<p>I was wondering, I've walked from Julia and from where "W" is (used to be the Crowne Plaza) to the quarter, and it is an OK medium length walk, but not one I'd take at night, being a short walk from the Windsor Court makes more sense. I've also hiked from where the "W" is to Susan Spicer's Grocery, now that's a real hike, and definitely not one to make at night. </p>
<p>I've had to go to NO by myself several times for meetings, etc, I get a little nervous in the quarter at night, so I tend to stick to routes that I know are reasonably OK, and taxi anywhere else - Definitely a taxi to Commander's, I think the neighborhood is fairly safe, but dark.</p>
<p>I will add a 3rd or 4th vote for Acme. I would also suggest Mother's (401 Podyras), and a funky, kinda down home place, very reasonably priced and an easy and safe walk from the Quarter.</p>
<p>We actually moved to Houma for my high school years and then I went to LSU. It was a whole new experience -- I have a very common last name (of the Smith, Jones, Brown variety), and in the Houma phonebook we were vastly outnumbered by Boudreaux, Thibodaux and Hebert. Took some getting used to, and I still think that my grades during my first year there could have been better if I could have just understood what people were saying!</p>
<p>Re-reading this thread, I'm ashamed that I forgot the Camellia Grill! Heaven on earth for a late breakfast. Take the streetcar straight down St. Charles and hop off at the first stop after it makes the turn onto Carollton.</p>
<p>Recap list time:
"Fine" dining
Bayona, Peristyle, Commander's Palace, Restaurant August, Emeril's (the original and the best,IMHO), Herbsaint (is it still open?)
Slightly less "fine", but still pretty nice
Palace Cafe, Redfish Grill, Mr. B's, Riomar
Can only get it in NO
Acme Oyster House, Mother's, Central Grocery, Camellia Grill, Mike Anderson, Ralph and Kacoo's, Mulate's, Cafe du Monde (Camellia Grill is great, but usually too far)</p>
<p>DD wants to add Bravo - this is a chain, although it may be a local chain, does anybody else out there have one? It is an Italian, wood-fired oven place with the best Caesar salad (according to DD), one on St. Charles, one in Metairie - it is pretty good, but not unusual for those of you who live in cities.</p>
<p>Oh and thanks for the store link, I'm at least moderately familiar with Veterans/the Causeway and the Mall, I think I can find this place, it's a lot bigger than our one ski shop.</p>
<p>You can streetcar/ walk to Commanders in the daytime--but not at night. And you are right to be cautious in the Quarter--especially in the rear of the quarter.</p>
<p>New Orleans, a little bit like New York, has a very mixed urban design. Vastly different economic groups live within blocks of each other. The big showy houses are out on the boulevards, the medium sized houses are behind them and the tiny houses and apartments are in the middle of those blocks. Even though it appears to be suburban, the city is more like New York and requires an urban sensibility.</p>
<p>I do remember Le Ruths! :) My sister, a foodie from SF, said Peristyle was disappointing this last visit.</p>
<p>Cangel: directions to Massey's in Metairie (from their web site)
From Interstate 10:
In Metairie take the Causeway Exit North. Once you exit, you'll immediately be placed onto an overpass which will take you over Veterans Highway. Upon descending from the Veterans overpass, look for your first left (17th Street). Turn left and behind Lakeside Mall. After you pass the Post Office on the right, continue straight one more block to Severn. Turn right.
We're 2 blocks down on the right. Severn at 15th. Look for the kayak on the front of the building. We'll be on your right in a large tan building.</p>
<p>We ate at LeRuth's in the early 80s. It's been so long, I barely remember it! (getting old/senile lol)</p>
<p>Alongfortheride - so glad you all enjoyed that post. I found it on the web, can't claim authorship! I think it's funny, too. I'm sure that your S can relate to much of it. He should be starting again at Tulane soon, right? Enjoy the remaining holidays together. :)</p>
<p>I think ALL our kids deserve a weekend in New Orleans for their hard work. We should really treat them, like cangel, don't you think? Yeah, that's the ticket! Maybe those CC Tulane students would squire us around (alas, we visited Tulane, but it was deemed "too hot" and "too dressy"...think of all the times I could have visited...)</p>
<p>Pick a weekend, people...I'm already there!</p>
<p>My son is having a house full for Mardi Gras; maybe you could join them! I mean, once you have 10 college students sharing an apartment for a weekend, what's another 10 or so more.</p>
<p>Yay for New Orleans weekend! I'll skip Mardi Gras, though, thanks - we get enough of that over here. The last time I was at Commander's Palace was about 5 years ago on the weekend of Loyola's graduation - that was fun, lots of big tables of parents, offspring and occasional friends - that'll be us in 4 years!</p>
<p>Perhaps our kids can be like the mob of 5th graders I saw on Bourbon Street a few years ago. I was walking down Bourbon one night headed to dinner, trying to look neither left nor right, and who should come along crossing the street - about 75 5th graders with 6-8 teachers/chaperones crossing between a gay bar with happy hour spilled all over the street and one of those places with red lights and girls in the windows - what were the teachers thinking???!!!! I've never seen so many wide eyes and craned necks in my life.</p>
<p>A hundred years ago, my father led the six of us, ages 5 to 13, dressed to the nines, down Bourbon Street-- following five o'clock mass at the cathedral. Ooooh, my mother was NOT pleased. He kept ten paces in front of her and we saw the WHOLE street. :p</p>