New Orleans Amateurs- rough dining itinerary

[SD Weasel]

Hello, my girlfriend and I will be taking our first trip to New Orleans June 4-9th, we are 26 years old and staying at the Omni Royal. After spending a great deal of my work days for the past month on this site, instead of actually working, I have come up with the following rough draft of our dining itinerary, and would appreciate any advice.

Friday
Dinner- Jaques-Imo’s
After- Mimis in the Marigny

Saturday
Lunch- Parasol
Dinner- August

Sunday
Brunch- Commander’s
Snacks- Cochon Butcher
Dinner- Dante’s

Monday
Lunch- Johnnys
Dinner- Stella

Tuesday
Lunch- Coops
Dinner- Meson 923

Wednesday
Breakfast- Stanley

I would also like to know how many of these restaurants I should wear a jacket to and if the CBD and Marigny are within relatively safe and easy walking distance at night. I am extremely excited about our trip and again I greatly appreciate any advice.

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Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

[bronwen]

I would skip Parasol, Dante's, Coops.
Go to Mr. B's, the Acme and you must have lunch at the Rib Room there at your hotel (hi Joe!)
I used to live on Chartres in the Marigny and everything is safe just be careful around Mimi's.

[SD Weasel]

Thank you for all of the responses, like I said that was just a rough draft so the insight helps, and I will definitely be wearing a coat to Stella, August and Commander’s.

After the responses we decided to change our Friday plans to Irene’s for dinner instead of Jaques Imo’s and will push going to Mimi’s back in the week if at all. I also think we will drop Cochon Butcher and will go to Mr. B’s instead of Johnny’s.

We are from San Diego and Cajun/Creole food is pretty scarce here so I am making a concerted effort to try and eat Po-boys, jambalaya and BBQ shrimp for our lunches. My understanding is that while Coops is not a fine dining establishment, it does have good jambalaya, is that accurate? Also, as far as Po-boys go I am really interested in an Oyster Po-boy and would like to try a Roast Beef one as well, from reading reviews it seems that Parkway Bar may have the best, but is fairly out of the way. Is Parasol an adequate substitute or is it worth it to cab it to Parkway Bar?

I also definitely plan on stopping at Carousel, Napoleon House, Bar Tonique, Sazerac Bar, Lafitte's, Pat O’Brien’s and Cooter Brown’s the night we go to Dante’s. Thank you once again for your time and advice.

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Napoleon House Bar & Cafe
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

Tonique
820 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

[GDPhalp]

You will find the reviews on Coop's fairily polarizing. I am one that is firmly in the corner of this establishment. Their jambalaya is in fact delicious - many will say that it is too tomatoey, and that a proper jambalaya should be devoid of tomato - but I can tell you that this dish is darn tasty. Make sure to get it supreme (adding shrimp & tasso). This dish has TONS of meat - with each bite bringing you layers of meaty flavor. Be aware, though, it is VERY smoky (from the meats). If you are sensitive to this taste, you may want to take caution. I also highly recommend Coop's seafood gumbo. It has a dark, rich roux & wonderful brininess from the oysters. As far as po boys go, roast beef is an oft discussed topic. Parasol's has awesome roast beef, as does Parkway. I prefer the oyster @ Parkway as a matter of personal preference, though they are similar. You can't go wrong with either. Cooter Browns is a great value for raw oysters, if you're a fan - & plenty of beer selections to wash them down. Enjoy your trip!

[hazelhurst]

I read--but have not confirmed--that Parkway discontinued oyster po-boys this week. I imagine that, if true, this is among the first of a nearly universal moratorium

[roro1831]

I was at Parkway the last Sunday of Jazz Fest and they discontinued oysters the next day.

[mrsfury]

If you want a good roast beef poboy go to Nola Grocery right behind Cochon. I just had a friend in from Iowa and she kept going on about how good it was. My boss gets one every time we order from there. I like the roast beef or the bbq beef. You cannot beat the price and you won't have to get a cab.

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

[Suzy Wong]

Mr B's is mediocre at best, skip it IMO, and go to Bon Ton for lunch or dinner (they are closed weekends) , you will NOT be disappointed, excellent authentic food (crabmeat au gratin or crabmeat imperial, the Crawfish Dinner (Etouffee, Jambalaya, Laurie, Omelette, the bread pudding)
service and atmosphere +they are consistent:
http://www.thebontoncafe.com/

I'd also skip and scratch off Coop's and go to Mandina's classic casual (po-boys, seafood, etc) and 100% New Orleans in every way. Brocato's for dessert if you're able is nearby. Web site with menu:
http://www.mandinasrestaurant.com/

http://www.angelobrocatoicecream.com/

For bbq shrimp. Pascal Manale's (It's been a while since I've gone to this old N.O. place):
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/overview.html
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/menu.html

Have a drink at Bar Uncommon in the Pere Marquette Hotel. Plush and a great cocktail menu in a historic building:
http://www.baruncommon.com/

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Mandina's Restaurant
3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Bon Ton Cafe
401 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Pascal Manale's Restaurant
1838 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

Brocato Angelo Ice Cream & Confectionery
214 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

[Bill Hunt]

For the ones, mentioned above, I would. While not "required," you will feel more comfortable. At August, I was feeling under-dressed in a blazer and tie, because all other gentlemen were wearing suits. I managed, but did take note. Stella! is a jacket-sort-of-place, and CP's is definitely.

However, you must take what I say with a grain of salt. Next week, I will be dining in Hawai`i, at La Mer, Alan Wong's and Chef Mavro's, and will be wearing a blazer - in HAWAI`I for goodness sake! There, however, I will likely be wearing a Reyn Spooner, or Tommy Bahama, rather than a tie (OK, maybe a tie at La Mer?).

Enjoy,

Hunt

[JazzyB]

Love the Omni Royal. Stayed there many times while rebuilding. Be sure to sign up online for a preferred guest card. It will get you an automatic room upgrade when avail. plus a free carafe of coffee/tea and juice delivered to your room.

FWIW, for what you'll pay for lunch at your choices, you can dine far better. MiLa, Emeril's, August, Commander's all offer specials around $20pp, 3 courses. Commanders has a 2 course starting at $16, plus 25 cent martinis.

Jacques imos is funky/fun but the food is mediocre.

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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Littleman]

I hope you don't mind me saying so but I would change things up a bit if it were me. I hope I don't upset you. I really love to plan a 3/4 trip to a fine city like NOLA. I assume you land in NOLA on Friday either long drive or by plane. You are young but you will be tired. Jacques Imos is about 30 minutes from your hotel. Why not have dinner at Meson 923 the first night. Catch a 10 minute cab ride there and then 10 minutes back to your hotel after dinner. Mimi's is a long walk from your hotel also. I guess the cab could drop you off there but that's tough area to be walking around in late at night. I know you young folks like to hang out all night but I would go to the Ritz Carlton Davenport Lounge and listen to Jeremy Davenport for an hour or so and then walk back to the Omni and get some sleep. Your lady friend would appreciate that. It's about 10 minutes from The Ritz Carlton to the Omni Royal.

Then on Saturday have lunch at Parasol @ 12:00. It's in the Garden District. Have some fun in the FQ say around 10/12 at some Bourbon St. joints end up in Jackson Square and catch a cab to Parasol. That is unless you have a car. After lunch walk Magazine St. about 20 blocks or until you get tired. Let your lady friend shop til she drops on Magazine. Then catch a short cab ride to Cooter Browns @ Cooter Brown's Tavern @ 509 South Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 504 - 866 - 9104. You are about 9 blocks from Jacque IMO's. Have some fun at CB's and walk to Jacque IMO's. This way you don't go out to Utown for lunch back to the FQ and back Uptown for dinner. Make one trip. Eat dinner and catch a cab to Mimi's if that's your plan. It's 20 blocks from Mimi's to your hotel. Catch a cab. There are some fine bars in the FQ that are closer but you have your mind made up I guess. Commanders on Sunday is excellent. Skip Cochon. You can't eat everything in NOLA. Go by Cochon Butcher and look at the fine food items for sale just don't eat. Snack maybe. Go walking in the Quarter. Sit in the Park. Go to August Sunday night then have lunch at Johnny's Monday and go back out to Uptown to Dante's on Monday night. This way you have a break in betwen so you don't go Uptown two nights in a row. Have lunch at Coops, shop and walk in the FQ then have dinner at Stella Tuesday night. That way you can walk the few blocks from Stella to Omini Royal and go to bed to get ready for the trip home Wednesday. That way no 30 minute drive from Uptown.

I say go to the same 5 dinner restaurants but start with 923 on Friday, Jacques IMO on Saturday, August on Sunday, Dantes on Monday and Stella on Tuesday.

Good luck and have fun. Bon Appetit.

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Cooter Brown's Tavern
509 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

[piglet3000]

Try to fit in a lunch at Liuzza's on Bienville. So delicious, casual and cheap. If you are out late at Mimi's I would take a cab back to your hotel. it seems crazy because it is so close, but some of those blocks are residential and very quiet late at night. Just always remember to keep your wits about you like you would in any city.

Sunday at Commander's is amazing. Arrive early and have a cocktail out on the patio. And you will have a hard time eating later! Also consider Irene's Cuisine in the quarter for dinner. Delicious, romantic Italian. I've been there 2,178 times and always get the same thing; the soft shell crab pasta. I can't bring myself to order anything else, I love it so much!

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Liuzza's Restaurant & Bar
3636 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119

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

[pitu]

I don't know how you're going to fit in that snack at Cochon Butcher, but good luck! I was extremely happy to bring some of their charcuterie home. Get anything made of pork there...

Don't wear a jacket to Coops, which is a roadhouse kind of bar. Eat jambalaya. And go there if you get hungry at midnight instead of noon.

We had great cocktails at Bar Tonique on (Rampart at St Ann St)
It's a newer place, very simple and pretty with stellar cocktails, a block or so away from Donna's Bar and Grill, a place for music on Rampart.

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Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

Tonique
820 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

[kukubura]

That's a great list. You guys are gonna have an awesome time.

My advice regarding dressing up in NOLA is always dress one notch better than you might at an equivalent restaurant anywhere else. Yeah, there are people who under-dress even to Commander's but you shouldn't be one of them. Look sharp and you'll enjoy yourself more.

And don't forget to have drinks at the many, many great places for cocktails... Carousel, Napoleon House, Saverac Bar, Lafitte's, etc etc etc!

(And see if you can't sneak a snack of a shared lunch portion of Mr B's bbq shrimp at the bar on one of those days! You'll thank me later!)

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Napoleon House Bar & Cafe
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Bigrayok]

Commander's, August, and maybe Stella are the places I would consider wearing a jacket to. The CBD and Marigny are fairly safe at night and not too far to walk to. Once you get to the Marigny stay on Frenchman Stree because it has a lot of people around. The CBD is fairly quiet at night. I would stay on Poydras Street or the area around Harrah's Casino at night in the CBD.

Bigray in Ok

[thew]

you do not need a jacket at august