Returning to NOLA after falling in love with it 2 years ago. 7 days, No budget, Looking for just the BEST!

[steakrules85]

So I am coming back to my second favorite city, behind my hometown NYC after being away for 2 years. I came to NO two years ago with my dad to see the Giants and Saints and we had an absolutely fabulous trip. It was easily the best vacation I ever had in my entire life (aside from the fact that my beloved Gmen lost) and from the day I left I could not wait to come back.

This time I will be on business, which means I won't really be able to do much during weekdays, however after 5pm I will be going all out! I will be here for 7 days and will be once again striving to have the 7 best dinner experiences possible- no budget, no holds barred. But again, in this great food city there are so many choices and I again find myself inundated with options. There are certain restaurants I KNOW I definitely want to return to, as they were so unbelievable my first time around that I do not want to pass on them. Those include Galatoire's, NOLA, Emeril's, Commander's, and Antoine's. Those were the 5 I went to last time and I wouldn't mind repeating all again... but this time I get THREE more incredible meals to plain! Lucky me! Oh yeah and I will be with 1 other guy I work with who has never been so I'd love to take him to some great spots. We will probably go out for a few dinners, but not every night.

I have become infatuated with NO after visiting, so I tend to monitor the foodie scene there. I have done my share of research over the past few years, but of course I would love to hear more from the locals, regulars, visitors who have been to NOLA numerous times to offer up their advice on the best of the best of the best.

I am a New Yorker who absolutely has a passion for great food. Obviously, looking for quintessential New Orleans dinners that I can get only there. The great thing about NO is most of the great restaurants have wonderful history and ambience that adds to the overall experience. Nothing Italian or steakhouse as I can get the best of that at home. I should include that on my last day I will be having lunch before my flight on Saturday. My preference would be to order off the dinner menu during lunch time at the restaurant I choose. For that I plan on either going to NOLA or Restaurant August. I do not think either would deny my request to order off the dinner menu at lunch (did it at Emeril's on my last trip). I'd tend to think NOLA would be more open to it though. One other option I was considering is Willie Mae's for lunch. Are they open on Saturdays? Is it still worth it since they have garnished country wide acclaim and fame? Should I ditch a top-notch restaurant for WMSC? I have a 6:45 flight so I would have to be out of there by 3:45 or so to get back to the hotel to get my bags.

So for the other three meals here are the options I am considering:

Brigsten's, Stella!, Upperline, K-Paul's, Emeril's Delmonico, Mr. B's, Clancy's, Bayona

Here's my thinking. I am a HUGE duck fan so Brigsten's or Upperline are probably going to be on the list. I don't know if I would do both because I would wind up getting the duck at both and want to have something different each night. I know Brigsten's gets incredible praise on this board. Upperline does not really get much press, although the press it has gotten is pretty good. Overall though, who has the better duck? Upperline's was voted on that show "Best thing I ever Ate" and it looked amazing. Brigsten's sounds/looks amazing too. Cornbread dressing and tart cherry sauce? Sign me up.

Is Stella! all hype? All bark no bite?

I'm sorry for the boatload of questions but I am really excited about my trip and once the juices get going it's tough for me to stop typing!!!

So, the days are pretty interchangeable but I think right now it is looking something like..

Saturday- Galatoire's

Sunday- Restaurant August

Monday- Emeril's

Tuesday- Not sure

Wednesday- Antoine's

Thursday- Not sure

Friday- Commander's Palace

Saturday- Lunch at NOLA or Restaurant August (whichever permits me to order off the dinner menu). If not, then Willie Mae's.

Thoughts?

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Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

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

Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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

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

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

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

[noradeirdre]

If you like duck then I would definitely consider the Duck Five Ways at Stella (also the Foie Gras BLT). I didn't love one of the five ways but the other four more than made up for that. I also love the duck at Brigsten's. I personally do not care that the sides for all the entrees are the same.

Also: Boucherie, Bayona, Coquette.

If you're gonna head out toward Willie Mae's, I'd go to Dooky Chase around the corner for Ms. Chase's lunch buffet instead. It is awesome. Comes with gumbo to start and peach cobbler to end. Also, the lemonade is delicious.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Dooky Chase Restaurant
2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Boucherie
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[Brfoodie]

I would recommend a few places that are under the radar on this board. Mila in the Pere Marquette is excellent and they use a lot of local ingredients. Also Vizards has been very very good the last two times ( and the only two) we have eaten there. The crab crusted fish was one of the best seafood dishes I had last year. Emiril's is definitely worth repeating but also consider Patois and Lillette and Le Petit Grocery. Check out some reviews on nola.com to get some different views rather than just this board which has several members who seem to stuck in a rut.

[steakrules85]

Thanks much for the help. New Orleans has some of the most helpful people around and I really appreciate it.

As a side note, I must say Joann Clavenger from Upperline is such a sweet lady. When I called to make the reservation she engaged in a conversation with me for a good 5 minutes and said she hopes that I have a wonderful dinner that meets expectations. Upperline was one of the restaurants I was on the fence about because of its location and the changing of the chef but now I definitely am going.

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Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[shanefink]

I would 100% swap Clancy’s for Antoine’s. No question.

[steakrules85]

I know I'm in the minority but I liked Antoine's a whole lot when I went last time. Granted I've only been once but I enjoyed it so much that it warrants a second visit. The baked Alaska alone is worth another trip. I'll let you know if they ate consistent.

[NolaCat]

I think you've a good list and will enjoy your meals. I tend to agree with other suggestions above that the Duck 5 ways at Stella is superb and superior in my opinion to the other Duck entrees. Please post your trip report as I'm anxious to see what stood out and what didn't. Enjoy!

[Bill Hunt]

I was an old-time Antoine's fan, but had a rather forgettable dinner there, but that just pre-K. Several respected contributors here have indicated that it has come back to its former glory. Unfortunately, we have not been able to fit it into our dining schedule. I really hope that it IS back, as it is a big part of my growing up in fine-dining establishments.

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

I have also been looking for MiLa, and would add G W Fins (local seafood, done with local recipies) to the mix. Since I have seen Stella!, I assume that it is in the mix.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[moodoc]

I would submit jacques-imo's duck as one of the best I've ever had, though this seems much funkier than the rest of your list. Also stellar appetizers and fish. J-I tends to e controversial, but at its peak is amazing.

[Bill Hunt]

We have never made it to Jacques-Imo's, so cannot comment. However, they receive good reviews and high-recs. here, so I think that you are right-on.

Hunt

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

[hazelhurst]

It is just a gut feeling from your posts over the years but I think you'd enjoy Clancy's. I have a soft-spot for Bayona but I admit that there is a family association there. I'd still give Clancy's the nod over Bayona, though. It's a fun place. I usually eat at the bar.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

[steakrules85]

Clancys has been a strong consideration. Definitely on my to try list. Problem is there's just not enough days to try all these terrific restaurants. As of rght now it's pretty much set to be the following:

Galatoires, restaurant august, emerils, brigtsens, antoines, commanders palace, Upperline, lunch at nola or Willie mae's

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

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[stevuchan]

It's been a while for me but the duck five ways at Stella was excellent.

[N.O.Food]

When I think of duck in New Orleans, duck five ways is what I think of.

Haven't been to Upperline since the former chef left, so no comment there. I haven't eaten at Bayona in a while either (last summer), and even then it was one of their 20 dollar fixed price lunches, so I don't really have anything to add on the Bayona front. That said, I've never had a bad meal at Bayona.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[N.O.Food]

Also consider Herbsaint, Cochon, Coquette, Boucherie, or Patois for your open spots. Personally, I wouldn't spend a meal at Nola or Antoine's if I had other choices. They're not bad, I just like other places better. Otherwise, looks good to me.

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Boucherie
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[steakrules85]

Thanks to both of you this is what I am looking for. As many recs as possible over the next 2 weeks before my trip.

What are your thoughts on Upperline and Bayona? Have you ever had the duck? Where is the best duck in NO?

Also what are your opinions on Willie Mae's?

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[JazzyB]

I love Willie Mae's fried chicken. It has a crisp shattering crust but unfortunately is not spicy. They are open on Sat.

I am not a fan of either Bayona (Imo, the food is bla) or Upperline. Herbsaint is a much better option.

Brigtsen's appetizers are where he shines. Many swear by his duck.

Emeril's flagship is his best.

August lunch is m-f.

Want steak....go to LaBoca. Order the skirt and fries. Outstanding.

Bistro: Coquette, Lilette (truffled parm toast with marrow could be the best thing in town),
Patois.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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

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

Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[steakrules85]

I don't want steak because I get that home in New York.

I've been to Emeril's and am definitely going back this trip.

Thanks for the other recs. I will look into the others... Coquette seems to be getting a lot of mentions lately and honestly it wasn't on my radar.

Seems like a lot of people have the same feeling about Bayona being run of the mill these days. After looking at the menu, nothing really stands out to me as "must eat". However, Upperline's menu looks outrageously good and Brigtsen's is also very appealing and has gotten raves. I think I may sneak both in, and do the duck at Upperline and the signature "shell beach diet" at Brigtsen's so as not to repeat having duck twice.

Willie Mae's is a definite possibility for Saturday lunch.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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

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

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[JazzyB]

Don't bother w the shell beach diet. The best thing on the plate is the cornbread w roasted corn butter, ask for it as a side, it is excellent. The platter is very bready...a couple of oysters topped with heavy bread cumb toppings, a piece of fish that seems like an after thought. Many entress come with the same mashed potatoes and sauteed veg. Really, his app his best, and some are outrageously good.(the bisque is not one of them, so thick you could stand your spoon up, like a cup of reduced cream).

Forgot to mention Dick and Jenny's (instead of Upperline).

[steakrules85]

If not the shell beach then... the duck? I love that in NO restaurants they have no problem with you taking something you find interesting from a dish , sich as the cornboread and asking for it as a side.

Here in NYC restaurants are so rigid they would rarely permit this. My thought is if you have it in the kitchen why not?

[BayouTeche]

It's been a while since I've been to Upperline, but just so you know, they're on their fourth chef in little more than a year.

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Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

[steakrules85]

I read that they changed chefs recently but didn't know there was so much turnover. What's the reason does anyone know?

Of the recent reviews I have read it doesn't look or sound like the quality has suffered but it does make me a tad weary.

[rouxdauphine]

If you go to Willie Mae's get there as soon as they open. The service (not the wait for the food to be cooked, the actual service) was extremely slow when I've eaten there.

[steakrules85]

I can't see a meal there lasting more than an hour and half. If I got there around1-1:30 I'd hope I would be out by 4 the latest.

[shanefink]

I think you would be doing yourself a disservice to re-visit any of the previous restaurants. They will never match up to the first time. We have 1200 restaurants in New Orleans, you should visit all new ones. Here’s my recs. Dominique’s, Coquette, Herbsaint, Clancy’s, Brigsten’s, Bayona and the best of the best from your last visit. I’d probably go with August for the lunch over NOLA.

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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

[FoodChic]

+1 for Coquette, Clancy's and Herbsaint.
Adding Lilette and Domenica.

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Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

[steakrules85]

Cmon guys the recs are appreciated big time!!!!!!!!!!