What to do, where to eat in New Orleans

In My Humble Opinion
1

My wife and I are headed down to New Orleans in a few days. It had been a place we wanted to go to, then Katrina got there first. But we’ve decided we’re going anyway.

So, what advice can Dopers give me? I’ve been down there once on work (since Katrina), but didn’t have time to do a lot. Still, I know we want to wander the French Quarter and the Garden District, have coffee and beignets in the mornings at Cafe du Monde, see the WWII museum, and I’ve got my own personal list of places to go to check on Katrina recovery.

But we’d like some other ideas for specific places to go and things to do, and above all, places to eat - not just fine dining (though we’ll do some of that), but good places to grab a po’boy or a plate of jambalaya for lunch as well.

Any suggestions?

2

Rufe,
I haven’t been to NOLA since the flood, so don’t know what’s left, but I’ll direct you to my food-writer friend Pableaux’s site. He’s written a book as well, circa 2005, so pre Katrina. His articles will at least give you a good sense of what NOLA is/was about.

Surely some current NO dopers will come to help ya. Please post your observations on your visit here; I’d like to hear your take on visiting the City that Care Forgot, and Now How.

3

Ah, a topic I can get behind. My personal suggestions are (not for meals) The fudge shop down the street from the French Market (don’t remember exact place). For meals, Yo Mama’s Bar and Grill, which is on St. Peter street, which serves the best damn burgers on the planet. There is Cafe Maspero over on Decatur street (just off Jackson Square) for good lasagna. There’s the Jimmy Buffet place also on Decatur. Also, wander around a bit, many places will have their menu posted outside of their door.

4

For po’ boys, I wholeheartedly recommend Mother’s. I was there a couple weeks ago and I can still taste my Ferdi. Mmm.

5

Don’t forget to get a muffaletta san’wich at the Central Grocery Store on Decatur, right near Cafe du Monde and the French Market. Best sandwich ever! Of course, I think it was always really difficult to find a BAD restaurant in New Orleans.

6

Brennigan’s for the Bananas Foster, for sure. You’re already doing Cafe du Monde, so that’s covered. Also near Jackson Square is an amazing Italian restaurant that I will rack my brain to try to remember the name of. I’ve only eaten there a dozen or so times, so there’s no reason I should remember the name or anything. :rolleyes: ETA: I think it’s off Dumaine, on the riverside of Decatur, but I can’t be sure. Maybe I’ll dig through my credit card receipts and see if the name jumps out at me.

7

Johnny’s Po-Boys is always our first stop. Go for breakfast.

On the low end of dining, both the Gumbo Shop and the Acme Oyster House are easily written off as touristy, but I think they’re both great. Port of Call on the edge of the Quarter has an incredible burger and a drink called a Monsoon that’ll get your swerve on in short order.

For finer dining, I can’t say enough about Bayona.

Definitely hit up Frenchman St., just out of the Quarter in Faubourg Marigny. Lots of great jazz over there, and a bar (can’t remember the name) with the best beer and booze selection I’ve ever seen.

8

I enjoy Acme Oyster Bar off Bourbon.

9

Food:

**In the Quarter ** -

Mona Lisa’s for great pizza.

Coop’s Place on Decatur - real dive, but great rabbit jambalaya.

Ditto Central Grocery for the muff sandwich. Great with Zapp’s chips and a Big Shot cream soda. Get the 1/2 sandwich since the whole sandwich is too much.

Gallatoire’s and Antoine’s - classics, expensive, worth it, though

G.W. Finn’s.
Mid-city-

Mandina’s - traditional neighborhood creole/Italian. Cash only, no reservations. Ride the Canal Streetcar up - - 3800 Canal.

Angelo Brocato’s Gelato and Pastries - use google for the address. Very near Mandina’s.
Uptown -

Camellia Grill at Riverbend (ride the St. Charles streetcar) - cash only. Breakfast is great.

Blue Bird Cafe - near Louisiana and Prytania. Great breakfast.

Juan’s Flying Burrito on Magazine Street.

Joey K’s on Magazine Street.

Dick and Jenny’s - Tchoupitoulas at Napoleon. No reservations; great nouveau fusion creole food. Superb supper.

Vincent’s Italian Restaurant - St. Charles and Fern near Riverbend (again, on the St. Charles streetcar route).

Jacques Imo’s on Oak Street 8 blocks from Riverbend in Carrollton.
**Lakefront ** -

Deanie’s Seafood - HUGE portions fried seafood. Well cooked, BIG beers.

Thing to do and see:

Audubon Zoo. Funky Butt for jazz (North Rampart Street - upper end of FQ). House of Blues. Tipitina’s. Art Museum at City Park. Louisiana State Museum at the Cabildo (Jackson Square). Mardi Gras museum at the Presbytere (Jackson Square). Art galleries in the Warehouse District. Aquarium of the Americas. Riverboat cruise. Chalmette Battlefield (war of 1812 battle site). Preservation Hall. Hornets game. Shopping on Magazine Street. Maple Leaf bar for jazz (Oak Street near Jacques Imos). Botanic Garden in City Park. Audubon Park Uptown.

10

Commander’s Palace, perhaps?

11

Acme Oyster House.

K Paul’s! We went there twice on our honeymoon because it was just outstanding!

12

I’m told that St Louis’ Cathedral is worth a visit.

13

I’d second the recommendation of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. It’s a tourist destination, I suppose, but the food really was good. I got lucky; we got there around lunchtime and were able to walk right in and be seated. But I looked out the window fifteen minutes later and there was a line of people waiting to get in.

I’ve heard Antoine’s is good but I didn’t go there because it’s very formal.

14

This is great, guys! I’m gonna just print out this thread and take it with us - everything sounds delicious! I had to look up what a muffaletta sandwich was, but it sounds yummy; we’re gonna have to try one.

I know I’m going to gain five pounds on this trip, but it’ll be worth it. :slight_smile:

15

Was just at Antoine’s about 2 weeks ago, and was surprized at how NOT formal it was. Nothing like it used to be. I will say it was very good, but not earth shatteringly so. And very expensive.

Breakfast at Brendan’s is also expensive, but deliscious. And where else have you ever been that has a wine list available at breakfast? :smiley:

16

Mother’s restaurant I second the recommendation for this one. It has been almost 10 years and I still remember it fondly.

17

Best food evah - if I lived there I would weigh 600 pounds.

18

It’s been a few years since I visited New Orleans. It was probably around 1994 so my advice is admittedly dated.

19

Alas, the Butt is no more. The story I got is that they lost the lease on their place not too long before Katrina, and they had all their stuff in a warehouse while they were trying to get a new space (probably on Frenchman St.). Then the storm took out the warehouse.

Donna’s is still up there, though, IIRC.

20

If it’s gone, that’s a damn shame. With four young children, the Mrs. and I don’t get out like we used to, and I haven’t heard anyone here speak of it in the past tense, so I assumed it’s still there. Just goes to show that you don’t always know everything about your own home town!

A couple of you are thinking of Brennan’s - - not Brennigan’s or Brendans. The Brennan family runs Commander’s Palace and several other places.

Antoine’s and Gallatoire’s don’t have the best food in town, but they do have good food and the history is a bonus. Few American restaurants have been in business as long as they have.

Finally, I’m glad that some of you have enjoyed Mother’s. It’s not a favorite of mine and prefer to go almost anywhere else for a po-boy.