So Travel & Leisure named Redfish Grill one of the best seafood joints in the country. Haven't heard much about the place.
Is it deserving?

I haven't lived in Austin in over ten years, since grad school. Looking forward to my visit coming up. Especially anticipating mex breakfast, migas, or just breakfast tacos. WIll be staying at UT conference hotel. Any awesome breakfast tacos near campus? WIll be heading to Barton Springs so tacos near Barton Springs Rd or off South 1st would be great as well.
I wanted to go to Spider House at some point, where I did a lot of reading and goofing off. I see they have breakfast tacos now--any good?

Had another great trip to NOLA.
Loved the gumbo and frog legs at Herbsaint.
Cochon was good, but not as great as a couple of years ago. Their fisherman's style roasted fish is still amazing.
I have to say though, the best meal by far was the seafood stuffed eggplant, dirty boy, and italian salad at the tiny fish house on the way back to the airport--Charles in Harahan. This place is the New Orleans of my dreams.

I do have one complaint overall. At too many restaurants it was amazing how rushed and frantic the service was. We ordered a lot of small plates at both Cochon and American Sector and settled in for a good evening of relaxed conversation. But all the small plates were thrown on the table within a matter of minutes. I do not understand why you can have a relaxed dinner in a busy town like NY, but they want you in and out so fast in the Big Easy. Why cant people relax at dinner in New Orleans? The only place that served at a reasonable pace was Galatoires. They let us have an entire evening to enjoy ourselves.

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Any opinions on their gumbo?

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Casamento's Restaurant
4330 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

I am coming to town in early April and thinking I may skip one of my usual dining spots for some boiled crawfish. I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast and miss fresh Springtime crawfish now that I live in New York and can usually only find frozen tails from way overseas.

I remember enjoying Deanie's on the lake years ago. Would it be worth one of my few meals in NOLA to stop in the French Quarter location for some crawfish and other treats?

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Gulf Coast Restaurants
1200 S Clearview Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70123

Deanie's Restaurant
7350 Hayne Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126

Has anyone been to Aquavit Bistro during the holidays? They have an interesting Swedish Christmas menu now posted online. Probably will go this weekend.

This is good news. My two quiet, out-of-the-way places I have loved during trips to NOLA were Upperline and Feelings. I am back in a few months and will stop by Upperline.

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Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

I finally tried the new Green Mango Caribbean cafe outside the Long Island Rail Road stop at Nostrand Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Amazing! This is the best food I have had in the city in a long time. The best jerk chicken ever, incredible sides, and all very cheap. There were not too many folks there so I am afraid my new favorite will not last the first year. Please check it out.

Cochon!

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

The menu looks very large. What is good? Which of the steaks is best? Thanks

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Megu
62 Thomas St, New York, NY 10013

Was back in New Orleans for the first time in a few years. Visited during New Years weekend and was lucky that some of my favorites were closed on the 1st because we were able to try a "third choice," the Upperline. This place is fantastic. We were a little concerned when seated in the front room-- a bit dusty, with a 1980's vibe. Needs to be freshened up somehow. And our server did not pay us much mind; in fact she was very sour-faced and barely spoke, even when we had questions. But once the food started coming... Oh my! The highlight of the trip. It is pretty straight forward creole with a bit of cane river country cooking, but everything was spot on and incredible. Even basics like bread pudding and pecan pie were revelations. This chef has some kind of magic and I would gladly put up with sour service to eat anything he makes again. Kind of how people felt about the soup nazi.

Also loved the contemporary take on cajun at Cochon. Comfort food at its best, and you can get a great bourbon selection or a well made sazerac. btw, have been trying out the cookbook and it is really good. So much reminds me of my Louisiana grandma's food.

A cheap find is the Besch restaurant in the WWII museum. Really good lunch at amazing prices. Still thining about the crab salad with fried avacado.

I am so happy that after living in Brooklyn for 10 years, I finally came across Sister Schuberts yeast rolls in the frozen foods of Fairway. Folks in the South know how good these are when you do not have time to make from scratch.
Thank you Fairway!!!

I often find that I enjoy sharing a selection of aps and small plates at dinner with friends. You get some of the more creative offerings without filling up on the starchy sides. This is pretty common in NY now, but I am wodering if an old school waiter at a place like Commander's Palace might be miffed at such behavior on a busy weekend night.... Cant wait to visit for New Years.

Coming down from NYC and have some plans. Will be staying in the Garden District and looking at some of the smaller places in that area (as well as Gallatoires and Cochon on other nights). Sometimes when you want to relax the big Commanders Palaces of the world are too much.
I see Brigsten's gets most of the talk from Uptown. But when I look online at the menus, Brigsten's looks just kind of crazy and all over the place-- guacamole with shrimp remolaude etc. The menu at Upperline is much more enticing. Can somebody tell me-- is there some secret to the craziness of the menu at Brigstens or are there really good specials there? What is the deal? From the posted menus I am heading to Upperline.
Our place is also near Ignatius--worth a lunch?

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA