USVI-On-Line

Carolyn wrote:Have had muffalettas from Central Grocery as they were our intro to the original, later to go on to prefer those at The Napolean House...corner of Chartres and St Louis. Their inside courtyard is a cozy, comfy place for lunch.

My husband claims that he has eaten muffalettas at both places. I asked him which he preferred and he replied, "Don't remember..." He is originally from the South and has been to New Orleans a number of times (has even played music down there different times). The thing is that he generally has a poor memory, except about things he is really interested in, like music. He seems to know many of the restaurants that are mentioned on this thread, but then, if I ask him more about them, he says, "Hmm, not sure..."

Well, you may be able to tell that I am the one trying to put together this trip and he is just tagging along! However, once he is there, he will, as he always does, enjoy our trip very much and sometimes even more than I do.

He is pretty easy to please. I think I am the picky one.

Court of Two Sister's won't disappoint, if you like courtyard dinning or BRUNCH everyday!

Pickle- Ya'll may have caused me a trip to NO...which is a good thing! I wish we were closer we would have to fly...It has been too long and my mouth is watering reading this thread!...
Not sure I want to take my kids...I may still be too immature...or selfish....we'll see...
The Mighty Muffuletta---

IslandChef - ate at Blue Dog last year and EVERYTHING was AWESOME!!!! Glad I don't live in Lafayette!

Pickle - check out Tommy's Cuisine http://www.tommysneworleans.com/ in the Warehouse District. Tommy was with Irene then split off and started his own restaurant. It's awesome!

All of the restaurants everyone mentioned are great. I would stay away from some of the old line New Orleans Restaurants like Antoine’s and Arnaud's as we have found that they rely on their past reputation but can't compete with the newer restaurants. Quite honestly, the last couple of times we have eaten at Commander's, we have been disappointed in the food. Galatoire's http://www.galatoires.com/ is the only "old line" one that is still okay in our opinion. A jacket is required there, but they will give you one if you don't have one. I wear business casual to all of the restaurants here; I never put on a dress or a skirt like you used to have to.

In addition to some of the ones mentioned, we like Muriel's on Jackson Square http://www.muriels.com/, Restaurant August http://www.restaurantaugust.com/. Some others to check out are MiLa http://milaneworleans.com/menu.php, and Cuvee http://www.restaurantcuvee.com/cuvee/index.htm.

If you are willing to cab it and get out of the Quarter and venture Uptown, there are a lot of other good ones to try. We ate at Bistro Daisy http://bistrodaisynola.com/ about a month ago and LOVED it. We also like Le Petit Grocery http://www.lapetitegrocery.com/index.html, more casual but doesn’t take reservations but the food is AWESOME is Dick and Jenny’s http://dickandjennys.com/ and along the same lines but does take reservations is Matt & Naddie’s http://www.matandnaddies.com/web/index2.asp. We prefer Dick and Jenny’s. Another one we like is Clancy’s (no website). Always good and fun is Jacques-Imo’s http://www.jacquesimoscafe.com/. I don’t think Kellyanna comes to town without hitting Jacques-Imo’s. If the wait is long (which it usually is), go next door to The Maple Leaf, they usually have live music. Also, one of Kellee’s favorites is the charbroiled oysters at Drago’s http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/ in the Hilton. I think Christine (NoTanLines) is also hooked on them.

You can go to Tom Fitzmorris’ website that rates the restaurants: http://www.nomenu.com/ or a buddy of mine is also a food critic here: http://www.appetites.us/ (he writes for New Orleans Magazine). On Robert’s site if you go off to the right and click on “restaurants” you can see that he discusses a lot of the restaurants myself and others mentioned.

We did Brennan’s for brunch over Mardi Gras last year and had a great time and good food.

Sorry for the long post, it could be longer, but I have to try some self-control. Oh but if you want the BEST Po-Boy’s in town, go Uptown to Domilise’s. It’s a whole in the wall/neighborhood joint, but by far the best Po-Boy’s!

Feel free to pm me for any questions!

sherban,
Are you teasing us or yourself with those mighties? I hope you'll end up returning to NOLA soon. I'll think of you when my husband gets his muffulettas.

nothintolose,
Do you think we should try Tommy's Cuisine rather than going back to Irene's?

So many places we want to try and so little time we'll have down there. Appreciate all the suggestions you all have given here. It's so hard to choose, and my head is spinning a bit but it's a good spin – whatever that is.

not sure if you are a shopper or a jewelry lover-but if you are please check out mignon faget--
she has really amazing and beautiful things--

loria wrote:not sure if you are a shopper or a jewelry lover-but if you are please check out mignon faget--
she has really amazing and beautiful things--

We have some of her glassware... I second the "beautiful things" opinion.

Pickle - If you look at that NO Menu site, Irene's gets 3 stars and Tommy's gets 4 stars. We have eaten at Tommy's more recently and really enjoyed it.

Another REALLY nice restaurant is Stella!: http://www.restaurantstella.com/

John Besh's Restaurant August is where SO and I have been taking each other for our birthdays lately. Mine is coming up soon, and I can't decide if I want to go back to August or suggest we try somewhere else.

I agree with loria about Mignon Faget: http://www.mignonfaget.com/, I have some of her stuff even though I don't wear alot of jewelry and I used to give her Creole Cottage glasses as gifts.

I love gifts

Mary Beth - I figured you must know about Mignon Faget due to your love of the Fleur de lis. She has a whole line of fleur de lis stuff.

Another vote for Bayona. One of our best meals was there. More "touristy" (is it even still there) for a great steak is Delmonico.

And Mother's is a must for us. Opposite of upscale but so worth the wait!

I so need another trip to NOLA. Love that town!

Bayona, Delmonico's (one of Emeril's restaurants) and Mother's are all still here.

nothintolose.... you're killing me. I am really missing Nola. Hoping to be down in February, hotel booked, for Superbowl weekend (if the Saints continue to win). Would rather be in New Orleans than Miami if it happens!

p.s. I love my Mignon Faget Fleur de lis' also!

My daughter lives in NO so we go at least once a year. Don't think I've ever heard of Irene's. I'll second Stella and Cochon. If the line is too long at Acme head over to Drago's at the casino for oysters. We also like Pasquale Manale's (outside the quarter)for the barbequed shrimp - be aware that it's not barbequed on a grill but is swimming in a buttery, cajun spiced broth with the heads still on. It's messy - you get a bib but still don't wear your best duds that night! You get a loaf of bread in a paper bag to soak up the broth. SO worth the mess. August is good but pricey. I prefer Cafe Beignet next to the cop shop over Cafe Dumonde - I don't think it's as touristy or crowded. A plus is that there are outside tables next to the police station where you can share your beignet with some very bold little sparrows. Then to top off the evening go for a ride on the Carousel bar at Hotel Monteleone. Just don't expect your bar stool to be in the same place when you come back from the bathroom!

Lindy - great recommendations...took Kellyanna to the Carousel Bar when she was here. I love that bar.

Drago's Crescent City Shrimp is one of my favorite dishes there (after the cahrbroiled oysters)...it's basically BBQ Shrimp like at Manale's.

Irene's Cuisine is where Tommy that owns Tommy's came from. Tommy's is Irene's ex-husband, and Tommy's is a spinoff of Irene's. You can get reservations at Tommy's but can't at Irene's.

This site has alot of restaurants with descriptions: http://www.dbsir.com/area_info_lagniappe.cfm

You'll have to let us know where you end up!