New Orleans Restaurant Tips by mindcrime

Café Beignet: breakfast Cafe Beignet Review

We had our breakfast here on morning. You’ll see the statues that dominate the entrance as you walk along Bourbon street. There a lot tables at the outdoor patio where you can relax under the blue sky and sometimes you may have a band playing live music next to you. The misting fans helped (a bit) with the high heat.

Although the coffee was great (we also tried it at other locations of Café Beignet) the food was mediocre and a bit pricy.

The location is a very good though especially if your hotel is near Bourbon street (we were staying 2’ away from Café Beignet). It’s a self service place, you go, order, pay and then you find a seat and a guy will come out with your food some minutes later.

They serve different omelettes(mushroom, ham & cheese, veggie or western) for $8, Belgian waffle, French toast or southern breakfast (all of them $8), Of course you can find the usual local New Orleans specialities like red beans & rice, jambalaya or gumbo($8), roast beef po-boy($9) and muffaletta($10)

Behind the statues is a small fountain that you drop a coin, it’s not for good luck but according to a sign there the donations will go to continuing the Musical and Arts Legacy of New Orleans through the curriculum at McDonogh 15 Elementary School.

Address: 311 Bourbon street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Comparison: about average

Directions: there are different location, we also saw a small one at Royal Street

Phone: (504)-525-2611

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Breakfast

Website: http://www.cafebeignet.com/

Royal Blend coffee and tea: Royal Blend coffee and tea

Royal Blend is a self service coffee and tea house. We went inside to drink something and relax for a while.

It has a good variety of coffee, we enjoyed the iced coffee ($3 for large size) on a really hot day. The place is redeemable for coffee and tea beverages only so you cant really try something else here like a salad or something similar, I saw some muffins and other similar pastries next to the counter (pic 2) but on our way out we noticed a sign that they serve breakfast 8-10:30am and lunch 11-17.00. It seems we were there a bit late.

The front yard (pic 1) is nice to sit and escape the bustling French Quarter for a while.
There is free wi-fi available. The café is open 8.00-18.00

Address: 621 Royal street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: on a small courtyard off Royal street

Phone: 504-523-2716

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Coffeehouse

Website: http://www.royalblendcoffee.com/

Croissant d’or: Croissant d’or Patisserie Croissant D'Or Review

Croissant d’or Patisserie is a patisserie located at French Quarter and it is ideal for a coffee break if you walk along the empty streets early in the morning. Actually, I saw about it at some guide books and we gave it a try.

They have some nice pastries to eat with your coffee(a lot of croissants of course but not exactly dreamy as I expected).

We didn’t stay long but I think they offer free refill. You can grab a table inside or at the patio.

Address: 617 Ursulines Avenue

Comparison: about average

Directions: Quiet side of French Quarter. At the far end of French Quarter, Ursulines is off Royal street 3 blocks away from Esplanade avenue

Phone: 504/524-4663

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: French

Gazebo Café: Gazebo Café

This could be a nightlife tip also as they have live music during the evenings and many people spend their time there. We visited the place twice, one for breakfast and one for dinner, actually the second time we just wanted to listen to the blues band

Café GAZEBO is a good place but nothing to get excited with. We listened to a set of the band (Ellan Smith And The On Time) that was playing that night, I liked the music but we weren’t satisfied of the food/drinks we ordered there although the lady that served us was very friendly and that’s always a good thing.

The prices were normal, we payed about $17 for a po’boy with grilled chicken+draft beer alibi+iced coffee while we were served cold water for free (something common in Greece but not there).
What I liked most there was the outdoor sitting and the polite staff

Address: 1016 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Comparison: about average

Directions: At French Quarter, opposite French market

Phone: (504)525-8899

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Breakfast

Café du Monde: Café du Monde Cafe du Monde Review

What a busy café, it seems all the visitors of New Orleans want to go to the famous Café du Monde. It was always busy there, every time we passed by, strange thing for a place that you can only drink coffee(café au lait) and have some beignets. Of course, it’s famous because it stands there so many years now and the location is great opposite Jackson Square.

I think this place with the filthy tables is overrated, the coffee is just ok and the beignets good but nothing to die for, I still wonder if they are the same all over the city. We didn’t return as the other days we preferred other more peaceful cafes.

The staff was quick but they seemed so tired of the tourists they could hardly give a smile. And they ask to be payed when they bring the coffee, come on, we wont go away, relax…
Café du Monde is open 24h

Address: 800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

Comparison: about average

Directions: across Jackson Square, close to French Market

Phone: (504)-525-4544

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Coffeehouse

Website: http://www.cafedumonde.com

Coop’s Place: Coop’s Place Coop's Place Review

Coop’s Place is a small, down to earth bar with friendliest staff we met in New Orleans. A lot of people (the locals) like to stand at the bar and have their dinner there but we preferred a table next to the wall (like most of the visitors), the wooden tables give a nice touch to this casual and definitely not fancy place, a cute place with a laid back vibe. The waitress came with a big smile, give us some info on the menu and we made the order.

We enjoyed our beer and coke till the food started to arrive with a bit of delay I can say. But we liked the atmosphere and we didn’t really care, it was funny when another waiter came with this easy-going style and asked where is our food! :)

Most of the plates come in different sizes (small medium and big). So, we had Gumbo cup ($5.25 it was more spicy than expected), jamboyala bowl ($7.25 delicious) shrimp remoulade salad ($8.25 just ok), red beans and rice with sausage ($8.25 great, we had some really bad ones elsewhere in town) French fries ($4.25) and as I said abita beer($3.5) diet coke ($1.5).

The bill came up to $45 with the tip, I think this place has really reasonably priced Cajun food.

Address: 1109 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70116

Comparison: about average

Directions: Across the street from the French Market in the French Quarter.

Phone: (504)-5259053

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.coopsplace.net/index.html

Still Perkin Coffee shop: Still Perkin Coffee shop

Our walking tour in Garden District started/ended here so we had some time to drink something and enjoy the A/C inside while it was a burning hell outside in the middle of the day.

There are several tables (we loved the ones next to the window) but you have to go to the counter to order. We enjoyed our coffee (and a cold lemonade) and spend some time checking the various gifts they have on sale (postcards, cups etc). Some people preferred to stay outside on the small patio area

It is open Monday to Friday 7.00-18.00 (weekends from 8.00am)

By the way, the bookstore next to the café has a great collection of books, many of them dedicated to New Orleans so you may want to buy one and return to the café for reading it.

Address: 2727 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: at Garden District, opposite Lafayette Cemetery #1

Phone: (504)-899-0335

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Coffeehouse

The Market Café: The Market Café Market Cafe, The Review

We visited Market Café one morning when we were looking for a place to eat something after a long walk around French Quarter early in the morning. Places like this are ideal for breakfast because of the outdoor sitting. The patio is partly covered but watch out for the birds :)

For $20 we had cappuccino coffee and we ordered a huge muffuletta (pic 2) that came on a big plate in 4 pieces, we ate 2 of them and took the others for later.

They also served us cold water for free something that happened the previous day at Café Gazebo which is located a few steps away so I guess they do the same.

Their menu has all the typical: muffuletta, poboy, jambalaya, rice and beans, everything that you find elsewhere but the prices were normal. I cant judge the food as we only ate muffuletta so I will just talk about it, it was good but not perfect like in Central Grocery but still we enjoyed. Just I note that it was a bit more oily in Market Cafe.

The staff wasn’t very fast but they were helpful and we met with a greek waiter that gave us some info about the small local greek community.

There was (of course) a live jazz band even in the Morning and they played some standards for us. The band was The New Orleans Knights Jazz Band(Pic 3). It was early in the morning and of course no one was ready for tips as the people focused on their breakfast so the band didn’t walk around with the tip bucket, maybe they were sleepy too :)

Address: 1100 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: At French Quarter, near river front, a few steps away from Jean D’arc statue

Phone: (504)-527-5000

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Natchez steam boat dinning room: Natchez

If you choose a cruise tour with Natchez steam boat you have the choice to have dinner there. I know that it had some really bad reviews in the past but a local travel agent that we trusted told us that this had changed after summer 2010 so we gave it a try.

So, before we go to the upper deck and enjoy the beautiful night views along the river we went to the dining room, as we were the first in line we had the chance to choose first the table we wanted. The dinning room is typical with white table cloths and flowers but I think most of the tourists like this kind of things.

There is a huge buffet where you go and choose what type of food you want, we tried a bit of everything so to be sure that something will do the job :) There are some nice choices, some of the meats were really good but I cant say the same about the fish. There are a lot of potatoes, rice and beans of course, pasta etc and a good choice of salads. At the end we tried some of the desserts but they weren’t something special. So as a conclusion we enjoyed the food although it wasn’t amazing.
The dinner dinner started before the boat left the dock so we didn’t loose anything from the cruise itself. Boarding is at 18.00, dinner 18.15-19.15 and then the cruise till 21.00.

The Evening/Jazz cruise costs $40 but we payed $19 more for the dinner which is a good price I think.

Address: 2 Canal street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Comparison: about average

Directions: at the waterfront

Phone: (504)-569-1414

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Buffet

Website: http://www.steamboatnatchez.com

Commander's Palace Restaurant: Commander's Palace Restaurant Commander's Palace Review

Commander’s Palace restaurant is a famous expensive restaurant, it is listed on many guides (as one of the top rated ones in USA) but the dress code is formal (jacket required) so we couldn’t get inside anyway. That’s why I will just post the pic we took from outside while we were walking along Garden District, the restaurant is located opposite Lafayette Cemetery #1.

It was established in 1883 by Emile Commander and used to be a bordel in the 20s! I’ve heard that the food and service is good and of course you have to make a reservation in advance.

Address: 1403 Washington Avenue, 70130

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Just south of corner of St. Charles
opposite Lafayette Cemetery #1 at Garden District, 2’ walk from St Charles avenue streetcar line

Phone: 504-899-8221

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 0

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://commanderspalace.com/