New Orleans!-Elizabeth!
Elizabeth, I will send you a pm, too, but I have a friend coming to NO in October for her husband's 60th b-day. Need some suggestions for restaurants and night life.
-
webmaster
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9484
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
- Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a
There is some fabulous eating in New Orleans. One of the standouts is a restaurant called,Cochon. They specialize in meats, particularly pork but not limited to that. They have a sister restaurant that's also fine, called Peche, that specializes in fish. Recommended. Both restaurants are casual.
They also have a third restaurant, this one called Cochon Butcher, that I have eaten at and quite frankly, it blew my mind. They take humble sandwiches and without using hackneyed gimmicky ingredients like in other restaurants. They simply take well cooked quality ingredients and herbs and combine them to make outstanding sandwiches. My sandwich was so good I did not want to eat it. I wanted to hold it and appreciate it and tell it how much I adored it. It was that good.
I've eaten at a fair amount of restaurants in New Orleans over the past ten years I've been visiting that city. My wife used to live there, too. So I have the benefit of friends and family who have steered me to various restaurants. Cochon and Cochon Butcher are standouts.
Shrimp poboys
Shrimp poboys from most any hole in the wall are a must. I have had killer poboys from nameless grocery stores and hole in the wall bars (not in the French Quarter). There's also Tracey’s Irish Channel Bar located on Magazine Street that serves a fine shrimp poboy and other food. I've had fine meals at Tracey's.
Other restaurants
I've eaten at the Commander's Palace several times and it's fine. I just didn't feel as delighted as I did at other restaurants, including various humble hole in the wall poboy joints. It's almost like you have to eat there once in your lifetime just because it's a famous restaurant that famous chefs have worked at, but not necessarily because the food is better than anywhere else. It's fine food, not knocking it.
Muriels is a worthy stop, too. Also a white table cloth establishment but it's quite good.
I've also had fantastic breakfasts at Surrey's Café and Juice Bar, at the location on Magazine street somewhat near the convention center.
Raw oysters?
A word about raw oysters in New Orleans. They lack the brininess usually associated with good oysters. They're not bad. But if the definition of a good raw oyster includes the ocean brine then these oysters are not for you. I've literally eaten raw oysters around the world, in several countries. Oysters from New Orleans are my least favorite, probably because of the fresh water from the Mississippi river dilutes the salty flavor. They aren't bad. They simply lack that ocean flavor that I seek when I eat raw oysters.
They also have a third restaurant, this one called Cochon Butcher, that I have eaten at and quite frankly, it blew my mind. They take humble sandwiches and without using hackneyed gimmicky ingredients like in other restaurants. They simply take well cooked quality ingredients and herbs and combine them to make outstanding sandwiches. My sandwich was so good I did not want to eat it. I wanted to hold it and appreciate it and tell it how much I adored it. It was that good.
I've eaten at a fair amount of restaurants in New Orleans over the past ten years I've been visiting that city. My wife used to live there, too. So I have the benefit of friends and family who have steered me to various restaurants. Cochon and Cochon Butcher are standouts.
Shrimp poboys
Shrimp poboys from most any hole in the wall are a must. I have had killer poboys from nameless grocery stores and hole in the wall bars (not in the French Quarter). There's also Tracey’s Irish Channel Bar located on Magazine Street that serves a fine shrimp poboy and other food. I've had fine meals at Tracey's.
Other restaurants
I've eaten at the Commander's Palace several times and it's fine. I just didn't feel as delighted as I did at other restaurants, including various humble hole in the wall poboy joints. It's almost like you have to eat there once in your lifetime just because it's a famous restaurant that famous chefs have worked at, but not necessarily because the food is better than anywhere else. It's fine food, not knocking it.
Muriels is a worthy stop, too. Also a white table cloth establishment but it's quite good.
I've also had fantastic breakfasts at Surrey's Café and Juice Bar, at the location on Magazine street somewhat near the convention center.
Raw oysters?
A word about raw oysters in New Orleans. They lack the brininess usually associated with good oysters. They're not bad. But if the definition of a good raw oyster includes the ocean brine then these oysters are not for you. I've literally eaten raw oysters around the world, in several countries. Oysters from New Orleans are my least favorite, probably because of the fresh water from the Mississippi river dilutes the salty flavor. They aren't bad. They simply lack that ocean flavor that I seek when I eat raw oysters.
I will pass the info along. I have been to NO several times-Antoine's is the one I was trying to remember the name of. I know John Besh has a few new restaurants in the area, too. My friends are from Seattle and were there for the first time a couple years ago. Not necessarily looking for sandwich places, but I appreciate the information!
It's pretty much universal that alcohol prices are in the $9-14 range per glass of wine or cocktail. Entree's are in the mid $20's to mid $30's per order, appetizers and salads in the $9 and up range as are the sweet treats at the end of the meal if there is still room for them.
My wife and I recently met with a couple friends that were celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary and we went to Brigsten's in the River Bend area of New Orleans and the food was exceptional, but if you go there and have a couple drinks apiece and 3 courses, expect to fork over about $100 per person including tip.
I've lived in this city for 60 of my 62 years and don't really frequent many of the high end restaurants. That said, know there are tons of little mom and pop places that fix a great meal at reasonable prices in just about every neighborhood of this city.
My wife and I recently met with a couple friends that were celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary and we went to Brigsten's in the River Bend area of New Orleans and the food was exceptional, but if you go there and have a couple drinks apiece and 3 courses, expect to fork over about $100 per person including tip.
I've lived in this city for 60 of my 62 years and don't really frequent many of the high end restaurants. That said, know there are tons of little mom and pop places that fix a great meal at reasonable prices in just about every neighborhood of this city.
-
ElizabethB
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:53 am
- Location: Lafayette, LA
Hi Catgrass,
I did respond to your PM. I lived in NOLA for 4 years in the mid 1980's. I visited on and off over the next several years. After Katrina I did not visit NOLA for 6 years.
Dining:
I love John Besh. Any of his restaurants. My current favorite Chef. He is also kind of cute.
Café du Monde for breakfast - beignets and café o'lay.
Acme Oyster Bar is such an institution you kind of have to try it. A good place for lunch.
How large is this "crowd"?
For romance and history take a carriage ride. Look for older drivers. Ask how long they have been driving. Choose one who has been driving the longest .
Pat O'Brien's is iconic. At the corner of Bourbon St. and St. Peter St. The big fun is the dueling piano bar. Cat - I sent the contact information in the PM.
A walk through Jackson Square and along the Moon Walk - the boardwalk along the river.
Ride the trolley up and down St. Charles St.
We like to stay at the Crown Plaza at the corner of Canal St. and Bourbon St. An easy walk in October to just about anywhere you want to go.
No more than 4 blocks to the river. A B#$%^ walk in August but not bad in October.
Antoines, Galatoure;s, Geatreaux's, Brennons, Emeril, and my FAVORITE John Besh. for a wonderful dining experience.
Walk down Royal St. - one block over from Bourbon St. Pop in and out of antique shops.
The WWll museum is well worth the time. Sign up for the 4D movie as soon as you walk in. A wonderful introduction. You will be captivated and will spend more time than you expect to spend. Since your friends are in their 60's they may have had family members who served in WWll.
The exhibits are constantly changing. I have been twice and experienced no boredom.
NOLA is frequently thought of as a place to get EDITED - PLEASE REPORT THIS POST faced drunk and to visit strip joints. It is much more than that. It is history, it is romance, it is culture, it is a unique experience. NOLA is like no other city in the US.
Do check the Saint's schedule. If they have a home game your friends will be overwhelmed.
I did respond to your PM. I lived in NOLA for 4 years in the mid 1980's. I visited on and off over the next several years. After Katrina I did not visit NOLA for 6 years.
Dining:
I love John Besh. Any of his restaurants. My current favorite Chef. He is also kind of cute.
Café du Monde for breakfast - beignets and café o'lay.
Acme Oyster Bar is such an institution you kind of have to try it. A good place for lunch.
How large is this "crowd"?
For romance and history take a carriage ride. Look for older drivers. Ask how long they have been driving. Choose one who has been driving the longest .
Pat O'Brien's is iconic. At the corner of Bourbon St. and St. Peter St. The big fun is the dueling piano bar. Cat - I sent the contact information in the PM.
A walk through Jackson Square and along the Moon Walk - the boardwalk along the river.
Ride the trolley up and down St. Charles St.
We like to stay at the Crown Plaza at the corner of Canal St. and Bourbon St. An easy walk in October to just about anywhere you want to go.
No more than 4 blocks to the river. A B#$%^ walk in August but not bad in October.
Antoines, Galatoure;s, Geatreaux's, Brennons, Emeril, and my FAVORITE John Besh. for a wonderful dining experience.
Walk down Royal St. - one block over from Bourbon St. Pop in and out of antique shops.
The WWll museum is well worth the time. Sign up for the 4D movie as soon as you walk in. A wonderful introduction. You will be captivated and will spend more time than you expect to spend. Since your friends are in their 60's they may have had family members who served in WWll.
The exhibits are constantly changing. I have been twice and experienced no boredom.
NOLA is frequently thought of as a place to get EDITED - PLEASE REPORT THIS POST faced drunk and to visit strip joints. It is much more than that. It is history, it is romance, it is culture, it is a unique experience. NOLA is like no other city in the US.
Do check the Saint's schedule. If they have a home game your friends will be overwhelmed.