one meal in New Orleans

I'll be in New Orleans for two days next month to attend a major medical meeting. I won't have lots of time to eat out, but I may have time for one really good dinner. I'm hoping for recommendations. It's a bit complicated, however, by the fact that I don't eat pork. So don't recommend a place known for that. I do eat seafood, however.

Thanks,

Dan

Bayona, Brigsten's, Peristyle are all good. If you've never done one of the old line Creole places you may want to try Galatoire's, Antoine's or Commander's Palace.

Brigsten's nuff said.

If you could possibly pull off a lunch, I would say Uglesich’s on Barone St. just north of the Garden District (you can even take the St. Charles Street car there). IMO that is the best meal you can find in NO. I ain't nothing fancy, but man is it good. It tends to be VERY crowded but it is worth it!

Definately Uglesich's. It is open only for lunch, parking is limited, seating is limited and food is the best I have ever had in my lifetime. No Joke. The best. Everything on the menu is wonderful. Be sure to get a Bloody Mary. They use to be mixed by Mrs. Uglesich and they were the best I ever had.

Please Believe me, everything on the menu is great.

Guaranteed:

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

One more vote for Uglesich's!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Stern

One more vote for Uglesich's!

The past couple of times I've been in NO it's been on the weekend and THEY'RE CLOSED!! So I've never had the pleasure.
There are SOOOOO many good eateries in NO that it's hard to pick JUST ONE! Although I could NOT walk past Mother's on Poydras St. without going in......or Acme........or Brennans.......or Commander's Palace......or Dookey Chase......too many choices!

Danimal,
Uglesich's is at 1234 Baronne Street, right across from Brown's Velvet Dairy. There is parking on the street. Do not walk there from downtown: it's too risky. Either drive or take a cab going and coming. That part of town is very suspect at best.
I've never been there, but from all reports, either there or Mother's (which is open far longer hours) are the either/or "one places" to go in N'Awluns.
Bon Appetit!
Crescently, Ort. Carlton in Somewhat Warmer Athens, Georgia.

Not to take anything away from Uglesich's, just be prepared for a nice wait and to have that fried oil smell on you for the rest of the day. Open weekdays only.

My one meal would be Galatoire's, right on Bourbon Street. Traditional creole, with great seafood and rich sauces. I think their shrimp remoulade is the best in town.

Jacque-Imo's would be another excellent choice...

My goodness--i dont think i could pick one!--ANY of these recommened will give a meal you'll remember!Not to mention a dozen others.

What about any of Emeril's places, like NOLA's or Delmonico's?!
A MUST-eat place is the Camillia Grill for breakfast, on the St Charles street car line, open 23 hours daily. This isn't a place to lolligag after eating...turnover is quick so lines move fast.

Galatoire's - you can't miss!!! They do require proper attire (coat & tie) in the evenings.

This is going to be a hard choice. Maybe I can find time for two meals. I'm leaning toward a Galatoire's dinner and an Ugleslich's lunch.

For me, it'd have to be Dooky Chase. Here's what I had the last time:

A Creole Feast at Dooky Chase:

Crab soup
Bread with butter and garlic
Gumbo with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and crab
Fried catfish strips and fried oysters
Salad with Creole vinaigrette dressing
Veal Panné and Grillades of veal in Creole sauce
Jambalaya with sausage
Candied sweet potatoes, okra and tomatoes, green beans with potatoes
Bread pudding with praline sauce

I just asked Leah to bring us what she thought we ought to eat and this was the result.

Fred Sauceman
Johnson City, Tennessee

Oh my heavens. That sounds lovely. I adore her praline sauce! She sure is a cool lady! Last time I ate there Paul Prudhomme was also in the dining room enjoying Leah's georgous food.

My favorite is Gumbo Shop. Check out www.gumboshop.com for their menu and pictures of the restaurant. My favorite dish is crawfish etouffee. Ask to be seated in the patio room.

I love the Gumbo Shop and the crawfish etoufee too! People complain it's too touristy but heck, I am a tourist and they don't have food like that back home in northern Illinois.

After looking at the menu, it's going to be very difficult to pass up the Gumbo Shop.

Thanks, everyone, for all the help.

If you only time for one meal in New Orleans, Commander's Palace is my pick. Galatoire's would be a great second choice.

i gotta check out the Gumbo Shop. Hopefully will make it back to NO this summer, if not, got a convention in December there.

Any other Bon Ton Cafe fans here?

Well, I'm back, and I actually ate a lot more New Orleans-style food than I thought I'd have time for. Although I worked hard, food was definitely my main pursuit outside of the meeting.

I headed to Tujague’s as soon as I'd dropped my bags off at the hotel Sunday night. It was the best meal of the trip. Superb gumbo and shrimp, lucious brisket and a crawfish plate that was wonderful. I topped it off with strawberries and cream. With a glass of red wine, the entire five-course meal was a reasonable $43, plus tip. Great deal, great atmosphere, and friendly service.

I had dinner the next night at Mother's. I'd never had a Po' Boy before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I ordered roast beef with debris. The sandwich may have been the best I've ever had (with apologies to Mr. Beef in Chicago). Fries were top-notch as well.

The next night, I got lucky. A bunch of people invited me to dinner at the Commander's Palace, and once again I feasted on seafood - in fact, I ordered crawfish again (you just can't get that here in Chicago.)

Actually, the highlight of the meal may have been the soup, which the restaurant advertises as a "heart healthy" offering (I was here for a heart-care meeting). It was a red soup, kind of like the Bookbinder soup you get here in Chicago, but with some crab meat floating around in it. Very spicy. I tried a little of my dining neighbor's bread pudding for dessert, and was amazed how smooth and rich it tasted. I had strawberry shortcake for my own dessert.

The next morning, I enjoyed cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde. The perfect crescendo to my visit. My pants still have powdered sugar stains.

My only regret is that I was too busy working during the daytime to go to Uglesich's. Oh well. Something to look forward to on my next visit.

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Anytime you need advice about where to eat here in Chicago (where it's now 30 degrees and snowing)

Dan

Sounds like you did well, Dan!! Have to agree about that Bread Pudding Souffle at Commander's Palace...wonderful dessert!! Of course, it's hard not to eat well in NOLA...

Danimal, you done real good! You're a real roadfood warrior!

Dan,

Thanks for the review. Too often, and I know I'm guilty, we solicit suggestions and then never let anyone know how things worked out.

Dan, sounds like you had the same problem as I did on my last trip to New Orleans, it's impossible to have 1 meal there! We ate 4 meals one day just so we could "fit in" our agenda! Good thing we did alot of walking in between.

Now I find out I'm going back to New Orleans in early June for another medical meeting. But once again, I'm probably going to be too busy during the day to get to Ugleslich's. I'll have to try Dooky Chase's or Gallatoire's. Or maybe Brennan's. The possibilities! I certainly will once again finish the trip with a visit to Cafe Du Monde.

More powdered sugar stains........but definately worth it!

Its sad when one of your favorite places goes bad, and one of my must eat places in NOLA, the Camillia Grill, is one of those. During two vists, a week apart in November 2004, the service staff seemed confused, the food either cold or undercooked, cloth napkins now paper, and the place seemed, well, dirty and run down. Worst of all no waffels!

You want a real taste of NoLa?
How about a roving feast...
Acme Oyster for appetizers in the quarter.
Galatoires for Gumbo or Turtle Soup, and then a traditional Creole entree.
Finish with beignets and chicoy coffe at Cafe du Monde.

I've changed my mind about the best meal in New Orleans...Peristyle!!!