Second Visit to New Orleans

An April 2004 trip to New Orleans by Bobseesit

Our second visit to New Orleans was not quite as positive as the first exactly one year ago, due to a few negatives, but it's still one of our favorite places.

  • 11 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
Restaurants are still our favorite destinations and while we hit some great ones, there were still a couple of disappointments.

Quick Tips:

If you have a car, consider parking at Harrah's if convenient and if you gamble. After 30 minutes of gambling, parking is free.

Best Way To Get Around:

We planned on using the streetcar system more this visit, and were greatly disappointed and inconvenienced, probably because they were doing a lot of training and preparation for the opening of the Canal Street line that we just missed.
The rooms were comfortable and clean. Housekeeping was sloppy and intrusive. Other than a congenial and helpful bell captain, the other staff was no help at all.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Embassy Suites New Orleans - Convention Center
315 JULIA ST New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
504 525-1993

Muriel's Jackson SquareBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Muriel's"

This was a pleasant surprise for a last minute decision for the evening of our arrival in New Orleans. It offered a pleasant atmosphere and excellent service.

I enjoyed the best shrimp remoulade appetiser on fried green tomatoes. My wife had tourenados of beef and I had drumfish with a pecan crust -- both very good.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Muriel's Jackson Square
801 Chartres Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
504-568-1885

House of BluesBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The Gospel Brunch on Easter Sunday morning was better than a year ago, which we thoroughly enjoyed also. The brunch food was very good and the entertainment outstanding. The service was very good. Mimosas, coffee, and orange juice were included in the buffet.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

House of Blues
225 Decatur St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 529 2624

Irene's CuisineBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Irene's"

What a disappointment. I'm coming to the conclusion that the only food that NO does not do well is Italian. We were a little disappointed last year with Cafe Giovanni and now with Irene's. This was one restaurant I was looking forward to, even with no reservation policy.

We got there at opening (5:30pm) and were seated immediately. The complimentary bruschetta was very good, but it went downhill from there. I don't even remember the appetiser. My wife had shrimp scampi over linguini and I had chicken parmesan (I thought I was ordering something else). Both were very ordinary and we have had much better in the smallest Italian restaurants in Massachusetts.

The service was very good, though.

  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Irene's Cuisine
539 St. Phillip St New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
+1 504 523 4021

Pelican Restaurant & BarBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Pelican Club"

This place had wonderful atmosphere and service. My wife had filet mignon and I had a veal chop topped with crab. Both were very good. The white chocolate bread pudding was outstanding.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Pelican Restaurant & Bar
615 Bienville Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 523 1504

Mother'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Breakfast is very ordinary, but don't miss the black ham on a biscuit--wow. Go on a weekday for smaller crowds, but you'll still have to stand in line. Efficient, impersonal service, but it works.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Mother's
401 Poydras St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 523-9656

Brigtsen's RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Brigtsen's"

We arrived for the early bird special, but I decided to order from regular menu. I was disappointed at first with the shrimp remoulade appetiser, which was dry and used poor quality shrimp. The entrees made up for it though. My wife had steak as usual, with nice touches such as blue cheese things (which I ate) and I had blackened tuna with a corn cream sauce, which was wonderful.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
+1 504 861 7610

Emeril's Delmonico New OrleansBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Emeril's Delmonico"

An outstanding restaurant, better than the original Emeril's which we visited last year and enjoyed immensely. We ate in the rear, garden type room, which was obviously an add-on when Emeril remodelled this older restaurant because you have to go through the kitchen to reach it. The front of the restaurant is very intimate and plush while this rear room is beautiful with its own personality.

The barbecued shrimp appetiser was very good. My wife had an excellent filet mignon (as usual), while I had to break my pattern with a strip sirloin, the most expensive item on the menu. I had read that Delmonico had the best strip sirloin in NO and that is no lie. It was a magnificent piece of meat, melt in your mouth, full of flavor. I tried to order the same garlic mashed potatoes that my wife did, but the waiter cautioned me to order something else. He was right -- it was a huge bowl, more than enough for both of us and delicious. I ordered buttermilk onion rings of all things. It’s amazing what one can do with onion rings with imagination and talent. I had the creamiest creme brulee for dessert that I have had in my life (and I have had many of them).

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Emeril's Delmonico New Orleans
1300 St. Charles Ave New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 525 4937

B & C Cajun DeliBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "B & C Cajun Deli"

We dropped into this very casual place after visiting Laura Plantation. I had the freshest fried catfish in the sandwich I have tasted. My wife had a nice salad with grilled Cajun chicken. We especially loved the bread pudding.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

B & C Cajun Deli
2155 Route 18 New Orleans, Louisiana
225-265-8356

Laura PlantationBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is an old, slightly crumbling plantation quite unlike some of the more glamorous Southern plantations we have seen. The tour lead by a descendent of a former slave was well done.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Bobseesit on April 30, 2004

Laura Plantation
2247 Highway 18 New Orleans, Louisiana 70090
(225) 265-7690

Last year, we did not use the streetcar system as much as we could have and resolved to use them more this year to save our aging legs. What a disappointment and aggravating experience!

The streetcars ran late constantly and were sometimes full passing us by after waiting a half hour or more. We nearly missed our reservation for Emeril's Delmonico after two cars passed us by and we ended up taking a cab. They were obviously training new drivers for the opening of the new Canal Street line, which happened just after we left. This should be a good ride if it is running properly.

About the Writer

Bobseesit
Bobseesit
Wilmington, Massachusetts

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