Several folks have been asking about where to eat on Thanksgiving day in New Orleans, and I've found a great place to get the lowdown: visit Tom Fitzmorris's New Orleans Menu site and click on "Thanksgiving." You'll get a list of 50 restaurants serving on the holiday, plus some awesome recipes for your own spread.
Last year, Paul and I went to Commander's Palace for Thanksgiving with his folks. They offer a wonderful traditional meal, complete with gumbo and bread pudding or other seasonal desserts, but you can also choose from non-turkey entrees. Plus, you'll never find a friendlier staff. In fact, they were so friendly last year that they let us into the kitchen, where Paul snapped some awesome shots:
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One of the things I love about the Crescent City Farmers Market is their varied locations--and even more, that one of those locations, the Thursday evening market, is a short walk from our house. This past Thursday, we sauntered out with dozens of people from the neighborhood who were taking advantage of the brief period in New Orleans when days are sunny and bright, but not hot. For a month or so, the weather will be the star here, with sweet Louisiana produce running a close second.
We're offering this list of eateries--plus a few bars, attractions, and oddities--for our guests and guests unknown to get ideas about where to spend their time and money. Only places we have visited and actually recommend are on the list. Of course, the list is ever-growing, as we continue to explore new spots every week.
If you'd like to suggest places that aren't here yet, feel free to leave a comment, and we'll add it to the list if we agree. Happy exploring...
Updated on October 5 & 23, 2011--Removed from list: Ignatius Eatery (love the name, but the food hasn't been cutting it lately). Added to list: Coquette, Creole Creamery, The Company Burger. Food Orleans' stories linked in brackets.
French Quarter
Eats
- Central Grocery (home of the muffaletta; mostly takeaway)
- Coop's Place (best restaurant jambalaya, hands down)
- Felix's (great oysters, turtle soup, sweet potato fries) [my visit]
- Antoine's (high-priced, long-established classic French; recommended if you can budget it)
- Port of Call (great big steak-like burgers, steaks, baked potatoes (no french fries here), big sweet drinks; there's usually a line out the door, but it's worth it; vegetarians beware)
- Galatoire's (legendary spot for Creole cuisine, festive dining rooms, excellent service, no reservations accepted. Take aunt Rudy's advice and get the green salad with garlic) [my visit]
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This photo is my gift to you. Fantastic, rich, tender roast beef and gravy over french fries, and it's not even a holiday...it's just another Sunday in the food capitol of my heart. I had to share.
My new Sunday favorite is Parkway Bakery & Tavern, at Bayou St. John. Our friend John Mark turned us onto this place a few weeks ago--our friend who was visiting. We didn't even know the riches that were waiting for us a mere football field away from our front door. Now we can't stop going. For the photo experience, order "fries with gravy." I know the photo doesn't look like fries with "gravy"--it looks more like your grandmother's roast beef--but that's what they call it, so just believe them. Parkway is famous for piling this roast beef onto po' boys, and for their metabolism-demolishing "surf-n-turf" po'boy, which is loaded with roast beef and fried shrimp. We haven't braved that combo yet, though we hear it's mighty good.
