Uptown (Riverbend/Carrolton area) best restaurants

[andymargles]

My wife and I are visiting NO in the spring to celebrate a big anniversary and will be staying either in a cottage on Oak St. or a B&B on St. Charles near Carrolton. We will not have a car and will stay for about a week. I have researched the area as best as possible and have come up with a possible list of places, but would like suggestions of other jems I may have missed. I'm considering Brigsten's for our actual anniversary and Upperline, Boucherie, Mat & Naddie, One, Dante's, Jacques-Imo's combined with music at The Maple Leaf and maybe Jamila's for possible dinner choices. For lunch, I'm interested in Squeal, Lebenon, Curry Corner, LA Pizza kitchenCooter Brown's Commandder's Palace for brunch for sure and Camilia grill. If we take the streetcar into the Quarter, Probably Bayona.

Any place new or really different or just plain great that I may have missed, or any negative comments about any of my possible choices? I am a real foodie and love NO, although past trips always centered around the FQ, so I am not really that familiar with uptown.

Lastly. we have taken the standard Cajun cooking class at several locations, (NO Cooking School and others) and have enjoyed them, but are looking for something with more scope and depth. Any local chefs doing individual classes, etc., that you can recommend, especially in the uptown area?

Thanks, everybody, in advance, for your help and suggestions! See you'all soon, I hope.

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

Jacques-Imo's Cafe
8324 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

Curry Corner
1200 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

Boucherie
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[swampsue]

Curry Corner has closed, and Cooter Brown's was underwhelming the last time we ordered there (but that was awhile ago, and they do have a LOT of great beers) I would consider adding the
newish Cowbell as a lunch option (Oak Street and River Road), there's a lot to look at check out on Oak. There is also a lot of new restaurant action happening on Freret Street, but depending where you stay it is a bit out of the way without a car. Lebanon's is great, but it's fairly standard Middle Eastern Cuisine, so depending on where you are coming from, it might not be that exceptional/unusual of cuisine. Good luck have a great time!

-----
Curry Corner
1200 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

[paz5559]

Restaurant One, Hana, Cowbell, Tartine, Sara's, Dante's, and Maple Street Patisserie would all be places I would suggest in that area.

[travelbuff]

+1 on Refuel
Try Fat Hen and Oak on Oak Street
Skip LA Pizza, Squeal, Curry, Cooter Browns
Brightsen's perfect for anniversary--make reservations way in advance

[andymargles]

Has anybody out there actually eaten at Jamila's? Is it as good as the others that we are considering?

[N.O.Food]

Yes, we eat at Jamila's quite often, as recently as last weekend. The food is consistently very good, and the owners are lovely. It's a joy to eat there, and I highly recommend it. However, it's not New Orleans food at all. It's north African, so I don't recommend it to visitors looking for a new orleans experience. Other than that, it's a great little place. Get the lambchops, the lamb tajine, cous cous royal, or the shrimp pasta. Start with the merguez.

[fat harry]

1. Boucherie
2. Brigsten's
3. Dante's

-----
Boucherie
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[edible complex]

Jamila's is very good. The spinach, zucchini, crawfish bisque is killer.
Also in that area are Ciro's Cote Sud, which does some of the best lasagna, Cafe Granada, where you can sit outside, and Sara's in the Riverbend.

-----
Cote Sud
7918 Maple St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[andymargles]

Thanks for those other suggestions! I'll check them out.

[N.O.Food]

Skip Camelia Grill and head to Refuel instead for breakfast. It makes me sad to see people standing in line for that place. Pupuseria la Macarena is good, too.

[mcegielski]

you are missing an absolute gem in that area...Vincent's. Vincents on St. Charles is creole italian and it a do not stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200 type of place. it is wonderful! even the garlic bread is killer....even the house salad that comes with all entrees is wonderful if you get the homeade bleu cheese vinagrette. you have to try the artichoke vincent appetizer...5-6 artichoke heart sections deep friend and served on a bed of tarragon lemon cream sauce with lump crabmeat, diced shrimp, diced red and green peppers, and sliced green onions. the taste and the textures are to die for! share one bowl of the corn and crabmeat bisque and you will be in heaven! split the stuffed chicken dinner but add a house salad so you both will have the salad and get the blue cheese vinagrette! the stuffed chicken is a large chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto , artichokes and provolone...breaded and fried, cut in hunks and topped with a sweet and savory mushroom marsala sauce that is pipping hot! there you go. one appetizer, share a soup, slit the stuffed chicken, add an extra salad......you will be full and you will get to taste several different delicious items from the menu...still hungry or do you have to have red sauce??? order one link of italian sausage with the aritchoke vincent appetizer. goes great with beeer and you can dip the garlic bread in the left over red sauce. to finish????? why double espresso and homeade limoncello gelato of course!!!!!!!!!!!! TRUST ME ON THIS ONE. YOU WILL HAD LIVED A WONDERFUL LIFE AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE!!!!!! ha ha ha ha.....i love Vincent's!!!!!

[andymargles]

Thanks so much. I will certainly check it out!

[missmable]

Vincent's is a gem only if salt has suddenly been bumped up to gem status. Vincent's is terrible. Hands down.

[N.O.Food]

Don't bother with Vincent's.

[mcegielski]

whatever to both of you! vincents is seafood heavy and very rich. elaborate on why vincent's is "terrible" all items fresh and made on-site. it is not a super high end or a gourmet experience....it is a good ole creole italian stalwart!!!!! corn and crab bisque forever!!!!!!

[JazzyB]

I'll take Vincent's any day over Jamilla's.

[N.O.Food]

I find Vincent's food heavy and one note. Also, I'm not a fan of sugary-sweet tomato sauce.

[kylewilliam]

Another vote for Refuel. Hearty stick to your ribs breakfast in an easy going atmosphere.

[kate7047]

+2 on Refuel. Love the omelets. Grits are my favorite, though I think loading them up with heavy cream makes them that way. (NOT that that's a bad thing!) Also a fruity iced-tea that I love. Lines for brunch can get very long there too.

[kate7047]

I have to add Restaurant Patois to the list. Wonderful rabbit and andouille gumbo (which won our family's vote for best gumbo of the trip) as well as fabulous house charcuterie and a great duck confit. We have had great fun at Dante's- terrific drinks and casual setting where we made dinner out of small plates and appetizers. Went to Brightsen's for our anniversary last year and also excellent. I've heard great things about Jamila's (from daughter at Tulane) and it's on the list for my next trip.

Sounds like a great list. Have fun!