San Jose Hound revisits NOLA - have a few questions
First I'd like to say thank you to all the locals and visitor-experts who so patiently and helpfully post replies to this board. I've been trolling for awhile and have appreciated your generosity! My husband and I visited New Orleans for the first time one year prior to Hurricane Katrina, and fell in love with the city and the people. Taking advantage of some awesome airfare deals ($79 one-way from San Francisco!) and a great Papa Noel rate at the Monteleone, we are so excited to return next month. We are bringing our good friend and frequent travel companion so we will be a party of 3. The guys have let me do most of the choosing. We will have 4 full days, Thursday to Sunday. I think the quality of the food matters most. We will have to do some touristy stuff like Cafe du Monde and Pat O'Briens. I've left breakfast out because I think some days may turn into brunch - or at least a non-heavy breakfast. We won't have a car but are fine with taking taxis or street cars. It may be sacrilege but I don't want to go to Galatoire's. You'd be surprised at the ability of 2 adult men to morph into whiny children when they are hungry, thirsty, or presented with any kind of hassle while on vacation (at least the 2 men I have in mind). I don't think the whole Galatoire's experience would sit well. My questions are: (1) What is the approximate cost of the chef's tasting menu at August? I reviewed their website but wasn't able to find it. The price itself is not an issue, but I want to inform my friend in advance so there are no surprises. And has anyone had the wine pairings recently? I remember reading mixed reviews previously, that the wines were not paired well with the food. (2) Is the Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace "worth it"? Or can you recommend a sunday brunch that is just as good, without the jazz? Any other advice you may have will be much appreciated. I can't wait to return.
-Carminia
Thursday:
Lunch - Cochon
Dinner - ? maybe somewhere in the Quarter?
Friday:
Lunch - muffuletta from Central Grocery
Dinner: Emeril's
Saturday:
Lunch - Parasol's (special request from our friend)
Dinner - August
Sunday:
totally open
maybe Jazz Brunch @ Commander's Palace?
Dinner suggestions please...
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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Commander's Palace Restaurant
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
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edible complex
Nov 6, 2009 05:42 AM
My favorite restaurants in the French Quarter are:
Galatoire's (jacket required for men at dinner): oysters rockefeller, oysters en brochette, seafood stuffed eggplant, lamb chops béarnaise, crabmeat au gratin, fried soft shell crabs w/crabmeat, godchaux salad, soufflé potatoes.
http://www.galatoires.com/Mr.. B's: great gumbo Ya-Ya, BBQ shrimp, any fish of the day plank grilled, and profiteroles for dessert.
http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.phpIrene's: the duck is amazing, and the chicken rosemarino is a classic Creole Italian dish.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/D41515.htmlMuriel's at Jackson Square: good gumbo, goat cheese and crawfish crepes, puppy drum, and double cut pork chops.
http://www.muriels.com/Iris in the Bienville House for veal cheek ravioli, mussels, foie gras, duck confit, sunchoke and cauliflower soup, scallops and skate wing.
http://irisneworleans.com/Go to Cafe du Monde (riverside of Jackson Square) for beignets and coffee any time of day.
http://www.cafedumonde.com/Check out Stanley on Jackson Square for breakfast or lunch. Scott Boswell also has Stella!, but this is his casual restaurant that cranks out some good food too:
http://www.stanleyrestaurant.com/
http://www.restaurantstella.com/For raw oysters: Desire Bar in the Royal Sonesta, Bourbon House, Acme or Felix's in the Qtr., Luke in the CBD on St. Charles Ave., Pascal's Manale and Casamento's Uptown.
http://www.sonesta.com/RoyalNewOrleans/index.cfm?fa=diningentertainment.home
http://www.bourbonhouse.com/
http://www.acmeoyster.com/
http://www.felixs.com/
http://www.lukeneworleans.com/
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/
http://www.casamentosrestaurant.com/main/main.htmlFor good drinks: Carrousel Bar at the Monteleone (a must visit), French 75 Bar at Arnaud's, Lafitte's Blacksmith, Absinthe House, Napoleon House, Hermes Bar at Antoine's, Chart Room on Chartres, Sazerac Bar at (recently reopened) The Roosevelt.
Central Grocery for muffalettas. These are great for the plane ride home. Be sure to check their hours, as they may be closed when you fly home. They pack well, so you can buy a day before flying. If you like your muffalettas warmed (which I do), then eat at Napoleon House or heat up the CG when you get home. I find it opens up the flavors of the meats, cheese and olive salad.
http://www.napoleonhouse.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_GroceryGreen Goddess is the newest and most talked about in the Qtr.
Menu looks amazing:
http://greengoddessnola.com/Other Breakfast places:
Croissant D'or (great pastries
)617 Ursulines Ave
(504) 524-4663
Open Wed-Sun 7am-2pm
EAT (great brunch and BYOB)
http://www.eatnola.com/
If you have a car or will take the streetcar, head Uptown for J'Anita's, Martinique, Clancy's and Patois.
J'Anita's in the Avenue Pub on St. Charles Ave. for great BBQ for lunch. They also have the best fish sammich ever!
http://www.theavenuepub.com/food.htmMartinique Bistro on Magazine has great food and a beautiful courtyard.
http://www.martiniquebistro.com/Clancy's on Annunciation is terrific; get the oysters w/brie, sweetbreads, the smoked soft shell crab and the veal chops. and their frozen Brandy Alexander's are good for dessert.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/D41648.htmlPatois on Laurel for rabbit, moules frites, and pork belly. This has become one of the best new restaurants and well worth trying. Open also for Friday lunch and Sunday brunch, if that fits in your schedule.
http://www.patoisnola.com/
Or, head to Mid-City for Mandina's on Canal St. for turtle soup, oyster po boys, and trout or Parkway Bakery and Tavern for the best roast beef po boys.
http://www.parkwaybakeryandtavernnola.com/
(Mandina's is cash only.
)http://www.mandinasrestaurant.com/
In the CBD, across Canal St from Fr. Qtr., try Rambla in the International House Hotel for great tapas, Luke on St. Charles for oysters at the bar, duck and rabbit pate, choucroûte maison, and moules and frites, Domenica in The Roosevelt for goat cheese stuffed squash blossoms, grilled radicchio, and any of the pastas and pizzas. If you are in town for lunch Friday, Restaurant August has a 3 course for $20.09 that is stellar. Other places: Herbsaint and Cochon (both Donald Link restaurants), Rio Mar and La Boca (both Adolpho's restaurants) and his new place, a Mano.
http://ihhotel.com/restaurant.html
http://www.lukeneworleans.com/
http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/
http://www.restaurantaugust.com/
http://herbsaint.com/
http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/
http://riomarseafood.activepixel.com/
http://www.labocasteaks.com/index.html-----
Mandina's Restaurant
3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119Napoleon House Bar & Cafe
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130Avenue Pub
1732 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130Casamento's Restaurant
4330 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115Rio Mar Restaurant
800 South Peters, New Orleans, LA 70130J'Anita's Restaurant
1906 Magazine St, New Orleans, LAGalatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130La Boca Restaurant
857 Fulton St., New Orleans, LA 70130International House Hotel
221 Camp Street, New Orleans, LARambla
217 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130Bourbon House
144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130Chart Room
300 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130Mandinas Restaurant
4240 Highway 22 Ste 2, Mandeville, LA 70471 -
I've never had a complaint about Commander's Jazz brunch in forty years (well, they can be a little loud in that turret room). You'll be fine there. Clancy's cor Thursday would also be good and you can get local flavor without needing to suffer the Galatoire's experience, whatever that is. Bill Hunt is your best guide for wine pairings.
A friend went to August recently and was less-than-thrilled. Quite surprising in his complaint since he is usually rather relaxed. Must have been bad day....I don't take the assault too seriously.
You shouldwander over to the Roosevelt...I assume the Waldorf=Astoria Prestige Investment Group will lay out the old, traditional Winter Wonderland Lobby. Santa's helpers are a delight.
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Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
