Breakfast/Brunch in/near French Quarter

[Seige]

Hubster and I are taking our very first trip to New Orleans in just a little over a week. This is the least prepared I've ever been for a trip in my life, but we love good food and have a feeling NOLA won't let us down!

We also LOVE a good breakfast/brunch. Friends have suggested the Court of Two Sisters, but I've read a lot of reviews that don't have much good to say about the food and as a rule I typically despise buffets. The food sits out and gets gross, etc. Just not my thing at all. While I have no doubt the courtyard at CoTS is lovely, ultimately I want really good food. And by really good food I don't mean it has to be in a really nice place. It could be in a hole in the wall (albeit a relatively safe one :)) - as long as the food's good, we're good. So what would you all suggest? Hubster spent a few of his childhood years in Virginia and Florida, so he loves southern food - biscuits and gravy, grits, the whole nine yards. And he LOVES spicy. I'm more of a connoisseur of eggs and waffles and pretty much anything French.... and yes, Cafe du Monde is on the schedule at least 1 of the 3 days we'll be there.

TIA!

[Bill Hunt]

OK, and this will fly in the face of many on this board, but I do not really care.

For breakfasts"

The Original Coffee Pot (was Maxie's Coffee Pot some years ago).
Stanley! - "brother restaurant to Stella!) and quite good, though not inexpensive.

Brunch:
Brennan's - have done both Saturday and Sunday, and have been very impressed.
Ralph's on the Park - just great, but do not let them seat you IN the piano-bar.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[randyjl]

Old Coffee Pot is awesome. Got to try the Callas Cakes! (split an order as an appetizer)

[Bill Hunt]

I agree. Some folk do not give them a lot of love here, but I've been having breakfasts there, from before it was "Maxie's," and still enjoy it. Is it haute cuisine? No. Is it a grand experience? Well, that depends on your definition of a "grand experience." In maybe 30 years, I have had one bad (well, "bad" might be too harsh, so let's use "odd" service). Still, the food does many good things for me. Now, the coffee is not the ultimate, but then has not changed, that I can tell, in 30 years. Heck, I met many of the "older" servers, when they were kids, and their mom brought them to the restaurant. Now, they are adults.

Hunt

[collardman]

Cafe Atchafalaya weekend brunch (and Bloody Mary Bar).

Cafe Reconcile for weekday lunch, or Mandinas. Both reasonable cost and local cooking.

Court of Two Sisters is good if your main interest is eating boiled shrimp. Most thing there are Ok but mundane and you can do better for the money.

[TaTee]

2nd the recommendation of EAT. It is also BYOL, so make a big Bloody Mary before you leave your hotel and bring wine/champagne if you like.
http://eatnola.com/

[ndukka562]

Here is a rundown of my research (major emphasis on that word, these recs are not based on experience):

In French Quarter
- Brennan's (traditional, hearty, but expensive)
- Stanley (breakfast classics with a New Orleans twist)
- The Old Coffee Pot (old standby)
- Camelia Grill (not the original location, assume it has similar, diner-style food)
- EAT

Near French Quarter
- Lil Dizzy's (classic, southern brunch)
- Surrey's (might be a little far to travel, but highly regarded breakfasts here)

Enjoy your trip! I'll be in town around the same time.

[Bill Hunt]

Thank you for mention of The Camilia Grill. Have not dined at the FQ location, but just did the Carrrolton Ave location, for the first time, since the new owners, and enjoyed it.

I agree with the first group.

Have not done the latter group, so cannot comment.

Hunt