New Orleans Food and Drink Thread

[HookEm 2463]

We have a big group going to the game. Between 10-20 people at any given time. Any thoughts on where to go from 10 PM to 1 AM? Would like to roam as a group and hit 2-3 different bars / venues. Thinking Sazerac and French 75 as bookends. Thoughts?

[royiv 9247]

7 minutes ago, HookEm said:

We have a big group going to the game. Between 10-20 people at any given time. Any thoughts on where to go from 10 PM to 1 AM? Would like to roam as a group and hit 2-3 different bars / venues. Thinking Sazerac and French 75 as bookends. Thoughts?

Herding a group of 10-20 drunk people through New Orleans late at night sounds like my personal hell.

[HookEm 2463]

Yeah I hear you. That is why I would like to just tell people we will be at these 3 places… in this order. Starting around 11 PM. Hope to see you there at some point.

[We’reTexas 1473]

37 minutes ago, HookEm said:

We have a big group going to the game. Between 10-20 people at any given time. Any thoughts on where to go from 10 PM to 1 AM? Would like to roam as a group and hit 2-3 different bars / venues. Thinking Sazerac and French 75 as bookends. Thoughts?

Bringing a 10+ crowd into French 75 is a terrible idea. Sazerac too,  now that I think about it. If you don’t want to trek over to Frenchman I’d say do Carousel Bar and some dive bars near by like Absinthe or Chart Room. 

[HookEm 2463]

A friend sent these recs:
- Carousel bar is fun.
- The will and the way
- Cane and table
- Tiki tock
- Latitude 29 for tiki drinks
- Loa across canal for to go drinks to walk into French quarter
- 21st amendment
- Ryan’s Irish pub- not cocktails but fun dive.

[LCHorn 2612]

16 minutes ago, We’reTexas said:

Bringing a 10+ crowd into French 75 is a terrible idea. Sazerac too,  now that I think about it. If you don’t want to trek over to Frenchman I’d say do Carousel Bar and some dive bars near by like Absinthe or Chart Room. 

Echoing this, you can't roll around with a party that large.  You're going to need to make a reservation somewhere that can accommodate it (unlikely at this point) or break off into smaller groups, particularly if you want to bar hop. 

[Biff Tannen 45665]

30 minutes ago, We’reTexas said:

Bringing a 10+ crowd into French 75 is a terrible idea. Sazerac too,  now that I think about it. If you don’t want to trek over to Frenchman I’d say do Carousel Bar and some dive bars near by like Absinthe or Chart Room. 

 

12 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

Echoing this, you can't roll around with a party that large.  You're going to need to make a reservation somewhere that can accommodate it (unlikely at this point) or break off into smaller groups, particularly if you want to bar hop. 

Both of these 

[LCHorn 2612]

39 minutes ago, HookEm said:

A friend sent these recs:
- Carousel bar is fun.
- The will and the way
- Cane and table
- Tiki tock
- Latitude 29 for tiki drinks
- Loa across canal for to go drinks to walk into French quarter
- 21st amendment
- Ryan’s Irish pub- not cocktails but fun dive.

Just to be clear, you’re going to be spending your first 30 minutes hunting for a seat or space at the bar for one or two people.  You’re going to see folks at tables that got there early and know to keep their asses stuck there because they planned ahead.  
 

About the time you have gotten maybe a round for two couples you’ll be an hour into it and then looking to move on.  And that’s with a party of four-with ten it’s just impossible.

[HookEm 2463]

Good points all. Sounds like the better move would be to find a big venue and just declare that as a home base and post up there. People can come and go as they want.  Any good suggestions for a place like that?

[We’reTexas 1473]

There’s a fine establishment on Iberville between Felix’s and 21st Amendment with plenty of plush leather seating. 

[4th&Five 41508]

We had a big group for the last sugar bowl and ended up at Lafitte’s for midnight. Plenty of room in the courtyard. The walk back to the Roosevelt was a crowded mess though. 

[LCHorn 2612]

1 hour ago, 4th&Five said:

Lafitte’s

That was going to be my suggestion.  Outdoor tables that seat more than four and I feel like they turn over fairly quickly.  

[Biff Tannen 45665]

2 hours ago, LCHorn said:

That was going to be my suggestion.  Outdoor tables that seat more than four and I feel like they turn over fairly quickly.  

Yep. And street standing just outside of those tables in case. 

[Mac8111 2106]

Just go to Cats Meow

[Texzilla58 4731]

We have a big group going to the game. Between 10-20 people at any given time. Any thoughts on where to go from 10 PM to 1 AM? Would like to roam as a group and hit 2-3 different bars / venues. Thinking Sazerac and French 75 as bookends. Thoughts?

Is your name Jackson Mahomes? Thinking you’re showing up at fancy places like that with 20 folks will get you turned away. Hooters will turn you away.

[HookEm 2463]

I have no idea if those places are fancy or not. I assumed that since it will be NYE, there will be a shit ton of people around and most of the bars will be mainly standing. I don't expect 20 people to roll into a bar and get a single huge table or area unless plans had been made long in advance (and doubtful even then unless it is a private room).

[Biff Tannen 45665]

13 hours ago, HookEm said:

I have no idea if those places are fancy or not. I assumed that since it will be NYE, there will be a shit ton of people around and most of the bars will be mainly standing. I don't expect 20 people to roll into a bar and get a single huge table or area unless plans had been made long in advance (and doubtful even then unless it is a private room).

You won’t be able to do sazerac. Honestly, you’ll just end up walking around the quarter and part of your group will wander into random bars, others will hang outside, others will move on to other bars. Yall won’t stay together. 
 

I usually go with 3-4 people and there are nights where we all end up solo. Guys and girls included. It will be fine, but yall won’t all stay together. 

[YuppiesOfftheEastSide 28]

I'm usually in nola for NYE week, and it's always fun seeing the sugar bowl fans clowning around in the quarter.

If you want away from the chaos, head uptown to jaques-imos or boucherie or the bars on freret in the fourteenth. Atchafalaya is a favorite on Louisiana ave. Had an amazing pre fixe meal at Lengua Madre last year. 

Or head the other way from the quarter to marigny and check out Spotted Cat for music (and really Frenchmen in general) or further on to Bacchanal in Bywater.

Great town. Best town. 

[Biff Tannen 45665]

Secured GW Fins reservations on Jan 2 to end the trip right.

[Biff Tannen 45665]

Straight from the airport to Bear’s in Metairie for po boys. 
 

 

[South Austin 52448]

I like a guy who doesn’t waste time.

[Biff Tannen 45665]

Avenue Pub loaded tots. And a Cabernet. And a nice sunset. 
 

 

[Irwin F Fletcher 3550]

Dinner tonight.Chicken confit po-boy from Killer PoBoys.

Burnt Orange sunset over the Crescent City this week. Hook' Em!

[Biff Tannen 45665]

Parasol’s Firecracker Shrimp Po Boy and gravy cheese fries

 

Edited January 3 by Biff Tannen

[CoachEmUp64 79]

If you come thru Sherveport you gotta stop at Herby-K’s, legit is an understatement. Only about 4 booths and 10 bar stools. Divey and food is A++

[Biff Tannen 45665]

Atchafalaya - Duck leg confit and shrimp and grits.  Would recommend. 

 

[Texzilla58 4731]

Parisol’s Firecracker Shrimp Po Boy and gravy cheese fries
 

You went all that way and ordered the child’s plate?

[Biff Tannen 45665]

5 hours ago, Texzilla58 said:

You went all that way and ordered the child’s plate?

Yes

[bigcigar 1164]

Went to plates for brunch…really enjoyed it and definitely recommend. It’s a Nola take on tapas. Braised beef croquettes, garlic shrimp, scallops and grits.

Not pictured is the prime rib French dip we shared after the first round…top 5 sandwich for me

 

[PantsTent 2002]

Bacon melt at Cochon Butcher

[Biff Tannen 45665]

So a week in Nola is just too long. Maybe I’d feel differently if we had won, but I’m a fucking wreck today. Dry January and maybe February coming up. 

[PantsTent 2002]

GW is so fucking good.

[Biff Tannen 45665]

5 hours ago, PantsTent said:

GW is so fucking good.

Yeah, that was supposed to be me last night, but I couldn’t make it. In the Uber to the airport now. Might be a while til my next Nola trip. 

[South Austin 52448]

12 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

So a week in Nola is just too long. Maybe I’d feel differently if we had won, but I’m a fucking wreck today. Dry January and maybe February coming up. 

A week is too long for me.  After you've been a few times, outside of a special event (like the Sugar Bowl), there isn't a ton to do other than eating, drinking, strolling to enjoy the sights and sounds (but not always the smells), and catching some live music).  But I've also been going once a year, so 2-3 days is my usual limit.

[4th&Five 41508]

My wife and I usually fly over Saturday morning and head home Monday afternoon. It’s plenty after going regularly for the last 20 years.

[Biff Tannen 45665]

28 minutes ago, South Austin said:

A week is too long for me.  After you've been a few times, outside of a special event (like the Sugar Bowl), there isn't a ton to do other than eating, drinking, strolling to enjoy the sights and sounds (but not always the smells), and catching some live music).  But I've also been going once a year, so 2-3 days is my usual limit.

 

Just now, 4th&Five said:

My wife and I usually fly over Saturday morning and head home Monday afternoon. It’s plenty after going regularly for the last 20 years.

I normally do this at least twice a year, but for some reason we decided to test our limits. My limit was reached by game day. I had two beers total that day and laid in bed all day yesterday. Just now getting home. At least no work until tomorrow. 

[kevwun 15763]

NOLA and Vegas are best enjoyed in short trips.  My liver and waistline can't handle more than a long weekend in either.

[closetojumping 62552]

On 1/1/2024 at 6:06 PM, PantsTent said:

Bacon melt at Cochon Butcher

 

15 hours ago, PantsTent said:

GW is so fucking good.

Hell, we might have been at both places at the same time. We had Cochon on Monday for brunch. I had the cochon, which was pork neck that day, grilled oysters, and chicken gumbo. My wife had the meat pie, then redfish. It was excellent. On NYE, we ate at GW Fins. I had the tuna tartar and then the tuna entree with zero regrets. Wife had lobster dumplings and then their blackened fish, think it was also redfish. That place is so fucking good. 

We did 4 nights in Vegas a few weeks and that was too much for my wife and probably too much for me. We did two nights in NOLA and that was perfect. 

[LCHorn 2612]

6 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

We did two nights in NOLA and that was perfect.

This-two nights, three max if you’re going to get out of the quarter. 
 

I infrequently make the mistake of staying an extra day just because a great reservation becomes available and it never ends up worth it.  I’m always pretty sick of eating and drinking by then and there’s only so much antebellum house porn I can stand. 
 

I’d make the same claim about Charleston but that would need to go on the recruiting thread…

[closetojumping 62552]

11 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

This-two nights, three max if you’re going to get out of the quarter. 
 

I infrequently make the mistake of staying an extra day just because a great reservation becomes available and it never ends up worth it.  I’m always pretty sick of eating and drinking by then and there’s only so much antebellum house porn I can stand. 
 

I’d make the same claim about Charleston but that would need to go on the recruiting thread…

Sir, the same cannot be claimed about Charleston. That's like hate speech or something.

[We’reTexas 1473]

We usually stay at least a week to visit family and friends. During the WFH era we had a few multi-month stays. Woof. I try to get to the gym every day during the party visits. Uptown Fitness is a nice little gym off Prytania and Lyon, and Ochsner has an awesome facility in Shell Plaza. Both have $10 day passes. 

[TornACL 7698]

I've now done a four night trip to Vegas and a four night trip to NOLA in the last ten weeks.

I feel like I need to take the entire year of 2024 off from drinking.

[Skipper 6127]

We had a good trip.  Flew in Sun afternoon and went straight to Felix's for some chargrilled and other bites.  I didn't even know they had seating on the upstairs balcony overlooking Bourbon but they put us up there which was cool.  Did a big group dinner at Luke NYE which was solid but not great although they did have a great oyster selection that night and we had a ton of those pre entree.  Did New Years Day Brunch at Miss River which I would put up there with some of the other great brunches I've had.  The only downside was they were all out of Crab so that limited the menu.

We bar hopped on Bourbon post-brunch then hit the Manning's pregame party but my wife and I snuck out for a couple of dozen chargrilled oysters pregame across the street at Dragos that really hit the spot.  

Obviously wish the game outcome was better but a great trip.   On the topic of too many nights in New Orleans, I ran into a friend at Pat O's early Monday afternoon that had been in N.O.'s since Friday afternoon and was turning 40 that Monday at midnight.  He was then flying to Vegas this coming Friday.  He was starting to question those plans.  Yep - welcome to 40 buddy.  I've been here a few years now and not as easy if it used to be.

To me perfect N.O. trip is about 50 hours give or take from being dropped off at the Monteleone until being picked up to head to airport.  We were a few hours short of that this trip and, while completely exhausted, left late Tues AM wishing we had time for one more NOLA lunch.

[After irth 1243]

Buncha lightweights in here.  Checking in at 52 here, and we don't do NOLA or Vegas unless we're staying AT LEAST 4 nights.

You guys need to bust out the Geritol.

[4th&Five 41508]

We very rarely stay 4 nights in any city. Even in Europe we move around after 2 or 3 days. 

[Biff Tannen 45665]

53 minutes ago, 4th&Five said:

We very rarely stay 4 nights in any city. Even in Europe we move around after 2 or 3 days. 

This is pretty much us as well. Unless you are going to really live like a local, seems like you’ve seen and done most of the things after 3 nights or so. 

[CoTex 1160]

Having a cruise terminal in your city pretty much screws up the culture.

New Orleans is special, but waiting in long line at cafe du monde, and having long line stare at you while you eat, just makes it feel a little cafeteria-ish.

Get in the herd, stand in line, get your little taste of _________, and then get on/off the ship.  Oh, and don't forget your Marriott points - you can use those to buy a Big Captain platter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. next time you travel with us.

 

[South Austin 52448]

1 hour ago, 4th&Five said:

We very rarely stay 4 nights in any city. Even in Europe we move around after 2 or 3 days. 

Same for me for the most part, except I like to stay a week in a place like Colorado in the summer. Lots of hiking and other stuff to fill the week, and at least three nights I’ll make dinner at the rental house.

[We’reTexas 1473]

34 minutes ago, CoTex said:

Having a cruise terminal in your city pretty much screws up the culture.

New Orleans is special, but waiting in long line at cafe du monde, and having long line stare at you while you eat, just makes it feel a little cafeteria-ish.

Get in the herd, stand in line, get your little taste of _________, and then get on/off the ship.  Oh, and don't forget your Marriott points - you can use those to buy a Big Captain platter at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. next time you travel with us.

 

The hell? You went to the epicenter of tourism, what did you expect? There is an entire city outside of the FQ. (There’s also a Cafe du Monde in City Park with no tourists). 

[South Austin 52448]

5 minutes ago, We’reTexas said:

The hell? You went to the epicenter of tourism, what did you expect? There is an entire city outside of the FQ. 

Yeah, unless the weather is great and I want to stroll around Jackson Square with a beer or two for an hour, or I’m having dinner at a nice restaurant that doesn’t have a frozen hurricane machine at the bar, I pretty much avoid the French Quarter when I’m in New Orleans.