|
Port Of Call
Category:
Local Favorite
838 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70116
In short, this place has THE best cheeseburger I've ever had in my life.
What to order:...
More 10 months ago
In short, this place has THE best cheeseburger I've ever had in my life.
What to order: Cheeseburger, medium (or medium rare). Baked Potato with everything (inc. mushrooms).
While you wait, have a monsoon or two. Don't expect a quiet dinner - this is the place to go when you're feeling raucous!
Pros: Cheeseburger, Monsoons
Cons: Wait is never less than 45 mins, neighborhood is sketchy
Hide
|
|
Port Of Call Restrnt
Category:
Restaurants
838 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70116
(504) 523-0120
Port of Call's specialty is hands down the best burger in all of New Orleans. These burgers are...
More
Port of Call's specialty is hands down the best burger in all of New Orleans. These burgers are huge and juicy, and come dressed on the side along with a large baked potato. The wait is often long and there are no reservations, so while waiting for a table head to the bar and order one of the huge tropical drinks on the menu. Each one is cool, refreshing, and loaded with alcohol.
Hide
|
|
Cafe du Monde
Category:
People Watching
800 Decatur St
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70116
(504) 525-4544
I went here three times in a matter of five days during a visit to New Orleans. Each time, I went...
More
I went here three times in a matter of five days during a visit to New Orleans. Each time, I went at a different part of the day. Overall, the food was fantastic-- I had your obligatory beignets as well as their cafe au lait. Their hot chocolate was also very good. Go in the early morning if you want a quieter way to start your day. In the afternoon, the outdoor seating area is a great place to people watch or take a break from your stroll along the riverside street. Deep in the heart of the night, go to see the action and liveliness of New Orleans with other people getting their midnight snack. The service was friendly and quick. This is a must-see (and eat) when you are in the Big Easy!
Pros: 24 hours, tasty food, warm drinks
Cons: bring something to wipedown your hands, powered sugar is good but messy
Hide
|
|
NEWS BULLETIN.......THE FAMOUS CAFE DU MONDE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER OF NEW ORLEANS WAS DESTROYED BY...
More
NEWS BULLETIN.......THE FAMOUS CAFE DU MONDE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER OF NEW ORLEANS WAS DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE!!!
If you don't believe me, read about it here...
http://www.cafedumonde.com
Actually, it wasn't the Cafe du Monde that was destroyed by a hurricane (one that took place over a century before Katrina hit New Orleans, Biloxi, and other areas of The Gulf Coast) but the original French Marketplace that had been built by (Get this!) the Spanish back in 1771.
The architecture of the historic part of New Orleans reflects how Louisiana had, at different times, been governed by settlers from France, Spain, and England.
However, even before Europeans had begun settling in the area, this area along the Mississippi River had been seen as an ideal marketplace by the Choctaw Indians.
In 1813--a year after the hurricane--the building that would, eventually, house Cafe du Monde was erected and, for many years, was known as The Butcher's Hall.
Cafe du Monde came into existence in 1862, and it has been owned and operated by the Fernandez family since 1942.
My folks spent their honeymoon in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras of 1947. Although they didn't stay in New Orleans during their Golden Anniversary trip in 1997 (choosing, instead, to stay in Biloxi and drive over there the day of the parade), they were able to come to the conclusion that the Mardi Gras had changed considerably since the first time they experienced it--and not for the better!
This wasn't a time when they went to Cafe du Monde while in The Crescent City.
They were simply glad to make it back to Biloxi where Mardi Gras was being celebrated in more the way that they had remembered it being back in 1947. They said that, if they ever returned to the South during Mardi Gras time, they would be attending the parade in Biloxi and not even bothering to drive over to New Orleans.
This isn't to say that they would never return to New Orleans--just not during Mardi Gras time.
As it turned out, it would be their last big road-trip together--although they did still take road-trips closer to home--as my dad would get a viral infection of the brain a couple of months later, which made his Parkinson's get worse and too unpredictable for such extended trips.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep (with a smile on his face) during the early morning hours of February 2, 2004. My folks were just days away from celebrating their 57th Anniversary, and my mom buried a final anniversary card with him.
The days of three French breakfasts at Cafe du Monde are a thing of the past to be remembered fondly--but my first experience of going there is one that I don't remember that well.
I was about six or seven months old and was wearing a loose diaper. It turned out that the baby in the loose diaper had loose bowels that day--and, while my folks were standing there waiting for a table to become available, I made my mark there by pooping on the floor!
After that, my visits there were a little more dignified--with the most UNdignified thing I might do being ordering seconds on their wonderful breakfast (a.k.a. pigging out).
Let me tell you about breakfast at Cafe du Monde. It's three of their warm, wonderful, light-n-fluffy beignets served with a choice of beverage. We chose the milk over the coffee, as my folks had tried the coffee there before and didn't find it to their tastes--and their description of it didn't sound that good to me, either.
Since then, I've had chicory coffee and love it. However, with beignets, I think that the very best beverage is a nice, cold glass of white milk.
Usually, it has been the three of us going there together. However, my dad and I stopped in for breakfast on our way to a poetry convention in Jacksonville, Florida back in 1991.
Breakfast, btw, is served anytime.
The information given at the website describes it best:
"The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If closes only on Christmas Day and on the day an occasional Hurricane passes too close to New Orleans."
It was among the first places to reopen after that most unwelcome invasion by Katrina.
Sadly, some of its employees are still unaccounted for, and there's a place on the website for sending e-mail if you're an employee or know an employee's whereabouts.
If you would like to enjoy some Cafe du Monde fare at a safe distance from Gulf Coast hurricanes--as in up here with the Hoosier tornadoes instead--don't expect to find a location as you would a Starbucks location, as the Fernandez family wants to keep things closer to home (though they did sell franchise rights to some people in Japan).
However, if you have the means to prepare these goodies at home, you can buy them--along with other New Orleans fare--through their website, which also offers non-edible gifts.
Hide
|
|
Mother's Restaurant
Category:
Restaurants
401 Poydras St
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70130
(504) 523-9656
Mother's has the best creole food in New Orleans. The atmosphere is unique and casual, and the...
More
Mother's has the best creole food in New Orleans. The atmosphere is unique and casual, and the food is affordable. Be sure to order the bread pudding!
Hide
|
|
Nola Restaurant
Category:
Local Favorite
534 St Louis St
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70130
We had the gumbo of the day - braised pork, sausage with black eyed peas - and for dinner, the...
More 3 months ago
We had the gumbo of the day - braised pork, sausage with black eyed peas - and for dinner, the shrimp and grits. These dishes were by far the best I have ever tasted! The gumbo was unusual, but awesome. We also ordered fried oysters, and they were great as well; fried perfectly so you could still taste them.
Service was excellent. I noticed the reviews stated bad service, but my water was refilled without ever having to ask, our plates came out hot and even @ the same time, and the waiter was knowledgeable and helpful to a tourist like us!
Only con was the seating was a bit cramped in the section we were in. We could overhear the tables next to us perfectly, and the couple next to us even started talking to us. The restaurant is large, so just ask to sit at a good spot if other are available to avoid this...
Pros: Extremely flavorful food
Cons: nothing major
Hide
|
|
OMG! My husband and I CAN NOT go to New Orleans without stopping at Mother's. The long line is...
More 1 year ago
OMG! My husband and I CAN NOT go to New Orleans without stopping at Mother's. The long line is worth the wait. Actually, the long line is an indication of what is in store. Those folks are working hard and fast and the place just doesnt empty out. We enjoy chatting in line with people traveling from all over and having delicious Bloody Mary's while we wait. Everything we have tried has been wonderful and when you go, don't forget to order the Debris.
Hide
|
|
Commander's Palace
Category:
Local Favorite
1403 Washington Ave
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70130
Many great things have been said about the food, service, and atmosphere at this restaurant that...
More 3 months ago
Many great things have been said about the food, service, and atmosphere at this restaurant that I would just like to add my family's applause to the list of those who adore this place. My family of five enjoyed a wednesday lunch, which included the Smoked Tomato & Roasted Pepper soup, Turtle soup (of course), Summer Melon salad, griddle seared Gulf Fish with artichokes, asparagas, pequillo peppers and grilled eggplants, Black Pepper Shrimp sauteed with garlic and black pepper over grilled corn, and Creole Spiced Gulf Fish with galic and leek confit. The dessert of Roast Peach & White Chocolate Bouchee must be tasted ( a written description would not do it justice). We had a special added treat. Lally Brennan was in the house and allowed me to engage her in a short conversation about her book "In The Land Of Cocktails." She is southern charm ...as is her restaurant. P.S. One does not co-author a book about New Orleans cocktails without offering an extensive variety of libations...be prepared. On the Wednesday that we visited there was a special of twenty-five cent Martinis with the purchase of an entree...things could get damgerous after a Commander's Palace Martini...or two
Hide
|
|
For a middle class individual such as myself, going to fine dining restuarants isn't an every day...
More
For a middle class individual such as myself, going to fine dining restuarants isn't an every day thing. So when myself and my fiance decide to go out for a nice dinner, we are taking a chance of spending alot of money on something that may not be up to it's high price standards. Commander's Palace not only live up to its standards, it exceeded our expectations.
First of all let's start off with the service. It is top notch. Everyone involved in providing service to you is very friendly and always ready to be of service. You will never have an empty glass and the waiter will be more than happy to give full detailed explanations of any dish you desire.
The food is excellent. I had a shrimp creole type of dish that was rich in flavor and most importantly, rich in shrimp. My fiance had a steak that was cooked to absolute perfection. Ordered medium rare and it came out as such. The steak came with a loaded mash potatoes that was creamy and full of flavor.
Commander's Palace may be a costly fine dining experience, but for the night it didn't matter. It was money well spent as the service and food exceeded our expectations.
Hide
|
|
Nola Restaurant
Category:
Restaurants
534 Saint Louis St
New Orleans,
Louisiana 70130
(504) 522-6652
The very best service, best food I have ever ate! A must go!
2 years ago
The very best service, best food I have ever ate! A must go!
Hide
|