Meal itinerary from an unsure chowhound fan - thoughts?

[Jeanellen]

Hi all -

Thanks for the great advice from this board but it's overwhelming!! I'm headed to NO tonight and wanted to get some thoughts on my dining plans for the weekend. There are so many great places and I want to hit at least some of the hot spots during the short time we have there.

Tonight - after we land and check in, a little people watching and a late night snack at Cafe du Monde.

Friday am - sleep in (a little!) and then......
Friday lunch - line up early for Galatoire's lunch (downstairs)
Friday dinner - Emeril's

Saturday am - Brennan's (I know it's not the best but we went there on our first trip to NO 20 years ago and we have lots of great memories)
Saturday lunch - sitting at the bar at Mr. B's Bistro for some BBQ shrimp and gumbo
Saturday dinner - Restaurant August

Sunday brunch - Commanders Palace

Thanks in advance!

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Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

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

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

[sanglier]

I'd skip one of the grander meals and replace it with some neighborhood jernt like Mandina's, Liuzza's, Parkway Bakery, Mahoney's, etc.

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

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

[Littleman]

Good lineup Jeane Ellen..........

Get on in Galatoires and have a light lunch like Crab Maison and broiled trout. Don't make an afternoon out of Galatoire's because there will be a party there all afternoon. Take an hour for lunch then stroll the FQ for souvenirs.

I love Brennan's but just order light again. Don't order one of those flaming deserts if you do then just one and split it. Get a cup of gumbo and one of thos fantastic egg dishes. Eat light at Mr. B's and enjoy August. Have a big time at Commander's. All great choices. Come back soon.

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

[chris]

If you decide to stick with Emeril's (and personally, I would), my suggestion is stick with two appetizers per person instead of attempting an entree - portions are ridiculously large!

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

[Jeanellen]

Thanks Chris - I didn't know that and it helps since appys are usually my favorite part of a meal anyway.

[Mark Alberts]

Fine choices, but it's an awful lot... In particular, if you enjoy the full, drawn-out experience at Galatoire's, you probably won't be looking for a big dinner at all that night, and certainly not before 9 or 9:30. And if you do hold off so you can go to town at Emeril's, how could you possibly be hungry for breakfast the following day. (And, believe me, I like to eat.)

Personally, I'd skip Brennan's on grounds of scheduling. Whatever you decide, have fun, take it easy as needed... it's probably hot as heck down there and I am still jealous that you are going.

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

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

[Jeanellen]

Thank you - and I like your solution. If I can get my husband to agree not to revisit all of the places we went to 20 years ago, I can squeeze at least most of my hopefuls in.

[latasche]

All good places, but this is definitely an ambitious eating itinerary! Galatoire's lunches are known to last well into the late afternoon/early evening hours which could theoretically put a damper on Emeril's that evening. This of course depends on how involved you get at lunch. It's entirely possible to enjoy lunch and not participate in any debauchery. A later dinner around 8:30 would be suggested. Saturday is also an ambitious day. Brunch at Brennan's is several courses usually and lasts into the early afternoon. Depends on how things play out for you and/or what your intentions are, but if you skipped lunch at Mr. B's and just did dinner at August that would be fine and you wouldn't be missing anything. You'll definitely be hitting some of the iconic new orleans places - enjoy!

[Jeanellen]

Thanks latasche! I know it's ambitious - I just hate thinking that another 20 years might pass before I get back down there so I'm trying to squeeze in as much as I can. I guess that means I'll be squeezing into my pants by Sunday!

PS - lunch w/o debauchery - that doesn't sound like fun.

[Mark Alberts]

I think I was writing my reply at the same time as latasche, above, but clearly we're in agreement... the solution, of course, is not to wait another 20 years!

[latasche]

I like how ambitious it is - just wanted to make sure you had full understanding of what you were getting into!! In fact, if you can manage to eat at all these places I will be seriously impressed.

Lunch without complete and total debauchery will still be fun at Galatoires. You can probably enjoy a few hours if you pace yourself and still have energy for Emeril's later.

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

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