One night/Two days in NOLA for my family of five...

[Becca Porter]

After reading the boards for days and opening a ton of tabs with different restaurant menus, I decided it might be best if I just post for help.

I am from Northeast LA and I have been to NOLA lots of times. However, I have never really been able to try out the good restaurants. My husband and I have three kids: DD 12, DS 8, and DD 20 months. My husband and oldest daughter are going to the Saints game on Sept 18th. We will be driving down early Saturday. We should get there by lunchtime. We are staying at the Holiday Inn French Quarter on Royal St. (Is this hotel okay, btw?)

Originally we planned on heading to Mothers for lunch, running by Hanson's for sno balls, and then checking into the hotel. However, several NO regulars in my circle of friends/families have warned us off going to Mothers...citing bad experiences.

So we need a good filling place for lunch that will not have a terrible wait, and that is family friendly. Mandina's looks great, we were going there for dinner but perhaps it would work for lunch? Regardless, we will still need one meal that day for lunch or dinner. We will probably spend time in the French Quarter that night.

As for breakfast the next morning, I thought the Old Coffee Pot looked good. That way my husband and daughter can really get full before the game. I was thinking we would still be able to run by Cafe Du Monde afterwards for beignets and coffee. (Though we always do this, so if they do not have time that will be okay.)

I need a good easy lunch spot. I am thinking I might head to Whole Foods after they leave for the game, so is there a lunch spot around there? Isn't Cochon near there?

Then I am considering getting muffalettas before Central Grocery closes to eat on the way home. Is there a Five Guys in/around NO or along I-55? I also thought about just driving through there for dinner on the way home.

Thank you! I love good food and have never really gotten to try it out there.

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

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

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

[Becca Porter]

Thanks to the BBQ shrimp thread I think Mr. B's just made it to the top of my list. If I want to eat at Mandina's and Mr. B's, which do you think would be better for dinner or lunch. Our hotel is also on Royal so I assume Mr. B's is closest to the hotel.

Which would provide the shortest wait at lunchtime?

Also... EAT or Old Coffee Pot for breakfast on Sunday?

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

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

[collardman]

Unless you want the streetcar ride, Mr. B's is the choice for convenience, speed and quality. And you can make reservations.

We tried to go to Mandina's for dinner Friday a week ago and the line was out the door. We weren't ready to stand in 90 degree heat and it won't be much cooler in two weeks.

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

[TaTee]

You can make a reservation at EAT ...not sure about the Old Coffee Pot.

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

[TaTee]

Saturday Lunch/Dinner: Domenica in the Roosevelt Hotel has great pizza and should please the kids. I believe they have a special between 2 and 6PM. Mandina's would also be a good choice and you can take the Red Lady (streetcar) there. Bon Ton is only open during the week, not weekends.

If you are planning on heading to the uptown location of Whole Foods, here is a list of nearby restaurants. Check to see which are open for lunch on a Sunday:

http://www.nomenu.com/joomla1/index.p...

Sunday Breakfast: Old Coffee Pot is a good choice and I also recommend EAT on the corner of Dauphine and Dumaine. Very hearty and delicious.

Muffulletta: prefer the ones from NORJOE on Frisco Avenue in Metairie. Not open on Sunday, so while you are out and about on Saturday, you might want to go there. No crowds and a much better sandwich IMHO. There is also a Whole Foods on Veterans Hwy.

Hotel is in an OK location. Around the corner, first block of Bourbon can be a trouble spot in the evenings.

FQ will be jammed. If you can, get reservations wherever you are planning on eating...makes time with the family more enjoyable if you do not have to wait forever.

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

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

Eat Restaurant
900 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

[Becca Porter]

Oh my goodness! EAT looks sooo good. I am seriously considering it for lunch one day and brunch the next!

[rouxdauphine]

If you go to Coffee Pot for breakfast on Sunday, get there early, they are really busy on Saints game Sundays. One advantage -- they have calas -- sort of like a rice fritter, but they put me in mind of a beignet made with rice krispies! So you can substitute that for Cafe du Monde which will likely be jammed on that day, too.

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

[collardman]

Not too far from your hotel, or from Mother's, is Grand Isle, a good place for lunch. Then there are Acme and Felix. If Bon Ton has lunch that is another good place close to Mother's. I've only been there for dinner.

Also near by in the Quarter are Mr. B's, K-Pauls and NOLA.

I think any of the above would work for your family, depending on budget.

I've never stayed at that hotel but the location is good

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

Grand Isle Restaurant
575 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130