New Orleans Restaurants wanted....

Someone wrote:
>I am going to New Orleans in two weeks for the Jazz Festival.  I am looking
>for restaurant ideas.  Here are some of the places I know about:
>
>Deanies - Liked it
>K-Pauls - Liked it, expensive
>Gumbo Shop - Average
>Nawlins Cokkery - No
Try:
            1. Mr. B's
                  The best of the Brennan family's offerings, IMO.
            2. Emerils
                  Recently cited by "Food and Wine" as one of the best
                  restaurants in America. I didn't think it rated
                  *that* high, but it was very good.
            3. Bacchia, not the Brennan's "Bacco"..careful...
                  Excellent Italian using fresh Gulf seafood.
New Orlean's has been described as the "city of 500 restaurants and 5 recipes" That's pretty accurate, I guess. The above restaurants will give you a few options after you've gotten your fill of gumbo. On the other hand, you actually liked Prudhomme's place, "K-Puke"..my girlfriend's name for it...so maybe you should try the Commander's Palace, Brennan's traditional New Orleans restaurant. Or Antoine's or Galatoire's [sp?]..if for no other reason than to experience New Orlean's restaurant history...and spend lots of money.

Someone wrote:
>I am going to New Orleans in two weeks for the Jazz Festival.  I am looking
>for restaurant ideas.  Here are some of the places I know about:

>Deanies - Liked it
>K-Pauls - Liked it, expensive
>Gumbo Shop - Average
>Nawlins Cokkery - No

>How about Jaegers (sp?)?  A friend of mine went to a place named Marinos,
>Milanos, something (he can't remember) west of the quarter that he liked.
>Does anyone know the name of this place?

>Help!!
>--
>David Swanger,   Auburn University, Alabama,   [email removed]

Well, I concur with the recommendations you've already received.  If you go out to Metairie, consider Andrea's (Causeway Blvd across from Lakeside Mall).  It's (IMHO) the best Italian place in town.  Also consider The Olive Tree and Semolina's for pasta (cheaper than the 5-star Andrea's, too).

All of the Brennan family places are good, but I'd go to Mr. B's if I had to pick one.

The best deal in town these days is Antoine's for lunch.  They've got a $9.95 lunch special that is fantastic.  You can't touch this place for under $30/person for dinner, so this is a don't miss.

The "M" restaurants that come to mind at the moment that may be what your friend is talking about are Michaul's (Cajun place near the Convention Center), and Mali D's out in Metairie (Italian).

Seafood:  Deanie's is OK, but I find their fried seafood to be on the bland side.  Go out to West End for something better.  Jaeger's, Bruning's and Fitzgerald's are all good.  A local food critic has been really talking up Bruning's lately, so it's more crowded than the other two. You can't go wrong with any of them.

Of course, if you're going to Jazz Fest, your best bet is to plan to eat lunch at the Fair Grounds.  Lots of restaurants set up stands and sell anything from alligator on a stick to bowls of jambalaya, etc.

One of the very nicest meals I've ever eaten was at Arnaud's  in the French Quarter. The service was royal, and the food was excellent. Atmosphere is high ceilings, cool tile floor, palms... Very much an occasion place,  locals were dressed to kill. Try Arnaud's instead of Antoine's or Galatoire's.

Another "dressy" restaurant that had great food was the Caribbean Room in the Pontchartrain Hotel.

Note about the Pontchartrain. I stayed there once and got a fairly small room near the elevator. I wrote them a letter afterwards telling them I hadn't been thrilled with the room. They wrote back saying how sorry they were; they'd been full and that room was the last one left. They hoped I'd stay with them again. I did, and the next time they gave me a suite for the price of a standard room, without my even asking for it. They had my name on file. Nice hotel.

Valerie Maslak

Valerie Maslak