Christine's Profile
Trip Report - Green Goddess, Commanders, Mandinas, Pascale Manales...
Great trip report, ilinza....thank you for writing and sharing.
This Sunday in the Quarter
I'll be one to give a thumbs-up for the Pelican Club. It was one of our standout meals in our memory. Thought they were very gracious, too. Will never forget how the maitre' d came out and invited us in from the sweltering heat before the restaurant opened (we had reservations). He saw us sitting and waiting and melting outside and took pity on us, I guess. Kindness like that will always be remembered. And the service and repast were great inside as well. We are on the "pro Pelican Club" bandwagon.
Trip Report 11-23 to 11-29
I could see how a large group might not find this place to their liking, but for hubby and me, it was just perfect, if only because it was within stumbling distance to our lodgings. Although pricey, we felt the drinks were well worth it for the almost apothecary-like concoctions, so alluringly titled and described. Our mixologist for the evening, Murf, is also a WWOZ programmer and was a wealth of knowledge and provided us with great stories and more than a few free tastes of different liqueurs. We liked the place.
dreaming of the Treme restaurant
You mention the Wendell Pierce sighting (so cool), but you also got to see another frequently appearing Treme "character" when you saw Kermit at the Rock n' Bowl. He's quite the likable fellow, isn't he? Both of 'em NOLA natives. wow, I love that city (and frankly, I'm a little suspicious of anyone who doesn't). ;-o
dreaming of the Treme restaurant
Patois IS fantastic. Everything we had there was divine, and please don't forget the smooth-as-silk melt-in-your-moouth gnocchi. Dare I say it, but I liked Patois more than Coquette.
Also should point out the female chef character on HBO's Treme' is based on Susan Spicer, and her restaurant is Bayona located on Dauphine in the French Quarter. I would heartily give this place two thumbs up. The duck PBJ lived up to the hype, as well as the garlic soup, and any shrimp preparation. Really anything will be great here. Just depends if you want to dine in the same setting as the Treme' series restaurant (Patois, which is Uptown BTW), or in the depicted chef's signature restaurant (Bayona in the Quarter). Both are more than worthy.
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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Bourbon House
Bham, I would have to agree with you on your assessment of Bourbon House. It's perfectly serviceable with both the food and service (I'd give the edge to service over food), but it does not possess the wow factor that most New Orleans restaurants have that would make you want to return. We thought it overpriced, too, for the quality. We ducked in there as a convenient place for dinner this past February when we were wandering around the FQ with friends from Omaha. We should have waited it out at Acme (I know, I know, a lot of people knock Acme, but we like it), or gone across the street to Felix's and checked it out, but we wandered in Bourbon House instead. Again, perfectly serviceable, but not on the "want to return someday" list. Would you call Bourbon House a "turn and burn"?
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Bourbon House
144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Day 6 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Parkway Bakery, Evan's Creole Candy Company, Cafe du Monde)
Seth, you didn't happen to stay by chance at the New Orleans Courtyard Suites on Rampart, did you? That's where we've stayed for the past three years and we love the place. Blake, Velda, Roy, Leslie, et al., really treat their guests right and make you feel at home, or at least like one of the family. When you said "lovely quirky suite", it made me wonder.
Day 5 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Galatoire's, Dante's Kitchen, Bar Uncommon)
Oh yeah, I'll climb on the bandwagon for Dante's Kitchen. Simply fantastic restaurant in the Riverbend. Love the festive brightly-colored decor, and both the food and the drinks are creatively delicious. I don't think a person could go wrong at Dante's. I remember seeing it across the street from Brigtsen's on our first trip a couple years ago, and put it on the must-try list for next time. The following year, we went to Dante's, and it will always stand out in our memories as one of our best dining experiences in NOLA>
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Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Dante's Kitchen
736 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
Thanks for the reply. I will eagerly anticipate your next (and sadly, final) reports from my favorite city.
Also forgot to mention it was good to know the New Orleans Rum Distillery tour was worth it. Have heard other good things about it, but we have not done it yet, but it's on the "next time" list. A coworker is going down next month to visit friends, and I suggested he check it out, and they are going to. They've already driven to Abita Springs and done the brewery tour there and liked it, so told him he needs to keep in the adult beverage mode and go to NO Rum and take the tour there. The location is somewhere in the Upper Ninth Ward, right?
The thing is with New Orleans, there's so much to see and do and eat and drink, there's never enough time to take it all in. Repeat visits are always in order. ;-)
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
Omigosh, Seth, I so love reading your reviews, and judging from the other posters' comments, everyone else does, too. I feel like I'm a mouse riding around in your pocket, traveling and enjoying vicariously, as you and J take in all the wonderful places to eat and drink while in NOLA.
We didn't have lunch at Cochon, but dinner instead, and agree with your assessment of this restaurant...serviceable but not a place to necessarily put on the return list. We just didn't think it lived up to the hype.
Would've loved to have been at Cafe LIE while you two were doing karaoke. Sounds like a blast. It is one of our favorite bars in the lower FQ. Was Will or Paul there?
I'm very sad that it appears your reports are going to come to an end. Unfortunate for all us CH'ers who have been drooling over your reviews and food descriptions. Very pleasure-inducing. Many many thanks for posting.
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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Day 2 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Antoine's Annex, Commander's Palace, K-Paul's)
Omigosh, Seth, I absolutely enjoyed your descriptions of all the wonderful food you and J had the great fortune to consume while you were in NOLA. Truly made my mouth water! Thanks for the postings.
New Orleans Review Part 2
oh yes, it truly speaks well of the efficient and professional staff at CP....i'm embarrassed to admit that's one of the places we haven't dined in NO....yet....but it's on the list for next time....probably for a Friday lunch. thanks again for your reviews, both Parts I & II.
New Orleans Review Part 2
Couldn't agree with you more about Jacques-Imo's. After a 2 1/2-hour wait for our food, it was just not all that. Completely lackluster and overrated. And for a bar/restaurant in New Orleans, this place has the distinction of serving the weakest drinks we consumed while in our favorite city, and we consumed a lot. I would tell anyone who has never been there to go ahead and give it a try, but with the caveat that we would not recommend it, but I always adhere to the philosophy that folks have to try out places for themselves and make their own conclusions. That said, J-Imo's will not be a repeat for us.
Also, idm, loved your Commander's Palace write-up from your first report. Don't know how you stomached the rude behavior from the large neighboring table of adults and kids, but glad you still enjoyed the food and service. Some people just don't know how to conduct themselves in public and think they and their silly kids are the real show, when in fact, it's the food, service and whole dining experience. It's like what I say about public education: quit blaming the schools and teachers, and take a look at the parents and children.
Thanks for sharing your food reviews while in NOLA. Love it!
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Commander's Palace Restaurant
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Jacques-Imo's Cafe
8324 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Suggestions for Friday dinner NOLA
I'll second Meauxbar on Rampart. our impression of the place was positive because they were so gracious in allowing us to squeeze in for a quick dinner with no reservations (and the place was almost full), but the food was outstanding and the service excellent, and prices were quite affordable as well. Try it, you'll like it!
Blackwater MO??
I'm not sure, but I don't think so, If they do, it would be on a day that the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is having a matinee, but my advice is just call them and see what they say. We are planning to dine there after a matinee of The Fantasticks on Saturday 8/27. It was so good when we were there a couple months ago, we want to try it again. Making my mouth water just thinking about it.... (and is so much better than the Iron Horse Restaurant in the hotel at Blackwater).
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Iron Horse Restaurant
103 Main St, Blackwater, MO 65322
Blackwater MO??
I know this may be too late, but the best restaurant in the area right now is a place called Catalpa in Arrow Rock, MO. It is located in a quaint old brick cottage on High Street in Arrow Rock. Arrow Rock is about 7 or 8 miles from Blackwater. Catalpa doesn't have a website, but just google Catalpa Arrow Rock and see what you find. At the least, give them a call. The chef/proprietor, Liz Huff, is doing amazing things there. Because the cottage has such limited seating, reservations would be recommended. The food is absolutely fantastic!
New Orleans from today (Monday) to Thursday- and a few questions and thanks!
Meauxbar IS great. We'll always remember how gracious they were to fit us in without a reservation on an early Friday evening a couple years ago. Their mussels and frites are to die for, and I remember their seared ahi tuna salad was also quite delightful. You must give it a try. And don't get me started on Bar Tonique...that place was quite dangerous in the libations concocted by our bartender, Murf, and how much $ we unloaded there one night. Quite decadent (we love it)! :-O
Port of Call and other questions
POC will always have a fond place in our hearts because that was the first place we dined on my husband's first trip to New Orleans a couple years ago. It really fit the lunch bill after a long morning of airline travel and being famished. And POC also has the distinction of being not only the first place we ate, but it was the last place we dined for lunch this year before catching our ride to the airport. We think their burgers, salads, and drinks are huge and fantastic. And I'm like you, Redtop: my husband usually lets me pick all the places we eat, and I haven't let him down so far....no complaints anyway! :-)
Fun/nice French Quarter Restaurant for a Group
So sorry to hear about your "embarrassing" experience at Pelican Club. What, pray tell, was bad about it? Specifically speaking, of course. We had a wonderful experience there last year and hate to think it's deteriorated so much. Do you think it was because it was during JF and they just weren't trying hard enough? I'd really like to know more about what "terrible" things happened when you dined and drank there.
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Pelican Club Restaurant & Bar
312 Exchange Alley, New Orleans, LA 70130
Trip Report: June 18-23 2011
Wow, great review and descriptions of the food....making my mouth water! Thanks for sharing your dining pleasures.
Emeril's, Stella!, August, Bayona, Ralph's on the Park and Mr B.'s Bistro
When we first dined at Bayona for a Wed. lunch in November 09, we had made reservations, but did not specify inside or outside. When we arrived, they gave us the choice, and since the weather was absolutely lovely that day, we opted for the charming courtyard. We are definitely not locals (wish we were), so perhaps we just unknowingly lucked out, because now it seems like there's a real premium on getting to dine in the courtyard.....Glad we got to experience it! :))
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Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112
third times a charm!
We loved the Pelican Club....both food and service. We started with a couple drinks in the bar and then dined in the Club Room, the first room off the bar. It was small and cozy, and not cavernous like the main dining room. Our server, Daniel, was spot-on. And the gracious maitre' d gave us the choice of which room we'd like to dine since we were early for our rezzes and trying to seek respite from the late May heat last year. Highly recommend PC!
Moderately Priced, Group of Twelve
That is NOT what the website says....I'd check that out again....says the hours are till 11:00.
Your Favorite Chain Burger
To be fair to ninny, it was stated that Snug Harbor has a good burger for non-chain in New Orleans. Haven't eaten at Snug, but I would put Port of Call and Buffa's right up there against it.. POC and Buffa's have kick-ass burgers and are both on Esplanade Street on the "east" side of the Quarter, very close to snug harbor, coincidentally....
Your Favorite Chain Burger
That is so NOT TRUE about dodging bullets to get into Snug Harbor! It's on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighborhood to the "east" of the French Quarter. Many, many, many, many other bars and restaurants on Frenchmen Street, and it really gets hoppin' there. There's ALWAYS safety in numbers. Snug Harbor is a tourist destination, for cryin' out loud!!!
Sandusky, OH area - anything I shouldn't miss?
Oooops, my bad. I super apologize, and I thank you for the correction. I'm glad you said something because I was going to be very disappointed if they had shortened their hours, not to mention perplexed. Don't know what I thought I was seeing... these damn cataracts :):)
Sandusky, OH area - anything I shouldn't miss?
Hey, I just looked at Berardi's website, and unless I'm mistaken, it looks as if they have shortened their hours and are only open breakfast and lunch (6 am to 4 pm), or something like that. If you want to go there, better check their hours. They must have just implemented this because I was there in April and they were open till 8:00 then. I guess places are cutting back everywhere.... :-(
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Berardi's Restaurant
218 Cleveland Rd E, Huron, OH 44839
Sandusky, OH area - anything I shouldn't miss?
I think Berardi's on Perkins Avenue is one of THE best restaurants in general, not just for Sandusky. I see now from the website they are offering beer and wine, which is a new addition for them (and welcome IMO). Their fries are handcut and were made famous on the "Boardwalk" at Cedar Point around 60 years ago, maybe longer. The place is an institution in Sandusky, and for good reason. They have specials every day, and are quite yummy. Desserts are fantastic.
There are other decent restaurants in Sandusky, but Berardi's is my favorite.
I've never been there, but Marconi's in Huron, Ohio, is supposed to be good for upscale Italian. They have been in business many years as well, and they also have a website.
You might just do a search for restaurants in the area and see what captures your interest....
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Berardi's Restaurant
218 Cleveland Rd E, Huron, OH 44839
Jazzfest report--between the weekends.
Omigosh, your review write-up is INCREDIBLE! You've got me definitely salivating....MORE, MORE, MORE!
Mansfield, Ohio
xtasy, have you been to Sweeney's American Bistro on Lexington Avenue since they revamped? they used to be called Sweeney's II, I believe. Anyway, their online menu looks good. Just wondered if anyone who lives in the area has been there recently?
