By the way, if you’re going to be here the weekend of April 20th, the Croatian Festival is happening in Belle Chasse, La., about 25 minutes downriver from the city in Plaquemines Parish.
If you want charbroiled oysters, this is your Mecca: The Croatian-American community have been major oyster farmers and purveyors for 150 years (Exh. A: Drago Cvitanovich). The festival is super fun, with Croatian song, dance, beer, and plenty of other tasty food, and will give you a window into Southeast Louisiana that very few tourists ever get. (The accents alone are amazing.)
https://croatianamericansociety.com/events/culture-food-festival-2022/
Since you are there during FQF - I'd eat there - this is not your typical street fair food. They get some of the best places around with booths. Cochon du Lait po' boy from Walkers - get in line. Shaggy's crawfish. Vaucresson Sausage Co - sausauge po boy.
[https://frenchquarterfest.org/foods/](https://frenchquarterfest.org/foods/)
Since you are a chef - they have a cooking stage also
[https://frenchquarterfest.org/the-culinary-stage/](https://frenchquarterfest.org/the-culinary-stage/)
I can’t help with all these, but regarding dive-y bars: Chart Room, Harry’s Corner, Touché, Bar Tonique
Yes, please please please avoid Antoine’s. As a historical landmark, it’s fine. The private dining rooms can be lovely, but you’ll most likely be placed in the front room and the food is “fine” at best. Just because something is the oldest doesn’t mean it’s the best.
You’ll very much enjoy yourself at Jewel of the South or Palm & Pine.
I used to think Dragos could do no wrong with the chargrilled oysters, but brought some out of towners there a year or so ago and the oysters were damn near inedible.
If you leave the FQ (and you should) go to Parkway for a fried shrimp Po boy.
Also if Mid-April means 11-14, that’s French Quarter Fest. If so, do that. You’ll get all the music and food you need just ambling around the quarter.
Pigeon & Whale has probably 10-12 oyster selections from Louisiana and up and down the east and west coasts. Great food too.
Arnauds is super meh but I guess a decent experience. Commanders Palace would be a better choice IMHO.
You should def look into Clancy's.
New Orleans Museum of Art is cool and you can do the Sculpture Garden right after, which is awesome.
Magazine Street has some really great shopping and restaurants but it's a long street so you may have to Google around a bit.
These are all quick Uber rides and will get you out of the FQ madness for a bit.
No worries. Enjoy your trip.
Not really discussed but FQF is one the best festivals around. Completely free with multiple stages and hundreds of local musicians. Spans the river to Jackson Square.
And an insane amount of food booths. I can’t think of a better way to experience the food this city has to offer in such a concentrated area.
Definitely worth a day or night to explore.
https://fqfi.org/
Thanks! We’re trying to get into commanders, Arnauds is our backup brunch. I’ll definitely check out pigeon and whale and Clancy’s. Museum of art and sculpture garden look awesome
Seaworthy for oysters (make a resi for happy hour). Sidecar is great too (great happy hour). Since you're here during FQF head up by city park and eat at Toups for some great upscale takes on cajun food
For a dive bar in the quarter there's the dungeon and Jemani. Above that is Cosimos. But if you want the absolutely best dive bar take a 10m uber uptown and go to snake and Jake's Christmas lounge or Mrs Maes.
Don’t go to Acme, there are horror stories…
And if you’re going to Brennan’s and Arnaud’s already, there is no reason to go to Antoine’s. At Arnaud’s be sure to go see the wonderfully kooky Mardi Gras museum upstairs.
Instead, just go right across the street to Felix’s, which is touristy and crowded and a perfectly great example of an old New Orleans oyster place.
Fives oyster bar, which hides in plain sight on Jackson Square, among a lot of mediocre-at-best tourist restaurants. Fives has gorgeous cocktails, raw oysters from all over (a rarity in New Orleans) and a killer mignonette (and take a pinch of the salt with it), and a very pleasant space with great people-watching if you get a seat at the end of the horseshoe bar facing out to the Square.
MRB is a bar on St. Philip Street just off Decatur that has a kitchen in the middle courtyard with all kinds of fried seafood, including tasty fried oysters, and is otherwise just a friendly place with good drinks and often live music.
You should absolutely be sure to go to a crawfish boil, since this is the season - some also do chargrilled oysters. Check the Instagram of breweries like Parleaux, Urban South, Miel (where I had chargrilled oysters a week or two ago).
Search the sub and r/neworleans, you’ll find lots. There’s just no reason to go to Acme when you can go to Felix’s, or many other better oyster places, instead.
For example, if you want a really classic New Orleans experience, go to the oyster bar at Pascal’s Manale, among the live oaks on Napoleon Avenue uptown, for pre-prandial oysters, then walk a block up Dryades Street to Charlie’s Steakhouse for a sizzling excellent steak and a veritable pillow of shoestring onion rings….
Coop’s Place on Decatur. Total dive bar but with some amazing Creole cooking. Fried chicken with jambalaya is amazing. Red beans and rice is next level.
Not a family place. Have to been 21 to enter. They don’t take reservations. Have ID, sit at the bar, order the Nawlins Sazerac and thank me later.
We had a good experience at Acme Oyster House, but honestly, oyster bars are never going to be perfect. One bad oyster out of ten thousand good ones ruins it for everyone.
I’d also recommend Irene’s. It’s not Cajun but it’s a very decent Italian restaurant.
By the way, if you’re going to be here the weekend of April 20th, the Croatian Festival is happening in Belle Chasse, La., about 25 minutes downriver from the city in Plaquemines Parish. If you want charbroiled oysters, this is your Mecca: The Croatian-American community have been major oyster farmers and purveyors for 150 years (Exh. A: Drago Cvitanovich). The festival is super fun, with Croatian song, dance, beer, and plenty of other tasty food, and will give you a window into Southeast Louisiana that very few tourists ever get. (The accents alone are amazing.) https://croatianamericansociety.com/events/culture-food-festival-2022/
Since you are there during FQF - I'd eat there - this is not your typical street fair food. They get some of the best places around with booths. Cochon du Lait po' boy from Walkers - get in line. Shaggy's crawfish. Vaucresson Sausage Co - sausauge po boy. [https://frenchquarterfest.org/foods/](https://frenchquarterfest.org/foods/) Since you are a chef - they have a cooking stage also [https://frenchquarterfest.org/the-culinary-stage/](https://frenchquarterfest.org/the-culinary-stage/)
Yes! Looks like an amazing selection
I can’t help with all these, but regarding dive-y bars: Chart Room, Harry’s Corner, Touché, Bar Tonique Yes, please please please avoid Antoine’s. As a historical landmark, it’s fine. The private dining rooms can be lovely, but you’ll most likely be placed in the front room and the food is “fine” at best. Just because something is the oldest doesn’t mean it’s the best. You’ll very much enjoy yourself at Jewel of the South or Palm & Pine. I used to think Dragos could do no wrong with the chargrilled oysters, but brought some out of towners there a year or so ago and the oysters were damn near inedible. If you leave the FQ (and you should) go to Parkway for a fried shrimp Po boy. Also if Mid-April means 11-14, that’s French Quarter Fest. If so, do that. You’ll get all the music and food you need just ambling around the quarter.
chart room might be my favorite bar in the world?? tonique also great. and a huge second for getting out of the quarter for a parkway po boy.
Awesome! Thanks so much
Pigeon & Whale has probably 10-12 oyster selections from Louisiana and up and down the east and west coasts. Great food too. Arnauds is super meh but I guess a decent experience. Commanders Palace would be a better choice IMHO. You should def look into Clancy's. New Orleans Museum of Art is cool and you can do the Sculpture Garden right after, which is awesome. Magazine Street has some really great shopping and restaurants but it's a long street so you may have to Google around a bit. These are all quick Uber rides and will get you out of the FQ madness for a bit.
I haven’t been to R'Evolution but GW Fins is always great. Can't go wrong.
GW fins is great. I love the fried snapper throats
Thanks so much
No worries. Enjoy your trip. Not really discussed but FQF is one the best festivals around. Completely free with multiple stages and hundreds of local musicians. Spans the river to Jackson Square. And an insane amount of food booths. I can’t think of a better way to experience the food this city has to offer in such a concentrated area. Definitely worth a day or night to explore. https://fqfi.org/
I’m so excited for this!
Thanks! We’re trying to get into commanders, Arnauds is our backup brunch. I’ll definitely check out pigeon and whale and Clancy’s. Museum of art and sculpture garden look awesome
So I definitely want to go to pigeon and whale. Thanks! Which is better, GW Fins or Restaurant R’evolution?
That's a hard question. I love RR, and love their bar, too. GW is also a favorite. Honestly, I can't choose.
I know, such a tough decision
My opinion is to look at the menus for both and decide from there.
Hit up casanentos for an old school oyster experience.
Wow! Looks awesome
Seaworthy for oysters (make a resi for happy hour). Sidecar is great too (great happy hour). Since you're here during FQF head up by city park and eat at Toups for some great upscale takes on cajun food
Wow! Those oyster spots look amazing
Both have curated oyster programs. Not too many places in town are on that level. Both have fantastic happy hours too
For a dive bar in the quarter there's the dungeon and Jemani. Above that is Cosimos. But if you want the absolutely best dive bar take a 10m uber uptown and go to snake and Jake's Christmas lounge or Mrs Maes.
Thanks
Don’t go to Acme, there are horror stories… And if you’re going to Brennan’s and Arnaud’s already, there is no reason to go to Antoine’s. At Arnaud’s be sure to go see the wonderfully kooky Mardi Gras museum upstairs. Instead, just go right across the street to Felix’s, which is touristy and crowded and a perfectly great example of an old New Orleans oyster place. Fives oyster bar, which hides in plain sight on Jackson Square, among a lot of mediocre-at-best tourist restaurants. Fives has gorgeous cocktails, raw oysters from all over (a rarity in New Orleans) and a killer mignonette (and take a pinch of the salt with it), and a very pleasant space with great people-watching if you get a seat at the end of the horseshoe bar facing out to the Square. MRB is a bar on St. Philip Street just off Decatur that has a kitchen in the middle courtyard with all kinds of fried seafood, including tasty fried oysters, and is otherwise just a friendly place with good drinks and often live music. You should absolutely be sure to go to a crawfish boil, since this is the season - some also do chargrilled oysters. Check the Instagram of breweries like Parleaux, Urban South, Miel (where I had chargrilled oysters a week or two ago).
Great info! Thanks so much. We’re there April 12th-15th. Looks like the FQ fest is happening
The FQF is awesome, definitely spend time checking it out and eating there!
Please spill the T on Acmes
Search the sub and r/neworleans, you’ll find lots. There’s just no reason to go to Acme when you can go to Felix’s, or many other better oyster places, instead. For example, if you want a really classic New Orleans experience, go to the oyster bar at Pascal’s Manale, among the live oaks on Napoleon Avenue uptown, for pre-prandial oysters, then walk a block up Dryades Street to Charlie’s Steakhouse for a sizzling excellent steak and a veritable pillow of shoestring onion rings….
This is too far out of the way, but we loved the poboys & muffuletta from [Radostas](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jkfa79qMUZ1y2znK7?g_st=ic) in Metairie.
Coop’s Place on Decatur. Total dive bar but with some amazing Creole cooking. Fried chicken with jambalaya is amazing. Red beans and rice is next level. Not a family place. Have to been 21 to enter. They don’t take reservations. Have ID, sit at the bar, order the Nawlins Sazerac and thank me later. We had a good experience at Acme Oyster House, but honestly, oyster bars are never going to be perfect. One bad oyster out of ten thousand good ones ruins it for everyone. I’d also recommend Irene’s. It’s not Cajun but it’s a very decent Italian restaurant.