Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to
be most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I
know I can pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du
Monde thing...but how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions,
bring 'em on!
Goomba

Hello Goomba
Your wrote:
> ...but how about something nicer?
my best culinary impression in New Orleans was a breakfast at Brennans
http://www.brennansneworleans.com/
It is also am must to try one of the numberous restaurant with Cajun Food in
the French Quarter.
All that beside of Jazz and Cajon music. New Oleans is one of the rare towns
I visited twice (the world is so large) and it is still one of the towns
wich (as a turist) I like most in the US.
have a superb time there
Carlos

In article >, Goomba38
> wrote:

> Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to
> be most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I
> know I can pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du
> Monde thing...but how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions,
> bring 'em on!
> Goomba

It's hard to go wrong in NO. If you're feeling, or what to feel,
southerin, try Commanders. Have a bloody mary with or without
peppered-rim for brunch on the patio, then go inside for the fare.

If you don't mind loudness from tiled floors and mirrored walls,
Galatoire's serves a great trout margery.

At the uptown end of St. Charles, there's Zachery's(sp?) for downhome
soul food, served buffet style. Last time I was there, the coaches were
feeding Tulane football recruits, so there's no problem of quantity.

Then there's The Gumbo Shop. Unfortunately for night dining, you've
got to go early early to avoid long lines. Sort of sucks to eat at 6:00
but I can't stand standing for hours on the street.

Goomba wrote:

> Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to be
> most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I know I
> can pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du Monde
> thing...but how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions, bring 'em
> on!

Emeril's Delmonico provided one of the best meals I've ever had. It isn't in
the French Quarter, but the streetcar running down St. Charles Ave. goes
right past it.

Bob

"Goomba38" wrote in message ...

> Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to be
> most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I know I can
> pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du Monde thing...but
> how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions, bring 'em on!

Goomba:

I live in New Orleans. There are an amazing number of good restaurants in this
city. I haven't been to anywhere near all of the restaurants I'd like to try. Of
the higher end restaurants I've tried my favorites were Commander's Palace,
Bayona, Clancy's, Brigtsen's, and Galatoire's. All have excellent food. There
are also a lot of neighborhood places which have very good food.

Probably the best place to get information on local restaurants is the New
Orleans FoodFest site.

This is the food forum:
http://phorums.neworleans.com/foodfest/index.php

It's a very active board with mostly locals talking about restaurants, etc.

This is the restaurant guide:
http://foodfest.neworleans.com/rest.php

The guide has information and reviews of most of the restaurants in town.

Oh, someone else mentioned Zachary's. It's gone. Margaux's is the name of the
restaurant in Zachary's former location.

Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions.

Thanks,
-Mike

Mike Pearce wrote:
> "Goomba38" wrote in message ...
>>Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to be
>>most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I know I can
>>pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du Monde thing...but
>>how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions, bring 'em on!
>
>
> Goomba:
>
> I live in New Orleans. There are an amazing number of good restaurants in this
> city. I haven't been to anywhere near all of the restaurants I'd like to try. Of
> the higher end restaurants I've tried my favorites were Commander's Palace,
> Bayona, Clancy's, Brigtsen's, and Galatoire's. All have excellent food. There
> are also a lot of neighborhood places which have very good food.

> Thanks,
> -Mike

No, thank YOU, Mike. But really, I guess I didn't make my question
clear. I'm looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for
being a single diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might
understand what I mean? Does anyone have any tips or hints on that regard?
I will check out that website you shared. Thanks again
Goomba

Goomba38 wrote:
> Mike Pearce wrote:
>> "Goomba38" wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on
>>> how to be
>>> most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I
>>> know I can pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe
>>> du Monde thing...but how about something nicer? Open to all
>>> suggestions, bring 'em on!
>>
>>
>> Goomba:
>>
>> I live in New Orleans. There are an amazing number of good
>> restaurants in this city. I haven't been to anywhere near all of the
>> restaurants I'd like to try. Of the higher end restaurants I've
>> tried my favorites were Commander's Palace, Bayona, Clancy's,
>> Brigtsen's, and Galatoire's. All have excellent food. There are
>> also a lot of neighborhood places which have very good food.
>
>> Thanks,
>> -Mike
>
> No, thank YOU, Mike. But really, I guess I didn't make my question
> clear. I'm looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for
> being a single diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might
> understand what I mean? Does anyone have any tips or hints on that
> regard?
> I will check out that website you shared. Thanks again
> Goomba

This isn't about New Orleans but I know what you mean. I went to lunch one
day by myself to a small bistro down the street from my office. There was a
couple in line ahead of me. The hostess said "Three?" They looked around
and realized I was behind them, "No, two". She seated them. Then she came
back to me. "Are you meeting someone?" No. "One?" Yes. She looked
askance. She asked again, "ONE?" (like, are you sure you plan to eat
alone?) Yes, dear, I am fully confident in myself to be able to go to a
restaurant and eat alone and guess what, I can also go to a movie alone if I
feel like it. Please get over it and seat me. Sheesh.

Don't worry about it, Goomba. Just enjoy your trip

Jill

"jmcquown" wrote ..
> Goomba38 wrote:
>> Mike Pearce wrote:
>>> "Goomba38" wrote in message

>> No, thank YOU, Mike. But really, I guess I didn't make my question
>> clear. I'm looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for
>> being a single diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might
>> understand what I mean? Does anyone have any tips or hints on that
>> regard?
>> I will check out that website you shared. Thanks again
>> Goomba
>
> This isn't about New Orleans but I know what you mean. I went to lunch
> one
> day by myself to a small bistro down the street from my office. There was
> a
> couple in line ahead of me. The hostess said "Three?" They looked around
> and realized I was behind them, "No, two". She seated them. Then she
> came
> back to me. "Are you meeting someone?" No. "One?" Yes. She looked
> askance. She asked again, "ONE?" (like, are you sure you plan to eat
> alone?) Yes, dear, I am fully confident in myself to be able to go to a
> restaurant and eat alone and guess what, I can also go to a movie alone if
> I
> feel like it. Please get over it and seat me. Sheesh.
>
> Don't worry about it, Goomba. Just enjoy your trip
>
> Jill
>
>

My experience is that the better the restaurant (aka the more professional
the staff), the better a single diner is treated. My favorite experience
took place in Monterey, CA, where I was specifically seated so that I had a
full view of the restaurant for people watching. Also, since better
restaurants usually require reservations, the staff can plan accordingly.

If you're just looking for a quick bite and ordinary food, hotel restaurants
are a good choice because they're more accustomed to single diners.

Pam

I recently got back from a two week business trip... my first being all
alone! I was nervous about eating out alone, particularly as a woman in
a strange city, but it was fine!

Take a book or a magazine. Ask to be seated in a booth if you want to
be alone, or at at the bar if you feel like chatting with other diners.
At all of the restaurants i ate at, i was treated as if dining alone
was the most normal thing ever. No one so much as raised an eyebrow. I
really got to enjoy it after a few days even.

Best advice: Go wherever you want! When you're eating alone you don't
need to worry about what the other people feel like having for dinner,
so induldge yourself a little.

Goomba38 wrote:
> Going to be in New Orleans, on my own, next week. Suggestions on how to
> be most comfortable eating out on my own there would be appreciated. I
> know I can pick up a muffaletta at Central Grocery, and do the Cafe du
> Monde thing...but how about something nicer? Open to all suggestions,
> bring 'em on!
> Goomba

Pam wrote:

> My experience is that the better the restaurant (aka the more professional
> the staff), the better a single diner is treated. My favorite experience
> took place in Monterey, CA, where I was specifically seated so that I had
> a full view of the restaurant for people watching.

Well? Which restaurant was it?

Bob

Goomba wrote:

> I'm looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for being a
> single diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might understand what I
> mean? Does anyone have any tips or hints on that regard?

I often travel solo. The best solo meal I had in New Orleans was at
Herbsaint. But Brennan's treated me well too, when I went in for brunch.
And I get the feeling that tintalle's advice on how to behave (depending on
whether you're feeling sociable or not) and where to go was well-founded
too.

Bob

Jill wrote:

> I went to lunch one day by myself to a small bistro down the street from
> my office. There was a couple in line ahead of me. The hostess said
> "Three?" They looked around and realized I was behind them, "No, two".
> She seated them. Then she came back to me. "Are you meeting someone?"
> No. "One?" Yes. She looked askance. She asked again, "ONE?" (like, are
> you sure you plan to eat alone?) Yes, dear, I am fully confident in
> myself to be able to go to a restaurant and eat alone and guess what, I
> can also go to a movie alone if I feel like it. Please get over it and
> seat me. Sheesh.

Well you didn't handle your part of the conversation very well, either!
When she asked, "Are you meeting someone?" she put you into a situation
which cries out for a bit of gratuitous chaos-seeding. Here are a few
responses I would have considered:

1. "No, you'll have me all to yourself."

2. "I just met YOU, didn't I?"

[Those two work best with a grotesque leer and waggling eyebrows.]

3. "Meet? Meat? Meat? Like flesh from dead animals? <stage whisper> We're
ALL meat under our skins, porkchop."

4. "No sugar-dumpling, my days of meeting other people are long since past.
My irregular Scottish terrier is all the company I keep these days. I call
him Humper for obvious reasons; would you me to bring him in for you?"

Bob

tintalle wrote:
> I recently got back from a two week business trip... my first being all
> alone! I was nervous about eating out alone, particularly as a woman in
> a strange city, but it was fine!
>
> Take a book or a magazine. Ask to be seated in a booth if you want to
> be alone, or at at the bar if you feel like chatting with other diners.
> At all of the restaurants i ate at, i was treated as if dining alone
> was the most normal thing ever. No one so much as raised an eyebrow. I
> really got to enjoy it after a few days even.
>
> Best advice: Go wherever you want! When you're eating alone you don't
> need to worry about what the other people feel like having for dinner,
> so induldge yourself a little.

Thank you, I am encouraged by this. Another thing I will disprove while
dining alone is that women are cheap tippers. If I get good service, I
tip appropriately! I hope my experiences will mirror yours
Goomba

Bob wrote:

> I often travel solo. The best solo meal I had in New Orleans was at
> Herbsaint. But Brennan's treated me well too, when I went in for brunch.
> And I get the feeling that tintalle's advice on how to behave (depending on
> whether you're feeling sociable or not) and where to go was well-founded
> too.

Thanks for the recommendation And I am encouraged by Tintalle's
advice too! Ok, New Orleans- Here I come!!
Goomba

In article >, Goomba38
> wrote:

> No, thank YOU, Mike. But really, I guess I didn't make my question
> clear. I'm looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for
> being a single diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might
> understand what I mean? Does anyone have any tips or hints on that regard?
> I will check out that website you shared. Thanks again
> Goomba
>

Ah Numero 38, you must be mysterious and you'll be a subtle center of
interest. Nearby tables will try to overhear the wine you select and
to order what you're having.

"Goomba38" wrote in message ...
> Mike Pearce wrote:

>> Of the higher end restaurants I've tried my favorites were Commander's
>> Palace, Bayona, Clancy's, Brigtsen's, and Galatoire's. All have excellent
>> food. There are also a lot of neighborhood places which have very good food.
>
> No, thank YOU, Mike. But really, I guess I didn't make my question clear. I'm
> looking for places that won't make me feel like a leper for being a single
> diner? Perhaps someone who's traveled solo might understand what I mean? Does
> anyone have any tips or hints on that regard?
> I will check out that website you shared. Thanks again
> Goomba

I've traveled and dined out alone quite a bit. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable
dining alone in any of the restaurants I mentioned with the possible exception
of Galatoire's. The staff at Galatoire's would treat you fine, it's just that
it's the kind of place where people tend to go in groups and get a little
raucous. Dining alone at Galatoire's I might feel like there was a party going
on around me and I wasn't a part of it. On the other hand Galatoire's is the
kind of place where other diners might see you dining alone and invite you to
join them.

I was just looking at the NOLA food forum I mentioned earlier and there was a
thread a while back called "Best NOLA restaurant at which to dine alone?" which
might give you some ideas. You can find it easily with the search function of
the site.

....or you could try this link:
http://phorums.neworleans.com/foodfe...ant+dine+alone

Take care,
-Mike

"Bob" > wrote in message
...
> Pam wrote:
>
>> My experience is that the better the restaurant (aka the more
>> professional
>> the staff), the better a single diner is treated. My favorite experience
>> took place in Monterey, CA, where I was specifically seated so that I had
>> a full view of the restaurant for people watching.
>
> Well? Which restaurant was it?
>
> Bob
>

Sorry, I didn't mention it because my visit was just days before "the
500-year tide" that wiped out a fair amount of the northern coast (I'm
thinking just about New Years '83? but I'm not sure).

Whatever the actual date, I was there between Christmas and New Year because
we got an unexpected 5 paid days off work. Being a single mom whose
"vacation days" went to the kid, I booked whatever it cost (we once lived in
the neighborhood), farmed out the kid to whomever (could have been a serial
child killer, but I think it was her very reluctant father), and tried to
blow town only to be nailed by a truly nasty storm going through Denver.
So, I ended up not doing an evening flight Minneapolis/Denver/San Jose coach
with an economy car (canceled), but next day a VERY early flight
Minneapolis/Chicago/San Francisco first class (when you really got first
class on a 747---good morning, would you like champagne or a mimosa?) with a
hot gold Firebird---no extra expense---some days are better than others.
;-)

What I'm saying is that the main downtown raucous (but it does have one fine
restaurant) Monterey bay pier survived the tide. The next north on the bay
pier with the truly fine, elegant and wonderful restaurant (where I dined)
got totally wiped, I mean not an indication that it ever was there. Since I
didn't know that was coming, I had a wonderful time, a treacherous trip home
(Denver was still a mess), and cried just a few days later---I love that
peninsula.

Pam

"pjjehg" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Bob" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Pam wrote:
>>
>>> My experience is that the better the restaurant (aka the more
>>> professional
>>> the staff), the better a single diner is treated. My favorite
>>> experience
>>> took place in Monterey, CA, where I was specifically seated so that I
>>> had
>>> a full view of the restaurant for people watching.
>>
>> Well? Which restaurant was it?
>>
>> Bob
>>
>
> Sorry, I didn't mention it because my visit was just days before "the
> 500-year tide" that wiped out a fair amount of the northern coast (I'm
> thinking just about New Years '83? but I'm not sure).
>
> Whatever the actual date, I was there between Christmas and New Year
> because we got an unexpected 5 paid days off work. Being a single mom
> whose "vacation days" went to the kid, I booked whatever it cost (we once
> lived in the neighborhood), farmed out the kid to whomever (could have
> been a serial child killer, but I think it was her very reluctant father),
> and tried to blow town only to be nailed by a truly nasty storm going
> through Denver. So, I ended up not doing an evening flight
> Minneapolis/Denver/San Jose coach with an economy car (canceled), but next
> day a VERY early flight Minneapolis/Chicago/San Francisco first class
> (when you really got first class on a 747---good morning, would you like
> champagne or a mimosa?) with a hot gold Firebird---no extra expense---some
> days are better than others. ;-)
>
> What I'm saying is that the main downtown raucous (but it does have one
> fine restaurant) Monterey bay pier survived the tide. The next north on
> the bay pier with the truly fine, elegant and wonderful restaurant (where
> I dined) got totally wiped, I mean not an indication that it ever was
> there. Since I didn't know that was coming, I had a wonderful time, a
> treacherous trip home (Denver was still a mess), and cried just a few days
> later---I love that peninsula.
>
> Pam
Pier north of Fisherman's wharf? With a restaurant? I don't recall such a
thing ever being there. I lived in Pacific Grove and Salinas in 71-73 and
have been back a number of times. Unless it was way north, like Seaside or
near where the Embassy Suites is now. Details?

del
>