please tell me the best restaurants to go to in New Orleans.

[johnphil]

My partner Phil and I are going to be in New Orleans for 3 days at the beginning of July. We are going for the food, music and history. Any suggestions would be great.

[bronwen]

If you own a restaurant you must know something about food and something about New Orleans restaurants. Why don't you try the great chefs' restaurants - Paul Prud'homme, Emeril Lagasse, John Besh, Susan Spicer, the list is actually endless.

[Hungry Celeste]

RE: home cooking...get thee to Cafe Reconcile. On a Thursday, if possible. Have the shrimp & white beans, or stewed okra & tomatoes, mac n cheese, fried chicken, fried catfish, gumbo, or crawfish bisque....not only is the resto a fantastic nonprofit helping at-risk youth to learn hospitality industry skills, it serves very typical neighborhood restaurant/home cooking.

[irked]

Good call!

[johnphil]

Thanks for the info, can't wait to visit your city. Any suggestions for night life? Looking for good music and a relaxed atmosphere.

John

[joedontexan]

Heres a few music suggestions Vaughns and snug harbor also get over to frenchman street over in the fauborg marigny within walking distance of the french quarter.

[shanefink]

Try Snug Harbor on Frenchman Street, the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleon or Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse as well as Jeremy Davenport at the Ritz. Your hotel location is a bit sketchy late at night so be careful. I’m surprised no one mentioned Domenica which is only a block or two from where you are staying.

[johnphil]

Thanks to everyone, your city was very friendly and I loved the Garden district as well as the rest of New Orleans. We had some amazing food but my favorite was at the Royal House. Clearly we didn't get a chance to try everywhere in 3 days but look forward to returning soon to try some more great food and meet some more great people.

John

[Gizmo56]

I am curious what you ordered at Royal House that was so good, and where else you went during your stay (where the food was not as memorable).

[irked]

WWOZ.org
It's our community radio station. There's a live music calendar and you can listen online.

[irked]

I've lived in New Orleans my whole life and one of the best meals I've ever had was at Restaurant August just over a month ago. Chef Mike Gulotta knows what he's doing. This would be my definite recommendation for fine dining and it's just a few blocks outside the French Quarter beyond Canal Street.
Two other restaurants in the Downtown area should be considered. Donald Link's Cochon for a pork-centric menu with traditional Cajun flare and Root for some more "experimental" cuisine.
Make sure you get out the French Quarter. New Orleans is SO much more than that one small historic district full of tourist traps. It's a small town so you don't need to go far and cab rides from one end to the other are rarely more than $20. Venture Uptown along Magazine Street if you want to do some shopping and stop by Mahoney's for a good po' boy. For live music, try Frenchmen St. just outside the Quarter.
DO NOT go to Mother's unless you want to be disappointed. That place hasn't been good in decades. If you want to stay Downtown or in the Quarter and want a sandwich, check out Johnny's Po' Boys for their eponymous fare or Central Grocery for the original muffaletta. If you're in Jackson Square, look to the right of the St. Louis Cathedral and you'll see Stanley!, chef Scott Boswell's affordable diner counterpart to his very expensive Stella! restaurant. It's a great little diner.
Enjoy your stay!

[Bill Hunt]

Cochon is a good rec. It is more "family-oriented," than any that I mentioned, plus it is Cajun-based, which is different from New Orleans Cuisine, though each can share elements. Cochon would be worth a short cab ride from the Holiday Inn.

Only complaint that I have ever had is that the chairs could be more comfortable, but that is scant to really good food, an interesting, albeit small, wine list, and good, fun service.

Nice call,

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

Hm-m, "the best" eh?

First, "the best of what?"

Where are you staying?

What are the desires?

What are the price-points?

Will you have an auto?

Is driving OK, to get that "best?"

If one wants the quintessential New Orleans dining experience, then I can probably nail that - Galatoire's. If you have never dined there, then queue up in line, for downstairs dining, and TRUST the server completely. If you have been there, and have dined downstairs, then make reservations, and dine upstairs. Again, trust the server completely.

Enjoy, but please let us know a bit more.

Hunt

[johnphil]

Thanks for the info, we are staying at the Holiday Inn just outside of the French Quarter. We will not have a car and we are looking for the real New Orleans food experience. We own a small restaurant here in Ontario Canada and have guest come for the Home Cooking. So I guess that is what we want to experience in New Orleans.

Any suggestions for food and entertainment would be great.

John

[Bill Hunt]

OK. Thank you for that info.

Here are my suggestions, though they are not in any particular order:

MiLa - Deep South (Mississippi & Louisiana, hence the name) in the CBD (Central Business District) Upper-mid-range and very nice.

Stella! - near the back of the FQ (French Quarter), and again Deep South, with strong New Orleans influences. Also upper-mid-range, and very nice.

Galatoire's - in the "front" of the FQ. It is the "grand dame" of New Orleans cuisine. It is more formal, than the others, but never "stuffy." For probably the ultimate experience with New Orleans Cuisine, this is a "not-to-miss" restaurant, though upper-level. Jacket required for gentlemen, other than weekday lunches, but a jacket will fit in, even then.

G W Fins - in the front of the FQ, is a seafood (primarily) restaurant, that features plenty of local seafood, done with local preparations. Lower-mid-range.

Restaurant August - a look at "new" New Orleans Cuisine, with local ingredients. A tad more formal, than many others (upper-range), it is also not "stuffy." Chef John Besh does some very interesting work there. In the CBD.

Bayona - Chef Susan Spicer does her take on New Orleans Cuisine, in this front of FQ restaurant, in a bit more relaxed atmosphere, that has great charm.

There are many more, but not sure that you have a month to explore. Also, I omitted one of my favorites, Brigtsen's, which is but a relaxing street car ride from the CBD, and well-worth the trip.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[fieryepicurean]

What about Liuzza's but he Track on North Lopez? I read a few articles about this place and wanted to know if anyone has gone and what they thought of it. Looks like a place for locals (smile!)

[Bill Hunt]

I have not been in far too long to comment.

Sorry,

Hunt

[irked]

It's decent. I wouldn't call it a "must" destination for a visitor but it is a great example of a classic neighborhood joint. If you're in the area, perhaps on the way to the Museum of Modern Art in City Park, stop by for a cup of gumbo and a Bushwacker (frozen drink).

[Hungry Celeste]

Point of clarification: the gumbo & bushwhackers are at the Liuzza's on Bienville. Liuzza's By the Track, on N. Lopez, is an entirely different and unaffiliated establishment. LBTT used to be a favorite, but (to me) the food has declined in recent years.

[irked]

Damn. That's right. And I call myself a Mid-Citizen...
LBTT has the Bloody Marys before Jazz Fest. I'd rather the Bushwacker on a hot day in July.

[Littleman]

Be sure to visit Frenchmen Street's great clubs.

FRENCHMEN STREET………..

DBA @ 618 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 = 942 – 3731.
‎
http://dbabars.com/dbano/

Spotted Cat @ 623 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 – 943 – 3887.

http://www.spottedcatmusicclub.com/

Blue Nile @ 532 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 – 948 – 2583.

http://www.bluenilelive.com/

Apple Barrel Bar @ 609 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 – 949 – 9399.

Three Muses @ 536 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 – 298 – 8746.
http://www.thethreemuses.com/
Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club @ 1931 Saint Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 945 - 9654.
http://www.sweetlorrainesjazzclub.com/home.htm
Royal Street Inn and R Bar @ 1431 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 948 - 7499.
http://royalstreetinn.com/
Snugg Harbor Jazz Bistro @ 626 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA. 504 - 949 - 0696.
http://www.snugjazz.com/site/
Maison @ 508 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 504 – 371 – 5543.

http://www.maisonfrenchmen.com/