Thanks, Sue! These look great...quick question...I'm drawn towards Bowen's Island but do you think it's worth the drive in June, when oysters are out of season? Or am I wrong about that...

Thanks so much...I'm also salivating for a Dave's picnic.

HI~

My friend and I are doing a girls' trip to Charleston during the middle of June. We're definitely foodies, and thanks to the boards, I think I have an idea of most of our upscale choices, but we'd definitely like to find some yummy joint (preferably with outdoor seating) where you can just slap down some brown paper and go to town on yummy crabs, shrimp, and whatever else.

We're from Northern Va. so we've both grown up eating crabs by the dozen...is there some place similar in Charleston to get amazing seafood without all the fuss? We're staying in the historic district and would prefer to have something close by, but if it's worth the drive, we'll make it so.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

Thanks for the info, Backbite...sadly, I don't get down there until Sunday evening...I'm bringing my costume...will I be the only one strolling Bourbon St. on a Monday evening?? I've heard the locals will be on Frenchmen St., but thought that Bourbon wouldn't be errr...dead...am I wrong? I was planning on doing dinner somewhere and then walking around around 9pm ish...will I miss it all?

Thanks, Collardman...I read online that this years Krewe parade was canceled. Something about lack of cooperation from the city...is that misinformation?

Hi chow hounders! Just wanted to extend my thanks for your guidance with my trip a few weeks ago.

Here's how it all turned out:

On our way from the airport: Parkway Bakery. Split a shrimp po boy dressed. Was satisfying and I loved the atmosphere of the place...wasn't a po boy I would go back for. Ultimately, nicely fried shrimp on bread with L, T, M. ...nothing special.

Pre-dinner snack: Domenica: Loved the vibe of this place...busy, loud, and friendly. We had the crema fritta and brussels sprouts. Sprouts were yummy and of course, who doesn't love fried cheese....but this was an elevation of that that I would definitely have again...and again...

Friday night: Cochon... big disappointment! Restaurant was lively and fun and service was good but drinks were not good and the food was totally oversalted. My friend and I had the wood fired oyster roast which seemed to be flooded with citrus that really overwhelmed the oyster flavor. Also had boudin, which was fine, and the ham hock and cochon, both of which were beyond salty. Decided to skip dessert.

Saturday morning: Beignet Cafe on Bourbon St. We had been to a different Beignet Cafe on our first visit, some 10 years ago and we were jonesing for the puffy beignets and chicory coffee we remembered. The beignets at this location were more like waffles...no puffiness but still good. And we couldn't taste the chicory in our coffees at all. Is there some place for chicory coffee that is more evident?

Saturday lunch: Casamento's on Magazine St. My friend had the gumbo (DELICIOUS!) and I had the oyster stew...watery and pretty flavorless. We split an oyster po boy, which was incredibly bland. I was beginning to wonder gulf oysters had lost their flavor.

Soooo...we kept walking down Magazine St. and stumbled across:

Baru: Delicious! They are still waiting their license to sell alcohol but they served delicious fruit spritzers. We had fried oysters, which were the best we have had there! Also had a shrimp taco special. A nice treat!

BTW...Afternoon drinks at Coquette were delicious and the menu looks amazing...will definitely come back and try.

Saturday dinner: Restaurant August. WOW!!! What an amazing meal. We were waited on by Ronan, who was instrumental in helping us pare our choices. We ended up deciding on a bunch of appetizers and the short ribs for dinner. The crab with gnocchi with truffle was good but the standouts of the evening were the mangalitsa pork with kimchi appetizer and the stuffed squash blossoms with tomato. Unbelievable bursts of flavor.

Sunday breakfast: Stanley...cute place but nothing really stood out. Coffee was good, though.

Sunday dinner: Galatoire's...in a word...YUM! The escargot were to die for...so we died for them TWICE! The ambience was loud and bustling with my birthday and anniversaries than I could possibly have imagined...but all the clapping and congratulating was contagious.

I am so charmed by this city and that I'm coming back in a weeks time for my first solo pleasure trip. I've checked out the boards for advice on solo dining and I think i'm having dinner at Domenica and definitely lunch at Coquette...not sure about the rest...I'm there for 3 nights over Halloween. Am VERY excited to see how everyone celebrates here. Hopefully people will be dressed up on the ACTUAL day (a Monday) as I'm breaking out my bioluminescent jellyfish costume for the occasion!
If anyone has tips on dining or skulking around the quarter on Halloween night, I'm all ears!!!

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Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

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

Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

Forgive me for my late reply but I just wanted to say "thank you, thank you" for your help with Galatoire's on Sunday night. We dressed, we dined, and had an amazing time. The charm of that restaurant can't be overstated, to say nothing of the charm of the people on this board! Thanks again for providing your wisdom =)

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

hi Austin foodies!

I'm spending 3 nights in downtown Austin in mid-October and would love to know which restaurants you would steer me to for dinner? I'm looking for fantastic food, with an Austin spin. I like fine dining, but would like to know which places can teach me what Austin tastes like.

I've heard by more than one person that The Salt Lick is a must...but other than that, I'm unclear. I've been looking at Uchiko, Parkside, Barley Swine, Sullivan's, Hudson's on the Bend, and the Shoreline Grill. Can anyone help me cull the herd?

We'll probably do mexican for lunches...but is there a great mexican place where dinner is a must?

Any help you can offer would be huge...thanks in advance!

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Shoreline Grill
98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Barley Swine
2024 S. Lamar, Austin, TX

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78756

We will definitely linger...after all, where there's food and wine, there's an evening!

Thanks, Hazelhurst I'll definitely tuck away the sundress and "up my game". You've been really helpful. Can't wait to dig in!!

Thanks for the help...we're very much looking forward to it. As for dress, I was planning on wearing a nice sundress and wedge sandals, but how proper are we talking? Should I be wearing my Fancy Gear? :)

I'm headed to New Orleans this weekend and want one dinner that is typical New Orleans fare and charm at it's finest. I originally had picked Bon Ton Cafe on Friday night, but after reading all the reviews about Galatoire's, and frankly finding their menu more interesting, I've changed my Friday reservation to Cochon and hope to go to Galatoire's for dinner on Sunday night.

Questions tho...I know they don't take rezzies for downstairs...so how crowded would Sunday dinner be? How early should we arrive for a party of two, considering they close at 10pm? Is Sunday night a fine night to go? We have firm reservations at Cochon on Friday and Restaurant August on Saturday, so there's not any wiggle room in the schedule, but if Sunday night is definitely NOT a good night for Galatoire's, other suggestions would be great.

Thanks all for your help!

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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

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

Bon Ton Cafe
401 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130