Some time ago when we returned from a trip to Louisiana and complained about the food we ate in New Orleans, one of NYC's top chefs asked if we had been to Bayona. We said we couldn't get reservations. He said that's the restaurant he would recommend. We had eaten in Commander's Palace and thought we dined fairly well and perhaps very well for the price, but it was certainly not up to world class standards. The food was good, maybe very good, but not near great. There are maybe a dozen, or more, restaurants in NYC that leave it in the dust. Service was quite unprofessional and somewhat condescending. When I opointed out to the waiter that one of us had the prix fixe dinner, he sarcasticly replied, it's only a dollar difference. When he brough back the revised check it was more like seven dollars less. No big deal, but why insult the customer when he is right The room was full of locals, all celebrating something with champagne or hard drinks. This is a famous place and an institution, but not a great restaurant. A line cook, I met, who worked in both commander's Palace and the kitchen of the above mentioned chef said the difference in expectation from the staff was night and day.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans??
NNTP-Posting-User: 536870664 X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 950824BETA PL0] One of the best meals I have ever eaten in a restaurant was one I ate at Nola in New Orleans a little over a year ago with 6 colleagues. Nola is in the French Quarter and its run by Emeril Lagasse who has won numerous awards for his cooking and has a cooking show on the TV Food Network. The food was superb, the prices were incredibly reasonable (about $40 per person, including drinks, dessert, and appetisers) and the service was without a fault. I definitely recommend Nola to anyone who goes to NO. In fact, to be quite honest, while I have visited many cities in the USA and abroad, I was not very impressed with New Orleans. Its crowded, filty dirty, crime ridden, expensive and very humid, but Nola is one reason for me to go back there again.
They have some nice (non-tourist) restaurants out by the lake(Ponchatrain) my personal favorites are actually in "Bucktown" nothing but locals here. Some of my favorites are "Carmines", "Mr. Ed's", and "Deannies". Commander's Palace is at the top of my list as far as eating in New Orleans go. Tourist here ? Yea, but the food is so good , who would care. Oh, by the way, if you go to "Carmine's", get the Seafood Stuffed Artichoke, it will set you back about $10.00 but well worth every cent.
bayona, commanders palace and nola as previously mentioned are outstanding. Also try Irenes in the french quarter- oneof the best meals and all locals. not a tourist trap yet, but soon will be.