lillidalla's Profile
ROCKPORT TEXAS
I was hoping that by now you would have gotten some recent recs from foodies. However, in my attempt to help, I will suggest that if you want some laid-back coastal atmosphere and a good view of the bay, Moon Dog's Seaside Eatery is a great place. And, we have always enjoyed the food and service there......not fine dining at all but it's the first place I want to return to when we get back to that area. It's in Fulton which is adjacent to Rockport...on Fulton Beach Road. I have not been to Cheryl's by the Bay which is nearby, but it seems to get some favorable support from those who have and it may have a more sophisticated menu. In Port Aransas, I like Shell's and during our trip last summer, we enjoyed Port Aransas Brewing Company for good burgers (again...not foodie fare) but the place was packed and we were happy to have gone there. Also, if you possess a sweet tooth, stop by Winton's Candy and get some of their house made caramel/walnut blend.
Needing a restaurant between Houston and San Antonio on I10!
You might consider Frank's Restaurant in Schulenburg....right on I-10. It's a large enough place and they serve lunch specials, very good burgers, etc. as well as excellent pies. The number is 979 743-3555 and you could call in adavnce to make arrangements for a large group.
Seafood for lunch between Houston and Lake Charles
I can think of two that are good and have some Cajun offerings....Al-T's in Winnie and Floyd's in Beaumont. Both are right off 1-10.
Must Eats within an Hour of San Antonio with Teenagers?
If you get to Fredericksburg, I have a couple of suggestions. Hondo's on Main has some interesting burgers that the teenagers might enjoy, and the Fredericksburg Pie Company is a must. The latter is a mom and pop operation on Austin Street (about a block and a half off the Main St. drag), and it serves some of the best pies you'll ever taste. Have fun!
food and restaurant books
Totally agree! And if you happen to be in The Quarter, do go to Kitchen Witch (as recommended by Hungry Celeste) on Toulouse St.; it contains a plethora of new, used, ordinary, and unusual books relating to food.
Looking for the Soul of New Orleans
While Red Gravy doesn't boast itself as a New Orleans/Creole/Cajun-influenced cafe, it is certainly with merit. I'm not a CBD "worker drone" nor am I a food snob. However, I certainly know and appreciate a quality meal prepared with skill, care, and fresh, local ingredients. I'm a tourist in New Orleans, and RG will be one of my first stops on the next trip. Nothing to do with New Orleans? I'll start with a cup of the gumbo, please.
Best bloody mary in the Quarter?
Molly's at the Market serves a good Bloody Mary....if you're still in the FQ today....it's located on lower Decatur near The French Market. Daisy Duke's and Cafe Fleur de Lis, in the 100 and 300 blocks of Chartres, respectively, also have tasty and robust Bloody Marys.
Pralines
Another vote for Southern Candymakers! Stop by one of their two locations on Decatur Street; they'll give you a sample and you'll be hooked.
Christmas gifts
Sucre's macaroons are heavenly but beware... they're expensive....I believe @ $15. for eight of them. Southern Candymakers have wonderful pralines....also a bit costly. But those two varieties of sweets are one of those "you get what you pay for" kind of deals. If there are cooks in the family for whom he needs gifts, Kitchen Witch on Toulouse St. has a house-made seasoning mix/spice that is great and only $5.00 per shaker jar.
Best Supermarket In USA: your nominations
Another vote for Central Market(s) and H-E-B Stores in Texas!
NH hound seeks group-friendly, "affordable" restaurants walking distance from New Orleans Marriott?
If she's looking for a breakfast or lunch recommendation very nearby , I suggest Red Gravy (one half-block from The Marriott). It's not formal (order at the counter) but the food is divine. Price points are less than the noted range. This is a cute cafe with an emphasis on Italian food and it offers a variety of daily specials as well as desserts. We were in New Orleans last week and had lunch there twice during our three-day stay. For dinner, the Red Fish Grill is nearby on Bourbon Street; it's never disappointed us and is within the group's budget .
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Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Red Gravy
125 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA
On our way to New Orleans first time--overwhelmed!!
I second Littleman's rec for Red Gravy for breakfast or lunch. It's less formal than many others mentioned (order at the counter), but this cute cafe at 125 Camp St. serves some delicious food. We ate there twice last week on a three-day visit to New Orleans.
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Red Gravy
125 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA
post-wedding brunch on foot
I second Muriel's....haven't had a Bloody Mary there but I trust someone who has, and she reports it as superb. I've had their brunch and totally enjoyed it. The Pecan Crusted Puppy Drum is excellent and the bread pudding is ethereal.
Quick inexpensive breakfast near Intercontinental
I second Red Gravy. On our last two-night trip to New Orleans (July), we had lunch and brunch there...fantastic!
Need fun restaurant for 2 couples both 25 yrs old
Since they'll have a car, here's a suggestion: Jacques-Imos.
http://www.jacquesimoscafe.com
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Jacques-Imo's Cafe
8324 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Wedding Dinner for 15 in French Quarter
My husband and I dined at Muriel's in March, 2010, and the food, service, and ambience were wonderful. Their pecan crusted puppy drum was excellent, and the bread pudding we shared was absolutely ethereal.
Rockport, Fulton and Port Aransas - Just Checking
On our last few trips to the area, we have eaten at Moondog's Seaside Eatery in Fulton. It's a very laid back place right on the water (certainly not fine dining nor does it pretend to be). Back in February, I had their blackened grouper sandwich and husband had their blackened grouper lunch special.....both were great.
death of the croissant in new orleans
Shucks! Have the new owners kept the potato au gratin (served in the oval ramekins) on the menu and if so, has it gone downhill, too?
Old, broken down, atmospheric, bayou restaurant?
The Cabin Restaurant in Burnside seems pretty authentic. We ate there @ 15 years ago and I do remember the food was delicious as well. It's near Houmas House Plantation. http://www.thecabinrestaurant.com
WWII museum lunch place suggestion other than Cochon?
I second The American Sector. We ate there last summer, and while their gumbo is certainly not the best I've had, my husband thoroughly enjoyed his Sloppy Joe served on a butcher block platter. Its atmosphere and staff carry out the WWII theme and after viewing the Beyond all Boundaries movie and visiting the museum, the lunch at American Sector added to the experience. And, their house made sodas are fantastic!
Crawfish Etouffee in New Orleans
My husband had Crawfish Etouffee at The Gumbo Shop on St. Peter Street in The Quarter about two weeks ago. He loved it! (I don't eat crawfish, so I didn't give it a try.)
Where to buy gifts....hot sauces, seasoning mixes, dips etc...
You'll want to check airline regulations before purchasing liquid hot sauces; it would be a shame to have to surrender such. The New Orleans School of Cooking on St. Louis St. has a good variety of boil mixes, dips, and other seasonings. If time permits, I highly recommend taking a class there.....although not hands-on, it's fun and you get a full meal for the price. The Gumbo Shop sells their own 3-pepper blend that I always keep on hand. It's equal parts black, white, and red pepper and to my knowledge, it's only available at their restaurant on St. Peter St. Central Grocery on Decatur St. also has lots of interesting food items,,,,stop in on your way to or from the French Market. Have a wonderful trip!
Food in Port Aransas?
Shell's is quite good. It's very small and usually is crowded at peak times....we've always had to wait a bit for a table. Beach and Station Street Grill is somewhat of a dive but the food we've had there was okay. For standard, solid breakfast fare, Island Cafe is about as standard as it gets but it's consistent and palatable. I was hoping you'd already have received some input from other(s) who've been to Port Aransas more recently than me. Although I haven't tried it personally yet, Port Aransas Brewing Company seems to have gotten some good reviews and there were lots of cars in their lot the last time we visited the island. The same goes for The Venetian Hot Plate and La Playa.
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Port Aransas Brewing Company
, Port Aransas, TX 78373
Baby shower in San Antonio
This may be a long shot, but Paesano's at The Quarry Market (Lincoln Heights) has a private dining room that seats thirty-five people. Actually, it's a wine room (not sure if that would be appropriate for a baby shower....). My daughter's in-laws celebrated their 50th anniversary there and it was a lovely event with fabulous food. The atmosphere is not "girly", though, but maybe you and your mom could bring in those touches. Anyway, you can check out their website: http://www.paesanos.com. I'm sure a tea room would be preferable, but I'm not aware of any at the moment. Good luck with your plans and congratulations to the mother-to-be!
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Paesanos Restaurant
555 E Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209
Great Breakfasts and Quick Lunches AT the Riverwalk in SA
You're probably referring to Schilo's, Ms. Verde. Split Pea Soup and a variety of sandwiches (some German-influenced) are always on the menu.
Help Please - Spur of moment trip to New Orleans - Need Critique
Another nod to Croissant D'or. They serve a potato au gratin in an oval shaped ramekin that is wonderful. Muriel's is another place I recommend for a special dinner (or brunch). I've had their pecan crusted puppy drum fish and it's divine. Other posters have given wonderful suggestions. Enjoy your trip!
1st trip to New Orleans
Since you mentioned budget-oriented, I recommend Johnny's Po-Boys for lunch (extremely casual and not romantic) and perhaps Muriels's (romantic and special) for a splurge. K-Paul's has a lunch operation going on from Thurs.-Sun., I believe, and it's also a bargain with great food (order at the counter..no frills). I also recommend The Red Fish Grill....I've always been pleased with their entrees (usually order blackened or grilled fish) and their Double Chocolate Bread Pudding is divine. And by all means, if you go to the W.W. II Museum, eat at The American Sector. Have a house made soda (to share with your wife...it comes in a seltzer type carafe) along with your food. The cherry version is the bomb! While I do not recommend their gumbo (I usually try gumbo at every N.O. establishment's doorstep I darken), my husband had their specialty sandwich and it was divine.
Many of the aforementioned places by others are higher dollar, but I just wanted to provide some less expensive options. And, if you are looking for a dive with great food as one of your possibilities, try Coop's on Decatur. I love their grilled pork chops and salad with Green Goddess Dressing. Since it's your first visit, have fun exploring and perhaps you will find a place that experienced others have overlooked. Since you'll be on Canal St. and only about three blocks away on Chartres, Cafe Fleur de Lis is a good place for breakfast. Order at the counter and then find a table (it gets crowded during peak hours). Another stable breakfast place (mentioned by another poster) is Mena's Palace. Also, there's a 24-hour diner down on Bourbon, The Clover Grill, which has great omellettes and super burgers cooked under a hubcap. I know the last statement will cause some of the CH regulars to coil into the fetal position, but I'm just sharing information :). One more bit of advice...take a horse cart ride (they are available on Decatur St./Jackson Square). When riding with a group, the price is @ $12./person and you will glean some valubale information about the Quarter and get some hints from the driver about good local places. Most of all, have a Happy Anniversary and enjoy your moments with each other in a very special city!
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Clover Grill
900 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Johnny's Po-Boys
511 Saint Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
Mena's Palace
200 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Cheap eats - two nights - 5 guys on a road trip
I immediately thought of Mena's Palace, too, since it's close to your area. It certainly isn't fancy, but you can get a very good, solid breakfast at a very reasonable price. I haven't tried their lunches yet, but I plan on doing so during the next trip. I recommend Johnny's for Po Boys. I especially like the shrimp ones and my husband likes their crab cake version, too. The price of a whole one is @ 8-10 dollars, and they have a lunch special of half a Shrimp Po Boy and a cup of gumbo. The latter is one of my favorite lunches in The Quarter and if you can get by with water, you can do it under $10. And definitely try Coop's Place ....like said, they have a large selection at good prices....it's a dive with good food. Another suggestion is K-Paul's on Chartres....I believe they have a lunch deli operation from Thurs. through the weekend....if so, you can get a good deal. Their dinner menu is quite expensive, though. I hope you guys have a great trip!
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Coop's Place
1109 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Mena's Palace
200 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Anniversary Weekend in San Antonio
Their guacamole (prepared tableside) is wonderful. We've had their grilled or blackened fish with beurre blanc sauce and their ribeyes....all were excellent. Indoor seating might be more romantic, but an outside table gives you an opportunity to take in the sights and true ambience of The Riverwalk....summertime heat and all. A breakfast recommendation is The Guenther House....site of the old Pioneer Flour Mill. It's a short drive there, but their Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream is worth the trouble. If your budget still leaves plenty of room, another choice would be Las Canarias in the LaMansion del Rio Hotel. They have a fabulous (but expensive) Sunday brunch, and it's within walking distance on The Riverwalk. Happy Anniversary!
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Las Canarias
112 College Street, San Antonio, TX 72205
Now it's Victoria, Texas
Good luck. There are numerous chain restaurants in Victoria: Johnny Carinos, Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, etc. Your expectations seem to be very high, and I'm afraid you may be disappointed in Victoria's offerings.....if you like steak, Greek Bros. on Navarro is good and their mushroom appetizer (comes complimentary with entree) is wonderful. Although certainly not upscale, La Hacienda (also on Navarro) is fine for Tex-Mex cuisine. The city of Rockport (about an hour and fifteen minutes drive) may be an option for you to explore, especially for seafood.
