Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COMMANDER'S PALACE
From po'boy joints to upscale eateries, New Orleans is a city known for its restaur-
ants. But nothing says “fine dining” quite like Commander's Palace, the Garden Dis-
trict establishment that Emile Commander opened in 1880 to give the neighbor-
hood's well-heeled newcomers an incomparable dining experience.
While many restaurants have come and gone in New Orleans, Commander's, now
owned by a branch of the noted Brennan family, continues to draw locals and tourists
alike with its award-winning menu of modern Louisiana and Creole fare, from clas-
sic turtle soup and crispy pork belly and oysters to griddle-seared Gulf fish and
bread-pudding soufflé.
In 2013, chef Tory McPhail was named Best Chef: South in the James Beard Found-
ation Awards, and Commander's came in fourth in TripAdvisor's list of Travelers'
Favorite Fine-Dining Restaurants-United States.
Business Insider
named it one of
the 45 Best Restaurants in America, and it made
Southern Living
magazine's list of
100 Places to Eat Now.
Commander's is pricey, so if money is an object, here's a tip: Go for lunch and take
advantage of the two-course lunch specials ($17-$22) and 25¢ martinis. If you're
celebrating a special occasion, the weekend jazz brunch is as festive as it gets. Before
you go, be sure to check
commanderspalace.com
for the dress code.
•
Cross Prytania Street at Washington, turn left, and walk one block to Fourth
Street. At the corner, 1448 Fourth, is Colonel Short's Villa, built in 1859 for
Col. Robert Henry Short, a cotton merchant. The cast-iron fence surround-
ing the home features patterns of cornstalks and morning glories; legend has
it that Short bought the fence for his wife because she missed her home state
of Iowa. The Italianate-style mansion was built by architect Henry Howard,
who designed some of Louisiana's most elegant homes, including Nottaway,
Louisiana's largest plantation.
•
Cross Fourth Street and continue walking down Prytania. At 2605 Prytania,
at the corner of Third and Prytania, is the Briggs-Staub House, which was
built in 1849 and is the only example of Gothic Revival architecture in the
Garden District.
