<p>I'm taking DD to NO for shopping and to celebrate getting admitted to college in 2 weeks. We're going to Commander's Sat night to celebrate. Any ideas for Fri night? Perhaps something a little more casual? We usually go to Ralph and Kacoo's, The Redfish Grill or Mulate's. It must be in the Quarter, and probably not require reservations, because I'm never sure when we will get there, and its hard to get a reservation for 8pm, which is the earliest "safe" bet for when we get into town. Have you ever been to Bacco? Does it require reservations? We always seem to walk by it and say we'd like to try this place.</p>
<p>Casual and authentic? Acme Oyster House in the Quarter (or archrival Felix's). Hey if you're going to go to Commander's you might as well even it out . . . A LOT of fun. Mike Anderson's seafood is good, but I admit that I hold a nostalgic grudge from my college days when it was Mike Anderson's Collegetown Seafood in Baton Rouge. Then he went to NO and got all uptown! Have a great time. it's been a long time since I went out for an evening in NO.</p>
<p>I like R & K a little better than Mike Anderson's (I agree it has gotten a little touristy and "uptown"). What about non-Cajun, because we can get fairly good Cajun here in Mobile.</p>
<p>Hi Cangel and glad to help a little with the celebration of your D's acceptance to Dartmouth!!
Recommendations are as follows for the French Quarter and not too expensive:(unfortunately, I don't know about reservations!)</p>
<p>H recommends:
Central Grocery 923 Decatur St., 504-523-1620 Central Grocery Company
Family owned and operated deli is famous for their Muffuletta sandwich.
Address: 923 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
Telephone: 504-523-1620
Fax: 504-523-1670
Category: Delicatessen
Open: MON-SUN<br>
Meals Served: Lunch.<br>
Cost: Inexpensive </p>
<p>I love this place - u might need reservations though:
Palace Caf</p>
<p>Cangel, I didn't know you live in Mobile. We lived in Pascagoula right after we were married and visited Mobile often. Great area and many happy memories.</p>
<p>Thanks Tabby, we may have to try the Acme Oyster House with 2 recs, sounds like we can skip Bacco. Peristyle is wonderful, although I haven't been in years (not since it burned and reopened). Have you been to Restaurant August? That was my last new place about 2 years ago, the gnocchi are awesome. We are going to Commander's Palace to fulfill a 5 year old promise. DD is now saying she wants to go out to the Garden District to Bravo, we've been there a couple of times and in Metairie (wish they'd build one in Mobile).</p>
<p>What time do they block off the streets for the parades? We can't leave until about 4:30 at the earliest, takes about 1 1/2 hours, so in at 6 pm. Should we just drive straight out to the mall in Metairie and check in late after the parade?
Also Tabbyz (thanks so much) do you know a place that sells North Face? DD wants to try on a jacket.</p>
<p>Carolyn, what a small world! If your experience was pre-casino, you might not recognize the place now with "the boats". Mobile has grown and changed, but not nearly as much as Pascagoula. Still wet and hot - 75 degrees all this week.</p>
<p>Well, if Tabby is going to second my nomination of Acme, I'm happy to second her nomination of Central Grocery. The muffuletta is unbelievable. But do not, under any circumstances, order a "whole" muffuletta -- unless you feel like feeding a family of six. A 1/4 is plenty for the biggest appetite. </p>
<p>This thread has me asking myself why I'm in Delaware instead of my former stomping grounds (Houma, LA)</p>
<p>Commander's is always awesome!
If u are coming in 2 weeks, I am assuming you mean the weekend of the 15th. I looked, and didn't see any parades in N.O. then. So you shouldn't have a problem. If you are meaning:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
then you have
Krewe du Vieux - French Quarter, 7:00 p.m.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H has heard Restaurant August is outstanding and is the next place we want to go!
H says Northface is available at Massey's in Metairie <a href="http://www.masseys.net/masseys/%5B/url%5D">http://www.masseys.net/masseys/</a>
Maybe also at M. Goldberg's in Uptown Square (men's sizes but he thinks they may sell women's too), and maybe Perlis on Magazine.</p>
<p>Commander's Palace is in the Garden district! Might want to think about their famous JAzz Brunch... <a href="http://www.commanderspalace.com/new_orleans/menu_brunch.php#jazzbrunch%5B/url%5D">http://www.commanderspalace.com/new_orleans/menu_brunch.php#jazzbrunch</a>.</p>
<p>You can take the street car up. Catch the street car at the edge of the Quarter on Canal street. Ask any native. Tell the driver where you are going and he can alert you....</p>
<p>After you go round the round-about, you will be on St Charles Avenue....then....*</p>
<p>Count 5 Red Lights
1st Red Light is Wendy's and Popeyes
5th Red Light is Washington Avenue
Get off the streetcar.
Head across the median.
Down Washington Avenue
Two Blocks Down on Left*</p>
<p>I like Mandina's on Canal for turtle soup, oyster po-boys. Cheap taxi ride. Do NOT walk there. Very very local. </p>
<p>I also love Camillia Grille--another streetcar ride. Order a Nutty Waffle.</p>
<p>My sister got back a few weeks ago and LOVED JACQUES-IMO'S CAFE. Here's the ZAGAT review </p>
<p>"Definitely now on the beaten track, this whimsical Carrollton joint has become a true foodie destination; even locals still wait here like they are being led to the Promised Land for a chance to eat Jacques Leonardis sensational Creole-soul food; upbeat servers help sustain the ordered chaos in the rustic, colorful dining rooms while the amiable chef-owner roams in his boxer shorts; N.B. reservations for five or more accepted."</p>
<p>She said the corn bread is to DIE for. :)</p>
<p>You can take the street car up there. But be very careful about walking back to car the late at night--though my sister said they went early--to get a seat--and the streets were jumping.</p>
<p>Sister also had a blast at the Mid City Lanes Rock N Bowl Nightclub--Cajun music rocking all night there...Have to take a taxi there...</p>
<p>Don't know how fit you are-- but my favorite thing to do in New Orleans is to rent bikes from an outfit in the Quarter--the last time they delivered them to Felix's Oyster Bar for us!!--keep them locked outside the hotel and use them to ride up into the far reaches of the French Quarter, the Garden District and Faubourg Marigny.</p>
<p>*Bicycle Michael's
622 Frenchmen St.
504-945-9505 OR</p>
<p>French Quarter Bicycles
522 Dumaine St.
504-529-3136*</p>
<p>Avoid walking around the quiet part of quarter at night--unless it's near the river on the on the main streets of Royal or Bourbon or "Charters" (Chartres). Have fun! Wish I was going!</p>
<p>cheers: Mandina's trout amandine is THE BEST! Order it next time! with a Mandina's Italian salad. An all-time favorite of mine.</p>
<p>Here's another vote for the Central Grocery muffaletta for a very reasonably priced lunch.The bread and olives were great. Really good family owned authentically intriguing place.</p>
<p>Don't know when the next time will be, tabby! Sigh....that's the problem with living far from home--you spend lots of vacation hours visiting the rellies!</p>
<p>Thanks all. Restaurant August is quite good, there are so many great places to eat in NO, casual and special, we don't get over there often enough to eat at the same place twice.</p>
<p>The Camellia Grill is another fun place, bring a newspaper to read in line.</p>
<p>We will keep the bikes in mind, but this is a power shopping trip. NO is the "big city" for us - where you go for the special prom dress,wedding gown, etc.</p>
<p>Hey, what a perfect thread. I'm going to be in NO mid-February for a conference, and will keep all this in mind (H will be coming if he can get off of work.)</p>
<p>cangel: we visit my favorite city every year. We always go to Central for muffalettas, but it's really a grocery with a counter--more lunch-y IMHO.
Mr. B's on Royal is always good, and cozy and relaxing after a long drive/flight.
Redfish Grill and Palace Cafe are a horse apiece.</p>
<p>BUT my FAVE new NO restaurant is RioMar in the warehouse district. We have walked there from the quarter at night with kids. They are pretty flexible, at least they were, (but who knows during the next month!). It is Spanish, EVERYTHing on the menu is great, esp. seafood. There is a dessert that is to die for, a cake con tres leches. I cannot wait to get back to eat it again! Maybe my D and I will come down and meet you. We know what it means to miss New Orleans!! Have a blast!</p>
<p>ez</p>
<p>Cangel, congrats on your daughter's acceptance! What a fun reason for a NO getaway!</p>
<p>I'm glad that my son isn't reading this thread. His body may be in Texas, but his heart's in NO. He's really ready to go back to school. All this talk of the Camelia Grill might make him really itchy to leave home!</p>
<p>Tabby, I don't know if you got my message on the other thread, but your "You know you're from NO if........ was a great hit in our house. Lots and lots of chuckles.</p>
<p>alongfortheride-
Where is the "You know you are from NO" post? My son would love to read that. Can you post the link?</p>
<p>Ezduzz - Where in the warehouse district is Riomar?, can you orient in relation to Julia Street or the cruise terminal (the 2 reliable landmarks That I can find close to the warehouse district). Is it a tapas bar?</p>
<p>Of course Mr. B's.</p>
<p>Here's a stab at the link, this is on a very long (and hilarious) thread, from around Thanksgiving
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=9210&page=11&pp=20%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=9210&page=11&pp=20</a></p>
<p>The best one for DD was - You know you're from NO if all parades have to have throws to count as a parade. Happy Mardi Gras everybody!</p>
<p>Iderochi, I just noticed that you are from Houma - my DH was born in Lafayette, but his grandparents are from Golden Meadow and CutOff - only place in the world where you can drive around and see our last name on signs - like __<strong><em>'s Body Shop or _</em></strong>'s Grocery, really wierd when one is accustomed to being the only person in the phone book with your last name.</p>
<p>Cangel--I lied! I pulled out my little folding map of NO and realized that we did NOT walk to RioMar from the quarter. We were staying at the Windsor Court the night we ate there, and it was just maybe a 3 block walk from the hotel. I would not walk it from the FQ, esp. if it is just the 2 of you girls. The address is 800 S. Peters St. I believe that puts it at or near the intersection of Peters and Julia.</p>
<p>Worth a short cab ride, though...in addition to that dessert (about which I dream), they do a ceviche sampler that is outstanding. I also had a kind of seafood stew which was amazing. The four of us were licking our plates. </p>
<p>ez</p>