New Orleans for Mardi Gras

Hello, I realize a thread about New Orleans was posted recently, but I was wondering if recommendations would be modified based on the general over-crowdedness (to say the least) during Mardi Gras. Unlike the last thread, my group itself isn't very large, so that's not a constraint.

I realize the city may be so mobbed that my expectations for getting great food may just have to be lowered, but if there are places that aren't overrun by the crowds y'all could inform me of, I would really appreciate it. (I was persuaded into going by the explanation that beyond Bourbon street, the city isn't just full of college kids, and there are lots of fun places that locals and older folks go)

hum, I think it may be due to weather, but I was just there last weekend for the first Mardi Gras parade, it's not as crowded this year as previous years, the nicer restaurants might require a day advanced reservations (mainly things operated by the Brennans). We were able to get large reservations just the day before, we had 14 and originally thought this was going to be a problem. And we were able to walk into Acme and Drago's and get seated right away.

if you go, bring a jacket, Mardi Gras this year isn't the Tshirt and jeans event that it used to be.

oh ok, maybe I was worrying for no reason, haven't been before, just assumed.

pie wrote:We were able to get large reservations just the day before, we had 14 and originally thought this was going to be a problem. And we were able to walk into Acme and Drago's and get seated right away.

But when did you sit down to eat, exactly? I was in N.O. last weekend, too, and Acme had a rather significant line outside its door each time I passed--including at 11AM.

Do you have transportation? We mostly ate outside the Vieux Carre--there's plenty of options if you want to get out of there, including Cochon, Jacque-Imo's, Mahoney's, Casamento's, and so on.

i will probably be hooking with some locals for some of it who have transportation, but I'm not averse to buses and cabs. I'm more than happy to leave the quarter. I'd like to see a lot of the city.

micog wrote:i will probably be hooking with some locals for some of it who have transportation, but I'm not averse to buses and cabs. I'm more than happy to leave the quarter. I'd like to see a lot of the city.

We stayed a bit out on the St Charles Street trolley line and took the trolley back and forth towards Canal Street and the Quarter several times a day. There are many great walking routes and restaurants within a few blocks of the trolley line and we walked everywhere. You can do the reverse, walk over to Canal and take the trolley out, it's very inexpensive and runs on up and back every half hour so it's easy on and off.

so, returning from new orleans, i figured i'd post the places I went. but firstly, as one could tell from the comment in my original post, I had no idea the age range of the participants. it's really everyone. i always just heard of the 19 year old girls gone wild kind of stuff. while it was true everyone over 15 was extremely drunk, it was fun for the whole family.

here are the places. i just across the board recommend all of them. i didn't eat a single thing that wasn't great. i can't remember the last time i went somewhere and could say that.

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Revi ... ses-poboys

http://www.boucherie-nola.com/

http://www.coopsplace.net/

http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/

http://www.cochonbutcher.com/

Nice find re: Boucherie. Fantastic bang for the buck, and the folks that run it couldn't be nicer people.

I've dined there many times. Highly recommended.