Trip coming up.... Some rec's needed

[JFarah]

Good morning, CH'ers!
In less than 2 weeks I'll be in New Orleans, sipping on pimms cups and eating fantastic food... Can't wait!! I have most of my trip already planned, but wanted to get some recommendations on a few blanks that I have to fill. I'll be traveling with my husband and another couple - we're all flexible and will eat just about anything. No picky eaters here! I was in NO last year and ate at the following places: Commander's Palace, Mr. B's, MiLa, Luke, Cafe du Monde, Old Coffee Pot, Lil Dizzy's. Would like to check out new places this time around.

We arrive on Thursday at around 11:00 am and have the following scheduled:

--Lunch @ Coquette
--Dinner - BLANK - Need Rec

Friday:
--Lunch @ Emeril's
--Dinner @ Jacques-IMO (mainly because we want to go to the Maple Leaf Bar for some music after dinner and figured we would kill 2 birds with 1 stone)

Saturday:
--Lunch - BLANK
--Dinner @ Cochon

Sunday:
--Brunch - BLANK - Need Rec

I'm really torn about what else to squeeze in... Please help me make a decision with your great recommendations.

We've been to several of the bars: Carousel, Swizzle Stick, Sazerac, D.B.A., Hermes, Lafitte's and several others (drawing a blank right now). If there are any other bars / spots you feel are a must see, please let me know.

Thanks in advance!!

--JF

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Lil Dizzy's Cafe
1500 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Coffee Pot Restaurant
714 Saint Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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

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

[Bill Hunt]

For Sunday Brunch, I'd recommend either Ralph's on the Park, or Brennan's. We've done both on many recent trips, and each has performed nicely. Now, Brennan's had long ago fallen off my radar screen, but I did them a couple of years ago on a lark. I was wonderfully surprised at how well they did, and how far they had come from my earlier days. Many still hold a grudge, but I got over mine in favor of really good food and wonderful service. We have been back 4 times recently, and have not been disappointed.

Only rub on Ralph's was one visit, where we were seated in the bar area, near the piano. That proved to be too loud, as the pianist was playing for the rest of the restaurant. They needed a sound system to get the piano to the other rooms. Also, the wine list has been scaled back, and there were zero French whites, where they once had a nice Montrachet and a Meursault. Now, it's only the "usual suspects," but that's better than many places. Food and service have always been excellent.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[joedontexan]

How about checking out the Rock N Bowl on Carrollton for pure new orleans fun.

[mrsfury]

I love the food at Bon Ton. They are not open on the weekends. My favorites are the house salad with house dressing (creole mustard vinaigrette), crab au gratin (some say it's too rich or there's too much cheese but my friends and I love it) and the bread pudding. http://www.thebontoncafe.com/

Napoleon House's food is just fine, but I don't think it will blow you away. Stop in and at least have a Pimm's Cup in the courtyard. You might be lucky enough to have a little rain shower. It's nice to be trapped under an umbrella in the courtyard.

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

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

[JFarah]

Thanks!! I wasn't planning on a full on meal at Napoleon House - More like a snack and a drink.

I've heard great things about Bon Ton. Gonna see if I can make my way over to the restaurant. Thank you.

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

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

[Suzy Wong]

I posted a link to the Bon Ton web site you can check out the menu in my post above, and do check out Bar Uncommon (link also) you won't be disappointed...With so many postings it's easy to skip seeing something....Are you having all your meals togetehr as a group?

[JFarah]

Thursday's meals are just for me and the hubby... Our friends get in late Thursday evening, so they will probably just meet up with us for drinks. We will be with them all of Friday and Saturday, and they leave first thing Sunday, while the husband and I leave Sunday night. We'll be brunching alone.

I will make a point of checking out Bar Uncommon - it's on my list! Thanks.

[JFarah]

Thanks to all for the great rec's. I decided on Patois for Sunday Brunch. We also decided on Clancy's for Thursday's dinner.

I am very tempted to change up Emeril from Friday's lunch to Dinner, but the group has cast their vote, so I don't want to rock the boat too much.

Thank you also for the great bar recommendations... If there are any other little hidden gems around, please feel free to share.

Looking forward to a great weekend in New Orleans!!

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

[rileypeek]

Second the bar rec for the Davenport Lounge in the Ritz Carlton. I'm not a Ritz Carlton fan, usually. It's a little madras plaid and stuffy Buffy for me, but I'd heard great things on these boards, so we trundled up Canal, cranky, in the heat, to catch the early Thursday performance (5:30 - 9:00 p.m.) I had a $25 glass of champagne (ow) and the bf had a blackberry mojito smash (waiter's rec) and we listened to the smooth stylings of JD and band. He's dreamy. He's like Harry Connick with a trumpet. His drummer that day was a 17-year-old kid who had just graduated high school two weeks prior. His grandparents beamed from a front table. There was a large party of old, drunk, wealthy locals--colorful pants for the men and hats and pearls for the ladies. Those are the pluses. The Skips and Buffys had loud conversations while the band played and checked their various technologies. Sigh. They were fun to watch and judge, though.

[GDPhalp]

Given your rough itenerary, i would definately suggest Patois on Sunday. Saturday lunch, I would definately hit up either Parkway or Central Grocery - how can one come to New Orleans without a Po' Boy or a Muff. Thursday, your best bet would be Brigtsens. Other than that, everything looks great! Enjoy!

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

[Suzy Wong]

(I may be repeating some suggestions)

Weekdays (only) lunch or dinner, Bon Ton, old school, classic cajun cuisine
http://www.thebontoncafe.com/

Casual breakfast, Croissant D'Or coffee and french pasry (quiche also

)

Saturday lunch 2 totally different places,
Mandina's another mainstay casual, very good New Orleans neighborhood type place in mid-city and Brocato's is right nearby for desert....
http://www.mandinasrestaurant.com/

re Cocktails:
Bar Uncommon in the Pere Marquette Hotel (great building wonderful cocktails
http://www.baruncommon.com/

Polo Lounge in the Windsor Court Hotel or Davenport Lounge in the Ritz Carlton, in the Marigny The Spotted Cat on Frenchmen.

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

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

Croissant D'Or Patisserie
617 Ursulines Ave, New Orleans, LA

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

[thew]

i had one of the great dinners of the last 10 yeas at august.....

[Littleman]

Thursday dinner at Emeril's and lunch Friday at Bon Ton rather than Emeril's. Dinner at Emeril's is much fun. Saturday lunch at Galatoire's and Sunday brunch at August.

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

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

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

[Bill Hunt]

While one might sneak by, I think that the lack of a jacket might be a rub with Galatoire's. I know that I would not be comfortable dining there, sans blazer. So as to not incur the wrath of the MOD's, I will not go into any detail, beyond saying that if one wishes to "fit in," a jacket is a very good idea, regardless of what the "minimum clothing requirements" might be.

Enjoy,

Hunt

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

[BayouTeche]

Thursday dinner - Clancy's
Saturday lunch - Lilette
Sunday brunch - Patois

Trust me ....you'll thank me later.

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Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

[CharlieH]

Good suggestions. Especially Patois and Lillette. Clancy's can be really fun when you sit downstairs, and not so much upstairs. I like the scene at Iris also. Very serene. ch

[BayouTeche]

I love Clancy's, but have to agree with you about upstairs.

[latasche]

+1 on Bayou's suggestions. You can't go wrong with these.

[CharlieH]

Not trying to be pissy. But your inquiry is so wide open. There are at least ten if not twenty excellent restaurants that I or someone else could recommend depending on a million variables. There is type of food, level of amenities or service, location, price, style of cuisine, or you could mention what it was you liked or didn't like on your last visit. Or, why you picked what you did for this trip. Just sayin.

[JFarah]

As far as breakfast and lunches go, I'm looking to keep it casual. Good food is a must though. Don't want to waste a meal on something that's just ok. I had Parkway Bakery on my list of possibles, for example. Napoleon House as another.

For dinner, we are seeking food that is typical of New Orleans - french, creole, southern. Not interested in Latin, Japanese, Mexican, or any of the sorts. We're flexible as far as price range goes, however I can guarantee you that my husband will not be into wearing a jacket in this heat.

As far as Sunday's brunch goes - I really wanted to do a jazz brunch, but that is not a must. I just thought it would be a nice way to end our weekend trip.

Hope this helps.

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