*****NOLA Restaurant Reviews****

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Last edited Tue Apr 9, 2013, 12:25 AM - Edit history (1)

I know some people here are planning trips to NOLA for French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest...and I thought I would start a thread of restaurant reviews.

We are here for 4 nights, and so far, not too lucky with our choices:


Atchafalaya Restaurant Louisiana Ave Garden District
Not sure what happened to this once great place. It used to be high on taste and creativity. I was very embarrassed that I dragged 6 newbies here, touting it as a great place to go. Entrees were in the $30's. But solo. Each side was $7, including salads, veggies, potatoes, anything. Our friend ordered the pork chop, which came as just a chop on a plate. No sauce, no accompaniment. I ordered the halibut....$35. It was fresh, but over-salted and smothered in a horrid vanilla based sauce. They have totally never heard of Emeril's mantra - no matter how creative you are, no matter what you cook up...the absolute bottom line is that the food has to taste good.

Bayona on Dauphine in the FQ
Bayona is one of the very top places to eat in all of New Orleans. Susan Spicer ... renowned. I have always shied away because of the sweetbreads and rabbit on the menu - which being not a true gourmet frankly gross me out. We arrived at 7:25p...five minutes early. We were seated in the lounge. No one ever took a cocktail order. We got to our table and still no acknowledgement. We ordered at 7:40p and didn't get our entree until my husband finally flagged someone down for the second time at 9pm and then 30 min later our food arrived cold. Hangar steak - tough as leather. My husband had the trout and it was very bland and untasty and accompanied by hard as a rock yucca sticks. What a disappointment. The only bright side..Harry Shearer - SNL and voice-overs for the Simpsons sat next to us. The place itself is very pretty and quaint...tuck into the FQ with a courtyard and plants.

[NYC_SKP]

1. for an everyday place, I liked Mandina's out on Canal Steet.

Recommended to us on our way back to the airport.

3800 Canal St

Emeril was great, too, and so many great restaurants throughout the city.

[cbayer]

4. When I think Mandina's, I see those big frosty schooners of beer.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. Mother's

Corner of Magazine and Poydras. Just the opposite of an upscale restaurant. Just good, down-home, cheap Southern food and lots of it. Try the Boudan (sp?) sausage and the greens. To DIE for.

[cbayer]

3. What a disappointment! I would be sobbing.

I liked Atchafalaya in the early days. No liquor license, and they would run around to the bar in the next block to buy you what ever you wanted. They got too popular, though, and the quality suffered. There are great places to get soul food, and it's not one of them.

Bayona is also an old favorite that lost a lot of luster when it became over-popular.

I am wondering whether part of the problem you are having is due to group size.

What do you have on tap for your next meals? I sure hope it gets better from here, because New Orleans is all about eating, as you know.

BTW, I have some pretty deep connections to the wait staff community in NOLA. They uniformly despise Harry Shearer - demanding, obnoxious and a bad tipper. Much as I love his sense of humor and his politics, he is apparently a nightmare to wait on.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. yes, this trip was definitely a bust as far as food goes

Lunch at Elizabeth's in Bywater- I had fried green tomatoes with shrimp and blue cheese fried oysters and a side of praline bacon. It was so-so. Maybe C+ Would still go back - but probably for brunch - which I usually love

Tried Cafe Giovanni on 114 Decatur for dinner because a friend said it was her favorite. Grilled lemon fish with artichokes and crayfish butter sauce over parmesan risotto. How can something that sounds so fantastic come out just so-so. C-

Learned my lesson - stick with the places you truly love and know will be great.

Interesting about Harry. He was way beyond nice about the service. And never demanded a thing. He had his IPad out the whole time playing on twitter. He made us look like assholes

when are you headed down here? end of month? french quarter festival starts tomorrow.

[cbayer]

10. What a disappointment.

I agree about staying with what you know. I'm heading for Domilise's poboys and Casamento's immediately and will be at Camelia Grill the following morning. And I will, of course, do a lot of my eating at the fest.

We hit the road a week from today and will be in NOLA on the 25th. No French Quarter Fest this year, but we will be there for both weekends of the fest.

How was the weather?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. actually perfect

upper 70's. You are so smart - picking the best. I really just didn't spend enough time planning like I usually do. Always next trip, huh. BTW...they have added a Dooky Chase and Copelands to the airport. It was great having gumbo and redfish w/crabmeat while waiting for flight

hmmm...have you ever been to Gautreau's ??

Next to August...highest Gayot rating

Gautreau's Restaurant Review

Housed in a quaint old structure located in a residential neighborhood off the traditional culinary path, Gautreau’s has made great strides in capturing the attention that higher profile restaurants enjoy. New Orleans’ French heritage is nicely represented in the understated bistro-like ambience. Chef Sue Zemanick’s distinctive cooking style is evident in the seasonal menu: seared sea scallops with sage brown butter; sautéed snapper and Meyer lemon beurre blanc; Black Angus filet with bordelaise sauce; and veal osso buco. For dessert, look for the caramelized banana split with walnuts and butterscotch and fudge sauce. The wine list is selective but diverse, with at least a dozen options by the glass. The restaurant’s cheerful service is as unaffected as the atmosphere. So, when should you consider Gautreau’s? First date, anniversary, birthday, family dinner, or anytime you simply feel the need for sensory pampering.
Read more at http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/gautreaus-new-orleans-la-70115_18no9949.html#Vh5SECtRw6JFdOzv.99

[cbayer]

15. Gautreau's is wonderful. A little hard to find, but worth the search.

It is both elegant and chic with outstanding food and service. Very, very small.

I like the downstairs room, but it can be loud. Upstairs doesn't have as much atmosphere, but it is quieter.

I have never had anything there that was not outstanding. But, beware. In this case, you get what you pay for.

[mtnester]

12. Sorry to hear about Elizabeths

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. still love the atmosphere. Next time I will stick with what I love there - the shrimp and

grits or grillades.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. service was excellent at Atchafalaya - it was the food that lost it's creativity from a couple

years ago.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. I was always a cheap date. I liked the Nelly Deli...ate there all the time.

I miss NOLA! Muriel's can be hit or miss, but the last time we went, it was really good and the service was actually exceptional.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. where's nelly deli. looking for good breakfast tomorrow

[Behind the Aegis]

9. It's on Bourbon Street (The Quatermaster) 1100 Block (I think).

It is a greasy spoon, but we all love it. There is a really good breakfast place in the Marigny, I just can't think of the damn name. It's been two years since we lived there, but we lived there for 5 years. I am going to pull a map of NOLA (I still remember how to walk there), and see if I can get you the name. Check for an update.

Quartermaster link: http://www.quartermasterdeli.net/

La Peniche (this is the breakfast place in the Marigny): http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-peniche-new-orleans

[likesmountains 52]

11. For breakfast try The Cake Cafe (Marigny)

I always enjoy walking over there for a good meal.