GumboYaYa

Hate to brag...but how about never. With all the great restaurants, and most of them walking distance from home, I eat out all the time. There are enough restaurants around here that I don't have to eat at the same place twice for a month or so. I hate cooking anyways, I always lose my appetite when preparing food for myself.

My take on it has been that cajun foods are mainly spice, spice, spice. They throw "everything in the pot" type of deal. Creole is more French - heavy, creamy sauces for the most part.

Actually you are right. Maybe there should be two lists, one for fancy schmany/take your date out/or classy places; and the other for cheap eats or best value for the money: For upscale: 1) Maximo's 2) gerard's downtown 3) Arnaud's 4) Galitoires 5) Upperline 6) G.W. Fins (I left that one out in my last list and had Upperline in there twice!) 7) Mr. B's Bistro For local/cheap eats: 1) Sid-Mars 2) Trey Yuen 3) Juan's Flying Burrito 4) Italian Pie 5) Royal Blend 6) Bayou Bagelry 7) Country Flame But I'm a bit confused about "Mothers", I didn't list "Mothers" on my list at all - I would never put them on any list but "best tourist trap" LOL. Commanders Palace could fall onto that list as well. Haven't had a good meal there in years. Last two were complete disasters. Think they lost a lot of their good staff to the Vegas version of Commanders last year or something. Now all they hire are smart-mouthed waiters who know nothing of how to work in an upscale environment. I won't be visiting Commanders for a long time based on my last two visits.

New Orleans (and in one case Metro New Orleans) has so many great restaurants. You listed some really good ones...but my favorites would be: 1) Maximo's 2) gerard's downtown 3) Arnaud's 4) Galitoires 5) Sid-Mars 6) Trey Yuen 7) Juan's Flying Burrito 8) Upperline 9) Upperline 10)Mr. B's Bistro