# "Girls Only" trip to NOLA - what to see/do and most important where to EAT? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-only-trip-to-nola-what-to-see-do-and-most-important-where-to-eat/516117 "2009-11-03T00:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-only-trip-to-nola-what-to-see-do-and-most-important-where-to-eat/516117/41 "2009-11-05T19:48:53Z")
OffBeat is a free New Orleans paper devoted to the music scene. [Their web site](http://offbeat.com/) lists just about anything that’s playing anywhere in town. I’ve been to the New Orleans jazz festival seven times, so I have a pretty good idea about the restaurants there. Here are some of my favorites: Mr. B’s Bistro - yes, it has re-opened after Katrina. The Gumbo Ya-Ya and BBQ shrimp are excellent. French quarter. Cochon - In the arts district. High-end Cajun with an emphasis on pork (as the name suggests). They make everything in-house, including ham and other cured meats. The best thing I’ve had there was the head cheese, which the chef sent out as a lagniappe. Rio Mar - Spanish seafood. Excellent selection of ceviches. In the warehouse district. Jacques Imo’s - Cajun. In the Carrolton district. Easily reachable by streetcar. Great food, young crowd, fun. Hard to get into during tourist season - probably much easier in July. Palace Cafe - Creole. Less formal (and cheaper) version of Commander’s Palace. Crabmeat cheesecake with pecan crust is a signature dish. On Canal St. near French quarter. Drago’s - Two branches - the one I’ve been to is at the base of Poydras St. Signature dish is char-broiled oysters. Not much in terms of atmosphere - huge and corporate-feeling - but food is excellent and unique. Other fun things to do: Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where they build the Mardi Gras floats, has an enjoyable tour. There are a lot of good jazz clubs on Frenchmen St. Fritzel’s on Bourbon St. is a good club for traditional jazz (I’ve become disenchanted with Preservation Hall). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-only-trip-to-nola-what-to-see-do-and-most-important-where-to-eat/516117/42 "2009-11-06T13:58:18Z")
[Nobody mentioned Rock n Bowl!](http://www.rockandbowl.com/storePAGE/storePAGE/rocknbowlSTORE2.htm) A bowling alley, bar, bands all in one. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-only-trip-to-nola-what-to-see-do-and-most-important-where-to-eat/516117/43 "2009-11-06T18:57:22Z")
For good, inexpensive local food I recommend the Little Easy Bar and Grill on Conti St. in the French Quarter. My girlfirend and I ended up there late the night following our flight and ended up going back a few times. Small place with a neat little New Orleans style garden patio in the back. In addition to the great food they also serve a drink that–trust me–you only want one of. Pat O’Brien’s is the obvious place for Hurricanes. I also recommend seeing the D-Day museum. One thing I’d like to do but haven’t: daytime riverboat tour. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-only-trip-to-nola-what-to-see-do-and-most-important-where-to-eat/516117.md?page=2)