I second the recommendation for Bayona for a date. All of the Emeril's places are good and Commander's is excellent (make sure you ask for a table upstairs with a garden view).

Saturday brunch?
 

Any recommendations for a Saturday brunch? Hopefully there are some interesting places, not just chain hotels.

Try the Court of Two Sisters

Galatoire's
 

[QUOTE=Delta Hog]I can't believe this thread has made it to the third page without mention of the best restaurant in New Orleans (and one of my favorites anywhere, anytime) . . . Galatoire's.

For 60 of my 65+ years, first with my grandfather, and for most of those years with the same waiter, now sadly gone to the Great Table in the Sky, I have made it a habit to dine at Galatoire's at least once a year, arriving at 2PM on a weekday, preferably in party of no more than four, ordering no more than 2 appetizers or entrees at a time, and winding thru an afternoon to emerge gorged and slightly a'buzz a decent, modestly priced wine(s).

Whether to choose trout ("speck"/"sand") in brown butter with almonds or the eggplant stuffed with shrimp and crab has too often left me with no alternative than to order both.

It is among the last places to remain true to tradition and history (other than the new entrace, only modestly offensive to traditionalists), and is the sort of restaurant a lone business man or well dressed traveler can arrive and (with modest demeanor and good manners) be well served and well fed. By comparison to many of the currently "chic" restaurants, the prices, semi-expensive, are not extortionate.

While tradition demands a three piece seersucker or cream linen suit (and big napkins protect them), a simple jacket will suffice these days, while women should strive for either gorgeous or professional (business, not the oldest trade).

Galatoire's... good food, but...
 

You go there as a regular... say no more. Next time, put on good disguise and go as a tourist.

'Nuff said.

What's the cost of the jazz brunch? It sounds spectacular.

The last time I went it was $28 per person, but I found it to be a really good value since it is brunch and straddles breakfast and lunch.

Galatoire's
 

DallasBill: You go there as a regular... say no more. Next time, put on good disguise and go as a tourist.

'Nuff said.

Fail reading did you?

.....Not surprising you being from Dallas, AKA Loutsville athwart the Trinity, City of Gulliverian Yahoos. Dallasites would accept an Old Milwaukee Tallboy and a AA $3.00 Snakpak are gourmet dining, if the napkin was big enough and the waiter geehawed on key. Down here around Waco, we have a keener grasp of culture and the culinaria (and English), apparently...

I said I go at least once a year. Living 535 miles up the road, close to a full day's drive, I don't exactly run down for dinner, so I'm hardly a "regular".

I'm not surprised you were treated like a "tourist". Galatoire's was never noted for the warm congeniality of its staff, but you might be amazed how they act when (a) you are not wearing long black sox w/shorts and sandals, (b) are level-headed enough so that the snuff drips equally from both corners of your mouth, (c) remove your hat or "gimme" cap upon entering, and (d) appear to have familiar with cloth napkins long before switching to short sleeved shirts.

I suspect that one who "acts" the tourist, or at least the objectional sort, flouting an air of bombastic insecurity, can be expected to be treated with little deference in worse joints than Galatoire's. I'll add the caveat made before, and suggest that you might profit from the folklore imparted by tribal elders. Go at 2PM on a weekday afternoon, not a bad schedule after late night beignets and coffee at DuMonde and "Elevens", a petite dejeuner, orange juice, coffee and a croissant

;-P TMO

Thanks for the info....that sounds like a great deal. We're going to try it out over Memorial Day weekend.

Make reservations now, because it does book up. Also I would ask for a terrace room table. Others like the courtyard, but I find it usually hot and humid out there, the terrace room has big french doors onto the courtyard but is air conditioned.

All these other NO dining recommendations sound great, and I'm bookmarking them for my next trip there, but the OP asked about Emeril's. I went for lunch and had a wonderful time. When we called to make the reservation we asked to sit at the bar where we could watch the chefs at work. We thought it was a lot of fun that way. If you go with up to three other people, I'd recommend that.

Knot frum Dallas and wasn't treated lyke turist... :rolleyes:

The 'Sisters' is awesome and make that reservation ASAP. The NOWFE is that weekend and it fills up most places to the rafters!

Enjoy!

Already made reservations. Hopefully, with an 11:30 reservation we will be able to straddle breakfast and afternoon items also. :D

I've never heard of the NOWFE before. It looks interesting - any recommendations?

Abso-f'ing-lutely!
 

It's the best unheard of deal around... well, now it's not! When do you arrive? If it's the Wed before the weekend, check out the Vintner Dinner link at the site. 85 bucks with at least 4 courses at the restaurant, wine included at each course and vintner or rep in attendance. About 1/2 are sold out now.

The Royal Street Stroll on Thurs 5:30-8:30 is sublime decadence! Old N.O meets the Quarter on Royal between Bienville and St. Peter. 75% of the galleries close to public and have 1 or 2 wineries inside, along w/ finger food. You get a wrist band and a souvenier wine glass and stroll. Musicians every block. Krewe come out in their finest. A true local menagerie! Tiks in advance a must!

Grand Tasting on Fri night or Sat afternoon - Fri is better as they are pretty burned out by Sat! :p 60 restaurants and wineries in the Morial Convention Center for 3 hours. Plan on a nap after. Tiks in advance a must.

The whole thing is in it's 14th year and is mostly locals and south LA people, with a few from Dallas and Houston.

We are attending for our 11th year, Wed-Sun pilgrimage, and looking forward to every minute. We blew off the Grand Tasting 3 years ago as it got to be too much. If you have to pick the stroll or the tasting as a first timer, pick the stroll if you are there in time. Otherwise, drink plenty of water and "go grand!"

There's also classes -- never been, have no class -- and a champagne brunch on Sunday that's supposed to be great but have not done.

Good luck! ^

Petunia's (in the Quarter) is fabulous... One of my favorite stops when I'm in town.

I've heard great things about Petunia's as well - but the lines always seem to be more outrageous than what I'm willing to deal with. I'm assuming that they don't take reservations??

My favorite off the beaten path restaurant in the quarter is the Oceana Grill.
The food is spectacular. http://www.oceanagrill.com/
It is just off bourbon on Conti.

Nope, no reservations, but any wait I've ever had was more than worthwhile. :)

Rhonda

Dallas, I must have been in the wrong city, I haven't found New Orleans busy at all this past weekend and particularly not this week.

I must agree with others' assessments of the Court of Two Sisters as a "good value." The eggs benedict were absolutely incredible - the vast variety of offerings on the buffet are incredible - but as are most buffets, I found everything to be basically mediocre.

It was definitely worth the $25 but I wouldn't do it again.

I agree with all the above. I was in NOLA for a long weekend as well and had no problems getting restaurant reservations when I called about a week in advance. The busiest part of my trip was leaving from BOS -- thank god for elite checkin/security lines!

I also found the food at the Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch rather unimpressive, but it was certainly an interesting event and definitely good value.

For dinner I went to Bayona and Commander's Palace and both were very good. If I had to choose between them I would probably go back to Bayona for the nice atmosphere on the patio -- if only they could steal that Bread Pudding Soufflee recipe :-)

Went to Mothers for a late breakfast and Irene's for dinner last Sat. Mothers had very good food, a basic no-nonsense breakfast.

Dinner at Irene's was excellent. We arrived around 5:30 and were seated immediately (later the wait was over an hour). Very good elderly Welsh gentleman served us.

A couple of good experiences this week.

Bacco - always has been a favorite of mine. I got the feeling that the primary chef was out - food and presentation wasn't quite what it has been in the past - but still excellent.

Muriel's - goat cheese crepes, pecan encrusted drum fish, and the foie gras - gotta love it!

Petunia's - no wait - crepes are excellent and the banana's foster to die for. A little more expensive than I expected it to be - but well worth it for an occassional splurge (I'm so impatient though, I'd still never wait in line.) :D

^ The crowds were down Memorial weekend compared to the 3 past years -- don't know why. But all the major restaurants sold out for the vintners' dinners and the Royal Street Stroll sold out weeks ago too, so go figure. :confused: Glad you didn't have to fight past crowds!

Weather was gorgeous too!

We had the best dinner and service ever at the vintner's dinner at Stella! I think it even beat the Chef's Table splendor at Commander's a couple of years ago. And Sara Jessica Parker was at a table across the room and that wasn't so bad either... ;)