Restaurant Recommendation in the Quarter
Please help! I'm heading down to New Orleans this weekend for a bachelorette party. I've have all of our meals planned out but dinner Saturday night. Any recommendation for a fun place to eat in the quarter? There will be 13 of us, so it's a pretty big group. We want to go somewhere semi-casual with a fun atmosphere. We'll all be be wearing bachelorett party t-shirts - so nothing too fancy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
By MSgirl
on Mar 22, 2010 07:59 AM
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Try Maximo's. I'm not sure about them being able to accomodate 13, but you can call and ask. Fun atmosphere, amazing mussels and lamb chops. You might also try Le Meritage. They offer small plates with wine pairings and I'm sure they could accomodate your party. The Bombay Club is also nice....they have a room off the main room they could probably accomodate your party, plus there's always a good jazz band playing and great martinis.
Have fun....and stay safe.
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Le Meritage
1001 Toulouse, New Orleans, LA 70112
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Once you decide, certainly make a reservation for a party that size on a Saturday night.
(Emeril's) "NOLA" (restaurant) on St Louis would fit the bill you described:
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/
Or Luke (a fun more casual John Besh place
)http://www.lukeneworleans.com/index.html
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Nola Restaurant
534 Rue St. Louis, New Orleans, LA 70130
Luke Restaurant
333 St Charles, New Orleans, LA 70130
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Second NOLA and Maximo's! Both great choices... Book ASAP!
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I used to be adamantly anti-NOLA. I had a terrible experience there in 2002 and refused to ever set foot in there again....until I went to Emeril's last fall. We discussed my previous visit to NOLA, as I'd never been to an Emeril's establisment again, and they told me that NOLA went through some serious issues from 2001 - 2004. I was informed that there since has been new management, new chef, and much better service. I was very skeptical, but I gave it a shot again in October and had a fantastic meal! Service was outstanding and the food was so good that I copied the turkey ham and andouille gumbo with Thanksgiving leftovers.
Going back in a couple of weeks to make my DH see that it has changed. He's not thrilled, but I know he will be after he exerperiences what I did in October.
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
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This is good to know. We've never dined at NOLA, but have at all other Emeril restaurants in New Orleans. We have meant to give them a go, even though the reviews here are heavily polarized.
While going, we enjoyed Emeril's in LV, though did perfer the eponymous restaurant in New Orleans.
Thanks,
Hunt
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
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foodchic, please report back on NOLA. While we frequent Emeril's, we just did not care for the food at NOLA, everything seemed to have a sweetness. It's been years and haven't had a reason to return. Not a fan of Delmonico either. It had been years so we gave it another try a few months ago. Sorry to say, it was mediocre at best. Service was very slow. We were previoulsly unimpressed w/ ribeyes and caesar.
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
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We've never been to Delmonico. For some reason the menu has just never appealed to me, and other places have been a bigger priority.
I will definitely report back. I have a fantastic line-up with Luke, Lillete, Cuvee, K-Pauls (a first experience), Brunch at Commanders Palce, and NOLA. Lunch will consist of our favorites...Acme, Mr. B'sBistro, Cassamento's, Domenica, and August. We may alter the choices as we go along, we often do, but this is the list "hits" for now. Oh, I forgot at least one stop at La Boulangerie. Can't wait!
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La Boulangerie
4526 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Commander's Palace Restaurant
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Acme Oyster House
724 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
416 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA
Nola Restaurant
534 Rue St. Louis, New Orleans, LA 70130
Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115
Luke Restaurant
333 St Charles, New Orleans, LA 70130
Mr B's Bistro
201 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
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What was wrong with the Caesar? It is a simple recipe and only suffers when someone gussies it up. I have not ordered a Caesar in New Orleans in at least thirty years but I will make one myself. If someone in town has a noteworty one I wish you'd let me know.
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There was nothing wrong with the caesar but here's the thing, TF gave it such an incredible build up...to the effect of:.. the best, great presentation, made tableside, yada yada. We were served a run of the mill salad ( made in the hall). I make better at home. I also grill a better usda prime steak at home. These are two things I try not to order out unless there is special reason ...like the salad build up, or if the steak is dry aged prime, or it's a top notch steak house. Fitz also raved about the quality of the steaks... again, nothing wrong, but far from exceptional. I have since learned to take everything he says with a large grain of salt. Our tasts rarely coincide.
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JazzyB,
Can you translate "TF" for me, please? I know I am gonna' slap my forehead, but I just cannot make the connection. Looked up-thread and did not find the connection.
Thanks,
Hunt
PS - I feel, as you do, when something has been built up (even in my mind), I have expectations. When I am let down, it's one of those "you gotta' be kiddin' me, right?" moments.
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Sorry, I'm not JazzyB, but I think he/she is refering to Tom Fitzmorris (TF)..
http://www.nomenu.com/
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Thank you. I should have made that connection. Guess that it's just been too long, since we lived in the City. Duh!
Thank you so much,
Hunt
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Remember that NOLA is a corporate restaurant and in the early part of the decade Emeril was expanding (as were many other Chefs). Therefore chefs were being moved around and quite possibly for a while during the bull market good talent was hard to find or keep.
About 2003-4 Chef Michael took over at NOLA and brought up a good level of consistancy. He left in July 2009 for a more 9-5 Chef job to lead a normal family life. The new Chef was Michaels Exec Sous and spent many years at NOLA so I would think the level will be kept but there will be some changes in the menu as a new Chef put's his own stamp on the menu but still stays within some corporate guidelines.
With the turnover in kitchens it's hard to hold an honest or valid grudge for years against a place for its cooking. Having said that there are a few chains I won't step foot in. But at least going down the Interstate I have a host of similar choices at every major interchange.
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
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Probably too late to help, but I think that GW Fins would fit the bill. Not sure if their private room is booked.
Enjoy,
Hunt
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I think Bourbon House might be a good choice for you. Semi-casual, good food, right on Bourbon Street so there's great people-watching. Have fun.
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Bourbon House
144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
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+1 GW Fins
-1 Bourbon House
I find the Bourbon House is VERY inconsistent.
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Bourbon House
144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
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K-Paul's is always upbeat. I love great food in a place where you can really laugh out loud. Your bachelorette party uniforms will fit in beautifully! K-Paul's can accommodate your group of 13. Have a spectacular weekend.
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