Best New Orleans Area Restaurants. Your opinions? (2 Viewers)

[St. Widge]

Mona's is... fine (their hummus is really good). I think there are better places in Metairie.

That said, their staff is lovely and the little attached Mediterranean grocery is awesome.

Yeah, I think Mona's is just okay. Strangely, Baton Rouge has long had better Lebanese food than New Orleans. But, I do really like Cleo's on Canal and Barrone. FWIW, I think the hummus at Cleo's is tha bomb. Much smoother than Mona's. I suspect they use more tahini, but I'm not sure if that's it.

Cleo's
940 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 522-4504)

 

[St. Widge]

For steak, it's probably not the best steak in the city, but it's good and I really like Charlie's Steak House on Dryades.

It's really more about the atmosphere as a casual old style New Orleans neighborhood place, but the onion rings and sides are great. And you can get an old school New Orleans wedge salad. It also has a lot of nostalgia connected to it for many locals which I know buzd considers as the most important thing in a restaurant.

For me it's the place that I usually go to for a boozy pre-Christmas lunch/dinner with some friends I've have had since high school. But I know for others it was a special occasion place they went to with family.

Charlie's Steakhouse
4510 Dryades St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 895-9323
Website: https://charliessteakhousenola.com/#

 

[buzd]

For steak, it's probably not the best steak in the city, but it's good and I really like Charlie's Steak House on Dryades. It's really more about the atmosphere as a casual old style New Orleans neighborhood place, but the onion rings and sides are great. And you can get an old school New Orleans wedge salad. It also has a lot of nostalgia connected to it for many locals which I know buzd considers as the most important thing in a restaurant.

For me it's the place that I usually go to for a boozy pre-Christmas lunch/dinner with some friends I've have had since high school. But I know for others it was a special occasion place they went to with family.

https://charliessteakhousenola.com/#

I want to like Charlies. I like all the things you listed - sides, atmosphere, etc. I just think the steaks aren't very good.

 

[St. Widge]

I want to like Charlies. I like all the things you listed - sides, atmosphere, etc. I just think the steaks aren't very good.

That's fair. I'm probably not as picky about steak quality as you are. I think its a solid streak but it's more about the experience.

 

[sfidc3]

I've been away too long and only visit once or twice a year......BUT, I still have my favorites....

Best Upscale seafood/fish - GW Fins, never had a bad meal there, and most have been incredible. They get their fish the same day, the highlight/best I've had was grilled Cobia steak with hot pepper and melon aioli.....would never think to do that but it was one of the best things I've ever eaten.....

Best Neighborhood/hole in the wall place:
Kenner Seafood
3140 Loyola Dr, Kenner, LA 70065
(504) 466-4701
Website: https://kennerseafood.net/

It just reminds me of home, so many places like that back in the 70's - 80's. Simple, inexpensive and damn good......

Honorable mention to:
Vasquez Seafood and Po-Boy, in Covington
515 E Boston St, Covington, LA 70433
(985) 893-9336
Website: http://vazquezpoboy.com/

Now, still high quality, same family.....lived by UNO (on St Anthony) for a time back in 86-87. Vasquez was on Franklin....65 cents a pound for hot crawfish, delivered.....everything there was great....miss that.....

 

[SaintJ]

Favorite pizza: Tower of Pizza on Veterans. Will die on this hill.

 

[Andrus]

I’m in Mid-City so my suggestions will show favor to my area.
Parkway(poboys)
Toups(meat and chef’s personality)
Rosedale(I love spicer)
Mo-pho(viet)
Katie’s/mandinas/liuzzas(both Bienville and by the track) for New Orleans neighborhood fare.
Lunch specials at fiorellas(gentilly)
Brightsens in the riverbed is great
I like Mid-City pizza (reopened on banks)
Cafe Navarre does a solid breakfast

I’ll second gw fins. Maybe my favorite restraunt in the city.

Notes on choices not already noted:

Katie's
3701 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 488-6582
Website: https://katiesinmidcity.com/

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Fiorellas
5325 Franklin Avenue New Orleans, LA 70122
(504) 309-0352
Website: https://originalfiorellas.com/

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Brigsten's
723 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 861-7610
Website: https://brigtsens.com/

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Cafe Navarre
800 Navarre Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 483-8828
Website: https://www.cafenavarre.com/

 

[Andrus]

Lil Dizzy's in Treme is good for some of everything...

Soul food
Fried chicken
Po-boys

Lil Dizzys
1500 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504)-766-8687
Website: https://lildizzyscafe.net/

 

[Arathrael]

I loved the fried chicken at Willie Mae's when I was there. Although I think that's closed at the moment after a fire or something?

 

[Andrus]

Favorite pizza: Tower of Pizza on Veterans. Will die on this hill.

Note:

Tower of Pizza
2104 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 833-9373
Site: https://www.facebook.com/towerofpizza/

 

[Dago]

I want to like Charlies. I like all the things you listed - sides, atmosphere, etc. I just think the steaks aren't very good.

That's fair. I'm probably not as picky about steak quality as you are. I think its a solid streak but it's more about the experience.

It depends on what you like on a steak. If you are a fan of lots of seasoning, Charlies isn't going to do it. If you like a high quality cut of meat with just the basics, it's very good (IMO).

My dad told me about how one time (talking the 70s here), he and his father brought a friend there for the first time. The waiter's name was Petro and he was about as off the boat Italian as he could be. The friend was a very hefty fellow and he made 3 mistakes

1) Asking for a menu to which Petro said "You doan need no menu. You want steak, stay. If no, go somewhere else."
2) Asking for steak sauce: Petro met this request with a string of cursing in Italian. My grandfather informed his friend that the only thing permitted was to put butter on the steak (which comes out sizzling hot on the same plate its cooked on)
3) When the friend asked for butter, Petro said "You doan need no butter....you too fat already."

 

[buzd]

It depends on what you like on a steak. If you are a fan of lots of seasoning, Charlies isn't going to do it. If you like a high quality cut of meat with just the basics, it's very good (IMO).

Ah I must have not ordered the high quality steak. My bad.

 

[BigOdin504]

I loved the fried chicken at Willie Mae's when I was there. Although I think that's closed at the moment after a fire or something?

It’s closed, but reopening soon I think. You can hit Dookie chase around the corner at 2301 Orleans ave.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I want to like Charlies. I like all the things you listed - sides, atmosphere, etc. I just think the steaks aren't very good.

Same. I'd actually take chain spots Morton's or Sullivan's over Charlie's. Now I'd definitely choose Charlie's over Ruth's Chris, but I hold a continuous grudge against them.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

It’s closed, but reopening soon I think. You can hit Dookie chase around the corner at 2301 Orleans ave.

Didn't they open another place uptown? This was before the fire IIRC.