Any good suggestions for restaurants in New Orleans (near French Quarter preferred)
I've lived Uptown for awhile now, and my main rule is to avoid Bourbon. Now I know when people come here, including those coming for the SEC tournament, getting away from Downtown is seemingly impossible. There are some really awesome bars (and most with more character than the some French Quarter bars) Uptown and in Mid-City, but let's face it, If you're a tourist your feel like you shouldn't leave the Quarter or the CBD. Most of you will feel the need to drink on Bourbon,and see all the drunk flat bills throwing up on each other, so I'll try tostay away from reccomending any Uptown or Mid-City establsihments.
Get the hand grenades and Hurricanes (no matter what anybody says, Pat O's is not where locals hang out) out of your system then head to Jean Lafitte's (the oldest bar in America). Just be weary of the few blocks of rainbow colored flags in between the busy part of Bourbon and Lafitte's.
If you do want to go to a local watering hole, I'd suggest the Chart Room. High Life is always ridiculous cheap here.
If you really get the urge to go all Jersey Shore on us, head one block off Bourbon Street to Gold Mine. Get a flaming Dr. Pepper and jam out toyour late 90's rap mix. It is guaranteed to be on repeat there.
If you're feeling like you need an excellentcocktail at a not-so-decent price, head to Bombay Club, Bar Tonique, or the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone. Get yourself a Vesper, Vieux Carre, or Sazerac, and get you lady-friend a French 75 or Ramos Gin Fizz. Trust me.
I second Frenchmen for REAL New Orleans live music, and would also reccomend the bars (Molly's on the Market, Pravda, etc.) on Lower Decatur. I think this is one of the most underrated portions of the French Quarter.
While we're on Decatur, I'd hit up Coop's Place for the rabbit jambalaya. If you catch yourself day-drinking (which most of us probably will), save your self some money, and stop by Sidney's Wine Cellar, and get yourself a sixpack of Abita Jockamo in cans. You can thank me later.
After the game Thursday, head over to Vaughan's Lounge in the Bywater (PLEASE DO NOT WALK) to catch Kermit Ruffin's and some of the best Red Beans you'll ever eat cooked by Kermit himself. There's a small cover charge , but drinks are cheap, and the beans are free.
Anything Donald Link (Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Herbsaint)does is ridiculously good. I'd go for the rabbit and dumplings at Cochon, and the Bacon Melt with Greensor Pork Belly Sandwich at Cochon Butcher.
The same can be said for John Besh (August, Besh Steak, Borgne, Luke, Domenica, American Sector, Soda Shop)does is always going to be good. Luke has a happy hour with 1/2 price drinks and $0.50 oysters EVERYDAY from 3:00- 6:00. Same goes for Domenica- 1/2 price drinks and the best pizza you'll ever eat for only $6.00. American sector has $0.75 short-rib sliders and meat pies, and 1/2 price drinks from 3:00 -6:00 as well.
Any of the Brennan's restaurants, well, beisdes the original Brennan's, are always excellent (Bourbon House, Redfish Grill, Cafe Adelaide, Mr. B's, etc.). Palace Cafe and Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse are also on this list, and bothhave$5.00 spiked Arnold Palmers, and $5.00 appetizersfrom 5:00 - 7:00.
If you want to gorge on fried seafood and you want to **** your pants 2 hours later, hit up Deanie's Seafood.
Skip Acme and Felix's and get your oyster fix with 2 dozen charbroiled oysters from Drago's.
An oft-overlooked restaurant in the CBD (where some of you will be staying) is Capdeville. The truffled mac & cheese and any of their burgers are awesome. I think they're better than Yo Mama's or Port of Call.
My all time personal favorite restaurant is Green Goddess. It won't be foreveryone, but for those adventurous eaters, it is excellent. Do yourself a favor and get the tasting menu.
My favorite brucnh in The Quarter just so happens to be the cheapest. EAT over on Dauphine has the best grillades and grits I've ever had and they're BYOB.
I'm cheating a little on this one, but it's well worth it. On Fridays at 2:00Uptown on Tchoupitoulas (hey, I told you I was cheating), NOLA Brewery does a free tour, with all the beer you can drink until 3:30. It's gotten pretty popular, so be prepared to wait a few minutes on a beer- go ahead and mix the Irish Channel Stout, and Hopitoulas. Remember, it's FREE.
In summary, my major rules:
Mardi Gras is over. Don't go buying beads thinking you're about to make a cameo on Girls Gone Wild: Bourbon Street.
If there is a guy trying to usher you into the restaurant from the street, or there is a plate with food covered by cellophane sitting outside the door, please don't eat there.
Drinklocal (Abita, Bayou Teche, NOLA, Heiner Brau, Old New Orleans Rum.
People are passionate about their food and drink down here, so this thread could go on all year. Hell, I could go on all day about the 5 block radius of bars and restaurants around my house. If anybody has any questions about a particular restaurant or bar, PM me (especially if you want to venture into Uptown or Mid-City.