Are there any New Orleans aficionados here?

[ohnoyoudidnt]

I will be going there in a couple months and am planning on staying in the French Quarter for a couple days. Is there someone who can recommend a good hotel. I hear they are expensive, around $200 a night would be okay. Also are there any restaurants you would recommend?

[Rowdyboy]

1. The Hotel Provincial is located in the Quarter on Decatur across from the French Market....

Park your car there (if you have one with you-$25 a night) and you can walk everywhere else. Under $200 for a nice room with either antiques or reproduction furniture and the staff is wonderful. Went to a wedding in the courtyard there last spring and it was perfection. The top floor has rooms with a Mississippi River view which are unbelievable.

Do not eat in their restaurant "Stella!"-its over-priced and the food is mediocre. Instead, walk a block to "Irene's" for dinner. Fabulous Italian/seafood, romantic atmosphere, decent prices and a very well trained staff. It is not to be missed.

Or you could walk down the street 1/2 block and grab a meal at "Coop's Place". I can recommend the rabbit and sausage jambalaya but you'll enjoy whatever you order. Its open til 3 or 4am.

Also about a block away is the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen-inexpensive pizza, sandwiches and calzones. Both the Hawaiin and Greek pizza are worthy.

Order soup where ever you eat-its all good-especial shrimp or crab and corn chowder.

Start every day with either beignets and cafe au lait (donuts and the best coffee you ever had) at Cafe du Monde or a Bloody Mary/Long Island Tea from the open air bar in LaTrobe Park. Both are right across the street from the hotel. There's usually live jazz (weather permitting) in the park. Also on Decatur is the "Central Grocery"-home of the muffaletta which is heaven on a plate. Walk in and smell the olive oil that permeates the place. Grab your sandwich and walk back across the street to LaTrobe Park and sit and watch the river while you eat.

Then go up 2 blocks to Royal (pronounced "Royale") and walk the length of the Quarter ogling antiques. Or go up 3 blocks to Bourbon Street and walk the length of the Quarter watching the tourists (highly entertaining). Sometimes there's a funny bunch of fundamentalist religious nutcases protesting which is always good for a laugh.

Its completely legal to walk anywhere in the Quarter with a drink in your hand (if you choose) so long as its in a plastic cup.

By the time you make it to the far end of the Quarter you'll be hungry again so stop at either Felix's Oyster Bar or Acme Oyster Bar-deep fried soft-shell crab is the food of the gods but its all good, especially the po-boys.

Hop on the street car a few blocks away and ride down St Charles for some magnificent old homes (be sure to bring your camera). You'll pass Tulane and Xavier University and also the New Orleans Zoo. Get off at the end of the line and eat at the Camellia Grill. The kids behind the bar who cook are both exceptional chefs and entertainers. The food is very basic and inexpensive-great burgers and a chili-cheese omelet that is second to none, but the main attraction for me is the comedians behind the bar.

If you like beer, stop in at the Crescent City Brewpub on Decatur-they have a great sampler. Do not order their food-its mediocre on good days. As far as regular beers, most of the local either drink "Dixie" or "Abita"-my personal favorite is Abita Turbodog but not everyone cares for it.

For a little pricier meal I like Tujaques prix-fixe menu-the brisket is excellent. $120 for the two of us and we agreed it was well worth the money.

For something totally different Bennachin on Royal. Primarily African themed, we loved the black-eyed pea fritters, beef, okra and spinach soup, fufu (think mashed potatoes-sort of) and fried plantains.

If you're really hungry try Cafe Maspero on Decatur. The fried oyster plate had enough food for a starving lumberjack but I did my best. Its located in a very old brick building, reportedly where the pirate Jean Lafitte sold his booty (I'm sorry, but its true :shrug: can't resist a pun) and Andrew Jackson plotted the Battle of New Orleans). You can't beat that for atmosphere. Do not confuse it with Pierre Maspero's on Chartres. I made that mistake once-way overpriced, mediocre food.

"Mr B's Bistro" on Royal is run by one of the Brennan's (big restaurant family in New Orleans). I love the crawfish eggplant pirogue and the bar-b-que shrimp. The bring you a silly looking bib to wear when you order bar-b-que shrimp. Wear it-trust me, you'll need it.

Sorry I can give any insight into the big name places (Galatoire's, Antoine's, Brennan's or any of the fancy, high-priced restaurants). They're out of my league but we have acquaintances who drop $300 to $400 for a meal for two and love it. There are too many places where you can find awesome food for very reasonable prices.

I could go on but I don't want to be a bore. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Quarter.

Remember Royal is pronounced "royale", Conti is "cont-eye" and Chartres is "charters"

Does it sound like I love my home away from home?

Have a blast my friend!

[ohnoyoudidnt]

4. Thanks for the response.

That is a lot of useful information. I will definitely look into that hotel.

[nolabear]

2. Note the screen name. Ask me anything!

Do you want IN the Quarter or within walking distance? You'll be fine on $200 a night. Will you have a car or not? And Baby, you can't fling a cat without hitting a good restaurant. I'm mad for Dooky Chase, but it's not in the Quarter. Brennan's is expensive but a great brunch place. Susan Spicer's Bayona is nouveau but mad good. I ADORE Drago's charbroiled oysters but don't care for much else. Worth the trip, though. Stella is fabulous if you want to dress/Stanley is good casual. Acme Oyster Bar is on Bourbon and if you want good seafood Po Boys and such it's a big old touristy place but really good.

Central Grocery for a muffuletta (share and don't fear the nitrites). Beignets at the Cafe DuMonde.

I'm offline for the rest of the evening but I can go on and on and on when I return.

There are also some killer B&Bs too! Try The Chimes and River House. The former is near the streetcar line so you can get into town (and the Quarter) and the latter is in the Faubourg Marigny and crazy amazing if you love crazy, plus the owners are great.

I'll check back later re hotels. I was just there a few weeks back and am STILL envious. (grew up in the area)

[ohnoyoudidnt]

5. I want IN the quarter.

The above poster mentioned hotel Provincial. It sounds like a good place. I will be driving to New Orleans, but I do not intend to do any driving while there. Walking distance is a must. One place I do want to check out is the the Po-boys sub shop. There seems to be a number of places serving them. Is there an original place or a best place that you can suggest?

[smokey nj]

9. Mr. smokey and I did the Brennan's brunch two years ago. I'm still stuffed.

[seabeyond]

14. i forgot the muffuletta. i really wanted to try one. the first day

we had a johnny po boy and was delicious. i saw the line in central grocery all the way out on the sidewalk. but i wanted to try one and forgot.

made it back to texas before i remembered. looked at a picture of one. looked good. lol

[pitohui]

3. for $200 a night you can stay anywhere, can't you?

i dunno, for obvious reasons i never have to rent a hotel room but "expensive" is never a word i've heard in regard to new orleans

it's a bargain destination, actually

are you coming right for mardi gras week? the prices can be kinda high then, i guess, but with your budget i wouldn't foresee any problems?

i don't agree w. bringing or renting a car, you won't need a car in the french quarter, so you're paying $15 or $20 a night plus tax for a car to sit there, if you're flying in just take the airport taxi to/from the airport

taxi drivers won't cheat you here, there is a "set" price for going to/from the airport

[ohnoyoudidnt]

6. I will be driving there.

It won't be for Mardi Gras. It's one stop on a long road trip. I just have limited information, but from what I hear, the cheap places in N.O. are the places I don't want to book. Safety is a concern and it was highly recommended I stay in the French Quarter, or in another nearby city. Since I plan on a little partying, along with the rest of may party the Quarter is where I will have to stay.

[seabeyond]

7. there last week. Hotel de la Monnaie on Esplanade Ave

a fellow du'er gave me this hotel. it was wonderful. smaller room, sitting area 145 weekend, 125 during week. kitchenette. lovely place, clean and the people grand. the larger room 190 weekend and 175? during week. they up graded us to the bigger room at smaller room price. they have a web site. free parking. kinda closer to rougher section.

we also stayed at bienville house for three nights. really nice. we had a big room on the sun patio. around 200. it really was lovely, and nicer side of french quarter, but we had more issues and i loved the people at the other one.

a couple three places we ate i loved. johnny po boys is a must. they were so good. we took them to the river and sat on steps and ate.

ralph & kacoos on toulouse, a side street, was a wonderful surprise. tried the blackened gator. delicious. much better than the fried. loved it so much, had it the next day on a salad and not nearly as good. i think it is one of those things easily overcooked resulting in chewy. boy had sample platters and everything was delicious.

broussards, very expensive and probably and easy 70 a plate with breverage and dessert, sides. but the best food.

wasnt impressed with mr b's or emerils, though.

have fun.

wasnt my kinda town, but i did see the good, experienced it and glad for it.

[fishwax]

8. I was wondering how your trip went, seabeyond

mmm ... blackened gator :bounce:

Sorry it wasn't your kind of town, but it sounds like you got what you could from it, so that's good. :) :hi:

[seabeyond]

13. the first day we got there, was in the 80's and an unusual humidity.

i knew it was unusual cause everyone agreed with me when we went out that night and i griped about it, lol. it killed me. i died. lol. my body was in shock. sweaty, yukky.... eeeew. i was miserable and hated it. saw a lot of desperation in people and it didnt feel good at all. loved the hotel though, and the people. i love interacting with people.

we got caught in a down pour that night, walking back to hotel. that was an upside, fun and funny. cooling off that evening.

it wasnt a comfortable place for me later in the night, but i am a coward.

i started really enjoying new orleans, going to the garden district, walking downtown. wandering the shops on royal, and getting the feel. (it cooled down significantly the next day and humidity pretty much gone). we met up with family and had a couple days of lovely.

a group of 18 people. i was a good block behind, in the back with a 80 yr old woman walking slow. i look up at the street and we are on fuckin bourbin street. my father in law, being an ass took us on the street, even though he knew i said no. i let it go, until i saw he wasnt goin to turn off. the young girls (my nieces) heads are down, face about on the fuckin side walk. a sister has hold of her 10 yr old brother telling him to look at the sidewalk. my husband was well ahead of me with boys missing with his gps and looked up and saw XXX, and tured to boys, your mom is going to be so pissed.

i was so fuckin pissed off, made it to front of crowd in no time and faced off to 17 fuckin people. i was so mad. he is just an ass. the majority of people didnt want to go on the street. the old man didnt think of granddaughters. no adult stood up for the girls. we all just taught them, put your head down and take it. hubby suggested we take a more direct route to restaurant and left the others behind. the ass went out of our way to get us on that street in the middle of the trash.

ruined it for me.

i had started getting comfortable and enjoying the environment and i left pissed.

i have much more fun with just my family. dinner at german restaurant in frederickburg. stayed at the riverwalk in san antonio. that is awesome. loved UT. hotel on beach in glavaston. people told me to skip it. i loved it. a fairy across to penisula. baton rogue. it was all a blast.

didnt get the muffal.... whatever i really wanted to try. and not up and ready to make it to cafe monde. everyone else did, though. every morning, lol lol. i am not a breakfast person.

it was lovely. and we enjoyed the shops. kids had fun. father in law ruined it though, in his disrespect.

broussards was the best.

[smokey nj]

10. We stayed at the Hotel St. Marie on Toulouse & Dauphine and it was very nice.

I also recommend Donald Link's restaurants, Herbsaint and Couchon, they were both wonderful!

[madinmaryland]

11. The Maison Dupuy. Definitely worth the stay...

http://www.maisondupuy.com/

[likesmountains 52]

12. I travel to New Orleans frequently and love to st at the Marigny Manor B & B

http://www.marignymanorhouse.com/
It is not in the French Quarter, but the next neighborhood over. You can easily walk to the FQ, but get away from the touristy stuff by staying in the Marigny. Lots of good food, and some great music on Frenchman Street.

[Lasher]

15. I stayed at le Meridien a couple of times and liked it.

http://www.luxury-hotels-resorts.com/new-orleans/le-meridien-hotel.htm

I recommend having Sunday brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. Make reservations at least a couple of days ahead of time, even if this means calling them before you leave for New Orleans.

http://www.courtoftwosisters.com/

Edit: I just love that town!

[Turbineguy]

16. For eats and drinks

Frankie and Johnnies. No idea where it is, I was drunk and not driving. Crawdads, Burgers, The coldness of the beer almost defies physics.