New Orleans Restaurants

[ClayMeow]

I'm going to New Orleans next month for my bro's Bachelor Party.

 

I want to plan one semi-nice group dinner and figured there may be a few members that either live around there or have visited.

 

Two obvious contenders are Emeril's restaurants, NOLA and Delmonico. I believe my bro has been to NOLA, so if I want to go with an Emeril restaurant, I'd look at Delmonico first.

 

However, I was hoping someone would have a suggestion that wasn't quite so "name brand".

 

These were two I found that I'm considering:

Brennan's Restaurant

Red Fish Grill

 

Thanks!

 

PS. As of now, there will be 9 of us, so obviously any place you choose would have to accommodate that.

[bp9801]

Restaurant August is a good one I've heard about, kind of expensive but its ran by a great chef in John Besh.

 

You also need to stop by at least one oyster/fish restaurant if you'll be in New Orleans, something like the Acme Oyster House or the Red Fish like you've listed.

[ClayMeow]

Thanks, I'll check those out

[ivangela]

I lived in NO for 25 years, up until Katrina wiped my place out. I also managed and waited tables there for 10+years.

Please, please, please do NOT go to Brennan's or Redfish Grill. They are both mediocre at best. They get a lot of publicity being owned by the Brennan family who is big in NO.

 

Restaurant August is AWESOME as well as pricey so it really depends on how much you are willing to pay. Just as an aside, my buddy Jason Baas works there as a sommelier or manager, I don't remember.

 

One of my favorites is K-Paul's. Chef Paul invented "blackened" food back in the 80's. He was "Emeril famous" for a long time but never as commercial. For full disclosure I must admit I worked there for years and loved it. It is also pricey but great food and a stellar wine selection. They accept large parties readily, 9 would not be a problem.

 

My wife and I love Bayona. It is a Susan Spicer restaurant and also expensive. I'm not sure if 9 people would be an issue but probably not, although it is a fairly small place. She also has another great place called Herbsaint and recently opened a new place. I can't think of the name but if you're interested I'll ask my mom, just let me know.

 

NO has hundreds of restaurants, many are good, some are great and a few are Worldclass. Some parameters would help in narrowing a choice.

 

PS I saw you mentioned Delmonico. That is Emeril's high end joint. It is mega expensive and from what I've been told, NOLA is better I'm just sayin'...

[ClayMeow]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm about to go to bed now, but will definitely check out those places tomorrow.

 

As for parameters...

 

We're probably looking at two group dinners, one Saturday night and one Sunday night. The Saturday night one will probably occur both after and before heavy drinking, so I'm not even sure if making a reservation would be a good idea or not. lol. For that night, we're probably looking at something a little cheaper and more casual.

 

For Sunday night, we want a nicer place with some authentic NO cuisine (in other words, not a chain restaurant, like Hard Rock). It's hard to plan for nine people because I don't know what everyone is or isn't willing to spend and we're all spending money on flights and hotels already.

 

So I guess I'm looking for one cheap, but good casual place - a place where you'd go to hang out with your buddies. And then a nicer, more elegant place, maybe some decent seafood - pricier, but not exorbitant.

[ClayMeow]

One of my favorites is K-Paul's. Chef Paul invented "blackened" food back in the 80's. He was "Emeril famous" for a long time but never as commercial. For full disclosure I must admit I worked there for years and loved it. It is also pricey but great food and a stellar wine selection. They accept large parties readily, 9 would not be a problem.

 

My wife and I love Bayona. It is a Susan Spicer restaurant and also expensive. I'm not sure if 9 people would be an issue but probably not, although it is a fairly small place. She also has another great place called Herbsaint and recently opened a new place. I can't think of the name but if you're interested I'll ask my mom, just let me know.

So apparently both those places are closed on Sundays <_ i hold k-paul in my back pocket for saturday but it may be too expensive our meal depending on what we do sunday.>

[bp9801]

You could check out Joey K's, Casamento's, or Parasol's. Joey K's for New Orleans favorites, Casamento's for oysters, and Parasol's for po-boys.

[ClayMeow]

Sorry I haven't responded, but I've been sick for a couple of weeks.

 

Here's the itinerary so far, as far as restaurants go:

 

Friday Lunch - Acme Oyster House - walk-in

Friday Dinner - Ralph & Kacoo's - reservation

Saturday Brunch - Brennan's - reservation

Saturday Dinner - Red Fish Grill - reservation

Sunday Brunch - Mother's - walk-in

Sunday Dinner - Emeril's Delmonico - reservation

 

Most of us will be there until Monday evening, so we'll also be doing breakfast/lunch on Monday, but nothing planned.

[bishop245]

enjoy the trip and hope ya feel better before ya head out