OT- Louisiana Trip Memorial Day Weekend

TideEggHead

Ok fellas, I’m coming here for the pro advice and to make sure I’m not off base for our food plans! In an effort to keep SWMBO happy we are headed to Mandeville to camp at Fontainebleau State Park for the weekend. About an hour from NOLA. I do have to work around SWMBO and the MIL’s activity plans for the weekend but I get to be in charge of where we eat! 

They want to take the kids to the Audubon zoo Saturday and the in-laws have never been to New Orleans so they want to hit cafe du monde for breakfast and spend most of the day Sunday in the French quarter. Last thing I have to work around is a bit of a budget on food (I can’t plan too many fine dining spots).  

As for food plans, here’s the list so far: 
Cafe du Monde 
Mr. B’s (reservations for jazz brunch)
Frankie and Johnnys (closer to the zoo)
Parkway Tavern 
Mandinas or Celsi’s 

I have a list of of other spots I’d like to hit but I don’t know if we will have time (Jacques imos, Clancys, Cochon) Commander’s palace was on the list but we can’t fit it in the itinerary. 

Probably a loaded question but anything you would take off the list or sub in? Preferably some budget friendly options (sub $30 per plate). We might be able to fit in another stop Sunday afternoon as we are eating earlier that morning for brunch. Oh and I am also hoping to stop and pick up some sausages and boudin on the way in or out.

lousubcap

Any time I read New Orleans, two things come to mind-Dragos and @nolaegghead. 

Dragos for the chargrilled oysters and nola for the great guy he is. His open hospitality is a matter of record.  He does whatever it takes to make sure eggers are well cared for.  Talk about giving...

TideEggHead

Thanks Cap, ahh yes I do need to add dragos to the list! I am also hoping @nolaegghead chimes in on food suggestions. I do like perusing all of the photos Nola posts of his hospitality at work.

I added Frankie and Johnnys to the list per Nola’s suggestion in another thread 

Ragingirishman2

I haven’t been to NOLA for a few years but another great culinary item they have is the muffelatta sandwich. It sounds like you have a great plan and looking forward to a trip report. 

ColbyLang

Don’t get lost in the FQ. Especially after the sun goes down. NOLA ain’t what it was 5 years ago. Enjoy the zoo, insectarium, aquarium. WW2 museum. You’ll see all the street performances you want just walking along the streets. Plenty of goods that you’ve mentioned. Also many more that you’ll stumble across. Keep in mind cafe du Monde is strictly beignets and coffee/juice/milk. And it’s cash only. Try a cafe’ au lait. 

buzd504

TideEggHead said:

Thanks Cap, ahh yes I do need to add dragos to the list! I am also hoping @nolaegghead chimes in on food suggestions. I do like perusing all of the photos Nola posts of his hospitality at work.

I added Frankie and Johnnys to the list per Nola’s suggestion in another thread 

F&J's doesn't currently have raw oysters, or they didn't as of Saturday.  So make a note if that's important to you.  Clesi's has good boiled crawfish, but the rest of their menu is pretty bad, as is their service.  Mandina's is ...  fine.

Parkway is great for poboy's, so F&J's (and Mandina's, to some extent) will mostly be more of the same.

Definitely give another though to Cochon Butcher (Cochon's more casual lunch-style adjunct).  Great and unique sandwiches.

Blue Crab on the lakefront is another reasonable local style seafood place, plus you get a nice view of the lake (they usually have oysters, crawfish, etc)

There is another location of Cafe du Monde in City Park, if you don't want to brave the crowds and hassle of the FQ location.

Have fun!

TideEggHead

All good stuff fellas! Thank you all for the input. I will put Cochon butcher back on the short list.

@buzd504 would you put blue crab over Mandinas (I personally have never been to mandinas) as for overall food quality? And yes, oysters being on the menu at F&J's was part of the allure.

@ColbyLang Thank you for the reminder, yes, with kids in tow we don't plan to hang out in the FQ past about 5pm. Bourbon st. is not on the list other than maybe to grab a hurricane at the blacksmith's shop. I prepped the crew on cafe du monde (we may hit the one in Mandeville instead) and have a back up spot for a traditional breakfast if they don't get full.

buzd504

TideEggHead said:

@buzd504 would you put blue crab over Mandinas (I personally have never been to mandinas) as for overall food quality? And yes, oysters being on the menu at F&J's was part of the allure.

I would, yes, but it depends what you are looking for.

Once you get past the ubiquitous sandwiches, Mandina's leans more towards "creole Italian".  Red gravy, home cooking style hot plates, red beans (that's everywhere), etc.  Blue Crab is much more seafood oriented - etoufee, oyster stew, seafood salads, etc. 

Blue Crab menu:  https://thebluecrabnola.com/new-orleans-the-blue-crab-restaurant-and-oyster-bar-food-menu

Mandina's:  https://mandinasrestaurant.com/new-orleans-mandina-s-restaurant-food-menu

I suspect you would enjoy either place, but ultimately it depends what you are looking for.  The view of the harbor/lake at Blue Crab is nice, though.

Foghorn

For my money, the best food quality to price ratio in New Orleans (or anywhere really) is at The Gumbo Shop.  They don't take reservations (last I knew) but you can put your name on the list and walk about a block to Jackson Square and enjoy the street performers until the text/page you.

RajunCajun

Looks like lots of good advice.  Remember to wear your purple and gold....Geaux Tigers!!

GregW

Don't forget the World War 2 museum. It is certainly worth seeing, if you can have time. 
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/

xfire_ATX

ColbyLang said:

Don’t get lost in the FQ. Especially after the sun goes down. NOLA ain’t what it was 5 years ago. 

We absolutely avoid the quarter and go to Frenchman Street.   One of my favorite places to eat https://www.marignybrasserie.com/

After dinner we usually wander a bit to find some music in the same area.

TideEggHead

Thanks everyone for the pointers! The Audubon Zoo was fun especially for the kids. Sitting at Frankie and Johnnys now.

TideEggHead

Mr. B’s jazz brunch. BBQ shrimp and a Sazerac. 

TideEggHead

Did some of the normal “tourist” stuff today. Cafe du monde, Jackson square, blacksmith shop. Pictures aren’t in the right order but little man had his crawfish shorts on. 

Dinner was at parkway, I got the James brown. We found some crawfish chimneys on the way back, kinda neat because we did a program at work about crawfish the other day.

wps456

Looks fun! Should've done an "after" pic at Cafe du Monde with the powdered sugar all over the place!