December 4, 20232 yr Going back for the game. Slim pickins for 12/31 reservations but managed to snag Compere Lapin. Hope it doesn't get switched to a Prix Fixe. Staying an extra day to the 3rd so going to GW Fins again since it was our favorite a month ago.
December 4, 20232 yr Yeah, 12/31 was pretty booked. I have a Luke and a Peche. I know Luke hasn't gotten high marks on this thread but I've 2 fantastic meals there and can't go wrong with Peche. Not sure which we will end up at. But trying to plan a larger 1/1 Brunch. Last time we had a big table at Mr B's which worked well but they are booked up for anything other than small tops. Has anyone done Arnaud's brunch? I have not. But we currently have like 3 tables of 8 booked. Not sure I love the "fancy" dining room aspect of it as not sure anyone is going to want to dress up, even a little, on gameday. May need to talk to them about that.
December 4, 20232 yr Leave on Thursday, come back on Sunday. Dinners booked at Herbsaint, Saffron, and MaMou. Will wing it for brunch/lunch. Lots of day drinking to celebrate one year closer to 50.
December 4, 20232 yr We actually had a really great lunch at Avenue Pub on Saturday. I hadn't been in 10+ years but it was a great place to hang and watch some football and grab a great sandwich. Brunch at Gris Gris yesterday was a bit disappointing but I may have mis-ordered.
December 4, 20232 yr 14 minutes ago, 4th&Five said: We actually had a really great lunch at Avenue Pub on Saturday. I hadn't been in 10+ years but it was a great place to hang and watch some football and grab a great sandwich. Brunch at Gris Gris yesterday was a bit disappointing but I may have mis-ordered. Yeah, that place has changed a ton over the last decade. 6-7 years ago Polly brought in the Boucherie folks to do the food, and she just retired and sold to the Blue Oak BBQ folks last year. Beer list has gone downhill but the heyday of the beer bar was a decade ago anyways, still a LGD and Mardi Gras morning staple.
December 5, 20232 yr We are going from Wednesday to Wednesday, assuming we get tickets to the game. Going to try and hit some places we have never tried before. I've never spent a full week in NOLA. Hope I don't die.
December 5, 20232 yr In part because I'm a bit superstitious, we're retracing our 2019 Sugar Bowl steps (which worked out pretty damn well) and having a big lunch at Peche on New Year's Day...can't wait. There were tons on Texas fans eating/drinking there in 2019 and it was fun as hell. As you may recall, that was a prelude to mudholing UGA...yes, mudholing, since the score was not indicative of our dominance. Planning to hit Casamento's, Saba and maybe Turkey & the Wolf at some point. Looks like Toups Meatery or Costera (anyone been there?) on NYE. Also, will have to get at least one drink at Bouligny Tavern (one of my favorite bars in the city) on NYE, since that was a key stop in 2019 as well. I still can't believe this all fell into place so perfectly, because I was starting to truly believe we just can't have nice things. FAAFO!
December 5, 20232 yr 3 hours ago, Biff Tannen said: We are going from Wednesday to Wednesday, assuming we get tickets to the game. Going to try and hit some places we have never tried before. I've never spent a full week in NOLA. Hope I don't die. Yikes, a full week...you might die.
December 5, 20232 yr 4 hours ago, Biff Tannen said: We are going from Wednesday to Wednesday, assuming we get tickets to the game. Going to try and hit some places we have never tried before. I've never spent a full week in NOLA. Hope I don't die. You should probably make sure your will is up to date before you leave.
December 5, 20232 yr Wow glad I found this thread. Some great info in here. Wife and I are headed down for the game and making a weekend out of it (Saturday-Tues) Any thoughts on NYE strategy? Doesn’t look like there are many tables available at the good spots, so we figured we’d eat a late brunch and drunkenly bop around the Quarter and find something casual to coat the stomach (any recs?). Also any general areas/streets/bars we should stick to? I imagine Bourbon will be a shitshow. Haven’t been to NOLA since I was a senior at UT so super pumped to be going back.
December 6, 20232 yr ^ Damn, welcome fucking back after the 3-year hiatus. You may have heard who won the WS.
December 6, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, TheFlagship said: Doesn’t look like there are many tables available at the good spots, so we figured we’d eat a late brunch and drunkenly bop around the Quarter and find something casual to coat the stomach (any recs?). Also any general areas/streets/bars we should stick to? I imagine Bourbon will be a shitshow. Haven’t been to NOLA since I was a senior at UT so super pumped to be going back. You can't beat Acme or Felix for casual. Across the street from each other and no reservations. Just gauge the line and get in when it doesn't look bad. Both are great. I had a quick pregame meal at the bar at Felix right before making the walk to Superdome last time we were in Sugar Bowl and will probably do the same. Bourbon Street itself will be phenomenal on gameday. It will be packed with fans in town for the game so not the typical scene. Two of my favorite pre-game afternoon drinking days were '03 Final Four and '19 Sugar Bowl. Just a great, unique scene. As for classier bars, we always stay at the Monteleone (and doing so again) and will spend a lot of time in the Carousel bar there. It's great regardless whether you luck into an actual "seat" on the carousel. Also, take your wife over to Roosevelt Hotel to check out the Christmas decorations (they go way over the top and pretty impressive) and grab a drink at the Sazerac Bar. I bet we try to grab a pre-dinner drink there on NYE.
December 6, 20232 yr Domenica had some good mentions in this thread so I have that for NYE, and definitely as Sazarac or 2 prior. We were just in NO a month ago and had plenty cajun/seafood so the wife thought Italian would be nice. Y'all got me wanting to try that clam pizza though. For Jan 2nd have both Compere Lapin and GW Fins. Will decide which one to cancel soon enough. Jan 1 is totally wing it, but probably Felix or go get a sandwich at Cochon Butcher or the like while day drinking plus whatever Immamac comes up with perhaps. Brennans brunch on the way out on the 3rd. Just one last detail...yeah, game tickets...
December 6, 20232 yr On 12/4/2023 at 12:59 PM, South Austin said: Leave on Thursday, come back on Sunday. Dinners booked at Herbsaint, Saffron, and MaMou. Will wing it for brunch/lunch. Lots of day drinking to celebrate one year closer to 50. You be there twice in December? Hell of a deal!
December 7, 20232 yr On 12/4/2023 at 12:59 PM, South Austin said: Leave on Thursday, come back on Sunday. Dinners booked at Herbsaint, Saffron, and MaMou. Will wing it for brunch/lunch. Lots of day drinking to celebrate one year closer to 50. I just booked saffron and mamou for the sugar bowl. Reviews please
December 8, 20232 yr Steak night tonight at Cochon Butcher, pretty tasty to go meal.Last night was fried lobster po-boy from Fat Boy Pantry, wasn't that impressed.Going to back the Wed-Fri before New Year's, debating on extending the stay for the game.
December 8, 20232 yr First off, if you’re not working toward’s a Galatoire’s Friday lunch you are missing the experience of a lifetime. No reserves, you have to get a line sitter. Also, I never see it mentioned on any top lists but I’ve always had good luck dining in the bar at the pelican club if I didn’t manage a better NYE reservation.
December 8, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, LCHorn said: First off, if you’re not working toward’s a Galatoire’s Friday lunch you are missing the experience of a lifetime. No reserves, you have to get a line sitter. Also, I never see it mentioned on any top lists but I’ve always had good luck dining in the bar at the pelican club if I didn’t manage a better NYE reservation. Pelican club is definitely a sneaky good recommendation.
December 8, 20232 yr Yep, people rarely mention Pelican Club, but it really is damn good, especially if you want to be in The Quarter.
December 8, 20232 yr 3 hours ago, LCHorn said: First off, if you’re not working toward’s a Galatoire’s Friday lunch you are missing the experience of a lifetime. No reserves, you have to get a line sitter. Man I just can’t muster up the courage to go back after the hep c outbreak.
December 8, 20232 yr 3 minutes ago, We’reTexas said: Man I just can’t muster up the courage to go back after the hep c outbreak. Let’s be frank, there’s nowhere in Louisiana where you aren’t taking some risk with your health.
December 8, 20232 yr My buddy got NYE reservations at Gris Gris. I'm sure it's in this 40 page thread somewhere, but good call?
December 8, 20232 yr 30 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said: My buddy got NYE reservations at Gris Gris. I'm sure it's in this 40 page thread somewhere, but good call? We loved Gris Gris. Go for it. Mid-day steak tartare snack at Peche.
December 8, 20232 yr Yep, and the Gris Gris chef, Eric Cook, is a great dude. Going through hell with the city on his other restaurant in the FQ right now so definitely go support him.
December 9, 20232 yr Duck confit at Cafe Degas. It’s a level down from a lot of restaurants in this thread, price wise, but the vibe was really laid back and it was close to our friends’ house.
December 9, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, Chad Fuck said: It’s a level down from a lot of restaurants in this thread, price wise That's another thing I like about New Orleans--there's lots of great options at different price points. Way too frequently in Austin good=expensive.
December 9, 20232 yr Wife and I were talking about that when we were there last weekend. I had a shrimp poboy with tater tots (both great) for the price of a thundercloud sub.
December 10, 20232 yr MaMou was fantastic. Cassoulet, Gulf Fish “Court Bouillon,” and Poisson a la Florentine.
December 10, 20232 yr On 12/9/2023 at 7:15 AM, South Austin said: Saffron was absolutely outstanding. Lulz, why the middle finger? You piss her off posting on surly too much?
December 10, 20232 yr 9 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said: Lulz, why the middle finger? You piss her off posting on surly too much? She said, “This is for Biff Tannen.”
December 10, 20232 yr South Austin’s posts here reminds me, need a brunch place for 1/1/24. I see Luke, Domenica and Broussard’s with reservations available. Anyone got a strong opinion on any of those for brunch?
December 10, 20232 yr 17 minutes ago, closetojumping said: South Austin’s posts here reminds me, need a brunch place for 1/1/24. I see Luke, Domenica and Broussard’s with reservations available. Anyone got a strong opinion on any of those for brunch? Haven’t been to the other two, but went to Luke for brunch last year and it was meh.
December 10, 20232 yr And don’t know if they have availability, but the brunch at Muriel’s was excellent.
December 10, 20232 yr 15 minutes ago, closetojumping said: South Austin’s posts here reminds me, need a brunch place for 1/1/24. I see Luke, Domenica and Broussard’s with reservations available. Anyone got a strong opinion on any of those for brunch? It's gotten mixed reviews on here but I've had 2 (out of 2) great lunches at Luke. That is one of my 12/31 dinner reservations. I'm still hoping by a miracle Commander's or something else I had on notify (Herbsaint I think) pops up but if it doesn't I won't hesitate going there. Have not been to the other 2. FYI - we have a couple of reservations 1/1 for St. John we may be cancelling. Going to talk to them this week and see if they are able to accommodate but I think we may have more people coming than seats. I had brunch there previously (based on a rec in this thread) and it was great. We separately have Arnaud 1/1 and I know they have room for us - I just have not eaten there and have heard mixed reviews.
December 10, 20232 yr We got GW Fins for NYE dinner locked up on a hunch that we might need it about two weeks ago. Feeling great about that one, but haven’t locked into anything else yet.
December 11, 20232 yr 18 hours ago, Skipper said: We separately have Arnaud 1/1 and I know they have room for us - I just have not eaten there and have heard mixed reviews. It’s fine, don’t go expecting A+ dining. It’s a great experience in that setting regardless.
December 20, 20232 yr FYI. My buddy who has lived in Nola all his life was raving about the Muff and Poboys at Gio’s in Metairie.
December 20, 20232 yr 26 minutes ago, Mac8111 said: FYI. My buddy who has lived in Nola all his life was raving about the Muff and Poboys at Gio’s in Metairie.
December 21, 20232 yr Anyone been to Doris Metropolitan recently? I've liked it in the past but trying to play catch up here and lock in a couple solid places for Sugar Bowl weekend.
December 21, 20232 yr 7 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said: What's going on NYE that my daughter and I can go to? Galactic at Tip’s or Juvenile and Mannie Fresh at the Saenger.
December 22, 20232 yr 12 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said: What's going on NYE that my daughter and I can go to? Lakers at Pelicans
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