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FunnyJohn

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Today!!!

That was fast but we do have a place to live now as opposed to living out of the car.

As we didn't have too much time between house viewings, for the most part we stuck we what we know and love: Herbsaint, Parasol's, Casamento's continue to sparkle, each in their own very distinctive way, Peche found yet another, higher gear (though I be biased on this one for sure).

The Joint, deep in the Bywater, astounded us with their 'cue; I honestly could not believe how damn good it was, considering its essentially a shack with a big ass smoker out back in the shadow of the Industrial Canal. All too often I find BBQ to be woefully underseasoned, as though the pitmasters were allowing the smoke to handle all the tasks in the flavor department, as if salt were less important than smoke; not so at the Joint. Ditto the piles of blackened mush masquerading as "meat" (and may have been at some point, long before they were cast into a darkened corner of a smoker and forgotten about for almost a day); folks, there's a very important distinction between something being "tender" and "overcooked;" To simplify matters, we had 2 plates of expertly seasoned, beautifully cooked meat; the sides were clearly shown the same amount of attention as the proteins.

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Today!!!

Although I grieve for Cashion's Eat Place, I'm super happy for you personally, Sam!

Please find potential donrockwell.com members in New Orleans - there's absolutely no reason we can't have a full-blown New Orleans forum. All we need are a few active, crazed people like me (and hopefully you).

This is one of our most active threads in The Intrepid Traveler forum, and it's a perfect candidate to be made into its own forum.

Congratulations, sir, thank you for all the memories at Cashion's, and please let us know where you're working and what you're doing so our members can come see you!

Cheers,

Rocks

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Hey we still here y'all, if anyone plans on coming down anytime soon; it's been "chilly" by our standards, almost down in the 60's during the evenings though most of the day time highs are still in the high 70s (yes its November in Louisiana)

There be some REAL good food down here, holla if ya need some rec's, I'm full of'em

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I am traveling to New Orleans next week with my parents--family wedding in Baton Rouge.  Any recommendations on mid-priced restaurants and attractions near the French Quarter?  We are staying at the Hotel Monteleone and plan to walk most places.

We will be there from Tuesday to Friday AM, then drive up to Baton Rouge.  My folks are very spry so reasonable distance is not an issue. They are pretty adventurous eaters so that is not a problem either.  I have been to New Orleans once before but it has been a while.  There are some things I already know we will do/see:

streetcar to Garden District

Preservation Hall

French Market

Jackson Square/Cabildo

Thanks in advance.

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If you are doing a street car to the Garden District, Mahoney's on Magazine Street serves up very good po-boys.  Plus Magazine Street has plenty of boutiques, little galleries, cafes etc. for a nice afternoon walk about.

Of course you could also go visit frogprince (posted above you) at Herbsaint in the Quarter!

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If you are doing a street car to the Garden District, Mahoney's on Magazine Street serves up very good po-boys.  Plus Magazine Street has plenty of boutiques, little galleries, cafes etc. for a nice afternoon walk about.

Of course you could also go visit frogprince (posted above you) at Herbsaint in the Quarter!

Herbsaint is a good idea, but it's not in the Quarter, although if memory serves it is right on the aforementioned St. Charles Streetcar line (the line to the Garden District).  It's walkable from the Monteleone, but not what I'd call a short walk.  And Mahoney's po'boys are worth the trip.

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I am traveling to New Orleans next week with my parents--family wedding in Baton Rouge.  Any recommendations on mid-priced restaurants and attractions near the French Quarter?  We are staying at the Hotel Monteleone and plan to walk most places.

We will be there from Tuesday to Friday AM, then drive up to Baton Rouge.  My folks are very spry so reasonable distance is not an issue. They are pretty adventurous eaters so that is not a problem either.  I have been to New Orleans once before but it has been a while.  There are some things I already know we will do/see:

streetcar to Garden District

Preservation Hall

French Market

Jackson Square/Cabildo

Thanks in advance.

Limiting yourself to only what is walkable is a mistake IMHO. While the buses are always late, and the streetcar pointless, there are cabs.  I'll pile on about Herbsaint. It's really good and not far from the mix. I prefer Coquette, but that requires a bit of a schlepp. And Domilise's for Poboys out in the middle of a residential neighborhood is worth the effort.  I found muffulettas, in general, underwhelming. They are fine in small portions, which is impossible to order (a smaller portion).

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Another possibility in the FQ for seafood is GW Fins.  Everybody says it's the best, and always mentions their "scalibut", their signature dish ($32).  That may be more than mid-priced, but that's how seafood is.  Full disclosure -- I haven't been myself; have been trying to get there but never succeeded yet.  Maybe next trip -- for us the FQ is always a challenge because most of the time we have our three Irish Wolfhounds in tow.

Some say Mr. B's Bistro in the FQ has the best BBQ shrimp in town.  I've had them and they're very good, no doubt about it.

Another place my sweet bride always insists on is Drago's for char-broiled oysters.  They invented them, and I've never yet had better ones than theirs.  Their main location is out in Metaire, but they have a branch in the Hilton which is just outside the FQ, near the Casino.

On the subject of po'boys, avoid Mothers.  Best place by reputation in the FQ is Johnny's, but it's another place that, alas, I haven't been, so can only mention its reputation.

Here's a far out possibility.  "Big Pink", the fabled Brennan's Restaurant (yes, in the FQ) is about to reopen, but the specific date is not exactly clear.  You might want to pass by (417 Royal) and see if they are doing a soft opening and you can sneak in.  It would be a major feather in your culinary travel cap if you could pull it off.  Slade Rushing is the Exec Chef, and it promises to be a Really Big Deal.  I have been very pleased with the food at MiLa, Slade and wife Allison's place, so I imagine it will be worthwhile.  Not cheap or even mid-priced though.

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For po boys, its Parkway or bust for me; granted that's a cab ride to mid city. Mahoney's is good if y'all's travels take ya there

Mid priced Quarter and good is kinda difficult: Slyvain has an exceptional space with underwhelming food,

NOLA poboys on Bourbon up by Jean Lafitte's is pretty darn good

I have not ventured to Johnny's for poboys so can't comment

Adolpho's on Frenchmen is excellent but very filling and very busy, just across Esplanade from the Quarter, in the Marigny (cash only!)

Honestly, its a quick and safe walk from the Quarter to the CBD and there y'all can find all of the Link Restaurant Group's places: Peche, Cochon, Butcher and us (Herbsaint); I walk to work from Treme and by the time I cross Canal, its a 7 minute walk to Herbsaint, another 5 to Cochon/Butcher/Peche (they all right close to each other)

Butcher has the best Muffalattas  in town(sorry Central Grocery) plus the best sammich's

Luke (John Besh) has great oysters at happy hour in the CBD; Borgne (also Besh) up on Loyola inside the biggest hotel that has ever been  built has the same great oyster happy hour

There's REAL good stuff uptown but that would require a cab there which is pretty easy from the Quarter but the cab back could be take awhile, lemme know if y'all interested

Galatoire's on Bourbon, while not mid priced or casual, is a tremendous restaurant, not to mention historic and delicious and happens to be right smack dab where y'all want to be. Dress fancy and have sazeracs

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There's REAL good stuff uptown but that would require a cab there which is pretty easy from the Quarter but the cab back could be take awhile, lemme know if y'all interested

Galatoire's on Bourbon, while not mid priced or casual, is a tremendous restaurant, not to mention historic and delicious and happens to be right smack dab where y'all want to be. Dress fancy and have sazeracs

Looking forward to dinner at Herbsaint on the 29th!!

Curious as to your recommendations for uptown - can you share 1 or 2?  We will be there Sunday and Monday night too.  If cabs are hard to come by uptown on those nights, where do you recommend elsewhere?

Thanks in advance!

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Looking forward to dinner at Herbsaint on the 29th!!

Curious as to your recommendations for uptown - can you share 1 or 2?  We will be there Sunday and Monday night too.  If cabs are hard to come by uptown on those nights, where do you recommend elsewhere?

Thanks in advance!

My visit one year ago included these highlights (can't vouch for any changes since then, of course):

-- dinner at Patois, a great neighborhood restaurant near Tulane.
-- delicious breakfast at a Garden District cafe, Coulis, with wonderful, warm staff.  (order the corned beef hash)
-- Excellent meals at Cochon and Peche.  At the latter, I sat at the oyster bar and let "Sam," who's been shucking bivalves for decades, entice me with amazing Texas and Louisiana specimens, and then recommend a wonderful dish of capellini and clams and chilies
 
-- Mr. B's Bistro for a perfect sazerac (at half the price of what it costs in D.C.), and the renowned shrimp with bar-b-q sauce; it's not really barbeque sauce in any meaningful sense, but whatever the hell it is, it is incredible (and involves quite a bit of butter).  At first I thought it was absurd that they served an entire baguette on the side . . . but now I know why. 

-- Best meal of my two days (which is saying something in light of the above):  brunch at Coquette on Magazine Street

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Looking forward to dinner at Herbsaint on the 29th!!

Curious as to your recommendations for uptown - can you share 1 or 2?  We will be there Sunday and Monday night too.  If cabs are hard to come by uptown on those nights, where do you recommend elsewhere?

Thanks in

Let's begin with "Uptown" being quite a broad, vast area but, this being New Orleans, it's really not a long drive at all (I did it the other day, it took about 15 minutes to go from our house in Treme to the Riverbend), plus one can always take the streetcar.

Freret St (just off Napolean Ave, a quick 8-10 minute walk from the St Charles streetcar) continues its vibrant rebirth, quite a few places along the strip that demonstrate just how important it is to get out of downtown/tourist-centric areas when traveling and experience local life: High Hat Cafe for inexpensive Delta delights that is always WAY better than it should be. Ancora for our version of 2 Amy's. Wayfare for adult sandiwches and wine. Company Burger for, well, what do you think?

Boucherie (Jeanette at Carrolton):Forward thinking, solid cooking, charming setting, great lunch menu.

Casamento's (Magazine at Napolean): Centuries old oyster bar, specializing in fried seafood "loafs" (think texas toast as opposed to po'boy bread), no frills, charming staff plus you get to walk through the kitchen to go to bathroom! cash only, weird hours too, call them to confirm they're open before heading out

Pascal's Manale (Napolean between Freret and St Charles): They invented BBQ Shrimp, potentially the greatest dish known to man

I've heard good things but have not been to the following places: Carrolton Station, Upperline, Clancy's, Brigsten's

As far as cabs go, it's not that cabs are hard to come by but rather, outside of the Quarter, they don't really troll the streets for fares, you have to call them in; I'm sure the staff at any of the above mentioned places would be happy to call you one.

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Further to the reopening of Brennans mentioned earlier, it turns out that the General Manager is none other than DC's own Christian Pendleton, who came from Ashok  Bajaj's Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Ardeo, Bardeo, 701, Oval Room, Rasika, Bibiana, etc.).  Also Hook and Indebleu.

This is a link to an article with a video that has him giving instructions to the staff on opening day.

http://www.nola.com/dining/index.ssf/2014/11/brennans_restaurant_french_qua.html

Looks like DC has gotten into the business of providing staff for the New Orleans restaurant industry.

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The missus and I spent a week in New Orleans last month.  Ended up not getting a rental car so our radius from the quarter was pretty small.  Definitely getting a car and staying in the Marigny next time around.  Regardless, our favorites are listed here, mostly inspired by @jparrott.  The TL;DR?  Go to Cane and Table.  Go to Peche.

And yeah, cabs are easy to come by when you're in/near the quarter, and damn unreliable anywhere else.  You have to call them and just hope they show up...we had decent luck with asking places to call one for us, but we also didn't venture too far out so as to not risk getting stranded somewhere.  Still no Uber or Lyft.  No Zipcar or Getaround either.  Parking at hotels in the CBD/Quarter is outrageously expensive.

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Home for the holidays. I convinced my not so ambulatory, elderly parents to do a 3:00 reservation at Pasquale's Manale, which all the locals call "Manales." What a fabulous choice. This place has not changed in probably 7 decades...the bathrooms have likely been updated, and perhaps the carpets have been cleaned, but this is old school New Orleans, in tne best way.

Their signature dish is barbequed shrimp. You. MUST. order. these. The barbeque title is misleading...these are large, gorgeous head-on shrimp broiled in a decadent spicy oil and butter bath...it defies description. With endless bread (and the servers are relentless about bringing more bread) for dipping in the butter sauce, this is perfect. It is an iconic New Orleans dish, for good reason. One $26 entree portion was enought for two to share...12-14 huge shrimp and endless bread.

We also had oysters Rockefeller (good, not great), oysters Bienville (OMG life-altering) and the seafood pan roast (described as a kind of seafood "stuffing" by our server. It is a crumb-topped plate of finely diced seafood with bread crumbs and seasonings and was freaking awesome. My father insisted on a strip steak, which he devoured and said was perfect.

My parents are aging...87 and 84, and feeble, and I don't know how many more of these restaurant meals we'll share together. But they loved this experience, and felt perfectly comfortable in the lull between lunch and dinner. We had wine, we laughed, we ate tons of bread...it was one of the best ONN (old New Orleans) experiences I've had as as adult.

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Heading to New Orleans in early April - husband and I will be back for the first time since the mid-90s, teen will be there for the first time.

Currently have hotel booked in CBD a few blocks from the Quarter (didn't want to stay in the Quarter unless we found a very quiet spot at the far end - once stayed at Lafitte Guest House and that was nice and quiet - but we wanted to be close by).  Hotel is short distance from August and from the Palace Café.

Am very pleased to see a bunch of restaurants in the CBD recommended above!

Is the Palace Café still good?  Have very fond memories of it.  But with other great places in the CBD, maybe not worth it?

If you were going to one Brennan's restaurant (besides perhaps the Palace Café, if we stay at this hotel), would it be Commander's Palace (which I likewise have fond memories of), the new reopened Brennan's, or another?

And how early do you need reservations for August?  I got burned in Chicago by not realizing The Girl and the Goat reserved months in advance.  Have no specific plans for this vacation yet, so I wasn't planning on making dinner reservations yet, but don't want to miss August.

Also will be researching what places for music allow teenagers.  Last time we were there, pre-kid, we went to Rampart St. to Donna's and The Funky Butt (both closed now, alas), and had a wonderful time.  The kid is not a straight-up jazz fan (Preservation Hall would have slight charms for him), but really liked Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, so I think funk-influenced jazz is the way to go.  Husband and I like that very much, but also lower-key music (last time also went to Snug Harbor and heard Ellis and Jason Marsalis).  The Marigny sounds like the place to look at, where Snug Harbor is, but don't know if we'd have a hard time getting a cab back to the CBD afterwards.

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To clarify, you're actually crossing the streams on the Brennan Restaurant Groups.   The nephew of the original Brennan family (Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group) has Red Fish Grill, Ralph's on the Park, the newly reopened Brennan's in the quarter, and some others.  The new Brennan's is not affiliated with the other long standing joints you mention above.  I'd go into more detail on it all but I know I'll screw it up somewhere along the way.  It's a great story that someone better suited than myself should tell you.

That being said, I can say that my last meal at Commander's was as vital and strong as anywhere else I ate that trip, my last meal at Palace Cafe was mediocre in both food and service, and that the early feedback I've heard on the new Brennan's has been very very positive.  Given the hype surrounding that's opening that's a very good sign.  By April it should be firing on all cylinders.

If you want a weekend reservation for August I'd lock something down via Open Table now - you can always adjust later.    

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To clarify, you're actually crossing the streams on the Brennan Restaurant Groups.   The nephew of the original Brennan family (Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group) has Red Fish Grill, Ralph's on the Park, the newly reopened Brennan's in the quarter, and some others.  The new Brennan's is not affiliated with the other long standing joints you mention above.  I'd go into more detail on it all but I know I'll screw it up somewhere along the way.  It's a great story that someone better suited than myself should tell you.

That being said, I can say that my last meal at Commander's was as vital and strong as anywhere else I ate that trip, my last meal at Palace Cafe was mediocre in both food and service, and that the early feedback I've heard on the new Brennan's has been very very positive.  Given the hype surrounding that's opening that's a very good sign.  By April it should be firing on all cylinders.

If you want a weekend reservation for August I'd lock something down via Open Table now - you can always adjust later.    

Not exactly, but yeah it's complicated.  The  Brennan family saga is one of the great family stories, in the restaurant or any other business.  Anyone who is seriously interested can read this, but is well advised to refer to this as they go along (full-size graphic recommended).  Bottom line is that the family split long ago, but those who kept the "original" Brennan's drove it into the ground and finally lost it to Ralph Brennan who is part of the other side of the split, so now all or nearly all the restaurants are, in effect, reunited under a single wing of the family, and to that extent are affiliated.

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Thanks!

We'll likely skip the Palace Cafe, then.  I made a reservation at August.

Reserving Brennan's in March turned out to not be allowed by OpenTable yet (it 'exceeds the maximum date').

If you were going to Commander's Palace, would you go for brunch or dinner?  I've only been for brunch.

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Personally I'd do dinner.  I think they do savory really well and I like the fact they have such a nice mix of the old school recipes that planted their flag + the new dishes that show why they remain relevant.

Don't miss that foie gras du monde whenever you go if it's available.  It shouldn't work but it does.

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I had the pleasure of eating at Brennan's 2 weeks ago with 6 other people, allowing me to sample the majority of the dinner menu.  Holy shit.  Just go.

Poaching Slade Rushing to run the spot was an inspired choice.  You have a menu now with a handful of classic Brennan's items the locals would have rioted over if they were removed, a handful of signature dishes from Rushing's old spot MiLa, and a few new things.  The BBQ Lobster and Amberjack Crudo were the best appetizers (but the creole octopus was solid as well - do seafood for your appetizer and meat for your main).  The smoked squab and foie gras gumbo just killed the table though.  Probably the best cheffy gumbo I've ever had.  Pure decadence.

We're not even halfway through the first month of 2015 and I doubt I'll eat anything better than that palm sugar roast duck with Vietnamese style rutabaga cake.  Wells goes off in his review on how good the cake was cooked but the duck was perfectly seasoned and cooked as well.  Oh, and get a side of the black eyed pea cassoulet for the table.  Stupid smart idea.  It's crazy how well this place is humming this early out the gate.

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Headed here for a long weekend in mid-Feb (post Fat Tuesday) with wife before her conference starts.  We are flying in Friday morning and I am leaving Monday morning.  So far we have the following reservations:

Friday Lunch - Antoine's (Commander's was already booked)

Friday Dinner - August

Saturday Lunch - thinking Couchon Butcher

Saturday Dinner - Sylvain

Sunday Brunch - Brennan's

Sunday Dinner - Johnny Sanchez

Anyone see anything they would change or other suggestions?

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For something a little funky and off the beaten track, check out Elizabeth's: http://www.elizabethsrestaurantnola.com/

In some ways it was the most New Orleansie restaurant we ate at. Laid back and cool, great servers, great food, and great prices.

We went for sunday brunch after my wife ran the marathon and it was absolutely perfect for the occasion. They have this great "make your own mimosa" deal where they plop down a bottle of champagne and a pitcher of orange juice on your table and it was only $21!

There's also a great record store a block away - - a good way to kill time if there's a wait.

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Headed here for a long weekend in mid-Feb (post Fat Tuesday) with wife before her conference starts.  We are flying in Friday morning and I am leaving Monday morning.  So far we have the following reservations:

Friday Lunch - Antoine's (Commander's was already booked)

Friday Dinner - August

Saturday Lunch - thinking Couchon Butcher

Saturday Dinner - Sylvain

Sunday Brunch - Brennan's

Sunday Dinner - Johnny Sanchez

Anyone see anything they would change or other suggestions?

I would strongly suggest you somehow squeeze in Coquette. Truly.

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Did you do the blind tasting menu here?  Not sure I can talk the wife in to doing that, not really her speed.

The blind tasting menu must be new. It was not available when we went. But we loved it so much there that I'd do it (and here I am saying that, even though I am more or less over tasting menus, haha).  That being said, ordering off the regular menu is quite fine.  If you check out the link below, it is to a bunch of photos on Flickr -- near the end of the set are pictures of the Coquette food we had.

Another place, if you like places for a dive lunch, RUN to DOMILISE'S - best probes I have ever had. Seriously good, if inconvenient to get to. I could live at that place.

Link to Coquette pictures -- https://www.flickr.com/photos/nermie/sets/72157633478002950/

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Just returned from a perfectly timed weekend trip (missing the snow here and lucking into temps in the high 70's there). Will try and write some more details later but the highlights were:

August (Friday $20 lunch)

Luke (perfectly shucked oysters, tried to hit happy hour on Friday but it was beyond packed, glad we returned Saturday afternoon)

Peche (get the whole fish)

Three Muses (great small plates on Frenchmen St),

Couchon Butcher (perfect sandwiches)

Johnnys Po-Boys (great greasy breakfast)

Atchafalaya (Awesome brunch in Garden District with make your own bloody mary bar. They actually lost our order resulting in a long wait for our food but we were in no rush, next thing I know the Owner comes to our table apologizes and comps our entire meal, all without us saying a word)

Fountain Lounge in Roosevelt Hotel (great cocktail bar, not an expert on Sazerac's but this one was damn good).

A few disappointments:

Hermes Bar-Antoine's (oysters rockefeller was too rich for us),

Coquette (We went in with high hopes but things seemed off last night, maybe not the A team on Sundays? It was fairly empty so maybe the locals are in the know. Could have been we were also in a food coma by this point)

Drago's Hilton Riverside (charbroiled oysters - ok but nothing earth shattering, think I just prefer raw).

Peche would be at the top of list for anyone visiting soon.

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Just returned from a perfectly timed weekend trip (missing the snow here and lucking into temps in the high 70's there).  Will try and write some more details later but the highlights were:

August (Friday $20 lunch)

Luke (perfectly shucked oysters, tried to hit happy hour on Friday but it was beyond packed, glad we returned Saturday afternoon)

Peche (get the whole fish)

Three Muses (great small plates on Frenchmen St),

Couchon Butcher (perfect sandwiches)

Johnnys Po-Boys (great greasy breakfast)

Atchafalaya (Awesome brunch in Garden District with make your own bloody mary bar.  They actually lost our order resulting in a long wait for our food but we were in no rush, next thing I know the Owner comes to our table apologizes and comps our entire meal, all without us saying a word)

Fountain Lounge in Roosevelt Hotel (great cocktail bar, not an expert on Sazerac's but this one was damn good).

A few disappointments:

Hermes Bar-Antoine's (oysters rockefeller was too rich for us),

Coquette (We went in with high hopes but things seemed off last night, maybe not the A team on Sundays?  It was fairly empty so maybe the locals are in the know.  Could have been we were also in a food coma but this point)

Drago's Hilton Riverside (charbroiled oysters - ok but nothing earth shattering, think I just prefer raw).

Peche would be at the top of list for anyone visiting soon.

Agreed and dang. Coquette was a standout for me.

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Heading to New Orleans in a couple of weeks and this thread has been invaluable - thanks all!

We're staying in the CBD and won't have a car.  We're not likely to want to go out far (and I've heard that you can get cabs in the Quarter, but may have trouble elsewhere getting cabs to take you back). 

Right now, we have reservations at Herbsaint, August, and Brennan's (twice - Sunday brunch and weeknight dinner - though I may cancel one of those).  I would like us to get to Peche (which has plenty of reservations available, and we might go for lunch) and maybe to Mr. B's Bistro.

I'd like to give our teen, who will be a first-time-visitor, one or two meals that will be an iconic New Orleans experience.  We'll definitely have beignets at Café du Monde.  He doesn't eat pork, so no muffulettas for him (we'll have them though), and Cochon may not be worth it for us since it's such a pork-centric menu, but he'd enjoy a beef po'boy (will try NOLA Po'boys).  If we can't get a reservation at Commander's Palace, is there anything similarly classic New Orleans we should do, or does our Brennan's reservation cover that so I don't need to look for another?

I love turtle soup - is there someplace where that is so good it would be the right place to order it?  I see it on Brennan's menu, but there are so many things I want on that menu . . . and I don't want to order it everywhere since there are so many great dishes in town.

(Edited because I realized I repeated questions I posted a few months ago)

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Oh! and I really like crawfish - anywhere where it's especially good? (handy to CBD, French Quarter, or Frenchman Street preferably - I'm the only one of the three of us who will eat it, so we won't trek out for it) Anywhere where it should be avoided?  I see NOLA Po'boys has a crawfish po'boy, so that might be where I go first.  Any recommendations for crawfish etoufee?

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My pescetarian gf has eaten at Cochon several times and enjoyed it...so you can eat well at Cochon and not eat pork.  Although clearly that is one of the draws!

Yes. Please don't avoid Cochon because of the pork thing. Everything I've had their has been amazing. Or you can always just do Cochon Butcher for a less expensive way to squeeze it in.

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Oh! and I really like crawfish - anywhere where it's especially good? (handy to CBD, French Quarter, or Frenchman Street preferably - I'm the only one of the three of us who will eat it, so we won't trek out for it) Anywhere where it should be avoided?  I see NOLA Po'boys has a crawfish po'boy, so that might be where I go first.  Any recommendations for crawfish etoufee?

Bon Ton Cafe would fit the bill nicely for iconic old school New Orleans and has a fine crawfish etoufee, in addition to being one of the first upscale Cajun restaurants in the city.

Galatoire's, also super old school, has a legendary turtle soup though I personally have not sampled it.

Peche is fantastic (though they're in the family so I'm biased obviously), Lil Dizzy's on Esplanade in Treme has FANTASTIC fried chicken if that's something y'all are into and not interested in going farther afield up to Willie Mae's.

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Bon Ton looks like a great idea, thank you so much!  The kiddo would either go for steak or fish there, and I'd try to talk him into fish - do you know whether "fresh gulf fish" on their menu is a particular kind of fish, or if that means whatever is fresh?  He's a big fan of rockfish here on the East Coast, and I'm not sure what a similarly flavored fish would be from the gulf.  He may be iffy about trying an unknown fish unless he has an idea what it tastes like.

And he loves fried chicken, so I will definitely put L'il Dizzy's on our list, thank you!  And we will definitely go to Peche, I have heard from so many people how good it is.

I appreciate the Cochon advice.  I don't want to bring him somewhere with only a couple things on the menu he would eat (and my husband's not eating much pork these days either).  But their dessert menu has one of my favorite things (butterscotch pudding)...

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Bon Ton looks like a great idea, thank you so much!  The kiddo would either go for steak or fish there, and I'd try to talk him into fish - do you know whether "fresh gulf fish" on their menu is a particular kind of fish, or if that means whatever is fresh?  He's a big fan of rockfish here on the East Coast, and I'm not sure what a similarly flavored fish would be from the gulf.  He may be iffy about trying an unknown fish unless he has an idea what it tastes like.

Bon Ton's crab meat au gratin is a signature dish, and one of John Besh's (of August) favorite things.

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Think I will cancel the Brennan's brunch and keep the dinner (the more interesting food seems to be on the dinner menu - have to try the sugar roasted duck with rutabaga cake).

Any recommendations for a Sunday Jazz brunch, preferably in the CBD, Garden District, or Quarter? (Or a reasonable distance to the Smoothie King Stadium, where husband and son will be going to the Pelicans game that afternoon - but we should have 2-3 hours in between.)

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Think I will cancel the Brennan's brunch and keep the dinner (the more interesting food seems to be on the dinner menu - have to try the sugar roasted duck with rutabaga cake).

Any recommendations for a Sunday Jazz brunch, preferably in the CBD, Garden District, or Quarter? (Or a reasonable distance to the Smoothie King Stadium, where husband and son will be going to the Pelicans game that afternoon - but we should have 2-3 hours in between.)

Commander's Palace is the classic recommendation for Sunday Jazz brunch.  IIRC they are credited with inventing the concept.  It is a little dressy though, and not a quick in and out, if that matters.  Book well in advance, especially for the Garden Room.

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Commander's Palace is the classic recommendation for Sunday Jazz brunch.  IIRC they are credited with inventing the concept.  It is a little dressy though, and not a quick in and out, if that matters.  Book well in advance, especially for the Garden Room.

Sorry, I should've said other than Commander's Palace.  Couldn't get a reservation.  If there are any other good places to check out, I'd love a recommendation - thank you!  Preferably not jacket required.

The Little Gem Saloon sounds appealing - sounds like really good jazz, and plenty on the menu my son and husband would like.  Crawfish cheesecake for me! Has anyone eaten there?

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