Short Order Reviews

Bistreaux - After striking out with my first dozen choices for lunch for a party of 12 on a rainy Saturday, the casual dining option at the Maison Dupuy was the winner by default, in part because I had enjoyed a solid special event lunch at Le Meritage a few months before. But while Le Meritage aims high with lofty aspirations, Bistreaux seems to be a utilitarian option for hotel guests, with a menu that includes beef carpaccio, spaghetti and meatballs, red beans and rice, pizza, steak frites, and bangers and mash. Truffle french fries were an adequate delivery system for much needed grease and nothing more. The cochon de lait sandwich was as dry as the Mojave desert, and burgers had both the texture and appearance of hockey pucks. A glimmer of hope arrived in the fried oysters - plump, crunchy, golden brown globes - but by that time the ship had already sailed. - Bogey.
 

Manhattan Omelette at Camellia Grill.

Camellia Grill - Surprisingly, this may be the best kept breakfast secret in the Quarter. While the crowds hover outside Stanley for up to an hour before being seated, the staff at Camellia Grill are burning and turning every 30 minutes. The Manhattan omelette is the cure for everything that ails you – chunks of corned beef, swiss cheese, onions, and french fries folded in a creamy base with a browned exterior. Throw some cheese on the fries, of course. Even though you can now find better burgers around town with a blue blood pedigree, I am still a sucker for the classic diner version served here. The waiters still execute their duties with a sense of flair and congeniality which has always been a trademark of the original location in the Riverbend, except that the waiters in the French Quarter score extra bonus points for their ability to offer a hair of the dog along with your pecan waffle. - Par/Birdie.

Origami - Sushi was an inevitable addition to the Freret Street dining scene, and here it appears in an impressive renovation of the former location of Friar Tuck’s on Freret Street. (Not to be confused with the original location of Friar Tucks at the corner of Carrollton and Canal - RIP.) The interior is sleek with plenty of light colored woods and white chairs, counters, and table tops. We grabbed two seats at the sushi bar and immediately recognized one of the chefs from a past sushi life, and after opening the menu and reading through the list, I had to do a double take of my surroundings to make sure that I was not in Little Tokyo or Kyoto. The menu at Origami features a combination of the greatest hits from both, including the FEMA Roll from Little Tokyo and the Sara Roll from Kyoto, plus all of the standard fare. The execution of all of the sushi was adequate, and the fish was of reasonable freshness. There are a few twists and turns here and there, such as whole crab stick and teriyaki tempura in the Crunchy Roll and 100% tuna in the Dynamite Roll. Prices are neither significantly higher nor lower than anywhere else. Perhaps the most appealing feature of the restaurant is the refined, "grown up" atmosphere in contrast to the cozy/cramped style of Kyoto and high volume of the hibachi sideshow at Little Tokyo on Carrollton. - Par.

A Camellia in the Quarter

Remember when the new owners of Camellia Grill announced their plans to open satellite locations in Destin and Baton Rouge? I for one recall an overwhelming sense of fear that the expansion would result in the loss of the "Naturally N'Awlins" feel to one of our beloved local institutions. But those two particular locations the Baton Rouge iteration never came to fruition [and the Destin location has since closed]. Instead, a Camellia Grill blossomed in the French Quarter.

This past Sunday was my first visit to the new outpost of NOLA's favorite diner, and I must say that had the windows been blocked from the view onto Chartres, you could have fooled me into thinking that we were under the oaks next to the streetcar line. The waiters banter back and forth with both the cooks and customers, though Sleepy was nowhere to be found. Even the path to the restroom is a winding one, though instead of passing through the back kitchen on Carrollton Avenue, you wander through a centuries old courtyard.

Many of us have our standard orders at Camellia Grill, whether that be a cheeseburger, omelet, or waffle. (Or depending on how much you imbibed the night before - cheeseburger, omelet, AND waffle.) Likewise for me, I've had trouble deviating from the same order since the days when I used to slip $20 to the bouncer at The Boot for a wristband.

The Manhattan Omelet - corned beef, onions, swiss cheese, and french fries. It may not look like the work of Julia Child, but trust me: This is the breakfast which has laid many a hangover to rest. And this particular omelet served last weekend was one of the best that I've eaten from Camellia Grill in quite some time. Underneath that tan exterior was a light/fluffy/creamy matrix of melted cheese, salty nibbles of corned beef, and crispy fries. It was like Sunday morning after 50 Cent Night all over again.

Camellia Grill (French Quarter) - Par/Birdie
540 Chartres Street
522-1800
Sun-Thurs 7am-1am; Fri & Sat till 3am.
those two particular satellite locations
those two particular satellite locations

We Live To Eat Friday: Part II

The entries keep rolling in, so send yours along. This week we get a bite at Crabby Jack's, a one two combo of Cochon and Boucherie, and this weird, cryptic day. Vote away, pals. And hey, if you are in a voting mood, how 'bout voting us the #1 Blog in New Orleans?

The Turpenator

My ideal feasting day in New Orleans:
Breakfast - Manhattan Omelet at Camellia Grill (a/k/a the "Crack Omelet").

Lunch - Po-boys at Crabby Jack's.

Snack/Cocktail: Beers at Avenue Pub along with guacamole and chips from the restaurant within it, J'anita's.

Dinner: Any of the shredded meat delights at Cochon.

Brother O'Mara

I'd head out as early as possible to Huveos on Banks to get myself a plate of their huevos con tamal. Nothing beats pork tamales and eggs for breakfast, and their coffee's decent. However, even though they have a few sweets in the case there I'd have to go over to Angelo Brocato on Carrollton to get something truly tasty. No gelato, still too early in the morning, but something from their pastry case (like a prussian, mmmmm) and some espresso to wash it down would be fantastic.

For lunch, as soon as I would be able to eat again that is, I'd head down to Domilise's on Annunciation. There's a lot to be said in the debate about the best fried shrimp po-boy, but for my money nobody does it better than they. Obviously I'd have to have a Barq's to go along with it, because I think God cries if you eat a fried shrimp po-boy without drinking a Barq's.

After all this I think I'd have to go lie down for a while, but I would make certain to get up in time to make it over to Cure by 5PM, right as they opened. If I have time before my dinner reservations, I'd order a Ramos Gin Fizz, something soft to sit and sip for a minute. If things are rushed, I'd grab a Nervous Light of Sunday, the perfect palate-opening drink, a delightful combination of gin, grapefruit, and magic.

Dinner would have to be at Cochon, because their ham hock haunts my dreams. I find it almost impossible to visit and not order that incredible mass of soft succulent pigflesh. It doesn't appear on the table instantly, though, so the boucherie plate would have to hold me over until that ham hock graces me with its presence. The flavors are rich and slightly smoky and wonderfully complex, so depending on my mood I'd either get something from the southern Rhone or some fuller-bodied Pinot Noir to accompany it.

As if I hadn't put enough miles on my car already, I'd head out for a late-night dessert at Boucherie just off Carrollton. I know Cochon has some killer desserts but one thing they don't have is Krispy Kreme bread pudding, and that's what I'd be craving. I'd have to drive slowly, though, to make sure my stomach had time to deal with all that dinner.

To finalize the night I would honestly head home and pour a shot or two of Amaro on ice and sit and sip that while I waited for my body to stop hating me for all the abuse.

And Finally, a Rambling Entry from McLovin

5am snack: F&M's - The cheese fries and enough booze to kill a horse.

7am: Slim Goodies - I forget what it's called, but it's something like the Mexican Slammer.

Lunch: Radosta's - I usually get their catfish poboy.

Dinner: Crepe Nanou (if I'm paying) / Clancy's (if someone else is) - Crepe Nanou: mussels and/or the spinach and crabmeat crepe (i think those are the two most cliche things on the menu). I haven't been to Clancy's since before my brother-in-law became a part of the family so I'm not sure what I'd get. LOL...haha.

PS - My mom thought she was so cool that you wrote about Meauxbar and she saw you there!

PPS - I get free drinks at a bar up at school because the bartender actually thinks I'm McLovin... haha.

EDIT: Blogger Polls are down and working about as well as government. So for now, just leave your vote in the comments or come back later.

Hell Hath Frozen Over

Camellia Grill is opening in Destin. Not sure if this is better or worse than the planned opening of a branch in Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge. But let's be honest - there will always be one and only one Camellia Grill. As is usually the case, this guy says it best.

Hey, Sleepy. Throw some cheese on those fries.

Late Night Eats

After midnight. You just walked out of a concert, are in between bars, or headed home. But you're starving. Whether it be for a late night pick-me-up or sobering sustenance, you need food and not just some beef jerky and a bag of combos from the Circle K. Here are a few places you may want to head to:

1. Que Crawl - This purple truck parked outside Tip's has been a heaven-sent for concert goers since it's arrival shortly after Katrina. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork sandwich and an order of grit fries, but branch out and try the taquitos or papusas if you are feeling adventurous (i.e., "not sober").
2. Camellia Grill - Burger or omelette? Can't decide? Have both. Don't forget the chocolate freeze.
3. Mimi's in the Marigny - It's where you go if you wish you were eating tapas on La Rambla in Barcelona.
4. Yuki Izakaya - Located on Frenchman in the Marigny, this is a great place to order Japanese small plates if you are with a large group.
5. Hoshun - Someone told me that they serve late, but I can't attest to that. But if you have an after midnight craving for raw fish, apparently this is the place to go.
6. Clover Grill - This French Quarter landmark has been serving up solid diner food 24/7.
7. Bud's Broiler - The one on Clearview that is open 24hrs is, of course, where The Pope likes to hold midnight mass. Nothing like a #4 and an order of cheese fries to end the night.
8. Fat Harry's - Or as Legend calls it, "Uncle Larry's." Everyone talks about the cheese fries, but I prefer ordering the quesadillas and then going to...
9. Fump & Manny's - For some reason, cheese fries just taste better at 5am.

Does it have to be Monday...

Peter, that is a tougher act to follow than Obama's coronation speech last night. But here goes...

Breakfast: Morning Call, but since that would require driving instead I think I would go to Camelia Grill and start my day with a Cheeseburger with grilled onions, cheese fries, and a chocolate milkshake. Why? Because its my last fu*king day in New Orleans.

Lunch: Liuzza's. Fried Onion Rings. Fat Kid Special. 4-5 Schooners of beer. 2 Bushwackers and a United Cab, preferably with a cab account.

Snack: Mila. A Mint Julep from Chris McMillan and an order of sweetbreads with truffle grits.

Dinner: In between lunch and snack, I went home and braised some fatty short ribs in red wine and aromatics. Served on top of mashed potatoes loaded with as many Smith Dairy products I can get my hands on. Lindsay and I eat and drink a bottle of 2005 Chateau la Nerthe. I open a second bottle, pour Lindsay a glass I know she wont finish, and watch Nash Roberts tell me everything is going to be ok.

Late Night Snack: F&M's Cheese Fries.