Category: Restaurants

The Original French Market Restaurant & Bar

We walked away from Jackson Square to get lunch. It’s been here since 1804. This is pretty much a bar that serves food. There was a guy shucking oysters in the front. There was an option to go upstairs and sit on their balcony overlooking Decatur Street.

Jana had crab cakes with a crawfish sauce. Mike had red beans and rice with sausage. The air was filled with the boiled seafood spices and our eyes were watering and we were sneezing. Mike tried an Abita root beer. It is made from spring water, herbs, vanilla, yucca and Louisiana cane sugar.

French Market Testaurant
1001 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA 70116

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On a rainy day we drove here for lunch. It is another place that is rated highly. It did not look like much on the outside and had a crazy tight parking lot. They are known for their sandwiches, Italian food and plate lunches. It had a small dining area but was mostly a grocery store. Mike got a Triple Decker Club and Jana got a Meatball sub. Prices were good and servings were large. We got turtle cookies and a slice of Tuscan Cream Cake to go.

World Deli
4414 Clearview Pkwy
Metairie LA 70006

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Gelato and baked goods. What could be better? This gem opened in 1905. Super cute. So many Italian pastries. We got several different baked goods to go. But to eat there…Mike got a Summer Nights gelato (graham cracker gelato with chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallow bits) and Jana got a slice of Baked Alaska. The picture does not do the Baked Alaska justice….it fell apart on the walk to the table. We will need to go back and try some of the items we are unfamiliar with.

Angelo Brocato’s
214 N. Carrollton Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70119

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We came here for lunch for the BBQ Shrimp Po Boy. It is highly rated and everyone raves about the BBQ Shrimp Po Boy. It is a corner dive with a lounge. The place was packed.

Instead of BBQ, it was a po boy with a buttery sauce. It was served on a soft loaf of bread with some dill pickles and a lemon wedge. We sat there eating it and wondering what the big deal was. It was not bad, but the bread was super soggy and the shrimp was very bland. This was our first big miss as far as food goes. We brought the leftovers home, threw the bread away and rinsed the shrimp. I heated the shrimp up with some pesto, parmesan and sun dried tomatoes and tossed it in some of the fresh pasta I bought at the farmer’s market. Much better!

Liuzza’s By The Track
1518 N Lopez St
New Orleans, LA 70119

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After the swamp tour we saw this nearby. We had cajun crawfish fries for an appetizer. Jana had the Shrimp Po Boy and Mike had the Po-Little Rich Boy (roast beef debris with fries). Service was good. Lots of food. We have leftovers for tomorrow.

Jazzy Pete’s Po-Boys
2117 Gause Blvd East
Slidell, LA 70461

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Some plans fell through so we decided to drive to the Northshore with no real aim. That’s a joy of slow travel…. no schedules.

We decided to try GilliGil’s Island for lunch since it had good ratings. As we’ve seen on this trip, the outside looked dive-ish, but the inside, patio, and beach area was very cool. You walk through a tiki bar to get to the amazing patio overlooking the water. You can arrive by boat, if needed. Very family friendly.

This place has several nod’s to Gilligan’s Island. Jana had the Baja Shrimp Burrito with queso. Mike had the Baja Shrimp Tacos. Very fresh seafood.

GilliGil’s Island
4826 Pontchartrain Dr.
Slidell, LA 70458

Facebook: GilliGil’s Island

For lunch we came to Deanie’s Seafood in Bucktown. It didn’t look like much from the outside but was nice on the inside. Jana got crab au gratin and crab balls (the yummy dressing that is used in stuffed crab or stuffed shrimp battered and fried) while Mike got a fried shrimp platter.  They served seasoned boiled potatoes with butter as an opener, which was different but very good.  Jana ordered some bread to go with her meal and we got a full baguette. We finished lunch with a coconut bread pudding. So yummy!

Deanie’s Seafood has been in this location for over 50 years and pride themselves on only serving fresh seafood.  They have a seafood market next door that has been open for 60 years. This is the original of 3 locations.

This place was recommended to us by a local. It is right across the road from Lake Pontchartrain. Most people were ordering the huge seafood platter that contained shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft shell crab, crawfish dressing balls and french fries. The large costs $74.95 and a 1/2 order was $37.95. The servers knew customers’ names. They were not selling crawfish because it is out of season.

The seafood market had a boil service where you picked out what you wanted and they boiled if for you to go. Picnic tables were outside if you wanted to just eat it there.

Deanie’s Seafood
1713 Lake Ave
Metairie, LA  70005

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Right across Canal Street from the Katrina Memorial is this neat coffee shop. After getting your coffee you can go to the back porch which looks out over St Patrick Cemetary. Cool spot to have a drink.

They claim their coffee is strong enough to “Wake The Dead”. It is located between several cemeteries. Jana got the iced moon chai. It is sweet with a little bite while Mike got the Frozen Vanilla Bean. Next time Jana wants to try the Dirty Zombie….frozen hot chocolate with espresso shots.

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Sacred Grinds
5055 Canal St
New Orleans 70119

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New Orleans most famous coffee drinking place. The beignets here are more pillowy than yesterday. We got drinks and split 3 beignets. You get to sprinkle on your own powder sugar.

We actually took the bus to get here. One of our slow travel goals is to walk or use public transportation. We bought a 31 Day Jazzy metro pass. We have unlimited bus, shuttle, ferry and streetcar rides while we are here. For both of us $90.

The bus was on-time, clean, almost empty and air conditioned. We met a lady who lived in Dallas after Katrina.

Morning Call Coffee Stand
5104 Canal Blvd.
New Orleans LA

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We drove over for lunch before a grocery run. This was a cool hole in the wall place with mostly locals eating. Part of our goal for slow travel is to avoid chain dining and meet local people. This supports local businesses and helps us to connect with new people.

It was funny to notice that most of the early diners where senior citizens…..and then we realize that WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS. Had to let that sink in.

Mike had a shrimp po-boy while Jana had the fried shrimp plate. Both were excellent. We were too stuffed to try dessert, but Mike has his eye on “Grandmothers Carrot Cake”.

Kenner Seafood
3140 Loyola Drive
Kenner, LA 70065

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