RE: brunch at Court of Two Sisters - YES! Mistake! Do not eat here.

I want to add one suggestion that is not in the Quarter for you.

Magazine Street is a great little street - lots of local retail of all sorts. It is a fun stroll and is full of good restaurants and bars, too. My particular recent favorite in the bar category is Bouligny Tavern. It's right next door to Lilette, which is (not coincidentally) owned by the same person and is (also not coincidentally) one of my favorite restaurants. Bouligny is a grownup feeling spot, with a good crowd, pleasant service, yummy little bar snacks (marrow toast! marrow toast!) and a nice wine list. Lilette is just a delightful restaurant, and has a very small, but nice, outdoor seating area too.

I highly recommend spending one afternoon strolling/shopping (take a cab or streetcar up and stroll down) and then going to one of these two places. :)

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Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

Well, whether or not it actually serves the best steak is questionable, but by far the best place TO EAT said steak is at Crescent City Steaks. In a booth. Preferably, the one right by the door.

Just went last week. Had a really wonderful meal. They did their whole menu over as a Reveillon menu and it was fantastic. We really liked that rather than making the Rev. menu a cheaper, small version (ie, a "just for the cheap ppl") menu they filled it with choices and it included every great dish they had. I totally recommend going.

Iris is very good, but the sauces on many of their dishes are the same. I personally suggest Bistro Daisy or Upperline as potential other choices. Hubby and I revisited both within the last month and were very pleased.

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Bistro Daisy
New Orleans, LA, New Orleans, LA

Upperline Restaurant
1413 Upperline St, New Orleans, LA

I would scratch both Muriels (great location, but only so so food) and Deanie's (really kind of pedestrian heavy friend seafood). I would add in either Stanley (also on Jackson sq like Muriel's) or perhaps Domenica for brunch (Domenica unusual and a small brunch menu but really good) and just about anything else for dinner. If you picked Deanie's wanting a casual night, maybe Snug Harbor or Port of Call would be fun alternatives and you'd also end up right near a lot of great nightlife for afterwards....

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Port of Call
838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

Deanie's Restaurant
1016 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

Bombay Club. On Conti Street. Serve pretty late and the food is really good. AND live music. This is an upscale venue. Other more casual FQ ideas for first night: Port of Call (OK, it's a burger joint, but they're beloved NOLA burgers) and Coop's (OK, it's a bar, but they have really good jambalaya and stuff for not much money!)

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Port of Call
838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

Depends on what you want. Our ethnic cuisine is lacking - but our OWN cuisine is strong. I hear you. Hard to find some stuff here. I suggest you explore what IS great and not focus on what isn't...this is a great food city. :)

I vote Herbsaint. Food is just stronger there. It's a great restaurant and has nothing to do with Cochon...okay of course it does...but totally different food. Le Petit is good -- not great.

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Herbsaint
701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130

Muriel's is overrated frankly. I think Mr. B's a much better brunch option. Have not tried Stanley but trust the chef. Court of Two Sisters DREADFUL. Brennan's good, touristy, but still, always, good. Domenica has an interesting brunch. Seriously yummy brunch options. And Marigny Brasserie...close to the Quarter... is festive and fun w/good menu...

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Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112

I don't know that I'd call it New School (would not, in fact) but I just had two meals in a row at Lilette and both were just excellent. I had forgotten how good that restaurant is. It's in a fun area, too, where you can walk about either before or after finding shops and bars. I also had a great meal recently at MiLa - bbq lobster appetizer was amazing.

I have not even seen this - where is it?

I don't know if they're open for brunch on Tuesday, but if they are, Elizabeth's is worth the trip too...

Also, Mr. B's has a really, really good brunch DRINK, although no brunch on Tuesday. They've got the world's BEST brandy milk punch...it has ice cream in it...I could drink it all day long. You should grab one in a go cup and take it with you to whatever brunch spot is selected.

STELLA - definitely.

Actually, the convention in town this weekend is close to 20,000, so you're probably best off eating at the bar, as those might be the only available seats.

Bombay Club has a very comfortable bar area and great food...1179 has a full menu at the bar also and is very good...