At Table
New Orleans
By M.B.T. Gastronome
It is with interest that I have been reading M.B.T. entries regarding favorite New Orleans restaurants. Having once lived in New Orleans (more than twenty years ago), and still regarding New Orleans as my absolute favorite restaurant city, I cannot help but agree with comments about the various restaurants.
While most people eat to live, New Orleanians live to eat. That is reflected in the great number of very good restaurants which thrive there. Although I have not been privileged to eat at many of the restaurants listed in the poll, I have eaten at some of them and find them all to be good in their own way. It is rather difficult to find a bad restaurant in New Orleans. Even the food at lower rated New Orleans restaurants seems good when compared to fare found in many other cities.
I will comment briefly on three listed in the poll, beginning with my favorite, Galatoire’s. Having been a prominent part of the restaurant scene since 1905, Galatoire’s is truly old New Orleans. Although lunch is available, I prefer to go in the evening, a time when jackets are required for gentlemen. The food is great, the ambience is magnificent, and the experience of eating at Galatoire’s is an experience that must not be passed up. It is so unique and is a destination for many old New Orleans families.
Commander’s Palace, located in the uptown Garden District of New Orleans since founded by Emile Commander in 1880, is operated by the Brennan family who took over in 1974 from the Moran family. Dinner at Commander’s Palace is an experience that always evokes a good feeling from both tourists and natives alike. The food is very good, a common theme of Brennan family restaurants.
The oldest of all is Antoine’s, located in the French Quarter since 1840. A visit to Antoine’s is like a visit to a museum. It is fascinating and the food is very good. Every time Antoine’s is mentioned, I think of the famous quote from then New Orleans Mayor Robert Maestri. While dining at Antoine’s with then President Franklin Roosevelt, the good mayor reportedly turned to the President and asked, “How ya like dem ersters, Mr. President?” Supposedly, President Roosevelt remarked that he liked them just fine. This is a great New Orleans story, and a reminder of a unique citizenry that often pronounces Earl as Oil and oil as erl. What a great old city and what a great old restaurant.
From decades old traditional restaurant landmarks to newer exotic restaurants, even including neighborhood po-boy places, New Orleans has it insofar as food is concerned. There is no other place in the United States that compares. Go, enjoy, and take a credit card with a generous limit. And if you really want to learn about New Orleans food and restaurants, go to Google and enter Tom Fitzmorris. He is the quintessential expert on the New Orleans food scene.
One more thought. Next time I go to New Orleans to eat, I need to go with Steve Clikas, Jr. He seems to be well-versed in New Orleans cuisine. I really enjoyed his entry (in the guest book). Reading it made me so hungry. Good job, Steve.
(Editor's note: Our pseudonymous gourmand visits area dining establishments and reports on the experience. Wherever food is served, our well-traveled critic is likely to arrive with an appetite and depart with an opinion. He dines at his own expense; remains anonymous to all; reports only on those restaurants he frequents in the regular course of life, primarily reasonably priced places. However, he does splurge on occasion. Bon Appetit!)
