A Food Hangover Like None Other – Part 3 (Doing Dinner Right)
Once it reaches the hour for evening cocktails and dinner in The Big Easy I, admittedly, have probably already overindulged in some really rich food and libations several times over throughout the day. I find this is easily cured, though, with a little afternoon nap to recharge my hunger and thirst batteries.
Our third, and final part, in this series on NOLA is going to close out with some of the finest places in the world to eat dinner. New Orleans can go toe to toe with any other city in the world when it comes to dinner, as far as I am concerned, and I always seem to enjoy my evening pre-dinner drinks in NOLA just a little bit more than any place else.
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
The “Brennan” name is synonymous with New Orleans dining at this point, and the family has perfected the art of hospitality, tremendous service, and scrumptious food at all of its NOLA eateries. However, it is also one of mine and my husband’s favorite place to pop in for pre-dinner cocktails is Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse on Iberville Street. The bar is exactly our kind of vibe with its soft and inviting lighting, rich colors and sumptuous décor. It gives off big “Rat Pack” vibes, and the service is always on point.
www.dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com
Patrick’s Bar Vin
This is a recently discovered find, which was recommended to me by some fellow NOLA devotees and foodies, and they could not have been more right in nailing what I like in a bar and lounge atmosphere. Specifically, this is a wine bar with dozens of champagnes and wines from which to choose. While it might sound a bit persnickety, it is a favorite place to unwind for many locals who do not have an ounce of pretension about them. Located in the historic Hotel Mazarin on Bienville, it is in walking distance of all places in The French Quarter and worth a look and see.
Antoine’s
Like a mother saying she has a favorite child, I feel guilty saying I have a favorite place to eat dinner in New Orleans. These places are all just so dang good, but Antoine’s holds that special place in my heart. Being New Orleans’ oldest restaurant (opened since 1840), is a major part of the romance and allure of Antoine’s for me. Still run by the ancestors of Antoine Alciatore, it is now five generations going strong.
Almost every sitting U.S. President has been through the doors of Antoine’s to indulge in its French-Creole cuisine, old world service, and birthplace of the Oysters Rockefeller. When dining here, it feels as though I have been transported back in time. Classic entrees include my go to, the Pompano Pontchartrain – a pompano filet topped with the freshest poached jumbo lump crabmeat and white wine sauce. A little French onion soup to start, and all the French wine I can handle, makes me a happy, gluttonous little diner.
https://antoines.com
G.W. Fins
Relatively new compared some more “famous” NOLA eateries, G.W. Fins opened in 2001, and Chef Michael Nelson is at the helm. An expert in fish, as it were, everything on his menu is FRESH. The menu is printed daily, so the dishes offered on any particular day are of the highest quality.
On a recent outing for dinner, I was struck by the incredible level of customer service here. The staff was attentive, polite, and well versed on everything listed on the menu. Everyone in our group ordered something different, and we could not stop passing around our plates to sample all of it. Simply put, there is NO substitute for incredibly fresh seafood, and this place is doing it exceedingly well. Everything from the lobster dumplings (swimming in rich lobster butter) to the parmesan crusted sheepshead was a reminder that these chefs know what they are doing at Fins.
If you are a shameless oenophile like me, it is worth noting G.W. Fins has been awarded the “Wine Spectator Award of Excellence” for the past twenty years and counting, so treat yourself to a glass (or bottle) if you make your way to Fins.
Herbsaint
Located on St. Charles Avenue in the Business District, this place goes a little outside the typical New Orleans flavor box. It mixes Southern cuisine with a dash of Italian fare on the side (think rich deviled eggs with homemade mayonnaise followed by a plate of housemade spaghetti with a fried, poached farm egg atop it). No one ever said you are going to lose weight in New Orleans. Ever.
Definitely not stuffy, Herbsaint makes the most out of a small space, so expect to sit close to others, but it adds to the trendy ambience.
Doris Metropolitan
I will be the first to admit that when I first heard of Doris Metropolitan, I thought I am not going to New Orleans to eat at a steakhouse. This place continued to come up in conversation, however, so the hubs and I made our way to Doris. To say we were proven wrong would be an understatement.
Our experience started with exotic cocktails consisting of tequila in a glass lined with spicy sumac on the rim (fire!) and a plate of artisanal cheeses. We moved on to tenderloins with a side of bone marrow, and I thought I had died and gone to steak heaven. In short, the best damn steak I ever ate. Period.
The wine selection at Doris is so extensive one could get overwhelmed by all of the options but I, for one, appreciate getting lost in all of the regions and varietals from which to choose. We settled on a Barbaresco and waddled out full and happy.
Galatoire’s
I will say it. I have the mindset of an old person. Bourbon Street is just not my cup of tea, but one will inevitably end up on Bourbon street when visiting. The place that will get me out on Bourbon Street in a heartbeat, mind you, is Galatoire’s. Open since 1905, and located right smack in the middle of the chaos that is Bourbon Street, it is fine dining mixed with that old world family atmosphere of unpretentious tables and chairs.
Recently, in speaking with a judge whom I highly respect, and it is safe to say he is a man of exacting taste and refinement, he asked me where I liked to eat in New Orleans. Galatoire’s was the first place of which I thought, and he said “best martinis in the world.” For me, that was a very high seal of approval.
This is French Creole cuisine at its most decadent. I feel two pounds heavier when I leave Galatoire’s, but I would not have it any other way. I cannot get enough of the stuffed eggplant – grilled eggplant stuffed with fresh lump crabment, veggies, and thick ooey gooey meuniere sauce. I cleanse my palate with a lovely French wine, and move on to a very NOLA kind of dessert: a homemade bread pudding with banana praline sauce. Does not get any better than that.