[ Acme Oyster & Seafood
House | Bacco | Brennan's ]
Commander's Palace | Delmonico Restaurant
| Emeril's Restaurant | Galatoire's ]
[ Mothers | Muriel's Jackson Square |
Peristyle | Red
Fish Grill | Upperline ]
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for meetings in New Orleans
Acme Oyster & Seafood
House
If you don't mind a funky interior and lines that wrap out the door
and down the block, you can get some of the best oysters you've ever
tasted at Acme Oyster & Seafood House, tucked away in the famous
French Quarter. The menu features freshly shucked oysters, fried shrimp,
gumbo, and red beans and rice as staples of the house, fresh and simply
prepared and served. Table service is optional. It may be faster to
wait at the open kitchen and carry your food to an empty table, if
you can find one.
Acme Oyster & Seafood House
724 Iberville St.
(504) 522-5973
www.acmeoyster.com
Bacco
Bacco is Ralph Brennan's attempt at upscale Italian cuisine,
and it's a good one. Homemade pasta, wood-fired pizzas and fresh seafood
go along with more unusual dishes such as crawfish ravioli and pasta
with black truffle sauce. All are prepared under the watchful eye
of Chef Chris Montero, whose housemade pastas and fresh regional seafood
spotlight a menu that's alive with homegrown ingredients and artfully
prepared dishes presented with an Italian accent. The room itself
is romantic with Renaissance screens behind the bar and stone hues
on the walls. Bacco often has prix-fixe specials at lunch.
Bacco
310 Chartres St.
(504) 522-2426
www.bacco.com
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Brennan's
It isn't hard to guess who the owners of the 56-year-old Brennan's
are. Still another sector of the family owns this landmark breakfast
and brunch hot spot in the heart of the French Quarter. An enormous
morning menu includes poached egg specialties, creamed spinach,
baked apples, strawberries in cream, and even dessert (Bananas
Foster was invented here). Dinner is equally popular although not as famous
with its versions of Oysters Rockefeller and seafood gumbo.
Since the place is enormous, you'll be happy if you can sit in the main
dining room with views of the tropical courtyard and fountain.
Brennan's
417 Royal St.
(504) 525-9711
www.brennansneworleans.com
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Commander's Palace
Any dining foray into New Orleans should include a visit to Commander's
Palace. It is from here that all other Louisiana-style cuisine
is measured, especially in light of the fact that the place has been
a breeding ground for many famous chefs. Chef Tory McPhail is a relatively
new anchor at this bastion of fine dining and so far all is very well.
Owned and operated by one sector of the formidable Brennan family,
Commander's is huge, gorgeous and deliciously decadent. There's turtle
soup, braised rabbit, crispy stuffed quail, and a bread pudding souffle
that should be on the must-order list of every diner to cross the
threshold.
Commander's Palace
1403 Washington Ave.
(504) 899-8221
www.commanderspalace.com
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Delmonico Restaurant
While Delmonico Restaurant has
actually been a New Orleans staple since 1895, it has only been
under Emeril's umbrella since 1997. Today, the cuisine is strictly
Creole with classic items from the former menu and some new inventive
ones thrown in for measure. Barbecued shrimp, souffled spinach and
brie crepes, pan-roasted quail, and hickory-roasted duck are surprising
and delicious. The two-story building, built in 1890, was originally
a one-story dairy creamery. Obviously Emeril put it through a serious
historic renovation before reopening with an understated elegance
that includes high ceilings, wood floors and large paned windows
overlooking St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District. Altogether
a fine addition to Emeril's empire.
Delmonico Restaurant
1300 St. Charles Ave.
(504) 525-4937
www.emerils.com
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Emeril's Restaurant
Possibly the most famous chef in the country these days is Emeril
Lagasse who appears on television and in magazines and cookbooks wherever
you turn. Emeril got his start right here in New Orleans where he
owns three very different restaurants, all with his unmistakable stamp.
Emeril's Restaurant was his first
and remains the most upscale of three. Open since 1990 it has received
awards for dishes such as deviled oysters with a sour mango slaw,
andouille braised veal osso buco or rabbit with wild mushroom terrine.
Delicious and different, dig into one of his dishes and you'll know
immediately why Emeril has become a household name.
Emeril's
800 Tchoupitoulas St.
(504) 528-9394
www.emerils.com
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Galatoire's
At 100 years of age Galatoire's
defines old-line New Orleans. Possibly the most popular lunch spot
in the city, Galatoire's is loud, noisy and active—and New
Orleanians like it exactly that way. Many of the French-Creole dishes
here are recipes that date back to 1905. Expect heavy sauces on
fried oysters, steaks and lamb chops. Most of the waiters have been
here for life, so don't be surprised if you get some attitude as
a tourist. Still, this is a premium, one-of-a-kind New Orleans experience.
Jackets are required.
Galatoire's
209 Bourbon St.
(504) 525-2021
www.galatoires.com
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Mothers
The lines out the door may signify one of two things--tourist trap
or very good local food. Such is the case of the New Orleans' working
mans dining hole called Mothers. Depending on who you ask,
it's one, the other or both, but one thing you can always expect
is a wide array of local delicacies composed of fried foods, hot
plates and those infamous po' boy sandwiches. Eat elbow to elbow
among the locals and tourists as you try the New Orleans tradition,
an oyster po' boy, made of heaps of fried oysters, lettuce, and
tomato embedded in fresh French crispy bread. It can be chaotic
here as the line winds out among the tables. A loud and boisterous
kitchen crew accompanies the noise by hooting and hollering names
for orders while constructing some of New Orleans finest cheap eats.
Mothers
401 Poydras St.
(504) 523-9656
www.mothersrestaurant.net
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Muriel's Jackson Square
Another local restaurant that continues to draw raves is Muriel's
Jackson Square with its enviable location overlooking the
bustling Jackson Square in the core of the French Quarter. Head
chef Erik Veney has created a traditional New Orleans menu with
incredible shrimp remoulade, crawfish etouffee and Oysters Muriel.
Entrees bring a cassoulet and wood grilled redfish. Meyer lemon
turnovers and a milk chocolate malt bomb will send you careening
back onto Jackson Square ready to face whatever you may find.
Muriel's Jackson Square
801 Chartres St.
(504) 568-1885
www.muriels.com
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Peristyle
Peristyle is a popular French-style restaurant that's very
polished with its lovely room with lavender walls and white accents
overseeing burgundy-leather banquettes. White jumbo lump crabmeat
on top of fresh beets, Louisiana oysters poached in pastis, sweetbreads,
and squab are examples of the beautifully prepared menu items. The
cheese selection here may be the best in New Orleans. For dessert
try the caramel Alaska or Turkish coffee ice cream. Because the
restaurant is small make reservations as far in advance as possible.
Peristyle
1041 Dumaine St.
(504) 593-9535
*Note: Website Available Soon
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Red Fish Grill
Ralph Brennan is the proprietor at Red
Fish Grill, a casual seafood haunt with creations ranging
from barbecued oysters to shrimp po' boys to alligator sausage.
Whimsically decorated with papier-mache wall hangings, sea creatures
etched into a sea-colored concrete floor and hand-painted tables,
Red Fish is comfortable for everyone from jeans-wearers to those
in business suits. If you're alone, sit at the lengthy bar, which
extends the entire length of the Iberville side of the restaurant,
and feast on raw oysters.
Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon St.
(504) 598-1200
www.redfishgrill.com
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Upperline
As much an art gallery as a restaurant, Upperline
in Uptown New Orleans features the work of local painters on the
wall and local cuisine in the kitchen. Shrimp remoulade, fried green
tomatoes and crawfish enchiladas are dishes that keep this place
high on the locals' lists of favorite restaurants. Situated in a
charming cottage, the place is owned by the eccentric and vibrant
Joanne Clevenger who will happily describe her abundant art collection
to those who ask. She also knows more about food and restaurants
in New Orleans than anyone. Open for dinner only, closed Mondays
and Tuesdays.
Upperline
1413 Upperline St.
(504) 891-9822
www.upperline.com
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