galatories

looking for some information on Galatories in New Orleans. Have eaten at Court Two Sisters, Commanders Palace & Mr B's

See my lengthy discussion of a meal at Galatoire's at http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6160 . As Far as I'm concerned, Galatoire's is the archetypal Old New Orleans palace of haute Creole food and, from all appearances, the upper levels of New Orleans society agrees with me. On the other hand, the average recipe at Galatoire's seems to be about 100 years old. You won't find anything nouvelle or especially creative here. What you will find is all the traditional Creole dishes cooked about as well as they are cooked anywhere and served with impeccable service in an atmosphere that will transport you back to somewhere around, oh, 1910. And, IMHO, you will get all this very inexpensively--certainly it's inexpensive by standards of the larger cities of either coast.

I cannot compare it with the places you mentioned. I have long avoided Court of Two Sisters because all the reviews I have read about that place in recent years have panned it. I've just not made it to Commander's Palace--I've thought about going there because they proabably have the best "rep" in haute Creole food, but every time I've thought about it I've just given in to the fact that I love Galatoire's and its Vieux Carre' location is more convenient. Brennan's just seems more like a place for breakfast/brunch although I recognize the possible error of that impression.

Thanks

Mr B's has the best BQ shrimp I have ever had

Galatoire's is wonderful. They have the definitive shrimp remoulade. Please go and then tell us all about your experience there.

Galatoire's is wonderful. I highly recommend the crabmeat canape Lorenzo, crabmeat maison, and shrimp remoulade. You can get all 3 on the Galatoire "Grand Goute" (3 appetizer platter) for about $25-$27. For an entree I recommend the pompano cooked in parchment. Have fun, and drink a "shark attack" at Tropical Isle for me!

The problem with Commander's is that it's huge. The two times we ate there my entree arrived lukewarm, and I've heard the same from others. I worked with a woman who is married to a 5th Circuit federal appellate judge, who took his law clerks there last fall for a private dinner in one of the small dining rooms -- and the report was that the food was not great and some of it was lukewarm. If a local judge doesn't get good results, who will?? My husband became acquainted with a line cook who worked there and he raised the subject of lukewarm food with him and the response was "when you serve 1500 dinners a night some of them going to cool off." Which is not acceptable in my opinion when you're paying that much for your meal. (Yes, we sent our lukewarm food back and it was reheated and returned, but still, we shouldn't have had to do that.)

If I were ever going to return to Commander's, I would try the jazz brunch on Sunday.

THanks for all the info

quote:

Originally posted by y2flu

Galatoire's is wonderful. I highly recommend the crabmeat canape Lorenzo, crabmeat maison, and shrimp remoulade. You can get all 3 on the Galatoire "Grand Goute" (3 appetizer platter) for about $25-$27. For an entree I recommend the pompano cooked in parchment. Have fun, and drink a "shark attack" at Tropical Isle for me!

The triple appetizer can easily double as a lunch entree. My girlfriend's 87 year old native New Orleanian aunt treats us when we are there and she always orders the appetizer for lunch. I suggest you consider lunch to avoid the dinner crowd, we do. The service is impeccable and all the food is delicious. Try to go on a Friday when the NOLA gentry comes out in their finery for lunch and proceeds to get stupid drunk. Its quite entertaining.

quote:

Originally posted by tsores

quote:

Originally posted by y2flu

Galatoire's is wonderful. I highly recommend the crabmeat canape Lorenzo, crabmeat maison, and shrimp remoulade. You can get all 3 on the Galatoire "Grand Goute" (3 appetizer platter) for about $25-$27. For an entree I recommend the pompano cooked in parchment. Have fun, and drink a "shark attack" at Tropical Isle for me!

The triple appetizer can easily double as a lunch entree. My girlfriend's 87 year old native New Orleanian aunt treats us when we are there and she always orders the appetizer for lunch. I suggest you consider lunch to avoid the dinner crowd, we do. The service is impeccable and all the food is delicious. Try to go on a Friday when the NOLA gentry comes out in their finery for lunch and proceeds to get stupid drunk. Its quite entertaining.

I've always had dinner there and had no trouble getting in because I go early--just before 5 PM.

Sunday evenings bring out the gentry too.

By the way, in case you don't know, Galatoire's requires a tie for "gentlemen" so be sure to bring one.

At dinner a jacket is required. Not a tie. And they do have some jackets to loan you while you dine.

A lot of the 'charm' of Galatoire's is one's relationship to one's waiter. If you go there more than once you will eventually have a waiter who is going to take care of you and make you feel at home. There are a lot of classic dishes but a lot of times it just makes sense to ask your waiter what he recommends. There is usually a fish or some sort of seafood and he will recommend the right way to have it prepared. Be sure to get pommes souffles with bearnaise sauce; that's a real classic. The Ojen cocktail is a Galatoire's original and is similar to the Sazerac; reputedly a hangover cure. Sunday is one of the best days to go there because it is one big party. Have a fun time.

quote:

Originally posted by signman

At dinner a jacket is required. Not a tie. And they do have some jackets to loan you while you dine.

I'm pretty sure when I started going there, a TIE was required--at least on Sunday which is more formal. These days, they may only require a coat but trust me--you'll feel more comfortable and be treated better if you dress well including a tie. And I suspect if you don't wear one, you'll be the only person there without one, at least at the dinner hour (I can't speak for lunch).

For a glimpse of the Galatoire's experience, go to http://www.foodhistory.com/foodnotes/road/cs1 . It hasn't changed discernably.

BT, the first time I went there I wore a suit and tie, but on my last visit in November, for dinner, I wore a blazer with an open collared shirt. There were plenty of blazers over polo shirts there too, and lots of jeans. They now take reservations for the second floor - times have definitely changed.

I think the tie requirement is only for Sunday and one other night. With a place like this I think one should just show a little respect and experience a little discomfort and wear a jacket and tie.