Green Goddess is as good as they say
Oh, I am too full and happy to do this correctly, but I must report on tonight's meal before I fall into a stupor. Four of us finally managed to get to the Goddess. It really is as good as ya'll say. Two of us had the 4-course tasting menu, (right now it's a fall seafood based offering). Chef Chris came out and after an extensive and thoughtful discussion, helped me customized my tasting menu for a vegetarian. The only difficult was in the choosing. Believe me, this is a delightful rarity for a vegitarian in new orleans The other two diners ordered ala carte. Oh my! We had heard that this was the last week for their BBQ peaches, (topped with blue cheese and bacon) and I am so glad we rushed down to get some of their last (mine sans bacon, of course) A smokey sweetness that married the cheese and reduction sauce perfectly. I then had an edamame/mint bruschetta with a japanese dried chile paste whose name and pedigree the chef happily extolled, but that I have since forgotten. It was so light yet rich and delicious, such a surprise, and one of my favorite dishes And the blue corn enchiladas are yes as good as people say, I had never had anything quite like it. Did I mention the figs stuffed with cloud light honied goat cheese garnished with an exquisite aged balsamic oil that the chef came out and drizzled himself? We all almost fought over them. Or the inventive and delicious cocktails? I won't even try and describe what we sampled, the ingredient list is almost confusingly long and exotic, but the outcomes were, with one exception, fantastic. As we were nearing the end of a veritable food orgy, the blue cheese/date plate arrived, paired with the 12 year old scotch my fellow diner ordered (he was kind enough to share) This was one of the most lovely cheeses, and such a perfect match with the scotch. I didn't think I had more room. Oh, I forgot the hand cut sweet potato "ravioli". There was much more, but I am simply to sated to describe. Every single last thing was done with such love and attention to detail, without being in the least bit stuffy, it is obvious these are people who just love what they do. We ate outside on this lovely, breezy almost fall evening, indulging in the casual elegance for unrushed hours. I cannot believe we fit in dessert. Okay, the tables were basic patio style furniture, and the server a bit blase, but it worked for us. It is so nice to see a new restaurant with this degree of enthusiasm and artistry, featuring a lot of rare and new (to me) ingredients,without anything getting lost in the gloss and spin. It's like a perfect marriage of fine dining and the ultimate casual over-cocktails meal. And for a vegetarian, it's restaurant Valhalla.
The goddess just got a new devotee. I'm going to try their brunch as soon as I can!
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Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
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I disagree with the review. As a local I was excited to try this place because I had heard some good reviews via word of mouth, but I left more than a little disappointed. Perhaps it was that I went for lunch, perhaps it was that the restaurant was crowded and perhaps it was that a holiday weekend is a bad time to go out. In any case the story of this restaurant, and it's association with Delachaise, had raised my expectations and they were not met. There are ten restaurants within easy walking distance where I could have had a better meal.
The wait was long, the wait staff inattentive and the food mediocre.
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Delachaise
3442 Saint Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130›6 Replies-
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re: Chow3214
Chow3214,
We're local as well and came away with a similar impression. We went once early on, for lunch. The food was creative but did not hit the mark for any of us flavorwise. We've had similar experiences with a couple of other raved about rest. (Gautreaus, Stella!). I was beginning to think it was just me/us.-
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re: Suzy Wong
Yeah I read chris does dinner only. The dinner I had was one of the best. Brunch was good but overpriced.
Our dinner - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/630344
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re: Suzy Wong
Emeril's, Le Foret, Lillette, Patois, Coquette, Cuvee, Eleven79, Commander's (lunch), August, Herbsaint (when they are on), Rambla, Willie Mae's, Bozos, Parkway, Galatoire's, Gw Fins, La Boca, Lola's, Madrid, Poc, Irene's, One, Mimis... need I go on? With over 1000 rest., not every one is for everyone.
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130Gw Fins
808 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70112Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130Rambla
217 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130Le Foret
129 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
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N.O.Food
Oct 4, 2009 07:38 PM
I agree that the food is really good. Went there this weekend for the first time. It was everything I hoped it would be: interesting and different. A refreshing change, in my opinion. There were four of us and we tried most of the menu. My favs were the spooky blue crepes, raddish ravioli, heirloom tomato dish, harvest figs, and the pork. I would describe the dishes in more detail but they're changing the menu this week. Suffice it to say that everything was very good.
The service on the other hand was terrible. They had one waiter/bartender for the whole place, which was filled to capacity - about 40 or so people. He would have struggled if he just had to handle the food, but since he had to do the food and mix all those crazy drinks, lets just say he was pretty ineffective. It took 15 minutes to get waters for the table. That's after asking twice. Food came out haphazardly. Three of us got our entrees about ten minutes before the last member of our party. We didn't get worked up though. We were having a nice relaxed meal out on the porch, and we could tell this guy was on his own and doing his best. That said, hire more people! Or can the folks that stood yall up on a Saturday night! We will definitely be back though. The food was that good.
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