Looking for a fairly quiet romantic dinner, have been to New Orleans several times.

[SFVIS]

Hi all,
My husband and I will be flying in and staying in the FQ for 2 nights in November.
After reading sveral of your posts, I planned the following dining itenerary, but still have a question.

Is Emeril's going to be too lound and open for a dinner where we can talk to each other?

Thurs evening - Galitoire's

Friday - (taking your suggestions) trolley to Washington street and then to Magazine street for lunch and a stroll. Lunch at Cocquette.

Back to the hotel and then a cab to Dinner.
I was thinking either Patois or Emeril's . I have never been to any of these restaurants and someday want to try them all!!!
But what is the atmosphere like at Emeril's vs Patois?

Thanks so much. I will report back on the dining.

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

[bronwen]

Stella!, Cuvee, private room at Antoines, Bistro at Maison de Ville, La Louisiane

-----
Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

[kibbles]

+1 Cuvee -- very dark, very quiet, very old building (was used as an ambulance depot during the civil war!)

-----
Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

[BayouTeche]

+2 Cuvee

As an aside, Cuvee is also the neighbor of the idiotically named bar "Gator's Retreat" in the unintentionally hilarious "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans".

-----
Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Shiloh]

Martinique Bistro on Magazine warrants consideration. Quiet, romantic (especially if it's warm enough to sit in the courtyard) and tasty.

http://www.martiniquebistro.com/

[Bill Hunt]

For quieter and more romantic, I think of the Grill Room at the Windsor Court Hotel, and then Restaurant August.

Enjoy,

Hunt

-----
Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Windsor Court Hotel
300 Gravier Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Littleman]

I disagree with those posters that say Emeril's is loud. 75% of the restaurants in NOLA are loud. But the noise in Emeril's is not so loud two people can't enjoy themselves. I have had countless wonderful meals there with my wife and enjoyed every one of them. You could go to Emeril's Delmonico which is certainly not loud. And Bob the piano player will entertain you. I love both Emeril's and Delmonico's. I like Emeri's the most. It's located in an old high ceiling warehouse that's kind of antique looking. It's not modern mostly kind of plain with a great bar. If you ask you could be seated at a far back table away from the kitchen and you won't hear the noise. I love that restaurant.

Patois is a block or two from Clancy's. I think their food is outstanding but it can be noisy also. You could sit upstairs and get away from some of it but noise in a great restaurant like Clancy's does not bother me. You could go to Bayona in the FQ and you won't hear a sound. Susan Spicer is a great chef and she's been around quite some time. The food is outstanding.

Good luck.

-----
Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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

Emeril's Delmonico Restaurant & Bar
1300 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

[SFVIS]

Thanks for all of the input, I should have been more specific. I just want us to be able to talk, and neither of us has a loud voice that carries. A lively space is fine, especially if we get a seat next to a wall and not in the middle of the room.
How about Coquette's for dinner?

[JazzyB]

Coquette is excellent, lunch or dinner. Downstairs gets quite loud (tiled floor and bar).

[Mytah]

I went to Emerils friday evening for the first time. It was quite a bit louder than I anticipated. Did I have any problem with it? Nope.

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

[SFVIS]

Sounds good. Would you feel comfortable walking from the FQ to Emerils?
Or do I need to take a taxi. I don't mind the walking distance as long as it is a safe area.

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

[Mark Alberts]

You have nothing to worry about (walking to Emeril's for lunch on a Friday), I'm a visitor and I've made that walk several times, always without the slightest hesitation and have never experienced or seen anything to make me think twice. Enjoy!

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

[SFVIS]

Thanks SOOO much!

[Littleman]

If you want a quiet table at Emeril's ask for a table near the front window that looks out at Tchoupitoulas St. The back of the restaurant would be best and you can watch them cook in the kitchen. Walk 6 blocks on Tchoupitoulas to Lucy's Bar and have a cocktail. It's a dive but Drew Brees comes in on occasions. Emeril's is two blocks on W. You will pass Tommy's Cuisine on the way. Stick your head in and look around. You may want to try them one night.

Have the MD get you a cab for the return. It's a very safe area.

Lucy's Bar @ 701 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 8995.
http://www.lucysretiredsurfers.com/neworleans/
Emeril's @ 800 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 528 - 9393.
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/1/E...
Tommy's Cuisine @ 746 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 581 - 1103.

[SFVIS]

Great info, thanks. We haven't been to NO since 2004.

[SFVIS]

I read the "new to Chowhound" and the item below mentions reporting back on the restaurants I visit and any other info that might be interesting. Since I AM NEW to Chow Hound ( and love it), please help...
Where should I report back? to this post? Write a review under the restaurant?

AFTER YOUR MEAL

Most importantly, after your trip or your meal, thank the New Orleans hounds for their help by reporting back. Tell people which suggestions you used and how the meals turned out, plus add tips about any great places you discovered on your own. This helps make the board more useful for everyone who visits after you

[kukubura]

Two options: You can either report back here or you can write the ever-popular trip report in a new thread, detailing every meal and every experience for the reading pleasure of those of us who aren't going on a NOLA food trip any time soon...

[SFVIS]

I will take notes
:-)

[kibbles]

well...neither most restaurants being loud or still being able to have a good time there negate the fact that emeril's is not a quiet romantic restaurant. its a lively place. which is great. but definitely not quiet/romantic.

Delmonico is certainly a quiet place. as is Bayona, Stella, August, Iris, etc..

[Mytah]

Agreed.

[CharlieH]

Gautreau's is very quiet. I haven't been in a long time, and for some strange reason, hardly anyone ever mentions it around here. But it is very well respected, and has been recognized by James beard a few times recently if I am not mistaken. The reason I say it is quiet is that it is carpeted. The actual floor is tile, but because it was simply too loud, they added carpet. Smaller restaurants include Meson 923 and Rio Mar. I am thinking maybe Mila?

-----
Rio Mar Restaurant
800 South Peters, New Orleans, LA 70130

Gautreau's Restaurant
1728 Soniat St, New Orleans, LA 70115

[TaTee]

Have not been yet myself, but I hear wonderful things about the food at La Foret on Camp Street in the CBD.

[kibbles]

i was pretty disappointed in Gautreau's, especially considering the recent award nominations. the food was just unremarkable. the only thing we really enjoyed was the bisque. also, $8-10 for dessert (sorbet) is starting to push it....gotta be real good.

[urbandog]

Both of these restaurants are loud -- really loud. Pelican Club, Cuvee and Bayona are all quiet, have great food and located in the FQ.

-----
Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Cuvee Restaurant
322 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Pelican Club Restaurant & Bar
312 Exchange Alley, New Orleans, LA 70130

[TaTee]

Agree with you on Emeril's and I find the Pelican Club very loud. For a romantic dinner, I would suggest the garden room at Commander's.

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

Pelican Club Restaurant & Bar
312 Exchange Alley, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Christine]

We ate in the Club Room at the Pelican Club (the first room from the bar) and found it quite intimate and quiet. The Pelican Club was one of our favorite restaurants in New Orleans when we dined there in May. Great service and outstanding food. Highly recommend the Seafood Martini, as well as the seared sashimi tuna. Delicious!

-----
Pelican Club Restaurant & Bar
312 Exchange Alley, New Orleans, LA 70130

[kibbles]

yeah the first, dark room at PC is pretty quiet and nice.

i dont find Commander's itself very romantic -- pretty gaudy decor (sorry just imo), but great service and fun (dressing up, streetcar, etc).

[kukubura]

Third on the first room at Pelican. We sat in a corner booth and had a wonderful meal served by an outstanding young waiter. Absolutely an underrated dining option in NOLA. I think the dark wood walls must absorb sound better than the lighter, marble filled other rooms. Plus I prefer the art in the first room.

Commander's is best experienced at lunch anyway. Besides... romance is something you can bring with you! (well, not quite everywhere...)

[SFVIS]

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't have guessed at all from looking at the pics that Patois would be loud.
Where else would you recommend for great food and talkable noise level? I have read some former posts about Gautreau's, not all favorable. I also looked at Bayona, any reviews on this?

-----
Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Gautreau's Restaurant
1728 Soniat St, New Orleans, LA 70115

[SFVIS]

One more question, how do you think the area is for walking from FQ to Emerils for lunch on a Friday?

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

[JazzyB]

Not a problem.