Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coop's
CAJUN, CREOLE$$$
(1109 Decatur St; mains $8-17.50; 11am-3am)
For a cheap but thoroughly satisfying meal
in the Quarter, this Cajun country shack disguised as a divey bar is as good as it gets: try
the rabbit and sausage jambalaya or the red beans and rice for a taste of Cajun heaven.
Port of Call
BAR$$$
( 504 523-0120; 838 Esplanade Ave; mains $7-21; 11am-late)
The Port of Call burger is,
simply put, one of the best we've had, anywhere. The meat is unadulterated and, well,
meaty, and the burger is enormous - a half pound that easily looks the size, and we mean
this, of your face. There are a lot of other menu items, but we can't get enough of that
burger-y heaven, and neither can the locals, who willingly wait outside in long lines for a
seat (no reservations).
Central Grocery
ITALIAN$$$
(923 Decatur St; half/full muffuletta $7.50/14.50; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat)
Here, in 1906, a Sicili-
an immigrant invented the world-famous
muffuletta
sandwich - a round, seeded loaf of
bread stuffed with ham, salami, provolone and marinated olive salad that's roughly the
size of a manhole cover. This is still the best place in town to get one.
Bayona
MODERN AMERICAN$$$
$$$
( 504-525-4455;
www.bayona.com
; 430 Dauphine St; mains $27-32; 11:30am-2pm Mon-Fri,
plus 6-10pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat)
Bayona is a great splurge in the Quarter. It's rich but
not overwhelming, classy but unpretentious, innovative without being precocious. Expect
fish, fowl and game on the daily-changing menu divided between long-time classics and
daily specials (about four of each), all done up in a way that makes you raise an eyebrow,
then smile like you've discovered comfort food gone classy.
Galatoire's
CREOLE$$$
$$$
( 504 525 2021; 209 Bourbon St; mains $17-38; 11:30am-10pm Tue-Sat, noon-10pm Sun)
The century-plus history of this institution, which only accepted cash until quite recently,
drips from the unchanged walls. Ask a tuxedo-ed waiter for what's fresh, don a jacket if
you're a guy and treat yourself to the old-line masterpieces and mainstays:
pompano
