Eats in New Orleans

[red]I will be traveling to New Orleans in October and would like a list of places frequented by the locals for oyster loafs, red beans and rice, gumbo, and seafood.

Great red beans and rice = Dunbar's (4927 Freret St ) http://www.dunbarscreolecooking.com/

Not to be missed for cajun/creole cooking including seafood (According to the web site, closed July 2 until October, just in time for YOU) = Uglesich's http://www.uglesichs.com/

This topic is discussed in other threads on this site. Here is an example:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1064

I just got back from an eating frenzy in NOLA. Here is our logbook:

Mandina's: oyster and shrimp po' boys
Galatoire's: soft shell crab, stuffed eggplant, shrimp remulaude (?)
Mother's: red beans and rice, debris po' boy
Cafe du Monde: beinets and coffee
Hansen's: sno-ball (chocolate cream)
Napoleon House: drinks
Danny & Clyde's: oyster po' boy
Trolley stop: oyster po'boy
Central Grocery: muffaletta
Camellia Grill: check out my review on this site

For a good, CHEAP plate of red beans and rice, try Mena's (corner of Iberville and Chartres in the French Quarter). You get rice & beans, sausage, or fried chicken, salad, and braead for around $5. It's not a fancy place-you'll see businessmen in suits sitting next to dock workers, but the food is good and the servers are friendly. They once fixed my brother in-law a gallon jug of red beans to carry back to Seattle! Very much a local place.
Napolean House has a great muffaletta--thay also have a pretty good rb&r special.
If you want some good, mainly local folks Italian-try Vincent's on St. Charles. Very good and not at all touristy.
You'll love New Orleans--it's hard to get a bad meal there. Make sure to have a beignet or two for me!

Stryyk,
Not to forget Casamento's on Magazine Street, home of the world's best oyster loaf! - They close in mid-Summer, too, but they'll be back open when you get there.
Another place worthy of mention is The Hummingbird Grill, located on the ground floor of the somewhat-seedy hotel of the same name not far from Lee Circle on St. Charles Avenue. This is a very good meat-and-three, and short orders (plus more) are available at any hour: the place NEVER closes.
Let us know what you discover. Bon appetit!
Bon Ton Rouxle, Ort. Carlton in Not-Too-Far-Distant Athens, Georgia.

BT, do you know for sure whether Uglesich's will reopen in October. There was some mention that the owner would be retiring and the place would close. I will be in NO November 1-4 and plan to make Uglesich's a priority.

quote:

Originally posted by signman

BT, do you know for sure whether Uglesich's will reopen in October. There was some mention that the owner would be retiring and the place would close. I will be in NO November 1-4 and plan to make Uglesich's a priority.

Check the website--that's what it says (closed July 2 for summer vacation, reopening in October). I contributed to the closing rumor. I actually heard Mr. Uglesich tell a regular who was sitting at the next table he was retiring. And the web site doesn't actually say the Uglesich's will be running it when it reopens (although that's implied by the "vacation" reason for the temporary closing), so I'm not sure what's going on either.

When I was at Uglesich's in April I also heard Anthony Uglesich mention retirement/selling/closing to a regular

--Anyhoo--We tried an excellent new place called Voodoo Tuscan on Rampart street a few doors down from Hula Maes Laundry and right next door to the Voodoo Spritual Temple. All we had was desert and coffee (banana bread pudding) and it was outstanding. The entrees that were pouring out from the kitchen looked and smelled top notch and the people eating them looked very happy. If any of you are willing to try something new, I really reccomment this place.

I will be going there in a few months myself. A couple of places on my list to hit again are Deanie's
http://secure.deanies.com/
And Franky and Johnny's (No website, but here's a description on this page)
http://www.thingstodo-neworleans.com/brochure/content.jsp?FIELD=Eating_Out&GROUP=7&LEVEL=1&ITEM=8

Both are favorites of the locals.

I agree completely w/ Big Money Gripp about Deanie's. Was there last May (?) and it was wonderful. Lots of locals, great food, and Abita on tap.

If you can spend some serious money, Antoine's is the best restaurant I have ever eaten in. And despite anything you might hear, you don't even have to wear a necktie, let alone a coat. Very pleasant and knowledgeable service, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick F.
If you can spend some serious money, Antoine's is the best restaurant I have ever eaten in. And despite anything you might hear, you don't even have to wear a necktie, let alone a coat. Very pleasant and knowledgeable service, too.

Of "the big 4 (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Galatoire's and Commander's Palace)", I prefer Galatoire's but there you DO have to wear a tie. That's actually one reason I like it--very few tourists or conventioneers because they resist putting on a tie. And it's very clubby, always full of local regulars tabnle-hopping.

NOLA is chock full of GREAT places to eat! I personally could not be in that great city without eating at...........MOTHER'S!!!! I love "The Big 4" along with Dooky Chase........but a John G with Debris or a soft shell crab po'boy or oyster po'boy at Mother's....doesn't get any better!

Sorry but the Hummingbird Grill closed a few years back.

My favorites for oysters - Casamento's but the Char-broiled oysters at Drago's out in Metairie is a do not miss as well.

For seafood, I prefer Sid-Mars in Bucktown. In October, the porch tables are your best bet.

The Gumbo Shop is one of the best for Gumbo but I also like the Gumbo Poopa at Acme - basically a french bread bowl filled with gumbo.

As for Red Beans, I prefer the Praline Connection over on Frenchmen Street. The beans come with a choice of fried chicken - may favorite, baked or stewed chicken, fried chicken livers, meatloaf, turkey necks, smothered pork chops or the traditional sausage.

Another great red bean lunch is served at Smilie's in Elmwood. The cafeteria on the side serves red beans with big ole ham hock.

Please allow me to second the mention of Casamento's. My ninety-year-old mother does not eat shrimp or seafood but loves oysters - and Casamento's is her favorite restaurant in New Orleans.

In addition to the great food, we both like the cleanliness of the place. To go to the restroom, one must walk through the kitchen, and we see how clean the family keeps the kitchen (as well as the old tiled dining rooms)!!!!!


Friday lunches are traditionally eaten at Galatoires (so it is often crowded there on Friday at lunchtime). An alternative is Cafe Mandich on St. Claude Avenue. (I know that they are open on Friday for lunch; they have crazy hours, but that it the one day that I know that they are open).

Luizza's is a favorite on mine. It is the one in Mid-City (not the one by the track, which I have not tried yet). They have great muffalata-like sandwiches called the Frenchalata (served on French bread rather than the Italian loaf).

If, for some reason, you decide not to go to Liuzza's, the neighborhood has plenty of restaurants: Christian's, Mandina's, Katie's (which I have felt has been overrated, but still quite good). There is also an Italian Restaurant on North Carrolton, and, by all means, try Antoino Brocato's for desert!!!

I also like Bozo's in Metarie for seafood.

On the subject of the muffalata, there are two ways to get it: cold and heated with melted cheese. The cold version is preferred, but the heated is also good. Napolean House serves the heated variety, and Progress Grocery serves the cold.

Commander's Palace in the Garden District is one of the best places for lunch. I understand that Christian's lunches are also good.

A good, inexpensive French restaurant is the Cafe Degas on Esplanade Avenue.

Dookey Chase is a great African-American-owned restaurant. I usually get the stuffed shrimp there. (Most people like Dookey Chase's fried chicken, but I don't care for it.)

The Camilla Grill is a great short-order diner. Recommended are the hambergers and pecan pie.

Finally, may I recommend Feeling's Cafe? The only day that they are open for lunch is Friday.