can someone please give me the 411 on these places?

[unocal]

hello everyone, i hope all is well. i plan on being in NOLA in mid-october, and was wondering what the status was on a few places post-katrina that have been on my list for a couple years. i never did make it down to NOLA 2 years ago because it was only 2 months after the fact (although i did make it down to louisiana, and ate some of the most amazing food in and around lafayette). anyway, some of the places are: domilise's, dick & jenny's and a fried chicken place that was run by an older black woman whose name escapes me. i will be in NOLA for 3-4 days, on a student budget, and am curious as to what i should not miss. i LOVE oyster po'boys, raw seafood (any seafood actually - is acme a not miss?), bread puddings (sans raisins), and i would like one restaurant where i can splurge on a dinner for myself (i may or not be dining alone and am an almost-30 female if that helps any, so nothing too stuffy or formal please). oh, and good local bars w/ local character a definite +! thank you all so very much and keep the chow a-comin!

[lawstudent]

Unocal - As soon as you get in town find a Gambit Weekly (free at any coffee shop or pharmacy) and look at all the ads for summer prix fixe menus. I plan on doing Martinique's 3 course dinner for $28 (6-6:45 pm), Bacco's three course for $25, and 7 on Fulton's 3 course $20.07 lunch with a free mojito. You should definitely check one out.

[unocal]

they should still have those in october right lawstudent? btw, do you think w/ prix fixe menus that you are not getting something you ordinarily would be since you are paying a lot less? it doesn't matter to me, but ive heard people talk about that sorta thing, like you are not getting the "true" essence of a place's cuisine when you do prix fixe. i was thinking about trying brigtsen's and doing their early bird menu, does anyone have any opinions on that? i know someone must...thanks again guys!

p.s. i love the enthusiasm on this board...not that ive posted on so many, but i put this post up last night, and there's already almost 30 replies; gotta love it!

[lawstudent]

Oh I'm sorry, those are summer specials. Forgot to re-read your first post. About prix fixe's in general, I think people are generally right about them not being as good as the real menu. You almost always get what you pay for. But for someone on my budget this is the only time I will get to try these places unless I just want to go for an appetizer and a beer.

Yes, if there is one thing left to be enthusiastic about in this city - it is the food.

[unocal]

amen to that!

[stockboy85]

I don't think that you lose anything when you do a prix fixe. A lot of times, the things that are on those menus are on the regular menu as well, so it isn't at all different if you were to order a la carte. I'm actually doing a 4 day tasting tour of NOLA starting tomorrow and will be hitting mostly places that have tasting/prix fixe menus - Galatoire's, Bacco, Cuve (Degu menu), Stella, Cafe Giovanni...I think the only restaurant in my entire four days of eating that isn't a tasting/prix fixe menu is when I go to the NOLA Cooking School for lunch/class on Saturday and Herbsaint; I'm planning on making Herbsaint a tasting anyways by ordering all of the appetizers on the menu and then just sampling as they come out.

[chef4hire]

stockboy- make sure you order 2 of the shrimp w/grit cakes at herbsaint...easlily my most favorite shrimp app - right up there with the tasso shrimp hennican at commanders- report back!!

[zin1953]

>>> do you think w/ prix fixe menus that you are not getting something you ordinarily would be since you are paying a lot less? it doesn't matter to me, but ive heard people talk about that sorta thing, like you are not getting the "true" essence of a place's cuisine when you do prix fixe. <<<

Not at all.

[Fydeaux]

Nawlins Flava at 830 N Rampart St is an excellent low-cost place. There are a few reviews on this board by now; a search will give you more info. For a splurge, I second Adolfo's, one of my favourite restaurants in the world.

[malenky]

Frankie and Johnny's is a great place to go on your budget. Get the pepper rings and you won't be disappointed. For a splurge meal, I'd say Cochon. It is little meals so you can do a few and get out of there pretty cheap. A new bar that is wonderful is 45 tchop. Very friendly staff and if you are in town for a game then they'll probably be cooking up some BBQ (for free). Enjoy your visit!!

[chanterelle]

Could someone give some pretty specific directions to Domalise's? I know it's on Annunciation but I have never been able to find it.

[Frolic]

Corner of Annunciation and Bellecastle, one block off Tchoupitoulas. That's about three block downtown of Jefferson Ave.

Closed Sunday and Thursday. I'm not sure of the hours, but they normally shut down around 7 p.m. At the moment, they're on vacation for a few days.

[chanterelle]

Thank you for the quick response! I'm not there right now, but we have a house off Banks in Mid-City and I'm there a few months out of the year.

I'll keep trying!

[Hungry Celeste]

Place link below

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Domilise's Sandwich Shop & Bar
5240 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70115

[Hungry Celeste]

Skip Acme and go to Casamento's instead. Magazine Street, just downtown of Napoleon Ave.

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Casamento's Restaurant
4330 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

[unocal]

aren't they known for their oyster loaf or something like that? man i do hope there's a bally's nearby, or i'm gonna have to do a ton of walking ;)

[Hungry Celeste]

I don't think we have any Bally's locations, but October is the nicest month of the year (usually, when we're not being hit by a hurricane), so you should be able to walk wherever you'd like. Casamento's has a raw bar and it is known for oyster loaves & other fried seafood. Be sure to visit the restroom if dining at C's; you get to walk thru the kitchen on the way, which is fun.

[unocal]

yeah i think october is pretty much a nice time to travel to most places, although you're right about those 'canes. btw, celeste i need to get some recs from you regarding driving the 90 out to NOLA from lafayette so i can take the bayou route. i have no idea how everything is down there since '05 and i figured you'd be a good person to ask. i'm really interested in checking out houma, morgan city and places like that, especially since i love seafood and will have about 6 days to cruise around the lafayette environs until i sojourn over to NOLA. i think a little bit of of prairie and swamp cajun will be a nice mix. thanks so much!

[Hungry Celeste]

US 90 from NOLA to Lafayette is smooth sailing--the highway is 4-lane, improved almost to intrastate standards (it is projected to be the route for an extension of I-49 all the way to NOLA). Houma has some pretty good restaurants these days, though Morgan City is still a bit bleak. Along the way to Lafayette are a bunch of good stops...start a new thread and I'm sure others will chime in.

[JGrey]

Celeste saves the day! HOW could I forget Casamento's? Yes, this is the place to go over all other oyster places.

[zin1953]

unocal --

My wife and I come to New Orleans *almost* every October.

Acme is not necessarily a "not miss," but it IS good. (check out yelp's reviews)

Dick & Jenny's is open. I'd also check out places like Upperline, Franky & Johnny's and Elizabeth's. I've heard that Dookie Chase is reopening soon, so that's great news.

Arnaud's French 75 bar makes, IMHO, the best Sazerac in town -- especially if Bobby is behind the bar. Also check out the Napoleon House for a Pimm's Cup (if the weather is nice -- it should be). Some other bars I like include Loa in the International House, the Columns Hotel, Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-in-Law Lounge, Maple Leaf Bar, the beautiful but odd Sazerac Bar in the Fairmont Hotel (better Sazeracs at Arnaud's, though), and if only for the irony of it all, Genifer Flowers.

Also, check out this thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/421930

If you get a chance -- even though it was published pre-Katrina -- check out a book called "Obituary Cocktail" (http://www.amazon.com/Obituary-Cockta...

)

Jason

[unocal]

thanks for the great info zin...regarding sazeracs, what do they taste like? i looked them up briefly yesterday, and i don't think id like them from the ingredients. but a pimm's cup sounds like something i would like :) i just don't want to spend $8 on cocktais all the time tho, and i'm sure that's really easy to do in NOLA. i need good and cheap happy hours w/ good bar food (i guess ill start a new thread)! and btw, i bookmarked that cocktails thread yesterday...see ya in october!

[JGrey]

Domelise's, Dick and Jenny's and Willie Mae's Scotch House are all open. Willie Mae's is probably the chicken place you've heard of. I would classify D&J's as a splurge place for a student budget, so that might be it right there. Another not too over-the-top splurge would be Iris (uptown on Jeanette). Mat 'n' Naddie's is a good suggestion, too.

My favorite oyster po-boys are at Mandina's or Crabby Jack's (latter is GREAT for a student budget). Raw oysters: Acme will be very crowded, you could go to Felix's uptown, or heck, Cooter Brown's is a fun bar (great beer selection) with an oyster bar. It's also pretty fun to stand at the oyster bar at Pascal's Manale. Delachaise is a nice little bar with good wine selection and fantastic, non-trad bar food. Aimed squarely at your demographic. :) Adolfo's is an italian place on Frenchman st that is very reasonable, and lots of great hangouts in that neighborhood. Coop's place in the quarter also has great, cheap food.

[unocal]

jgrey i'm so glad to hear willie mae's is open again; that place was on my list of places to try and i remember reading an article about her and her husband post-katrina that was just so heartbreaking (something to the effect that they weren't sure if they'd ever be able to reopen cuz i think they're house had gotten beaten up pretty badly). anyway, thanks for the good news...btw, where is crabby jacks'? ive been doing some research, and this place pops up a lot. i think i my want to try felix's also since reading about it in another thread (a cabbie recommended it after some other place had to close cuz it's cooler gave out or something). btw, what neighborhood is adolfo's in? thanks again for your great recs!

[Frolic]

If you read about the chef and her husband, then you're probably thinking of Dooky Chase. Leah Chase will be reopening in the next few weeks.

[JGrey]

Crabby Jack's is on Claiborne Ave (turns into Jefferson Hwy once it crosses into Jefferson Parish).

See below about Casamento's instead of Felix's, can't believe I forgot about it! Adolfo's is on Frenchman St. in the Marigny, the small neighborhood adjacent to the French Quarter (downriver). Sort of the locals' Bourbon St, lots of great live music and bars.

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Crabby Jacks
428 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121

Adolfo's
611 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116

[lawstudent]

Domilise's is open and I went there for the first time about 5 months ago. I didn't like it because my roast beef poboy with gravy was cold. Was I supposed to ask them for a hot roast beef specifically?

My favorite splurge is Matt & Naddie's uptown on river road. Get the grilled oysters and scallop salad with a white wine. Monday nights are best, they have a little band on the patio, great fun.

[unocal]

thanks for the info guys, keep em comin! lawstudent, when you say splurge, about how much are we talking for the aforementioned grilled oysters (which sound yummmmy!), scallop salad and a glass of wine? thanks for the info

[lawstudent]

I think the oysters are $10, the salad is only $11 and comes with 3 decent sized scallops wrapped in prosciutto. Wines by the glass probably start at $7-8.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it! I've been to Cafe Atchafalaya, One and Clancy's lately and I would choose Mat & Naddie's over all of them, no questions asked. If money was no object I might change my mind - I'd love to try the filet at One with an expensive bottle of cab.

[Frolic]

I think that you just caught Domilise's on a bad day, although I've never been a huge fan of the roast beef there (some people are, though). Try again with shrimp, oyster, or hot sausage with chili sauce.

[marchperson]

where are you staying and will you have a car?

[unocal]

probably in algiers, and yes ill have a car.

[marchperson]

For the splurge dinner I would try GW Fins. It's in the Quarter and they have parking nearby. You could call them and find out the exact address of the parking lot. They will validate your parking ticket.
Sorry that I don't know about the other restaurants you mentioned. I live in Baton Rouge and get to New Orleans for special nights out. I am sure you will hear from some locals on your topic. Have a nice visit. The weather should be pleasant in October.

[Blumie]

I would NOT choose GW Fin's if I could have only one splurge dinner. It's not that I dislike the place -- I don't -- it's just that there are so many better choices with a more authentic NOLA feel. I ate solo at Brigtsen's once -- even though it's not normally a place I'd associate with solo dining -- and had one of my best meals ever there. Dick & Jenny's or Clancy's also would be great choices and, IMHO, far better than GW Fins.

My favorite cheap eats dinner place is Coop's Place, in the Quarter. It's also a great place for solo dining.