Dining Around New Orleans

Shrimp Arnaud’s at Arnaud’s Remoulde (map).

Oysters at Acme Oyster House (map).

Pommes de Terre Soufflés (puffed potatoes) at Antoine’s. (map; Yes, I know Antoine’s is known for other dishes, but this happens to be my favorite.)

Dining around New Orleans, there’s no experience like it.

You know, if you ask five people where they like to eat in New Orleans, I’ll guarantee you that you’ll get five different responses.

And that’s okay.

In a city, no a state, known for its culinary offerings, there’s no right or wrong answers. Just a lot of good food to try.

While I’m always open to trying somewhere new, I do have my favorites that I tend to gravitate toward when I’m in NOLA for a weekend.

They say they are one of the most photographed restaurants in the city and while the facade is eye-catching, the food is pretty good, too. Desire Oyster Bar, located in the Royal Sonesta (map), serves lunch and dinner. On the menus, you’ll find such items as shrimp and grits, crawfish etouffee, oysters and various seafood platter. For a quick bite, I highly recommend a po’boy. One thing you need to be aware of is the dining area is small and can seem crowded at times, especially during busy times in the Quarter. Be patient, because you will eventually be seated.

Maybe it’s me, but I can smell Mother’s at least a block before I get there. And this is a good thing. Located on Poydras (map), the restaurant is filled with more locals than tourists. Don’t let the line at the door scare you away. It moves. When you get inside, don’t expect anything fancy – you place your order at the counter, sit down at a table and wait for your food to arrive. Of course, ordering just might be the hard part, because you have to make a decision. Word to the wise: if you are on a diet, leave it at the door (or better yet, home.) Mother’s is highly regarded for their po’ boys, so consider ordering baked ham, debris or Famous Ferdi special. While I never had it, many people really like their red beans, jambalaya and bread pudding. If you happen to be there for breakfast, try their black ham or debris biscuit.

It’s sad to admit this, but I could eat the olive salad at Central Grocery (map) by itself. Having it on their muffaletta is just an added bonus. So, what is this sandwich that’s second to po’boys? It’s a combination of salami, ham and mozzarella topped with olive salad that’s served on a thick round loaf of Italian bread. Be prepared that if you order a whole (cut into quarters), that’s a lot of sandwich. Start with a half, which is a little more manageable. Don’t forget to include a bag of Zapp’s potato chips.

Of course no trip is complete without a stop (or two or three) at Cafe du Monde (map) for a plate of three beignets and a cup of cafe au lait. Yes, I can be a typical tourist, but when it comes to this, I don’t care. It’s the first place that I head to when I get into the Quarter. For me, the beignets make a great breakfast, snack or dessert.

photo credit: All photos are from personal collection. (top left) fried shrimp po’boy at Desire; (middle right) po’boys at Mother’s; (bottom left) beignets at Cafe du Monde