Will be heading there within week, and then to Baton Rouge. My first time there. Any suggestions as far as what to do? Dining? Entertainment? Places that are obligatory to visit?

Also, can someone explain this scam to me? Thanks!

"I can tell you where you got dem' shoes!" - is a cry everyone will eventually hear if they take a stroll down Bourbon. It's an old Bourbon Street scam. Just remember, "dos' shoes are on your feet on Bourbon Street!" Don't forget- "If you play, you gotta pay!"

10/21/2009 7:37:21 PM

K Paul's Kitchen or The Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter to eat, and The Old Opera House to see some zitago (sp?) music.

Also, they tried that shit on my dad. TWO of them actually. He ended up telling them "I really don't give a damn where you think my shoes are from." They got pissed and walked away but according to our taxi driver we had, if you don't pay them (after they say that bullshit line) they'll literally kick your ass.

And watch out for pick pockets.

10/21/2009 7:38:52 PM

yeah, bourbon street can be fun, but its a whole bunch of bars with loud techno/dance music, with a few pubs and bars with live music. I personally liked the antique shops in the french quarter as well...best i've seen yet!

I cant remember the street name, but i went to some bars where beatnique (sp) locals go, which was awesome...live music (blues and zitago)...beleive one bar was called the apple barrel

10/21/2009 7:45:17 PM

Quote :

"Also, can someone explain this scam to me? Thanks! "

you WILL hear this. Just keep walking, don't stop to talk to them.

10/21/2009 7:46:47 PM

i go to bourbon st on at least a quarterly basis and have never heard of this shoe scam

not saying it doesnt exist, just surprised i've never heard of it

10/21/2009 9:12:59 PM

cafe dumond

frenchman is a nice area for good music

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a cool bar too

10/21/2009 9:15:54 PM

jacques-imo's is a FANTASTIC restaurant. the best meal you'll have

dont let your gps take you through the ghetto, stay on st. charlest street going away from downtown and it'll lead you there

cafe du mond FOR SURE

bring lots of cash, most places (cafe de mond for one) dont take plastic. dont worry though, your breakfast will run you $4 flat before tip

lots of chicks without shirts ride the bull at the bourbon cowboy. dont bother with any of the strip clubs, and get the $75 hurricane at pat o's

when you go to baton rouge, go the LSU campus and go see their tiger enclosure. its free and its fucking awesome. yes, a real tiger on campus. and i favor hello sushi when i'm there. they put a cajun spin on the rolls.

and if you're a coffee drinker, try community coffee brand and forget about starbucks for a few days

10/21/2009 9:29:35 PM

Quote :

"cafe du mond FOR SURE"

meh, it didn't really live up to the hype. I mean, yes, it's good and cheap...but it's essentially the same fried dough you can get at countless other places.

10/21/2009 9:36:44 PM

When i was there, the best meal i had was at Louisiana Bistro. Nice atmosphere, great food, and the chef comes out to the tables to take the orders, which is a nice touch for someone like me (read: chef).

Also, it is really cool to just take a cab to the end of St. Charles, grab a 42 oz daquiri/margarita/etc and walk back to the quarter. Lots of really nice houses to look at and it is a good cheap way to spend an afternoon if the weather is nice.

For history's sake, go to Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. It is one of the oldest bars in the United States that has been in continuous operation. It was established in 1772.

10/21/2009 11:08:09 PM

is the coffee strong at cafe du mond?
are the donuts too hot to touch?

10/21/2009 11:10:45 PM

Get a muffaletta sandwich while you're there. A small market in front of Jackson Square has some awesome olive salad. And get some pralines from Aunt Sally's down the road from Cafe Du Monde.

10/21/2009 11:17:25 PM

No but all the tvs are hot.

that or they dont work do to flood damage.

place number 5 that i do not want to visit

they dont take kindly to us republicans down there

10/21/2009 11:19:46 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. The original plan was just to attend the LSU game for the weekend but then I got more time off from work and figured that there would be more to do in New Orleans but I will def be going to visit Mike the Tiger @ LSU!

10/21/2009 11:41:13 PM

Gotta have some beignets in the french quarter.

Just like a fool when those sweet goodies cool,
I eat 'til I eat way too much.

And go see Mike at LSU. Eat some boudin if you can find it between BR and NOLA, the best cajun food is around Lafayette though.

10/22/2009 12:00:52 AM

I lived in NO and BR for almost 4 yrs. I still visit there fairly frequently.

In the time that I lived there, I went to only 1 restaurant that I'd not go into again. and that was the Court of Two Sisters.

I knew that I wouldn't be there forever, so I made the most of it. I ate at a different higher end restaurant every weekend, so I've tried most places with any sort of name to it

Restaurants I like:
Jacque-imo's (as mentioned above) is one of my favorites. Try the etouffee. it will be dark, crowded, and a heck of a lot of fun, even on a week night.

Emeril's - the original on Tchoupitoulas in the Warehouse District. There are I think 2 others that are also good (NOLA and Del Monico are the ones I know off hand), but the original is my fav. Worth every penny and then some. At one point they had a set up where you paid a pretty hefty chunk of change and as the chefs cooked, they'd send out samplers to you so you essentially tried everything. I did this twice and loved it.

Galatoire's - in the quarter. tasty and very expensive. Better than Commander's Palace IMO.

K-paul's - hit or miss (though the miss is still better than most) for me. when it is on, it is ON. K-paul's is a cajun restaurant, not creole. Most folks don't know the difference, but there is a big difference.

Dragos - in Metairie. Very reasonable prices, casual, close to the lake, good food all around

There are two sushi spots I'd recommend - Saki Cafe and Ninja. Ninja is the superior restaurant. The dragon roll is to die for.

Gautreau's - not sure if it opened back up or not. fantastic.

Arnaud's - excellent creole cuisine

Crecent City Brew House (right across the street from a lot of the pay parking for the quarter) serves a fantastic rack of ribs.

Kenner Seafood - if you make it out to kenner, ie in route to BR, check this spot out. It is CHEAP and freaking fantastic. Not dressy... the kind of place with paper towel rolls on the table.

Superior Grill is pretty good Mex food and the margaritas are large and tasty. It is on St. Charles.

Also, on St. Charles is my absolute favorite bar, upscale and classy - the Columns. I used to go there to pick up doctors, lawyers, and Porsches aha.

Mother's is in my opinion not worth the ridiculous wait.

There is a muffuletta shop right across from the French Market that serves the best in town (forget the name)

Also, for cheap(er) eats try Marisol in the quarter (not sure if it opened post katrina however). Oh and Cafe Pontalba (on the northwest corner of Jackson Square) has some tasty stuffed shrimp.

Cafe du Monde is "meh" for me. but you should probably it a go. have a beignet and chickory coffee.

Copeland's has a chain down there called Cheesecake Bistro (not the Factory) that truly has freaking fantastic cheesecake. One in BR, too.


In BR: some spots that I definitely recommend,

J Alexander, Chimes (cheap eats near LSU), JUBANS, Mansurs (hit or miss, but miss is still wonderful), Boutin's (awesomely fun on a Wednesday night as they have live French-cajun music and dancing), Razoo's is pretty decent and has a large seafood selection.


Other stuff (besides food) that might be worthy of your time, depending on your interest:

Bourbon is fine; I've done it too much. To get the full experience, go on Fri or Sat. Thurs isn't bad. Just walk around, pop in the bars/clubs.

If you go, go to Pat O's and go to the dueling piano bar (there are like 4 difft bars in that one location). It is awesome if there are a lot of people. Best piano bar ever.

If you like karoake, check out the Cat's Meow on Bourbon... I've personally performed there many times... drunk of course.

The swamp boat tours are a lot of fun. Yes, they really are. The plantation tours suck. The midnight voodoo/cemetary tours are awesome near Halloween.

I'd request that you do not pay your money to Grey Line to see the Lower Ninth Ward Katrina tour. The last time I was down there (some months ago), the Lower Ninth was still a freaking war zone (I've been down there many times since Katrina). It is pathetic and I personally want to shoot people that go down there to take their pics of people's misery. [/rant]

[Edited on October 22, 2009 at 12:40 AM. Reason : Oh and Mike the Tiger is VERY over rated.]

HAHA and one more thing after I skimmed NC Wolfy's post. NO IS the ghetto. It is the most starkly black/white (not talking race here, but that would apply as well) city I've ever been to. It is a city of haves and have nots. Though post Katrina, a lot of the have nots have been displaced. You will find as you drive around, that one block will have multi million dollar mansions from the late 1800's andthe next block over will be a drugged up shotgun houses (long slender double houses). Lock your doors at all times. I've been lost in very nasty neighborhoods many times.

[Edited on October 22, 2009 at 12:46 AM. Reason : er]

10/22/2009 12:38:51 AM

>>Dragos - in Metairie. Very reasonable prices, casual, close to the lake, good food all around

Why send him way to Metairie? Granted, parking may be an issue downtown, but there's a Drago's in the Hilton Riverside if he'll already be in that area. Get a couple dozen charbroiled oysters and the spinach & artichoke dip. I take all my out-of-town dates there and each one absolutely loves this meal.

If you're going to go eat in Fat City, Crazy Johnnie's is where it's at. Their steaks are amazing.

The muffaletta shop is Central Grocery and Mother's isn't worth the wait, 100% agree. Neither is Acme unless, ironically enough, you make it to the one in Metairie. If there's no wait, go ahead, but that's rare. I'm not a coffee person but there's a reason Community Coffee is popular here -- it's wonderful.

...

you got enough food suggestions. Fun stuff:

- do Bourbon St. to say you did it, but it is possible to enjoy New Orleans without ever going there. You'll love how lax/liberal the law is down there, but don't do anything stupid. Bar hop, hit a couple of strip clubs (I suggest two: The one next to Jazz Emporium whose name escapes me, and the Gold Room on Iberville just off Bourbon and that's IT), avoid Razzoo's because they suck, eat at La Bayou restaurant, drink a hand grenade, and don't pick up chicks on Bourbon & St. Louis unless you don't mind taking the chance that the woman has similar plumbing (only some of them are obvious; do not trust your inebriated senses). If you need late food, skip the pizza shops and go to Daisy Duke's, 121 Chartres which is 2 blocks toward the river from Bourbon. Good food at a great price, open 24 hours. If you forget and are at the hotel, you can order and they'll deliver. If you go TOO far down Bourbon (past the second open hand grenade shop), you'll be on the gay side, but they're mostly harmless. Just turn around and head back where you wanna go.

- Frenchmen St. is where it's at. Much less crowded, several bars around, residential, much more enjoyable overall. You can start at Balcony Music Club (Decatur & Esplanade) and, heading toward the little fire station there, hit Checkpoint Charlie's, The Dragon's Den, La Maison Musique, Blue Nile/Alley Catz, Lazziza, Cafe Negril, Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat, and if you go 2 blocks past the park you'll hit The John for a good 6am nightcap cocktail. The R Bar on Royal St. is a hipster bar, but pretty cool - I'd watch the Olympics there at 3am while shooting pool with the bartender. You really can't go wrong with Frenchmen St. - just as entertaining, half the ground to cover, and no stupid DJs with microphones.

- do take a day ride down St. Charles. The trees, the campuses (Tulane & Loyola), the restaurants, the really nice homes, Superior Grill, St. Charles Tavern (another good late grub spot, but they frequently have CC issues so be warned), and at Lee Circle (end of St. Charles) there is the aptly named Circle Bar that usually has live music, and it's pretty much all good. Catch a Micah McKee show if you can.

- if you want a day tour of the quarter, take a Segway tour. http://www.segwaynola.com - they teach you how to ride if you don't know, then the tour begins. REALLY fun. Good use of $75. If you must see the ninth ward, put down the camera, pick up a hammer and help someone you lazy fuck. (I don't really mean this to be this incendiary, but like Queti said, it's pretty shitty to take pics of the destruction at this point.)


on your way out of town, grab some olive salad from Central Grocery if you liked it, some pralines from pretty much any candy shop you can find (seriously, I have never had bad pralines here), and a bottle of Old New Orleans rum from Rouses grocery (or wherever you can find it). In BR, eat at Raising Cane's. Their menu is simple, both to a fault and a benefit. I try to go to Baton Rouge as little as I can help, so I'm pretty useless in that regard.

If you have any questions, PM me

10/22/2009 3:21:28 AM

Cosimo Mattassa's J&M Studio.

The birthplace of rock and roll.

10/22/2009 3:29:52 AM

bttt

10/22/2009 2:02:27 PM

queti, im adding this thread to my topics so when im in NO for work i can try some of your suggestions

and i echo recommendations on emrils, razoos, cheesecake bistro (how could i forget!), copelands, chimes and j alexander

10/22/2009 9:08:30 PM

Sleik knows what's up, he's a local down there. Dude helped me out real nice with advice when I visited New Orleans.

I definitely suggest you visit Frenchmen Street, its fucking amazing and an entirely different and very friendly experience from what you'll get on Bourbon street.

Quote :

"Also, they tried that shit on my dad. TWO of them actually. He ended up telling them "I really don't give a damn where you think my shoes are from." They got pissed and walked away but according to our taxi driver we had, if you don't pay them (after they say that bullshit line) they'll literally kick your ass."

Holy shit, really? When I was walking back with this chick down some of the sketchier blocks (wasn't Bourbon), this group of guys asked me where I got my shoes. I was wearing Rainbows and knew better than to stop and talk so I said "thanks" and kept going. Crazy, I've never heard of that.

10/22/2009 9:22:24 PM

push a hotdog cart around a building without getting mugged is something i want to do there

10/22/2009 9:31:42 PM

Just spent a night there. We went to the Napolean House. Amazing food, and relatively cheap.

http://www.napoleonhouse.com/

10/22/2009 9:34:12 PM

Ok, so I thought of a few more... restaurants (for Wolfy, too )

I LOVE La Crepe Nanou in Uptown. Cute, small, and really good crepes. Different than your typical restaurant.

The Bistro at the Maison de Ville - tasty local flavors

Agree on Acme... if you go, go to the one in Metairie

Ralph's at City Park - love this place. Nice atmosphere and freaking awesome food.

Oh and to comment on Dragos... I used to live right below the lake on the Metairie/Kenner line, so it was convenient for me.. haha.

Dante's Kitchen - fantastic food

Dick and Jenny's - funky atmosphere and good food (in the Warehouse District)

Upperline is ok. Lots of people recommend it. It is fine, but if I were limited on time, I'd skip.

Dickie Brennan's is a really good steakhouse but truthfully, I wouldn't waste time eating steak in NO. You can get good steak most places. Eat the stuff you can't get anywhere else.

Mr. B's is back open I think. I used to get the gumbo there pretty much every time I went.

If you want "soul" food, NO is the place to go, too. There are tons of spots, many in the poorer areas that are fantastic and cheap, cheap, cheap. Willie Mae's comes to mind.

Can you tell I miss the food down there? Food in PA sucks.

Ok, that is all for now. I think I'm heading back down this winter for Mardi Gras. I used to go every year. I've missed it. I think I've got a spot on a crewe this year too

OH and I had to comment on Copelands. We used to go to the one in Metairie on the way into NO. It weirded me out. They have this wild neon pink/black/brass decor going on. Food was always pretty good... but I felt like I was in an episode of Miami Vice. haha

[Edited on October 22, 2009 at 10:44 PM. Reason : er]

10/22/2009 10:39:51 PM

I'll be there tomorrow- Friday.

Any new tips/suggestions?

3/24/2014 6:06:53 PM

Perfect timing, I'll be there next weekend for my bachelor party, Were staying at the Bourbon Orleans...any suggestions bachelor party wise?

3/24/2014 6:21:37 PM

^ Skip the sleazier strip clubs on Bourbon St. and head to The Penthouse (new name for the Gold Club I mentioned in my first post) after you've wandered Bourbon for shots and such - you could probably run your entire night through that place once you're there, and not want to leave. The other club I mentioned slid into a ravine and is terrible now, and I don't even know what Jazz Emporium renamed itself to, and that's not a good thing. Jon Taffer re-did that one bar into Spirits On Bourbon, so check it out if you're so inclined - but remember, the point of Bourbon St. bars is to be in and out fairly quickly. You're shooting for volume, not to be The Guy Who Lingers Too Long. If you're making it happen fairly quickly, that's different, but otherwise there are dozens of spots to pop into. You could strike out with a group in one bar and see them five more times in a night. Play it cool.

Everything else I posted in 2009 still applies, amazingly enough.

^^ Two events worth checking out:
Tuesday: Cab it to Oak St. - eat at Jacques-Imo's, and then head next door to Maple Leaf Bar to catch Rebirth Brass Band.

Wednesday: There is a concert series called Wednesdays At The Square, in Lafayette Square. It's at St. Charles & Poydras - two bands play hourlong sets, starting at 5pm, and there's no charge to enter the park. Bring cash, because you have to buy tickets for drinks (the cash line is usually shorter and always moves faster). There are also local vendors selling various wares, and you may choose to pick something up. This might be the night you hit Bourbon St. after dinner, but/and it won't be too wild.

Thursday: go to Frenchmen St.

[Edited on March 24, 2014 at 9:38 PM. Reason : Also: French Market. Ice cream daiquiri at Gazebo Cafe. Do it.]

3/24/2014 9:34:55 PM

Hmmm

I definitely want to eat at Jacques-Imo's before we leave, but we have reservations at R'evolution for Tuesday night and I'm meeting up with a cousin afterwards for drinks in the CBD. Should we cancel?

[Edited on March 24, 2014 at 9:41 PM. Reason : .]

3/24/2014 9:40:46 PM

If you've got plans, roll with em. You could absolutely swing a R'Evolution - Barcadia - Bourbon St. night on Tuesday. I'll edit this post in a couple minutes with a modified Wednesday. Absolutely make the Jacques-Imo's - Maple Leaf move on Wednesday after the Square (it'll be over around 7:30-7:45). I've only caught one Eric Bolivar show, but Nigel Hall and Khris Royal are standing in with him, and they both are outstanding.

[Edited on March 24, 2014 at 9:51 PM. Reason : e]

3/24/2014 9:47:29 PM

Sounds good. Thank you for the recs, sir

3/24/2014 10:37:07 PM

Updates, people

3/30/2014 4:49:50 AM

Quote :

"Mother's is in my opinion not worth the ridiculous wait. "

But if the wait is not bad, it's great. also, there was a great byob restauraunt called EAT that I liked a bit. It was down in the residential section of Bourbon street.

3/30/2014 5:48:05 AM

you gonna get stabbed/murdered

3/30/2014 11:49:21 AM

R'Evolution was good, but Jacques-Imo's was better for the price. I really enjoyed the WWII museum and Frenchman street.

Personally, I find the Acadian parishes/Lafayette to be the best part of my trip. Knowing family members who can cook and have a boat made it way more fun. I'd been to NOLA before a long time ago, and now that I'm older, the Bourbon street/hand grenade stuff is a bit much, but New Orleans is an awesome city with a lot to offer.

3/30/2014 10:53:52 PM

so i guess the "you aren't using proper tense/grammar" defense doesn't go over well with the shoe scam?

3/30/2014 11:19:34 PM

I am pretty stonefaced and ignore people on the street. When you've dealt with as many bums as I have in SF, your chances of engaging me are totally hopeless. Needless to say, nobody hassled me, or was able to get me to even slow down in the first place.

[Edited on March 30, 2014 at 11:26 PM. Reason : dem shoes]

3/30/2014 11:25:31 PM

^^^ glad you enjoyed Jacques-Imo's. Did y'all catch some live music next door?

4/1/2014 2:52:49 AM

.

[Edited on April 1, 2014 at 5:06 PM. Reason : .]

4/1/2014 5:06:25 PM

BUMP

Gonna be in New Orleans for a few days in early May for work. I've read through this thread and plan on checking some of the places out, but since it is a few years old, any new recommendations on dining? Gonna be staying in French Quarter on Poydras Street. Mostly looking for places within walking distance. Will be staying for three nights, busy doing work stuff until about 5 each day.


ALSO I'm a huge fan of ghost stories/horror movies/goofy shit like that. Anyone have any recommendations on ghost tours or stuff like that?

[Edited on April 20, 2017 at 4:48 PM. Reason : ]

4/20/2017 4:47:14 PM

I did a Vampire tour one night there. Don't remember what company, but it was reasonably priced.

4/20/2017 4:59:50 PM

I recommend free tours by foot - was in town for a wedding recently and did a few in the morning

Some great food places - herbsaint / ruby slipper / eat new orleans

4/20/2017 5:17:50 PM

Coops Place on Decatur street. Little grungy but the food is the best.

If you have kids they can't get in.

4/20/2017 5:32:45 PM

I'm here till Sunday on a bachelor trip, need great food that is horribly bad for you and interesting places to go.

4/20/2017 7:45:14 PM

Pierre Maspero's and Desire Oyster Bar both have great shrimp and grits - both are close to Bourbon St

4/21/2017 1:08:26 AM

Master P old stomping grounds

4/21/2017 12:12:14 PM

4/22/2017 8:38:27 AM

Quote :

"Desire Oyster Bar"

This randomly was the first place we ate during my bachelor party a few years ago and they were without a doubt the best shrimp n grits I've ever had.

4/22/2017 11:06:30 AM

^Awesome, looks like this place is only a 10 min walk from my hotel so I may hit it up on my first night.


Any recommendations on ghost tours?

4/23/2017 3:42:40 PM

Got in last night. Even though this thread is 8 years old and most of the people who originally posted in it have prob retired from TWW, thanks for the recommendations. Went with some coworkers to Daisy Dukes and got some incredible gumbo. Looked up a few things on tripadvisor and went on a two hour walking tour of some of the local haunted buildings and various other voodoo/witchcraft type things. Was pretty cool. Prob gonna look into some oysters or po-boys tonight.

5/9/2017 2:59:22 PM