What is open? Food and restaurant critic Tom Fitzmorris keeps us up to date with his fine nomenu.com website.  Tom is reporting more restaurants are open now than we had before the storm.

 

New Orleans boasts more than its share of fine restaurants. The tourist economy as well as locals who eat out a lot support these gems. What are your favorites?  My (totally unsolicited) top ten includes the following:

1. Commander's Palace under Tory McPhail is back on top as the flagship Brennan house
   
2. Galatoires now with more room and able to take credit cards
   
3. Emerils, its all good but the tasting menu (deGustation) is fun, esp. with the wine.
   
4. Irene's (go early to avoid the line, 5:30 is early)
5. K-Paul's has great food and local music and attracts plenty of tourists
   
6. G.W. Fins (best fish in a fish eating town)
7. Dickie Brennan's is where you go for a steak
   
8. Le Parvenu (it's in  a part of Kenner called Rivertown and worth the drive)
   
9. Drago's (grilled oysters and a lobster, the oysters are worth the trip to Fat City or now the Hilton)
   
10. Pelican Club
11. Upperline (neighborhood jewel)
12. Tommy's is a half block from Emeril's
    
13. Martinique (outdoor seating)
14. Lakeview Pearl, and Mikimoto (sushi)
15. Harbor Seafood in Kenner has fine gumbo, boiled and fried seafood in a neighborhood joint
    
16. Bourbon House in the Quarter is new to my list but delightful
    
17. Peppermill (Metairie breakfast)
    * yes, I can count. In New Orleans we call this lagniappe.
    

Peristyle is now Wolfe's French Quarter and worth another try. Bella Luna  used to be my favorite but now it is gone forever. Unfortunately it was located in a city owned building which has not been restored since the storm.
Pelican Club has a wonderful location and my favorite crab cake in the world.
August is the snootiest. Windsor Court the English'est. Bayona is undoubtedly the slowest, featuring the 3 hour meal, Commander's Palace  the famousest. They are all world class. Food, services and price.
Steaks are great at Ruth's, Dickie Brennan's, Smith and Wolensky's (closed and won't be back), Morton's and the Rib Room. Lilette on Magazine is not a steakhouse but offers Kobe Beef for $79 per person.
Middendorf's offers the best fried seafood in the world. Deanie's offers the most. Acme lets you wait in line. Some folks swear by Bozo's in Metairie.
Elizabeth's has authentic breakfast. Brennan's and Beague's have the fanciest breakfast spreads.
Impastato's offers a five course Italian feast.
Japanese abounds led by Kyoto, Shogun, Sapporo, Sake cafe and a host of other cutters. Shogun has the hibachi table.  There are many Asian buffets if quantity is your thing. Five Happiness has the best Chinese but many swear by China Doll in Harvey. Eastern offers both Japanese and Chinese.Kim Son the best Vietnamese, but Nine Roses is more authentic. Asian Cajun is new and worth a try.
Zea commands the rotisserie market including the Thai Ribs and a microbrewery at Clearview.
Houston's has the best big salad, Chicago dip, nice ribs too.
O'Brien's Grille is the best on the westbank.
Try the Cuban dishes at Cerrano's after a movie at the Clearview mall
Mother's, DiMartino's, Masparo's, Parkway Bakery and Central Grocery have the sandwiches.
Jim's Fied Chicken and Fitzgerald's are gone forever but try Fury's if you want to wait 20 minutes for the best fried chicken in town. Popeye's chicken is OK but the red beans are worth trying. Mr. Ed's, Dookey Chase, and Da'Wabbit all fry chicken well.
Antoine's, Arnauds, Broussards, the Gumbo Shop...and many more classics in the Quarter.
Several more of the top spots that have reopened include Jacques-Imo's and Brigsten's. Brigsten's is world class and used to be one of my top picks but its been too long since I have been there. Boucherie is now in the same neighborhood (Carrollton) and is earning a reputation.
Stella, Longbranch and Mr. Ed's are on my list when I can save up the dough. Cafe B on Metairie Road joins the recommended list.
The Catty Car in the Amoco Bldg on Poydras offers wonderful lunch and breakfast dishes for the business crowd with traditional red beans and rice on Mondays, fried fish every day.