TommyBB

I haven't been to Antoine's so I'm not qualified to comment. I guess if a place isn't new or doing new things it's bad, is that it? Maybe it's a good thing I live here and like all that bad food, because if I had to eat haute cuisine like Gunter Preuss serves at Broussards all the time I'd starve AND go broke. You know the type-ingredient1 WITH ingredient2 WITH ingredient3 in a "ingredient-process" of Ingredient4 with Ingredient5-process.

Marcus, I'm not sure if Robin's is still there. The same for Las's. Pat's is still there; it's the last one on the road in Henderson with the view of the bayou and the swamp levee.

Off the beaten track? Try a place called D.I.'s It is in the middle of nowhere, between I-10 and U.S. 190 on La. 13. You take I-10 West from Lafayette, get off at exit 97, Evangeline, LA. Follow LA 13 into the fields, this place is at least 9 miles off of the Interstate, but it is on the same highway. The Shrimp stew is simply wonderful. Nothing fancy, mind you, the food is typical fare, no "polish" at all. Just up my alley.

I will definitely agree with the consensus that Goode & Company is just the thing. I usually get the beef and the Czech Sausage (which has a sweet component.) The japeño bread is really interesting, as well.

Casamento's is a local legend. They close down completely in the summer months. You know the old legend, you're not supposed to eat oysters in the months that have no "R" (May, June, July, August) They do a real oyster loaf there, not a large poor boy, but they take a loaf of white bread, and hollow it out and fill it with fried oysters. Felix's is directly across the street from Acme Oyster House, on Iberville Street, and the raw oysters are equally good there. As for Bon Ton Cafe, you will get what are called "outdated" or "original" versions of many classic Creole and Cajun dishes, sort of like the way your grandmother might make them. At one time some years ago, they were the one restaurant in town that served crawfish. For places to stay, take a look at this place: http://www.ashtonbb.com This is the site for Ashton's Mechling Bed & Breakfast. It's in an antebellum mansion on Esplanade Avenue. The house was built in 1859 (I think) and Patrick and Karma Ashton have done so well maintaining and restoring various parts of the house. Patrick makes a passable crab cake for breakfast on Sunday mornings. The rest of the time, it's normal, plain, home cooking. But the house is lovely.

I live here and have never been. I'm not much on making reservations four months in advance; besides that, I can't afford to go there anyway, and I prefer more vulgar food. I like his TV persona, believe it or not. It's something I can put on and the kids can watch and develop an appreciation for food.

I'll ditto Goode & Company. I've eaten there everytime I've been to Houston in the last three or four years. The jalapeno bread is nice, and the Czech sausage has a nice touch of sweetness. As stated it's on Kirby Drive, right near US 59.

I'll check on Lola's on Esplanade Ave. I've never been there. But then, I haven't been to alot of places, but I do read about them often, and face it here, we talk over lunch about what's for dinner tonight, or where we ate last night.

I drove by Mosca's the other night and they now have a lighted sign, and a lighted parking lot. That has me worried, hope the inside hasn't suffered. It's been years since I've been there and I'd dearly enjoy going back. As for Acme Oyster House, it's not THAT touristy if you stay at the bar. And I strongly advise you to stay at the bar. Eat the oysters raw, and get a fried oyster meal. Stay away from the rest of their food, it's barely passable.

Jeromy's answer is pretty close. Remember that there were Creole Blacks, and Free people of Color in New Orleans. Many blacks cooked for the Creole French, so gumbo, etoufee and other things are a fusion of French and black cooking. The same goes for Beans and Rice, gumbo z'Herbes. Cajun is country food, anything in the pot. A Cajun will eat anything that doesn't eat him first--Alligator, Crawfish, Rabbit, Duck, Pork, Chicken, Beef, whatever is out there. It is spicy, but that doesn't define it. The two most famous dishes cooked by Cajuns are Sauce Piquante & Courtbouillion with whatever ingredients are at hand. Now gumbo and etoufee made their way out there too due to the influence of slaves who cooked on the plantations.

Deacon, you got the Real Galatoire's experience. For almost 100 years the downstairs was it, and that's how it was. It's what the locals have come to love. (I've only been there once, and I was a kid; I am dying to return.) Acme Oyster house--get the oysters, then go somewhere else. The food there is barely edible other than raw or fried oysters. The Lakeshore Drive location is almost worthless. The only restaurants with views of the lake are an average Andrew Jaeger's and Brunings if you sit in the right place. I'd go to Bruning's in any case, it's one of the best in town, and has been there since 1859. They can't, however, get their original digs rebuilt due to insurance squabbles after Hurricane Georges in 1998. Both of these are located at West End. You also got the real Cafe du Monde atmosphere. It's been there since the 1870's the only difference is that it's expanded outward a couple of times. The Morning Call Coffee Stand out in suburban Metairie is better, it used to be in the quarter but moved 25 years ago. They still make the coffee and heat the milk in their old brass/copper kettles and not coffee machines like CdM does. In addition, they let you put your own powdered sugar. However it's smaller and more noisy. I've only been to Brennan's once, and enjoyed it, but it was for supper. I must reserve judgement on the rest as I have not been. Hope that you enjoyed yourself, and good luck on Antoine's. It's an experience unto itself and will be worth it if you order properly. Go to InsideNewOrleans.com and find the local restaurant critic's page. Get on the message boards there as well, and you can find almost anything you need. Enjoy.

Started drinking isntant with my parents and grandfather in H.S. then grew to drip. Thankfully, drip here is damned good, local roasts, usually coffee with chicory. Went to Italy in 1984 and had the wonderful strong breakfast coffee with milk (REAL latte) and then cappucino since it was so inexpensive, then on the espresso. Got home and bought an espresso maker for the stove. Changed my life; I'll go without before I drink instant or mass-market again unless it's to be polite.

Last I heard, Brigsten's is still open.

I guess I'm in the minority, since I think highly of the tired old places. Galatoire's was one of the best places I ever went as a teenager, as was the Crescent City Steak House. Wish I could afford those places as a grown-up; that and the infernal parking lots charging $8.00 minimum.