Another Emerils Nola Fan here.
Exceptional dining,interesting crowd,casual, superb service.
Great with friends clients or a date who appreciates eating.
The desserts are stand outs. Save room.
A Nola institution not known by most tourists and a location thats a good ride
is "Clancys" Satisfactory and better dining with Lemon Ice box pie for dessert.
Don't go if it is not available. I will be going back for a slice soon.
I also love the Jazz bruch trio at the Rib Room in the Omni Royal Hotel. Fair prices and great old world dining.
Fried Shrimps amd Prime Rib a steal at lunch/brunch.Location perfect.
Cheers to the good old days that are worth preserving in this case
Not been but the word of mouth on Stella is real solid

I was in New Orleans the end of June and dined at Emeril's (in the Warehouse/Convention District) and enjoyed it very much. The service was superb and the food was wonderful. I wasn�t able to get reservations until 9:00 PM though, but it was worth it. ^

Hi, Phil, for some good local flavor, try Mandina's. Great food, & the locals go there:

http://www.mandinas.com/ Toward the end of their descriptive I think they meant "exude the charm," and not "exclude!"

Hope you have a very happy bday!

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.

Galatoire's

Being from the NO area, I agree with this statement totally. Weather in December is unpredictable. We've had unusually mild weather this year, up til the last few days.

So how about those funnel clouds and tornadoes right before Thanksgiving?? Is that "unusually mild?" I think a funnel cloud woke me up before it headed over to Slidell and smashed into some houses back then!

I've been to Emeril's and Delmonico's many times. They are wonderful place to celebrate a birthday with great food and a great wine list but I do dress up and I feel most people do. We still have a little of our French and Italian heritage left, and people like to dress up from time to time.

I haven't tried Nola's, perhaps it is a bit more casual.

Definitely "country club casual." Superb food and service. Try the planked fish with citrus/horseradish crust, or the banana pudding cake - OMG. It would be a great place for a birthday.

having many relatives in NO and having been there many times, i'd highly recommend Clancy's, Herbsaint, and Galatoires. Galatorie's is VERY new orleans and the food is phenomenal, while Clancy's and Herbsaint are newer and have amazing food. service is great at all of these as well.

There's a place in the Garden District called "Upperline". The food has always been fabulous & the service very friendly & efficient without being obtrusive. Prices are in line (a little high) but the place is definitely worth it!!!

I've been there several times, but not for about three years. Whenever I'm in NO, I make it a point to go there. I'm from Alaska, so it is a special treat after a long trip.

Take the trolley from the Quarter. It's a lot of fun.
http://www.upperline.com/

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).

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

Try the Court of Two Sisters

[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).

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

'Nuff said.