Restaurant recommendations (2016+ edition)

[BB Chgo]

If you can't get into Peche, Donald Link has a new spot in the Four Seasons hotel, Chemin a la Mer, that seems to have open reservations that Sunday till 10 pm.. I haven't been, but I've read that it's very good (but pricey).

[QUOTE=swag;n868237]



Swag, we ended up getting a reservation for lunch at Peche on Wednesday, well worth it and it will be a repeat.

We did go to Chemin a la Mar on Sunday...WOW!!!! What a way to round out our trip. It worked out great, even though our anniversary was Tuesday and we wanted to go to Clancy's, we ended up canceling Clancy's because we were having so much fun at the Patry. We opted for the Cote De Boeuf, which is basically a rib eye large enough for two, carved table side. We also had a variety of oysters, the Foie Gras, bottle of wine, and some sides.

Service and food was absolutely outstanding; have to say, the best steak we've ever had!!! And we do have our fair share of great steak houses here in Chicago. We will be back, for sure!

Thanks again for the recommendation, much appreciated!

[Pete44]

Tom Fitzmorris:
https://nomenu.com/about

Great resource! Thank you. The glowing review of Miss River has me thinking maybe we should add a second Alon Shaya restaurant to our current reservations, in addition to Saba.

Two of the best pieces I’ve ever read about eating in Louisiana were written by Calvin Trillin, a New Yorker, for New Yorker magazine.

Here’s his piece on Mosca’s:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...y-specials/amp

Here’s his piece on boudin:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...sing-links/amp

Thank you! Very enjoyable reading. Mosca's is definitely on my New Orleans bucket list.


For all of you who dine regularly in the city, what would you say is the single best addition to the food scene in the last three to four years?

[mitchell101]

Commanders! The service there is probably the best in the city. They will make your date feel like a $1 million bucks!

[where yat brah]

I've got a girl that I just started dating and want to impress at Sunday Brunch
Weeks ago, I was able to get a reservation at Arnaud's.
Commander's was impossible to get into.
Lo and behold, this morning I got one at Commander's for this Sunday.

Which one do I keep??
Arnaud's or Commander's???

[mitchell101]

Same experience. We stayed and met our crew at the bar before heading out. Ordered apps and they were all good including grilled oysters.

[BB Chgo]

Any opinions on Trenasse, in the InterContinental, somewhat conflicting reviews online. I didn't have anything booked for Sunday so grabbed a reservation here. Please advise if I should find some place else.

We stayed there in 2017. To be fair, we only did appetizers. From what I recall, it was not bad and did the trick for a late evening snack. As for full entrees, can't really say, sorry.

[BB Chgo]

If you can't get into Peche, Donald Link has a new spot in the Four Seasons hotel, Chemin a la Mer, that seems to have open reservations that Sunday till 10 pm.. I haven't been, but I've read that it's very good (but pricey).

Thank you Swag, much appreciated!

I was sold when I saw the Foie Gras and Tartare on the menu, so I booked it. I'll report back when we return home.

[halley8]

Any opinions on Trenasse, in the InterContinental, somewhat conflicting reviews online. I didn't have anything booked for Sunday so grabbed a reservation here. Please advise if I should find some place else.

[swag]

In regards to Peche, do you think dining at the bar would be a possible option Sunday May 8th after the fest? It will only be 2 of us and we stay in the CBD. It is about a 10 minute walk from Peche, however there are no available reservations beyond 6:00pm. At this point, we are wondering if there is any value of just "showing up" with hopes of getting in. It would be a great place to round out trip/Fest weekend.

If you can't get into Peche, Donald Link has a new spot in the Four Seasons hotel, Chemin a la Mer, that seems to have open reservations that Sunday till 10 pm.. I haven't been, but I've read that it's very good (but pricey).

[BB Chgo]

You should have no problem getting 2 seats at the bar at Peche although you may have to wait a bit. Did you try making a reservation?

Yes, I called and all tables are booked from 6:00 to close. I did ask about bar seating and the hostess said it is first come, 1st served and there may be a wait. I think we may just show up and try for a seat at the bar.

So far this is our dinner roster:
Tuesday: Clancy's
Wednesday: Jacques-Imos
Thursday: Meril
Friday: ??? May just wing-it, see where we can just walk in
Saturday: Apolline
Sunday: Peche

[jjazznj]

In regards to Peche, do you think dining at the bar would be a possible option Sunday May 8th after the fest? It will only be 2 of us and we stay in the CBD. It is about a 10 minute walk from Peche, however there are no available reservations beyond 6:00pm. At this point, we are wondering if there is any value of just "showing up" with hopes of getting in. It would be a great place to round out trip/Fest weekend.

I feel like finding a decent restaurant open past 9:00 is challenging. If you feel Peche may be a bust on Sunday, any other recommendations in the area? We've done Herb Saint, Cochon and Meril's. We obviously do not want to leave the fest early on Sunday and as always, the challenge is getting back to the area in a reasonable amount of time to stop in the room, freshen up, then head back out for a dinner. Pending on the place, we could go directly to dinner from the fest, however "fest attire" is not always preferred at some establishments.

You also mentioned Clancy's. That has been on our radar for a long time. We arrive in town Tuesday May 3rd, and we are going there for our anniversary dinner, looking forward to it.

You should have no problem getting 2 seats at the bar at Peche although you may have to wait a bit. Did you try making a reservation?

[BB Chgo]

If you go to Peche just try to sit at the bar and dine at your own pace. Actually that is how I like to dine at most restaurants. There are not nearly enough good servers to go around in this city(Zasu where I work being the exception - Haha). I prefer to just eat at bars where I can see the person taking care of me and not have to flag down my server if I need something.

In regards to Peche, do you think dining at the bar would be a possible option Sunday May 8th after the fest? It will only be 2 of us and we stay in the CBD. It is about a 10 minute walk from Peche, however there are no available reservations beyond 6:00pm. At this point, we are wondering if there is any value of just "showing up" with hopes of getting in. It would be a great place to round out trip/Fest weekend.

I feel like finding a decent restaurant open past 9:00 is challenging. If you feel Peche may be a bust on Sunday, any other recommendations in the area? We've done Herb Saint, Cochon and Meril's. We obviously do not want to leave the fest early on Sunday and as always, the challenge is getting back to the area in a reasonable amount of time to stop in the room, freshen up, then head back out for a dinner. Pending on the place, we could go directly to dinner from the fest, however "fest attire" is not always preferred at some establishments.

You also mentioned Clancy's. That has been on our radar for a long time. We arrive in town Tuesday May 3rd, and we are going there for our anniversary dinner, looking forward to it.

[jjazznj]

Dee79 - Love the food at Peche, but the service there has been a bit scatterbrained,. Have had great appetizers and cocktails at Pelican Club. Brigtsen's is one of the all time best restaurants anywhere. You can't go wrong there, but their duck is amazing.

If you go to Peche just try to sit at the bar and dine at your own pace. Actually that is how I like to dine at most restaurants. There are not nearly enough good servers to go around in this city(Zasu where I work being the exception - Haha). I prefer to just eat at bars where I can see the person taking care of me and not have to flag down my server if I need something.

[jjazznj]

A few reactions to some of the recent posts in this thread:

1. In my experience, although not universally true, the better restaurants tend to be on Resy rather than opentable. When I'm searching for reservations, I typically start with Resy and then switch to opentable if I haven't found anything of interest. Obviously if you have time, search both before making a decision.

2. Brigtsen's and Clancy's are old school: they only take reservations over the phone. If you ask Frank Brigtsen why he doesn't switch to an online platform, he'll tell you it's because if he did that, he would then need to fire one of his staff members. And since his staff members who manage reservations are his wife (Marna) and her two sisters (Sandy and Rhonda), you can understand why he doesn't want to do that.

3. Speaking of Brigtsen's, I don't need any confirmation to confidently assert that Brigtsen's is my favorite of the classic New Orleans restaurants (and I'm including in my definition of "classic New Orleans restaurants" all of the big, splashy restaurants opened by New Orleans' celebrity chefs like John Besh (or his successor restaurant group), Donald Link, Emeril Lagasse, etc., even if many of them haven't been around since the beginning of time), but still I took some clients out last night to one of those big, splashy restaurants that's universally loved on this board and in most restaurant chat rooms (I won't name it; I've taken the position since the pandemic that I'll applaud restaurants I love but avoid saying bad things about others that are trying their best but which I just don't like as much), after having sent them to Brigtsen's on Saturday night (thank you, Sandy, for squeezing them in last minute and showing them the love), and while it was good, with good service and a lively atmosphere, it was nowhere close to Brigtsen's good. In particular, I had their seafood gumbo and their fried catfish appetizer -- both of which I've had many times at Brigtsen's, as recently as two weeks ago -- and they were fine, but just didn't compare. The gumbo had a really nice, deep and rich roux, but you could tell that the seafood was not prepared fresh-to-order and added at the last minute the way Brigtsen's does it and which, as you can imagine, makes a huge difference. The catfish was fresh and well prepared, but it was served with a watery and uninspired tartar sauce on the side. I love Brigtsen's cornmeal coating (their fried catfish happens to be gluten free, for those who care about such things) and the zippy tartar sauce with which it's served. Although both restaurants include this on their appetizer menu, I'm always tempted to make a meal out of two (or three) orders of it at Brigtsen's.

Sorry all, I just feel I need to share my love for Brigtsen's.

It does not get much better food wise in New Orleans than Brigtsen's. Frank is a local icon and treasure!

[jjazznj]

I saw Zasu recommended on EATER a few weeks back and made a reservation for 4/29. The menu looks amazing, and it's less than a 10 min walk from our Airbnb. I can't believe jazz fest is only a few weeks away! So excited!

Ask for James when you arrive. I'll definitely be there that night.