fresh coast of white paint.

[MIKELOCK34]

THERE IS A BANNER HANGING ABOVE THE DOOR SAYING THAT THEY WILL REOPEN, BUT IT GIVES NO SPECIFIC DATE. I WILL WALK OVER AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY MENTION OF A DATE FOR THE REOPENING.

[Tonto]

The person who is reopening the Camillia Grill is in partnership with Emeril at his NOLA location. Check Brett Anderson in the Picayune on Friday.

[SkyeBye]

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispa...

[Donfucious]

My friend down in NOLA told me he has something to do with it. I think it's sort of like, "Six Degrees of Emeril Lagasse"!!!!! I think it's a business associate of Emeril's or something like that.

[bluehensfan]

True..but at least it's opening!

[bluehensfan]

http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?...

[Frolic]

I saw that, but it doesn't say that Emeril will invest in or be involved with Camellia Grill. Everyone is being real cagey about that.

[River Road Gal]

I read that Emeril Lagasse is going to be a co-owner of the new Camellia Grill.

[Frolic]

Where did you read that? Do you have a link? Thanks.

[bluehensfan]

Bam. I hope they bring back the cloth napkins...

[JGrey]

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.nola.com/dining/t-p/index....

[VanNuysBear]

Per an article in today's (08/31/2006) Times-Picayune, the CG has been sold, and the new owner intends to reopen it.

[Donfucious]

I, personally, loved CG. Coming from NYC, I hadn't expected to see that kind of a place in NOLA. It added another great experience to my trips down there.

At my last visit, I had a quadruple bacon cheeseburger, a triple bacon cheeseburger, 1/2 of a Chef's omelette and a frosty. The (then) manager said if I could do that, but with a full Chef's omelette and a piece of pecan pie added to the mix, I could have my picture put on the wall! Unfortunately, I never got the chance to attempt it. I thought their food was fantastic! Especially the burgers and the pecan pie. All of that butter on the grill... it's amazing I'm still alive! But, it was Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... GOOD!

Anyway, rumor has it that someone associated with Emeril Lagasse has purchased the place. Don't know what they're doing with it yet, but I'll check it out.

I miss Melvin, man... When I saw the omelettes he was making, I questioned him a bit about them and his eyes bugged out of his head and, in an unbelieving tone, he asked, "You want an OMELETTE?" Of course, this was right after my aforementioned binge with the 7 burgers.

Good times...

We were just in NoLa last weekend, drove down St. Charles, made the Riverbend onto Carrollton...and there she was: a very closed and battered-looking Camellia Grill. We've had some fine meals there and some fine encounters.

good riddance

Anyone wishing for the demise of Camellia Grill should check demselves, question when they last had better Omelettes, Pecan Pies, strangely anachronistic service, or such finely minced onions to lavish on their hand-formed hamburger patties. Been to N'awlins latey ? Camellia being closed is the culinary equivalent of Crater Lake poppin' up. Hole in Ya Bucket, HoleIn YaBuckets'GottaHOLEinnit...

:)

[MIKELOCK34]

WE LIVE A THREE MINUTE WALK FROM THE CAMELLIA GRILL. THE OMELLETTES WERE ALWAYS DRY AND OVERCOOKED, AND THE PECAN PIE WAS NOTHING SPECIAL AT ALL. ALL ACADEMIC NOW THOUGH. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REOPEN.

[LizATL]

I lived in NOLA for a year and never found the omlettes overcooked at CG. Did you ever try the chili omlette? Fries were also good. Actually, I never had anything bad there. Even more than the food, it was the atmosphere - one of a kind.

[MIKELOCK34]

HAVE TRIED MOST OR ALL OF THE OMELLETTES THAT THEY HAD. WE DID ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE. ALWAYS SAT IN MARVIN'S SECTION. "WORD UP!" IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN BUYING IT, I DO BELEIVE THAT IT IS LISTED. WE WALK PAST IT GOING TO DAIQUIRI'S AND COOTER BROWN'S VERY OFTEN. THERE IS NO ACTIVITY THERE. IT IS DONE.

[Bill Hunt]

I've been following the bad news with much sadness. Though we've been gone from NO for almost 30 years, CG was a favorite. We always went for Bat's section. Besides the afore mentioned omlettes, and fries, their "nutty waffles" were the best! We've tried for years to duplicate them, even letting the old batter accumulate on our waffle iron (ala CG), with no success.

They will be missed, as no trip to NO was complete without a trip to CG. Good bye. :-{

Hunt

[alex70]

how can you say that. The pecan pie is so yummy.

What a silly thing to say.

I haven't heard anything definitive about Camellia Grill, but I'll keep my ear to the ground.

Link: http://www.appetites.us