Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

168  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Even when other major cities in the US were makes the best po’boy (sandwich), bread
living in a culinary wasteland, New Orleans pudding, and so on. The same is true for drinks.
had a reputation for fine, flavorful Creole A local pharmacist invented the cocktail, and
cuisine. Food matters in this city – locals bartenders here are adept at making Sazeracs,
argue about who sells the best oysters, where a range of mint juleps, and such lethal con-
to get the finest turtle soup or gumbo, who coctions as the Obituary Cocktail (see p172).

10am and 3pm on weekends
and can cost anywhere
between $30 and $50.
At lunchtime, a light meal costs
about $7 or $10, usually served
bet ween 11am and 2:30pm.
Prices are lower at lunchtime
than at dinner in the better
restaurants. Dinner is generally
served from 5 to 10pm, or until
11pm on Friday or Saturday
nights. At a moderately priced
place, main dishes might range
from $14 to $24. In the very best
restaurants, like Commander’s
Elegant interiors of Restaurant August (see p177) Palace or Emeril’s, be prepared
to spend over $100 per person.
Places to Eat In addition, there are Italian, A few places are open all night
Top-flight restaurants are found Mediterranean, Vietnamese and and many are closed on Mondays.
throughout the city, particularly other ethnic restaurants, plus
in Uptown and Downtown plenty of places for cheap, good Taxes and Tipping
neighborhoods. Recently, chefs food, such as po’boys, muffuletta
such as Susan Spicer, Emeril (a special local sandwich), pizza, A sales tax of 9 per cent is added
Lagasse, Frank Brigtsen, John and the ubiquitous dish of red to the bill in all restaurants. In
Besh, and others, who beans and rice with sausage. general, diners should tip 15
are updating the traditional New Orleans residents also care per cent of the check for service;
cuisine, are generating the passionately about coffee, and 20 percent if the service is
most excitement. There are the city has many excellent superb. If the service is bad,
plenty of good-quality coffee shops which also offer there is no need to tip at all, but
restaurants that are producing baked goods. some restaurants automatically
traditional Creole and Cajun add a tip, especially for large
dishes – gumbo, oysters groups, so check.
Rockefeller, jambalaya, crawfish Other Places to Eat
étouffée, barbecue shrimp, New Orleans offers a broad range
and other zesty specialties of venues, other than restaurants, Dining on a Budget
(see pp172–3). in which to eat good food. Many Do not eat breakfast at the
hotels have excellent dining hotel unless it is complimentary.
rooms open to the public, and Seek out a coffee shop or deli
there are various delis and corner and feast on delicious croissants
groceries that sell sandwiches and strong coffee. At lunch, pop
or pre-prepared meals known into a corner grocery and order
as “hot lunch.” Also look out a po’boy or hot plate, and picnic
for mobile food trucks and somewhere. Depending on
temporary “pop-up” eateries. the hour, some restaurants
offer fixed-price menus that
are usually cheaper.
Hours and Prices
Breakfast is usually available
between 7 and 11am and can be Reservations
inexpensive or super-expensive – At the best restaurants,
depending on the restaurant. reservations need to be made
Commander’s Palace (see p179), one of the Jazz brunches, a New Orleans considerably in advance. Some
city’s finest restaurants tradition, are served between restaurants, however, do not take

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