mnotarangelo's Profile
St. Louis Steakhouse - Downtown - Father and Son!
Tusti - we are from Massachusetts and I'm a Patriot's fan. My son started following them playing Madden football!
Thanks Friend - I'll check it out.
Mike
St. Louis Steakhouse - Downtown - Father and Son!
Hi,
My 13 yr old son and I are heading to St. Louis MO for a Ram's game next month.
We are staying at the Renaissance Grand downtown and would like to go to a good steakhouse that's reasonable $25 steak (?) and has the old steakhouse look.
Anything you can suggest?
Thanks! Mike
Just got back!
Good Afternoon,
My wife and I just returned from five great days in New Orleans. We stayed at the Sheraton on Canal and had a great view of the French Quarter and the River. The French Quarter Fest was in full swing.
Just some thoughts on our meals....
Acme Oyster House - we really enjoyed our lunch. The shuckers were first rate as were the large plump oysters. We washed a dozen and a half down with some nice Abita Ales. We also had some freshly steamed crawfish - both spicy and full. The grilled oysters (ok so we pigged out!) were so delicious and big! We had a great time – worth a second trip for sure.
Mothers – The line was out the door as expected. This place had some old time character as did the staff. Sadly, they displayed as much interest in me as the pictures on the walls! I ordered the obligatory Fergie with Cheese, Gumbo and Red Beans with Rice. The Fergie was really good – but certainly nothing like they show on their website or on the Travel Channel. Still I could have had two! The crawfish gumbo was tasty but the red beans need something as it was really bland. I’m sure there were many po-boy restaurants out there that could have done equally as well.
Commanders Palace – This was a late addition to our list but I’m glad we went. We were treated in the grand old style as three people waited on us! We had a seat in a small alcove on the 2nd floor which was one of the more romantic spots I’ve ever had for dinner. The staff was attentive but not overbearing. We had a nice strawberry salad, soup trio, stuff quail, grilled fish and the most yummy bread pudding/soufflé that I’ve ever tasted. The meal was reasonable, our service was great and the whole night will be talked made some great memories.
Deanies Seafood – We visited Deanies for a late lunch and had a good meal. The Bloody Mary was very big and was full of spice – garnished with a steamed shrimp. My wife had the fresh oysters and I ate the barbequed shrimp as an appetizer. I had to clean my shirt after that one! I had a nice crawfish etouffee and Sue had the gumbo. Both were good but I guess I like more spice. We split some fried crawfish but weren’t too crazy about them. I guess there isn’t enough moisture in them to keep them juicy.
Cochon – This was our trip into a more modern, nuevo (sp?) interpretation of New Orleans fare. It as a very pretty brick walled restaurant in the warehouse district of NO. Susan started with a shaved mushroom salad with beef jerky and I had the fried alligator. Both were well done. The alligator could have been chicken for that matter but the sauce on it was great. The salad was equally good. I had the Louisiana Cochon and Susan had the Beef Brisket. Both were very tasty and well presented. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful restaurant with well balanced flavors.
Café Du Monde – cafe' au lait and Beignets, what else can I say! Our waitress wanted us to be sure that we understood that they worked for tips but there was no reason. Once we had those light sugar coated puffs of dough, we almost turned over our wallets! They were so hot that I just about burnt the skin off of my mouth but who cared! Yum. Oh yeah, we had the coffee too!
New Orleans School of Cooking - Susan and I both attended for lunch and it was fun and so good! Chef Barbara reminded me of a Cajun version of my Italian Mother. She easily worked her way through recipes with a handful of this and that. She made fresh biscuits, Chicken and Andouille Gumbo, Smoked Sausage & Chicken Jambalaya, a pina colada bread pudding and pralines. She was fun, there were beers, tea and root beer included and the food was great. I was too full for anything else until dinner!
Antoines – An institution in the French Quarter, I hear. It has some lovely features in the dining room yet it was so bright and stark that I thought it was a large communal bathroom! Ok so maybe that was a bit rough but I just didn’t like it but once we sat down, my wife wasn’t going to let me leave. Our waiter Chuck was an old timer here and suggested we have a Sazerac Cocktail. The taste was quite interesting to say the least. I think Chuck was sucking a few of them down himself. The food well was a bit disappointing. We had the original Oysters Rockefeller which were different than what I’m used to but still somewhat tasty. The waiter said the green color was to represent money but it was more similar to something from my son’s diaper when he was a baby! The escargot was done with some sort of way-too-bitter greens. The funniest part of the whole evening was that they place these carafes of water on each table and the bus-men kept stealing them from each table to put on their own. I guess there weren’t enough. It happened a few times with comments by the bus-man each time. Susan had chicken with ham in a Rouchambeau sauce that was sweet. I had beef tips in something other sauce. The highlight of the entire meal was fried soufflé potatoes with Béarnaise sauce. I tried to get into Bayona but it was booked. Sadly this place left me empty for our last meal of our trip.
Ahhh New Orleans! The food and the people made me leaving wanting more, feeling like I missed something; sure there were more hidden treasures to be found. I think that I’m more of a traditionalist. I want the old time, old style foods of this wonderful city. I know that there are more places that only the locals keep for themselves and trust me, I’ll be back to find them! Thanks for everyone who helped me through my first trip!
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Man I can't even concentrate on work, I can't wait to go! Thanks to everyone. I'll share my travels when i get back. Much appreciated! Michael
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Scarlett - Enjoy yourself completely and say Happy Birthday to Grandma! I have cancelled my reservation to Louisiana Bistro. I have chosen Cochen, Jacques Imos, Commander's Palace AND should I go to Bayona? I am more of a traditionalist but I think a new spin is good too!
thanks again...confused in Massachusetts! LOL
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Scarlett,
Thank you! I cannot begin to tell you how psyched I am. When I was 20, I would have been coming here for the beads (LOL and ok I might still like it) but now, I'm looking to relax, appreciate the city and enjoy all the food!
Michael
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Well, I'm getting so freaking psyched about going to NO! I'm leaving the house tomorrow night at 4 a.m. for a 6 a.m. flight. We'll be at our hotel by noon! I'm sure there are some dogs out there but I'd imagine most places are good. I'm sticking with the tested ones and have used the Chowhound board as one of the guides.
Lunches are Mothers, Acme, Cassamentos, Dinners are Cochon and Bayona and Commanders Palace. I've got one more day left. Thinking about Jacque Imos and another lunch spot...maybe a Poboy place....
Anyway, thanks for your help! (and what should I drink? I drink mostly it all! LOL)
Mike
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
No, it's me! I'm (I GUESS) a foodie because it takes me 100% longer to pick a restaurant than it does the hotel! I just want this to be perfect. So if I go to Cochon and Bayona (replacing LA Bistro), I still need one good OLD FASHION New Orleans haunt to go to for dinner. I thin the last one should be the NO of old...so we get that flavor too!
Thanks again for your help!
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
I dunno, I read some great reviews of it within Trip Advisor, so i figured I'd try it out.
it was voted there the #1 restaurant. I'm open for other ideas.
What about a Traditional Restaurant in NO - with no jacket of course! :) I'm thinking I should go to one NO Icon....
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Hi Scarlet (cute handle by the way!),
I saw you put Bayona on your most favorite... My wife is taking me to NO for my 50th birthday gift. I'd like to give her to a memorable night at dinner as well. What's your top choice...I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I've very easy going as long as the food is good and there is decent service.
Thanks, Mike!
Upscale Restaurant - No Jacket!
Hi,
I am heading to New Orleans on Saturday - YIPPEEEEEE! and have reservation at the Louisana Bistro and Cochon. I was wondering if there was a great last night in New Orleans place that is fairly upscale and worth every penny where I don't have to wear a sports coat. I'm sure my belly will be bigger than usual by then!
Thanks, Mike
