New Orleans restaurants – Page 2

GW Fins (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on February 18, 2015 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

GW Fins is easily one of the top 10 restaurants in New Orleans. It’s classic French meets sophisticated Cajun and even has a hint of Asian influences. Despite it’s location right off of Bourbon St. , it’s far from being a tourist trap…

Delicious GW Fins biscuits. They’re tiny and about 2″ wide and so delicious..

Shrimp Remoulade. Chilled Louisiana shrimp. Roasted Red Peppers. Fried Green tomato.

Blue Crab Potstickers. Country Ham. Creamy Pea Shoot Butter.

Barbeque Shrimp. Deglazed with Abita Amber. Crispy spoonbread.

Lobster Dumplings. Fennel. Tomato concasse. Lobster butter.

Fish and Etouffee. Special of the day.

Although everything was super delicious, as usual, the most notable thing here has to be the bite-sized, sweet, buttery biscuits. As for the menu, Chef Tenney Flynn consistently puts out classic French-Cajun seafood dishes. Each of his dishes consist of fresh seafood and the menu changes every day depending on availability and what’s in season. I’m a creature of habit and I use to ALWAYS order his Diver Sea Scallops and Mushroom risotto. It’s delicious! The scallops are extra large and juicy and the risotto is permeating with flavor. More recently, I’ve been loving the change-up and have been loving the Lobster Dumplings and Blue Crab Potstickers, which are appetizers that are almost always on the menu. The Shrimp Remoulade was so fresh! The Fish of the Day with etouffee was a bit bland, but the etouffee was flavorful and balanced the fish well. I would have preferred a dash more flavor/salt, but I believe this dish would be perfect for Northern or Western palates who aren’t used to the *bang* or saltiness that we are adapted to down South.

G.W. Fins is among my top ten favorite restaurants in the city. I would recommend G.W. Fins to anyone visiting New Orleans. It’s perfect for the seafood lover, but there are a couple poultry or beef dishes for non-seafood eaters (Sorry vegetarians/vegans, this isn’t the best city to visit. It’s not very accommodating for your diets, but they are some out there!) . The food and atmosphere is a perfect mesh of fine dining meets New Orleans casual, which is why I love this place. It’s upscale dining without being too fancy schmancy!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Herbsaint Bar Restaurant (Lafayette Square, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on November 15, 2014 by chefsgirl

Years ago, my fiance and I went to Herbsaint and had the best bread ever. It was a buttery sourdough-type bread and we requested tons of it. We might’ve even taken some home! Every time I hear or think of Herbsaint, I think of that buttery soft bite…

Now, years later, we hope to have a bite of that same bread again…

Amuse Bouche. Fried Shrimphead.

Sourdough & Focaccia.

Soup of the day: Lump Crab meat Gazpacho

Gumbo of the Day: Duck Gumbo.

Beef Short Rib with Potato Rösti. Salsa Verde. Horseradish Cream.

Rabbit Fricassee. Garganelli. Bacon. Pumpkin. Madeira.

Gnocchi. Pancetta. Parmesan broth.

Seared Drum with risotto.

If you’re wondering if we got that buttery bread this time, we sure did! Not in the same amount as we did before since the focaccia bread was pretty delicious too. As for the meal, every dish was so great, that I have to share my thoughts on each dish.Let’s start from the first dish. I’m not the biggest fan of cold soups, but we ordered the lump crab meat gazpacho and it was amazing! It was light, refreshing, and herbacious. I had low expectations, but that was wiped out completely and I almost ate all of “The Chef”‘s portion.

The Gumbo is a must! Herbsaint creates gumbo with a darker, deeper roux, which adds so much flavor. Just get it.

The Beef Short ribs were so moist and the salsa verde was herby and refreshing. For such a rich and savory dish, you never would have thought that it would be so refreshing. Loved it!

The Rabbit Fricassee came in a small cast iron bowl and didn’t look like much, but that bite! That first bite was moist rabbit with a delicate pasta, wrapped in a coating of Madeira sauce. mMm! I can really still taste it.

The Gnocchi was just as good. Gnocchi is a dish that if not seasoned and sauced properly, it can be very bland and boring. Not this Gnocchi! The pancetta added a perfect saltiness and the parmesan broth added a nice, rich finish.

The fish of the day was a drum that was seared to perfection. It was moist and was completed by the most flavorful risotto! This risotto had an Asian flare, but with a French refinement. Even though we were stuffed at this point, I still couldn’t stop eating this risotto.

Judging by my list, pictures, and tummy that night, we probably over ordered. If we didn’t order the last dish, I would have definitely had room for dessert. Either way, the whole meal was worth every penny and remaining belly space. From one dish to another, not a single one had any ounce of disappointment. Now, when I think of Herbsaint, I’ll remember that soft bite of bread I ate right before probably one of my most memorable food experiences…

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

IVY (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on November 12, 2014 by chefsgirl

IVY has replaced Vizard’s, a local fine dining place that “The Chef” and I still love to this day. Unfortunately, Vizard’s is no longer, but in memory, click here for my post of their closing meal: Vizard’s. It was a successful and delicious fine dining restaurant until the owner’s made a personal decision to close the doors.

Now that Ivy has replaced one of our favorite restaurants, we had to try it and see if it was worthy of the location…

There wasn’t much to revamp on the outside, but they put a trendy touch on the inside. It’s a very small restaurant and we felt it was a bit too modern feeling on the inside so we opted for outdoor seating.

Swiss Chard, Beet, and Feta Empanadas. Mint Crème fraiche.

Warm Snow Crab claws. Truffle Butter.

Parker House rolls. Fleur de Sel.

Apple and Endive Salad. Candied Walnuts. Buttermilk Herb dressing.

Panéed Rabbit. Buttermilk biscuits. Pickles. Spicy Honey Butter.

Oxtail gratin. Gruyere. Carmelized onion. Grilled Ciabatta.

Wedding Cake for two. Ice cream.

With the weather cooling down South, dining outside was perfect! I felt the inside was a bit stuffy and that night they had some too-cool-for-me type elevator music. The food? DE. LISH. The menu is divided into small plate portions, which are perfect for sharing. Of course, each small plate is good to share between two, so order accordingly.

One notable dish was the Warm Crab Claws in truffle butter. I mean, how can you say “no” to truffle butter. There were actual chunks of the truffle in the butter. This wasn’t your ordinary truffle-infused oil. It had real truffle! If you get the Crab Claws, I HIGHLY recommend that you order the Parker House rolls. Yes, you do have to order them, but it’s SO worth it. I spread some butter on the roll and dipped it in the truffle butter…What a memorable bite!

Next, I loved the Oxtail gratin. It was perfectly crisped Ciabatta with the most epic combination of cheese and moist Oxtail.

The Paneed Rabbit was a great protein dish as well. The flavors were well-balanced and the pickles just added to the dish. Against our waiters recommendation, we ordered the wedding cake. It was good, but the icing was a bit sweet just like he warned us. His actual recommendation was the Apple-Pear Crisp and Ginger Ice Cream so I would recommend that over the cake.

With so much to the live up to, Ivy did really well! I love the French/New Orleans tapas-style menu. It’s a taste of everything as opposed to the boredom one large entrée. It’s a small restaurant so small groups are recommended, however, if reservations are made in advance, I’m sure they can accompany larger groups too.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Meauxbar Bistro (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 27, 2014 by chefsgirl

Meauxbar is a trendy bar and restaurant located in the French Quarter. There’s definitely a mixed crowd…businessmen, couples, and large groups. It’s fitting for most groups except young families, obviously! The customer service was superb! We received awesome recommendations from our waitress and the rest followed…

Sweetbreads. Toasted Brioche. Roasted Sunflower Seed Butter. Pickled Strawberries. Madeira Demi Glace.

Pork Belly & Watermelon. Red Wine Vinaigrette. Pickled Watermelon Rind. Arugula.

Chicken Liver Pate. Roasted Beet Caviar. Grilled Bellgarde Bread.

Moules-frites. Pastis. Fennel.

Basil Semifreddo. Basil Lime Syrup. Louisiana Melon. Coconut Tuile.

(Not pictured here is the Chocolate & Salted Caramel Dacquoise)

The menu offered many small and large plates. I prefer to choose many small plates…it teases your taste buds, in a good way! My favorite dish was the sweetbreads.They were large and juicy…just the way I like it. I’ve had my fair share of sweetbreads and here in Louisiana, and we tend to do a light, herby and buttery sauce, but Chef Kristen Kessig prepared it with a deeper flavored sauce, which was different and I loved it.

Of the desserts my favorite was the Basil Semifreddo. As simple and light as this dessert may sound, it’s packed with layers of flavors and was recommended by Chef Kessig herself! The Chocolate & Salted Caramel was delicious too. I mean, how can chocolate cake and salted caramel not be delicious?

Overall, “The Chef” and I had such a great experience. It was a great environment for date night and the food left us satiated, yet wanting more!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Maurepas Foods (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 18, 2014 by chefsgirl

Late night dining is always so hard to find, especially on a weekday. Maurepas Foods is open 11 AM to 12 AM so it was a perfect place to catch dinner with “The Chef” right after work. The feel is very hip and it’s located in the Bywater area, which is booming with new restaurants!

Tequila. Rose. Lemon. Grapefruit. Bonal Gentiane.

Bread. Chili Butter.

Chicken Leg Quarter. Grits. Market Greens. Slow-poached Egg.

Goat Tacos. Pickled Green Tomatoes. Cilantro Harissa.

Sauces.

First off, I loved the chili butter! Butter with chili oil..two sinful goodies all in one, then spread over bread. Mmm! The chicken leg quarter was very homey and moist. If you like goat and are into gamey flavors, then the tacos are for you! Goat meat is definitely an acquired taste, but is definitely worth a shot if it’s your first time because it’s the perfect transition via taco. I will have to say the food menu is limited, but the quality and value is there!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 12, 2014 by chefsgirl

What I usually love about New Orleans is the intermingling of flavors, but what I love about Maïs Arepas is actually the opposite. I love the authenticity of everything. One cuisine we don’t see much of around here is Colombian. I haven’t been to Colombia nor do I claim to know the cuisine very well, but what I do know is that I want more…

The Bar.

Magarita!

Empanadas Caleñas. Colombian-style yellow cornmeal pies. Shredded beef. Sofrito & Papa criolla. Aji Valluno.

Open Sesame!

Arepa Sampler. Trio of mini Arepas: Shredded skirt steak with Hogao valluno/Pulled pork with Aji & cotija cheese/Shredded Chicken with avocado & green peppers

Maiz de la Rueda. Grilled maïs on the cob. Spicy butter. Aioli. Cotija Cheese.

Marinera Arepas. Grilled jumbo shrimp. Citrus Creole slaw. Avocado. Pink Sauce.

I am trying to find words to describe the delight in each bite I had that day and I’m at a loss for words. Honestly, the pictures say it for me…But in case it hasn’t caught your eye yet, the arepas (pronounced: a-ray-pahs) are cornmeal-based pita-like bread that is stuffed with flavorful Columbian seasoned meats like braised pork, juicy beef, or even shrimp. There’s a variety to choose from! The corn was probably THE best corn I’ve had…seasoned so well. So buttery…And lastly, the empanadas were cornmeal-crusted, which was refreshing and very similar to the arepas.

What I love about Maïs Arepas is the attention to plating, that you don’t typically see in more rustic-style foods. Normally, the food speaks for itself, but here, everything from the plating, the smells, and the flavors spoke to you.

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

Velvet Cactus (Lakeview, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 22, 2014 by chefsgirl

When I think of New Orleans or even Louisiana food, Mexican is the last cuisine I’d think of. I spent a few years in Texas and have fallen in love with Mexican food. I was a bit sad that there is a lack of it here in NOLA, until I found Velvet Cactus. I was on my way home from the City Park and stumbled across this unique restaurant/art gallery…

Decor.

Chips & Dip.

Smoked Pork Tamales. Seasoned corn mase. Smoked pork mixed with peppers. Steamed corn husk. Ranchero sauce.

SlimRITA Frozen. 100 calorie frozen margarita.

Shrimp and chicken enchiladas. Refried beans.

Chipotle Cheese Grits and 1/2 Steak Enchilada.

My favorites were the smoked pork tamales and the cheese grits. The tamales were stuffed with meat…hearty and delicious! The cheese grits were to die for! I’d eat it with the enchiladas, dip some nachos in it, pour it on top of my fajitas…haha just kidding, but I’d have some with every bite of my meal.

Cons: I had the SlimRita and it was too sweet. Next time, I’ll opt for the iced margarita.

Overall, the meal was good and the closest I’ve found to good Mexican food in the city. As far as authenticity goes, it’s more of a Tex-Mex, but I know I’ll come back when I’m craving Mexican! Tex-Mex is generally what you get throughout the U.S.. Now if you want true Mexican, you’ll have to go closer to the border of Mexico, but I prefer to drive to Lakeview for now!

Rating: 3/5 spoons

Parkway Bakery and Tavern (Bayou St. John, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 6, 2014 by chefsgirl

Parkway Bakery and Tavern currently holds the title for “Best Poboys in NOLA”, among other titles such as “Top 100 popular restaurants in NewOrleans”…I’ve read a little bit of the history and reviews and wanted to see what all the hype was about. There are so many poboys in the city so it’s hard to pick and choose where the “BEST” poboy is…

Home-Cooked Hot Roast Beef with Gravy Poor Boy. Sweet potato fries in the background.

Fried Oyster Poor Boy. Only available Mondays and Wednesdays.

Outside decor.

My thoughts?

Mouth-watering.

Crunchy.

Scrumptious.

There’s a lot of hype on Travel Channel, Food Network, etc. and it is well-deserved! What I love is that it’s an establishment with a great history…many struggles and they still persevered and are so successful. It’s the classic story of many New Orleanians (http://www.parkwaypoorboys.com/history.html). Oh, and also the food! The poboy bread is lightly crispy on the outside and adds the perfect crunch when you bite into it. I loved both the roast beef and the oyster poboys. The sweet potato fries were cooked to perfection! Probably the best in the city.

There’s so many poboys to choose from around here, but I’d have to agree that Parkway has the best poboy when it comes to character and authenticity. With it’s growing popularity there’s plenty of seating outside and you definitely get that southern hospitality when it comes to service.

I can’t wait to devour my next poboy!

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons

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ChefsGirl

Tag Archives: New Orleans restaurants

GW Fins (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Herbsaint Bar Restaurant (Lafayette Square, New Orleans, LA)

IVY (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Meauxbar Bistro (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Maurepas Foods (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Velvet Cactus (Lakeview, New Orleans, LA)

Parkway Bakery and Tavern (Bayou St. John, New Orleans, LA)

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