"The train they call the City of New Orleans"

(I hope it's cool to ask on this forum..........)
Donna and I are leaving for New Orleans tomorrow morning for one of her conferences, and we plan to eat like a cochon.
We have reservations at:
August
Cuvee
Stella!
Bayona
Matt & Nadies
I am still contemplating Brigstens, Galatoires, and Clancy's.
Do you well informed epicureans, gourmets, and gourmands have suggestions for additions or cancellations?

Thanks.

Phil

Definitely try to give Galatoire's a try. It's one of the Grand Dames of New Orleans restaurants that still lives up to its reputation. And if you are there on Friday and Saturday do not miss the food at the Jazz and Heritage Festival. I'm going on Friday and have lost 3 pounds in the last month just so I can gain it all back next weekend at the fest.

Commander's Palace is our favorite place, Phil. In the Garden District if the conference happens to be at Tulane. Stop by the Columns Hotel on St. Charles. Get a drink at the Victorian Lounge and carry it out to the verandah. Pure pleasure.

You are going to heaven.....

Go to Cochon on Tchoupatoulas

Mandina's on Canal.......

Bring me back something....ANYTHING

Phil, for some great suggestions and my reviews, put "NewOrleans Progressive Dinner" in the hotbytes search engine. Gordy and I went last summer and we got some phenominal recs from the forum....Britsen's was one of the places we went, good, but not my favorite. In no particular order:
NOLA (we had a hilarious experience there)
Acme Oyster House
Central Grocery (Muffaletta)
El Gato Negro Mexican (simply THE best margaritas anywhere ever!)
Drinks at the Carousel
Mandina's
Cafe DuMonde (Beignets and coffee)
I am sooooo jealous! Have fun!

My wife just got back from a trip to New Orleans, checking on the property where our house stood pre-Katrina. She shipped back a box full of supplies to tide us over until the next trip.

Try charbroiled oysters if you get the chance. Acme serves them, and I believe Drago's, which claims to have originated them, has opened a location in the Hilton. One of the things my wife shipped back was an oyster knife so we could shuck our own and fix these at home.

Clancy's is top of the line, so I'd squeeze that in if possible.

If you get the chance to say hi to John Besh, the proprietor of August, you should do so. I've met him once or twice. He's just a darned nice guy.

A drink or two at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a good way to get a dose of New Orleans atmosphere.

Hi Phil,

I just moved to Louisville from New Orleans about 9 months ago. Cochon is one of my favorites. I'd stick with the small plates and make sure you try the oven roasted oysters...I could eat several orders of them. Also, the pork rillettes on the boucherie plate is amazing. They just opened a new place right next door that is open for lunch and sells all of their homemade meats. Stella! is also wonderful. The service a little more stuffy than most places in New Orleans. They have a really nice tasting menu. A great place for drinks and "bar food" is the swizzle stick lounge (in the Lowe's hotel). They have great little snacks like their seafood corn dogs with foie gras butter. ONE on hampson (riverbend area) is a wonderful small restaurant that is often overlooked. If you are looking for a great po-boy place try Crabby Jack's...they make a great Duck po-boy. Just make sure you get a chance to take the streetcar up and down St. Charles. Wow...now I'm really missing home. Enjoy!!!

Melissa

Late night, stumble into Coop's Place on Decatur and get the Rabbit Jambalaya and Shrimp Creole (as for a side of red beans while you are at it). They also make their own Green Goddess dressing and it is to die for.

It's hole in the wall, but ain't that the way it's meant to be, cher?

As a former New Orleans resident, I feel obligated to recommend. If the conference is at the convention center, then Cochon is a must. I used to work for Donald Link at Herbsaint and his food is the thunda. I would suggest Clancy's for panned veal and oysters with brie. Commander's should be on your list. Keep in mind that for lunch during the week, Commander's has 25 cent martinis and cosmos. I would recommend any entree with crab, especially the softshell. However, you may try to go to Commander's for brunch, Ti and Lally know how to do brunch. Jacquamo's in Carrolton is a funky New Orleans experience. Gautreaus on Soniat St is a local favorite and the chef just one F&W top 10 best new chef last year. I implore you to stumble in to Port of Call for a late night burger. Liuzza's in Mid-Town was a former haunt of mine. As a cook, I could never afford Restaurant August, but John Besh has a new place called Luke, so you might look at that if you can't get in to August. I gotta give a mention to Bistro Daisy. I used to work the line with Anton, the owner, and he is incredibly talented. Other than that, you cant go wrong with:
Lilette
Domilise's - for the world's best po-boy
Galatoire's
Iris
Cooter Brown's - gulf oysters and cold beer
R & O's - boiled crawfish
Crabby Jack's
Dick and Jenny's
Hope this helps Phil. Have a blast, New Orleans has all the rum you can drink. Consider me jealous. Sounds much more enjoyable than my next two weeks of finals.

Don't forget the Monsoons at Port of Call. Killer.

Phil,
I know you are already gone and I am sorry I didn't have a chance to comment. I think you should have clarified your request for suggestions. New Orleans, IMHO, has two restaurant scenes. On the one hand, you have what I call their "New York scene." What I mean by that is those restaurants are more innovative, cutting edge, and get more recognition from critics and epicureans. Think NY restaurants like Per Se, Daniel, etc... On the other hand, you have the "True New Orleans Scene." That is more the Cajun/Creole foods that are indigenous to the surrounding areas. Many of these places do not have white table clothes but are a key part of dining in NOLA. Judging by your sample list, you are interested in the New York scene. You can't go wrong with either but I would find time to take another trip and enjoy the other dining scene NOLA is known for. I feel like you can't have a true NOLA experience without it. Many of those places were listed by other posters. I know this post in now academic but I wanted to share.