New Orleans top restaurants

[1001dinners]

Australian foodie ( www.1001dinners.blogspot.com ) visiting NO for a week in January seeks advice on the best restaurants for gourmet experiences - modern American, French, Italian Creole or fusion. Suggestions please.

[Sambeaux]

www.tommyscuisine.com

its good....and w.i.n.o. is a great place to begin pre drink.

[igloominaboom]

Skip MiLa. I went for lunch and although the decor is quite impressive the food was not. I don't know why they're winning so many awards and accolades.

I second the recommendations for Martinique Bistro and Iris.

My chef had a pretty lame dinner at Delmonico's last week. This is scary considering the staff was informed that he's a local chef.

[onetimer]

Dick and Jenny's - Tchoupitoulas St. near Jefferson Ave.
Ralph's on the Park - City Park Ave. at Dumaine St.
The Grocery (lunch) - St. Charles Ave. at 6th St.
K-Paul's - Chartres St. near Conti St.
Marigny Brasserie - Frenchmen St. at Royal St.
Bayona - Dauphine St. near St. Louis St.
Liuzza's - Bienville St. at N. Telemachus St.
Lola's - Esplanade Ave. near Mystery St.

Some upscale and some just consistently exceptional cuisine. We're spoiled and have too much to choose so few. No argument with any of the suggestions here. Sometimes, simple, fresh, well prepared eats outshine overly complex and trendy foods. I tend to like both. Welcome to New Orleans.

[1001dinners]

Tx onetimer for the list and the welcome
I've probably been to NO more tan half a dozen times over the years which is a mark of how much I enjoy it (and I have friends there too. Always looking for new culinary experiences!
Elliot

[ad40602]

onetimer,

Tell me a lttile about The Grocery. I haven't heard much about it.

Joe

[Bill Hunt]

Yes, maybe Ralph's on the Park. Have not done them, except for brunch, but then they have been great. Gotta' try them for dinner.

Bayona has also not failed to satisfy my tastes.

The rest are probably great recs., but I've not dined at any.

Hunt

[edible complex]

Patois, Clancy's, Martinique Bistro, Maximo's, Bistro Daisy

[1001dinners]

Tx
Have to try and refine all these suggestions!
Elliot

[N.O.Food]

Check out the Times Pic's new guide. Pretty good place to start.

http://blog.nola.com/brettanderson/20...

[1001dinners]

Tx for the tip - I will
Elliot

[zin1953]

Jazzy gave you a great list, to which I would add Bayona for lunch -- most of Susan Spicer's signature dishes are available on the lunch menu. I'd also consider Lilette, and Iris (note Iris has changed locations, and the link here is to the old address).

-----
Iris Restaurant
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Stella Restaurant
1032 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

Commander's Palace Restaurant
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

Mila
817 Common Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

Irene's Cuisine
539 Saint Philip St, New Orleans, LA 70116

[1001dinners]

Hi zin
Tx for the list If yiou were going to only two of Stella, Cochon and Cuvee which would you leave out? (I've been to a few of the high end restaurants you mention)?
Elliot

[zin1953]

I really would to Cochon for lunch, rather than dinner, and because I've been to Cochon the most, I'd pick Stella! and Cuvée . . .

If I'd never been to ANY (or the objective is to go -- regardless of whether it's lunch or dinner), I'd pick Stella! and Cochon.

[sibeats]

zin, why would you say Cochon for lunch rather than dinner? I am in the process of making our late december plans, so your insight is appreciated!

[zin1953]

The ambiance, the menu, and the uncomfortable chairs (!) all make me prefer my lunches there than to my single dinner . . .

[mrsfury]

I'm with zin. I've only been for lunch (many times) and would never consider it for dinner.

[Bill Hunt]

Yes, it's the chairs! Still, they have a small, albeit nice little wine list, so the chairs might not be felt. Food is worth the visit, as is the "ambiance." Note: they *did* have some Central Coast PN's that think they are Syrahs... [inside joke, although nice wines for the spices]

Though Jason has answered the question, I have to agree mostly, as I'd choose Stella! and Cuvée for dinner, with Cochon for lunch.

I'd do Stella!, Brigtsen's, Restaurant August (make the danged sommelier earn his keep and do some decent wine pairings) and Cuvée.

Hunt

[Honore Melmoth]

Cochon looks and feels more like a barn than a restaurant.

[zin1953]

No "barn" ever tasted like this!

[Bill Hunt]

I agree that it is "casual," and a tad "funky," but the food and service overcame those aspects for us. Still, there are the chairs. Maybe it's my very old back, or hauling my golf clubs through airports, but I do wish that they'd upgrade the chairs. That was the only rub, that I had against them. Still, food and wine made up for it.

Hunt

[mikemill]

Iris is fantastic, but they've moved. They're now at 321 N. Peters

[JazzyB]

Commander's (garden room), Galatoire's, Cochon (all apps.) for lunch. Dinner: August, Cuvee, Herbsaint,, Stella, MiLa, Brigtsen's, Irene's. If you feel the need to visit an Emeril venue, sit at the food bar at his flagship (Emeril's). Get a muff. from Central Grocery for the plane. Thanks for coming and enjoy!

[1001dinners]

Tx Jazzy
I've heard August leaves clients hungry at times. Do youknow anything about that?
Elliot

[JazzyB]

We've never left hungry.

[zin1953]

No way I have EVER left August hungry!

[Bill Hunt]

Considering Chef Besh's tasting menu, I cannot imagine anyone leaving hungry, unless they are Michael Phelps. I found the protions to be about perfect, but then I'm less into quantity, than quality.

I second every rec. of JazzyB's, except for Herbsaint and Irene's. The only reason that I do not list those two is because I've not been to Herbsaint except about the time of their opening, and have not been to Irene's yet. Family (all heavy foodies) do recommend Irene's, but we've not had the time yet.

I, however, am a fan of Emeril's and also Delmonico. Have not done Emeril's post-K, so my rec. could be moot. Never have gotten NOLA into the mix.

Hunt

[1001dinners]

Tx Bill
I've now chosen about a dozen places to try, including August. Of course I won't get to them all but I'm looking forward to some special eating experiences. Hope to report, warts and all, on my blog
(1001dinners.com) next Feb.

[Bill Hunt]

Please grace this board with the reviews. Also, you might want to go into "training" for your visit... [Grin]

Trust me, you WILL have a special eating experience, and I hope that all are perfect.

Hunt

[1001dinners]

Sure Bill I will try to 'grace' this board but I think pictures are very useful in reviews and They are very limited here

[1001dinners]

Seems my reply disappeared. It will be my pleasure to add reviews to this board and hope they are useful. like to use lots of pic's tho,