Places to eat/drink in New Orleans

I'm headed down to New Orleans for a wedding on Saturday. I'm getting down there Thursday afternoon and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of any good places to eat and bars to go to. I'm looking for some good jambalya. The last time I was in NOLA was the summer of 2000, so I'm sure a lot of things have changed. I'll be staying in the French Quarter, so any places within walking distances would be prefered.

Thanks.

 

I guess you are looking for a good "watering hole" huh? Well, there's always the basic hotel bars, but I would try the Copper Monkey Bar and Grill. Sounds like a good place to eat from what I have heard.

 

To escape the crowds, check out Monaghan's Erin Rose just off Bourbon on Conti.

Guinness and cool music on the jukebox.

 

I know it's touristy, but they're damn tasty -- make a point to hit Cafe du Monde for some beignets and cafe au lait.

 

MOTHERS...nothing else compares. Although food in New Orleans is just incredible...period.

 

Best divey joint: Coop's Place, 1109 Decatur (right across the street from Margaritaville--seriously, why would anyone visiting NoLa go there?) Great, cheap local cuisine a bit removed, but not too far, from the Bourbon Street pukopolis. Web site and menu at Coopsplace.net.

Upscale: Herbsaint, 701 St. Charles (more downtown, somewhat close to the casino). Nice-looking spot with some modern twists on classic bistro fare. Gourmet magazine ranked it as one of the top 50 restaurants in the U.S. according to Herbsaint's Web site (Herbsaint.com).

Whatever you do, do not succumb to a foot-long hot dog or a slice of pizza at 4 a.m. from one of the ubiquitous stands on Bourbon Street. You'd be better off eating nutria dipped in a Bourbon Street puddle.

 

It's a little ways away from the Quarter, but Jacques-Imo's is a great place to eat. In the Quarter, you can't go wrong with Acme Oyster House or Cafe Masepero. And I'm partial to drinking at the Gold Mine (it's right around the corner from Cat's Meow, this big-ass kareoke bar.) Cool place to hang, and they have a lot of old school video games. Pat O'Brien's is touristy, but you need to go there and have a Hurricane. There's a great Dixieland jazz club, run by Germans...can't quite remember the name of it right now, but it's way down Bourbon, around Marie Laveau's (right before you hit all the gay bars) They have all these amazing musicians for a two-drink minimum...it's a real old-school place, you can tell it hasn't been properly cleaned since JFK was shot. There's a fun bar around Lee Circle called the Circle Bar...it's about a mile or two from the Quarter...I was there a couple of months ago and most of the members of Ween were hanging out there after a concert. I heard a rumor the place was closing, so it may not be open.
And there is nothing wrong with eating a Lucky Dog or pizza at one of those pie-and-a-shot places...I've done it plenty of times with no ill effects. I would steer clear of Hand Grenades however...they're basically a big shot of Everclear with sweet and sour mix. And stay out of Bourbon Street strip clubs, unless you have a shitload of dough or a lot of self control.

 

Want some history while you drink? Head to Napoleon House on Chartres and have a Pimm's Cup.

http://www.napoleonhouse.com/index.html

Like oysters? Head down to Acme Oyster House on Iberville and get a dozen raw with an Abita.

http://www.acmeoyster.com/

Want something less touristy than the French Quarter? Hail a cab to Magazine Street ($10 from the Quarter). Have lunch at Juan's Flying Burrito. Shop all day with nary a chain store in site. Finish the night by having one of the top 10 meals of your life at La Petit Grocery. Get the blue crab app and whatever the special is for your entree.

http://www.juansflyingburrito.com/index.html
http://www.magazinestreet.com/
http://www.lapetitegrocery.com/index.html

 

Does that say 50 cent martinis on the La Petite Grocery site?

Sweet Jesus.

 

ralph and kacoo's on toulouse. delicious.

and for your 4 a.m. hunger pangs, there's a greasy spoon across the street from pat o'brien's but the name escapes me at the moment. And no, don't eat the pizza. or the chicken sandwich that one of my friends ended up with. I have no idea where it came from.

 

Did Mother's on Canal reopen?

If so, you have to go there.

Get everything, as much as you can eat, and enjoy it all.

 

mother's. known for the ham, though the calamari po'boy was my favorite.