OT: New Orleans Weekend Trip
- Thread starter rutexan84
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Felix or a Acme Oyster Bar, Cafe du Monde for beignets for sure. I learned to eat raw oysters at Felix, served on a saltine cracker with equal parts ketchup and horseradish on top instead of the house made cocktail sauce.
I haven't been to NO in a long time but my wife and I are taking a trip there this Summer.
I haven't been to NO in a long time but my wife and I are taking a trip there this Summer.
Felix's is good. I've gone the last few times I was in Nola. If you don't like oysters, they have a Grilled Shrimp po boy that is good. It's grilled shrimp with olive oil and black olives (and maybe lettuce) instead of the usual fried shrimp/mayo combo's. The chargrilled oysters are good too and then you can dunk the bread in the leftover sauce.
FYI - ACME is right across the street from Felix's and usually has a pretty long line. Not sure if you really have much dropoff with Felix in terms of food quality and usually it's quicker to get in.
I went to a seafood restaurant call Peche last time I was there and it was delicious.
I liked Cochon which has an interesting selection of food. If you go next door, there is Cochon butcher where you can get nice sandwiches.
If you like brunch buffets, check out the Court of Two Sisters. They have a nice brunch where you can sit outside in their courtyard and there is a live jazz trio that plays.
If you like live music, you should consider walking or taking a cab over to Frenchman street. There's an array of little bars there most of which will have varied performers playing nola type music (some of the places have small cover charges)
FYI - ACME is right across the street from Felix's and usually has a pretty long line. Not sure if you really have much dropoff with Felix in terms of food quality and usually it's quicker to get in.
I went to a seafood restaurant call Peche last time I was there and it was delicious.
I liked Cochon which has an interesting selection of food. If you go next door, there is Cochon butcher where you can get nice sandwiches.
If you like brunch buffets, check out the Court of Two Sisters. They have a nice brunch where you can sit outside in their courtyard and there is a live jazz trio that plays.
If you like live music, you should consider walking or taking a cab over to Frenchman street. There's an array of little bars there most of which will have varied performers playing nola type music (some of the places have small cover charges)
Cafe du Monde is best late at night (and remember - there is no line; just find an empty table or wait for one to open up).
The cemeteries are fantastic, and worth a visit if you have time.
The cemeteries are fantastic, and worth a visit if you have time.
Having been there in December, i'd recommend Emeril's if you're looking for a fine dining establishment. His place, NOLA also isn't bad. Café du Monde for beignets is worth a stop. If you're looking for a jazz club, you have to head over to Frenchmen's St. It's near the old mint and the French Market. Pat O'Brien's is a good spot for a drink and take in some music if you don't want to venture out of the French Quarter. If you're looking for a greasy spoon, but has some killer comfort food and damn good fried chicken, you have to hit Mother's on Poydras St. It's not too far up the street from the Harrah's Casino.
Spend one night in the French Quarter then get out of it. The garden district and areas out on St. Charles are great and have a lot of gems.
My "must hit" restaurant would be a place called Atchafalaya. Amazing food and cocktails, and the service there was some of the best I've had.
http://www.atchafalayarestaurant.com/
My "must hit" restaurant would be a place called Atchafalaya. Amazing food and cocktails, and the service there was some of the best I've had.
http://www.atchafalayarestaurant.com/
Jumba:
My wife is really into Latin music, especially salsa and merengue. Do you know of any bars/clubs that play that music, especially live bands?
2nd for Ruby Red Slippers. Farm grown breakfast. If you're stuck in the FQ Mena's will do. Palace Cafe for lunch/dinner.
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Back to music. Latin stuff can be found at Dragon's Den, Cafe Negril, Blue Nile and The Maison. Frenchman St is walkable and safe from FQ. The gutter punks are annoying but harmless. Check offbeat.Com for other listings. Bourbon Street has all cover bands with one notable exception. Big AL Carson plays great blues at Funky Pirate.
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Back to music. Latin stuff can be found at Dragon's Den, Cafe Negril, Blue Nile and The Maison. Frenchman St is walkable and safe from FQ. The gutter punks are annoying but harmless. Check offbeat.Com for other listings. Bourbon Street has all cover bands with one notable exception. Big AL Carson plays great blues at Funky Pirate.
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Commanders Palace- best meal I've ever had. Incredible service, incredible food, but pricey and you need to wear a jacket
Muriels, Domenica, Cochon all great as well. Café du Monde and Central Grocery live up to the hype. Walk and drink on Bourbon Street but you'll have more fun on Frenchmans
Muriels, Domenica, Cochon all great as well. Café du Monde and Central Grocery live up to the hype. Walk and drink on Bourbon Street but you'll have more fun on Frenchmans
- Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a cool place for a drink - super old (oldest continually operating bar or something like that), candle-lit, formerly a watering hole for pirates
- Frenchman Street for live music
- The Camellia Grill for breakfast - all the seats are at the counter and the cooks are charismatic and entertaining
- A tour of the Garden District and cemeteries is kind of neat
- Cafe du Monde for beignets/muffalettas
- And of course grab a hand grenade to stroll through the French Quarter
If you are in New Orleans for just 2 nights...skip the above...go explore all the unique local sounds of past and present in New Orleans that makes that city so special.
If you are looking for latin clubs/music...spend a weekend in Miami instead.
Was in NO a few months ago,......commanders palace is considered the best restaurant in the state by some (MSN), and the food should not disappoint....expensive........
I always had a soft spot for k Paul's, not talked about as much as in the past, but possibly my second favorite meal
Was walking past Dragos and had heard the charred oysters were good......we went through three dozen between meals when not really hungry... Incredible......it would be hard to believe they were any better elsewhere.
Also went to a place called 'August" which got high ratings in a few polls, but the three of us were not impressed with the food.....
You have to go to cafe DuMonde as others mentioned....a long line to get in at times, but it moves quickly so do not be discouraged
A cemetery tour is interesting, as is a tour of the warehouse they store the floats for parades.......
We used the hop on, hop off bus for part of our visit.....there is good and bad with that, sometimes waiting 20 minutes for a bus,etc...but serviceable, and you can see a lot as you go all over the town
I always had a soft spot for k Paul's, not talked about as much as in the past, but possibly my second favorite meal
Was walking past Dragos and had heard the charred oysters were good......we went through three dozen between meals when not really hungry... Incredible......it would be hard to believe they were any better elsewhere.
Also went to a place called 'August" which got high ratings in a few polls, but the three of us were not impressed with the food.....
You have to go to cafe DuMonde as others mentioned....a long line to get in at times, but it moves quickly so do not be discouraged
A cemetery tour is interesting, as is a tour of the warehouse they store the floats for parades.......
We used the hop on, hop off bus for part of our visit.....there is good and bad with that, sometimes waiting 20 minutes for a bus,etc...but serviceable, and you can see a lot as you go all over the town
I just got back from Nawlins yesterday. Was there for the a week (7th year in a row), and still love the atmosphere of the city. You can't go wrong with Acme Oyster Bar. There's another place in the Hilton Hotel Riverside at the end of Poydras St (overlooking the Mississippi River) and you have to try Drago's Seafood. You have to try the charbroiled oysters.
I've never been a big fan of Mother's. The long lines are a turnoff and the building looks like a dump. Also, you have to visit the WW2 museum on the corner of Andrew Higgins Dr. and Magazine St. (Warehouse district).
I had been to acme years ago, this time around there was always a line to get in, so we did not give it a go.....
The WW2 museum is probably the best in the U.S., but most of it would bore the crap out of kids, and those that initially had no interest in the war before entering......
The WW2 museum is probably the best in the U.S., but most of it would bore the crap out of kids, and those that initially had no interest in the war before entering......
Cubuffsdog,
You have to time Mother's perfectly. The lines can be crazy, but I went on a Sunday night after the Saints had gotten thrashed by the Panthers so most of the establishments were pretty empty. You don't go there for ambiance. I'm a foodie and I don't mind hole in the walls, especially if the food is damn good and their fried chicken is that. Good call on mentioning Drago's. I stayed at that Hilton during my visit. Charbroiled oysters are fantastic.
You have to time Mother's perfectly. The lines can be crazy, but I went on a Sunday night after the Saints had gotten thrashed by the Panthers so most of the establishments were pretty empty. You don't go there for ambiance. I'm a foodie and I don't mind hole in the walls, especially if the food is damn good and their fried chicken is that. Good call on mentioning Drago's. I stayed at that Hilton during my visit. Charbroiled oysters are fantastic.
I believe that my wife and I will be taking a road trip to NO in two weeks for 3-4 days. Lots of great info in this thread and I will be researching them. I haven't been to NO since the early 90's so it's great to get some reasonably current travel tips.
Any thoughts of staying in the French Quarter vs elsewhere ? We plan to visit the FQ but don't feel that I need to be there round the clock. Looking at Hotels at the foot of Poydras St near the River.
Frenchman St sounds like a great place for music and food. We also plan to take a trolley or bus tour when we first arrive so that we can get an idea of where we may want to visit.
Many thanks for everyone's input.
Any thoughts of staying in the French Quarter vs elsewhere ? We plan to visit the FQ but don't feel that I need to be there round the clock. Looking at Hotels at the foot of Poydras St near the River.
Frenchman St sounds like a great place for music and food. We also plan to take a trolley or bus tour when we first arrive so that we can get an idea of where we may want to visit.
Many thanks for everyone's input.
I am actually in NOLA as I type this, waiting for my wife to resurrect. We are staying in the Holiday Inn Express in the Central Business District, using points. We actually flew here using points as well, leaving all of our money towards food and drink. I recommend staying in the Quarter. Not Bourbon Street, but on the fringe. Much more convenient and a lot less walking. One major food recommendation: debris fries at Nola's Poboys. Best thing I've eaten so far, and I've been to Drago's.
Was there with a big crew in February. You must go to Jimmy J's for breakfast it is fantastic. It's a small place but well worth the wait. We also went to spot just in the French quarter called Royal House for lunch and have a really nice meal. They're known for their grilled oysters and I have the best bloody Mary when I was there
We did NO a couple of years ago in August as well. Crazy hot. Did a tour that wasn't so bad, great stories on the history and went to a graveyard that a famous voodoo lady was buried and also where Nicholas Cage bought a plot.
I believe the restaurant August is John Besh's place. Wife is a fan and we both enjoyed it. Second the K-Paul's endorsement. Went for dinner and it was so good went back the next day for Po Boys for lunch.
For our anniversary we did brunch at Commanders Palace. Well worth it.
Wanted to go to Acme's but it seemed like everytime we passed it there was a crazy line.
There are nice jazz bars just outside the French Quarter that sometimes have name acts, Didn't stop in since they looked a bit seedy. I would imagine it might add to the experience.
I heard Café Du Monde was being renovated did the touristy beingets and expresso. Considering how crowded it was they did a decent job,
I believe the restaurant August is John Besh's place. Wife is a fan and we both enjoyed it. Second the K-Paul's endorsement. Went for dinner and it was so good went back the next day for Po Boys for lunch.
For our anniversary we did brunch at Commanders Palace. Well worth it.
Wanted to go to Acme's but it seemed like everytime we passed it there was a crazy line.
There are nice jazz bars just outside the French Quarter that sometimes have name acts, Didn't stop in since they looked a bit seedy. I would imagine it might add to the experience.
I heard Café Du Monde was being renovated did the touristy beingets and expresso. Considering how crowded it was they did a decent job,
Having lived there for 5 years...Mother's is still a huge local favorite...as their Debris Po Boy (one and only) and their Jambalaya (available everywhere in town but still have theirs ranked #1) are always worth a visit.
http://www.mothersrestaurant.net/history_facts.html
Mothers Jerry's Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya is tops. (Got to share at least a bowl with others while you enjoy a Debris.
Get there by 11:30 on a weekday (start serving lunch at 10:30 AM)...shouldn't be a long wait at all to be served.
Debris
Ever picked the shavings off a freshly carved roast? When a customer asked Simon Landry to add the bits of roast beef that had fallen into the gravy while he was carving it to his sandwich, he replied “you mean some of the debris?” And just like that, another definitive Mother’s term was coined.
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