Restaurant suggestions?

My wife and I will be heading to New Orleans five weeks from today. We have a hotel reserved (Best Western Plus in Chalmette) for 2 nights prior to our Dream cruise. We are looking for a good, but inexpensive, restaurant that serves cajun/creole food. We've never had this type of cuisine and want to try it out, without breaking the bank.

We've searched online and found a few that caught our interest. Can anyone familiar with these restaurants give us you honest, unbiased opinions of them please:

Bobby Hebert's in Metairie, LA

Charlie's in Violet, LA

Coop's Place in NO

Any other suggestions? Thanks!

:cool:Bill

Why did you decide to stay in Chalmette? Will you have a car? Were you looking to stay in the Chalmette area or were you looking to venture into the city?

Chalmette is an oil refining town so not exactly the flavor and scenery one thinks of when visiting New Orleans.

Why did you decide to stay in Chalmette? Will you have a car? Were you looking to stay in the Chalmette area or were you looking to venture into the city?

 

Chalmette is an oil refining town so not exactly the flavor and scenery one thinks of when visiting New Orleans.

Well, the hotel was "chosen" by P****l**e when I bid on a 3.5-star hotel. I was hoping that it was a good choice, but beginning to wonder now. Yes, we will have a car as we will be driving down from Georgetown, KY on Thursday. I guess we'll just make the best of it. We really didn't want to spend an extraordinary amount of money for a hotel room, so that's why we bid on P****l**e. Hopefully, it will be just fine.

Still looking for restaurant suggestions though. Cajun/creole cheap, but good!

:cool:Bill

I'd recommend tripadvisor for this one.

Happily, it's hard to find a bad restaurant in New Orleans! :)

My vote would be for Mothers for breakfast and Pierre Maspieros for dinner.

I am sure the hotel will be fine but plan on budgeting additional time for transit to get to any of the historical parts of town and for parking in the city.

You may want to re-think staying in Chalmette. It is a fairly long drive to downtown/French Quarter. There are other suburbs like Metairie which are closer in, with a lot more restaurants nearby.

If you stick with Chalmette, there is a restaurant in the area that has been getting excellent reviews, and may fit your needs:

http://memesbarandgrille.com

You may want to re-think staying in Chalmette. It is a fairly long drive to downtown/French Quarter. There are other suburbs like Metairie which are closer in, with a lot more restaurants nearby.

 

If you stick with Chalmette, there is a restaurant in the area that has been getting excellent reviews, and may fit your needs:

 

http://memesbarandgrille.com

I guess that I have no choice but to stay in Chalmette, or throw away over $200. It's just for sleeping anyways. Meme's sounds like the place to try. Thanks for the recommendation!

I just moved back into my home in Meraux, next town down-river from Chalmette. Charlie's is fine, but it's further down river and takes cash only. I'm surprised no one mentioned Rocky and Carlo's. It's on the highway across from the refinery not far from Paris Rd. Not fancy by a long shot, but lots of good food and a very local filled place. People watching there can be a hoot. Also there's Par 3 on Judge Perez. If you have any other questions about "Da Parish", please ask. Happy to help.

I just moved back into my home in Meraux, next town down-river from Chalmette. Charlie's is fine, but it's further down river and takes cash only. I'm surprised no one mentioned Rocky and Carlo's. It's on the highway across from the refinery not far from Paris Rd. Not fancy by a long shot, but lots of good food and a very local filled place. People watching there can be a hoot. Also there's Par 3 on Judge Perez. If you have any other questions about "Da Parish", please ask. Happy to help.

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I'm putting together a list of these suggestions and will narrow it down within the next 5 weeks. "Charlie's" looks pretty good so far, as does "Rocky & Carlos".

A web site with a wealth of information on restaurants in New Orleans is nomenu.com.

I would suggest the Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter. Good and fairly inexpensive, close to Bourbon St. with a real New Orleans atmosphere.

Also, at The Gumbo Shop, may I suggest that you start out with a cup of Seafood Okra Gumbo, $4.99, then the Creole Combination Platter with Shrimp Creole, Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice , $13.99 but I like to substitute Crawfish Etouffee for the Red Beans for an addition $2.

They have so many good Cajun and creole dishes that each of you should get something different so you can share tastes of many of these great dishes. They have fabulous desserts if you still have room for more.

Try not to go at the main dining times as they can get crowded.

Also, at The Gumbo Shop, may I suggest that you start out with a cup of Seafood Okra Gumbo, $4.99, then the Creole Combination Platter with Shrimp Creole, Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice , $13.99 but I like to substitute Crawfish Etouffee for the Red Beans for an addition $2.

 

They have so many good Cajun and creole dishes that each of you should get something different so you can share tastes of many of these great dishes. They have fabulous desserts if you still have room for more.

 

Try not to go at the main dining times as they can get crowded.

This sounds REALLY good! I think I just found my place to have lunch while in the French Quarter. Thanks!

Also, at The Gumbo Shop, may I suggest that you start out with a cup of Seafood Okra Gumbo, $4.99, then the Creole Combination Platter with Shrimp Creole, Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice , $13.99 but I like to substitute Crawfish Etouffee for the Red Beans for an addition $2.

 

They have so many good Cajun and creole dishes that each of you should get something different so you can share tastes of many of these great dishes. They have fabulous desserts if you still have room for more.

 

Try not to go at the main dining times as they can get crowded.

My mouth is watering. Thank you.

My vote would be for Mothers for breakfast and Pierre Maspieros for dinner.

Totally agree. Red beans and rice at Maspieros is very tasty (not too spicy either) and in a great "siteseeing" area of the quarter.

A web site with a wealth of information on restaurants in New Orleans is nomenu.com.

I would suggest the Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter. Good and fairly inexpensive, close to Bourbon St. with a real New Orleans atmosphere.

The Gumbo Shop in the Quarter is a good recommendation. I was going to make it if no one else did. Also I really enjoy Mandina's on Canal Street. I've been there numerous times for lunch, and now that the streetcar runs by it I go that way

I guess that I have no choice but to stay in Chalmette, or throw away over $200. It's just for sleeping anyways. Meme's sounds like the place to try. Thanks for the recommendation!

Jordanaire - we are 3.5 star hotel people too :). For future reference: There are 2 hotels I would recommend - One outside NOLA - Slidell Comfort Inn (about 45 minute drive into the city) and Drury Inn on the edge of the business district but very walkable to French Qtr. Both serve breakfast & the service at Drury hotels is incredible! We have only stayed at those 2 places but would stay there again in a heartbeat. We are staying in Slidell in after our cruise in early October.

Try Jimmy J's Cafe on Chartres St. right before you get to Canal.(Next to the Marriott) We had fried oyster and shrimp po-boys and red beans and rice that was absolutely delicious. They have a great menu and a full bar for very decent prices.

Since you will be staying in St. Bernard Parish, you might want to check out web-site called Visit St. Bernard

One of my friends lives in Chalmette. I asked them what they recommend base on what you posted and they said "Rocky's and Palms Casino too. Also Charlie's Diner and Crave."

All locations are in St. Bernard Parish (Chalmette is in St. Bernard Parish). I went ahead and looked up the addresses and Facebook pages for you:

Rocky & Carlo's

613 W Saint Bernard Hwy

Chalmette, LA 70043

Palm's Casino

8001 Saint Bernard Hwy

Arabi, Louisiana 70043

Charlie's Diner

6129 E St Bernard Hwy

Violet, LA 70092

Crave

3201 E Judge Perez Dr

Meraux, LA 70075

I know you most already went on your cruise, but here is a video on the Travel Channel that deals with a restaurant in St. Bernard Parish.

http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/bizarre-foods/video/best-po-boys-in-saint-bernard