Traditional restaurant recommendation

We will be in NO for 4 days at the end of the month. One evening we would like to have dinner at one of the old line restaurants - Antoine%26#39;s, Arnaud%26#39;s, Brennan%26#39;s, Commander%26#39;s Palace, etc.

From the reviews, we know the food is not great. Which of these has the best food and ambiance?

Traditional restaurant recommendation

My vote goes to Commander%26#39;s Palace. I know New Orleanians love it too along with Arnaud%26#39;s. Our family loves Galatoire%26#39;s but I know it gets mixed reviews at times.

Traditional restaurant recommendation

I%26#39;m not sure whose reviews you%26#39;re reading, because you can certainly get good, even great food at at least some of these places. I wouldn%26#39;t consider Commander%26#39;s an old-line restaurant although some might. Its current incarnation under the Brennans is a fairly modern arrival. The one you left out, Galatoire%26#39;s, is IMO the best of the old-line places. The downstairs dining room ambiance is classic New Orleans. Antoine%26#39;s I would skip. I have had some great meals at Arnaud%26#39;s, but they don%26#39;t always get things right. Commander%26#39;s has been increasingly consistent in the past year and is certainly worth a trip, but the menu leans away from the traditional Creole items you find at the old-line places.

Definitely Commander%26#39;s Palace - great ambience and the food is fantastic too! Galatoire%26#39;s is good for the ambience and spectacle, but the food is good, not great. Skip Antoine%26#39;s and Brennan%26#39;s altogether!

Another vote for Commander%26#39;s.

KPaul%26#39;s isn%26#39;t on your list, but it should be. Paul Prudhomme put Commander%26#39;s on the map, and he is the original celebrity chef. Paul changed cooking in America.

Any of your 4 except Brennan%26#39;s. Arnaud%26#39;s probably has the best food, Antoine%26#39;s the best history and old atmosphere, but Commanders is the most fun.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I think we%26#39;ve decided to do Commander%26#39;s for lunch (can%26#39;t pass up 25 cent martinis) and Arnaud%26#39;s for dinner (the jazz bar sounds fun).

Is Commander%26#39;s really sticky about dress for lunch?

Commander%26#39;s only hard fast rule is No SHORTS. I personally would feel more comfortable in business casual, but jeans are allowed.

A lot of business meetings take place during lunch at Commander%26#39;s, so you%26#39;ll see your fair share of people suited and booted, but I would go with dressy casual for lunch.

You will be happy with Commander%26#39;s. I think Antoine%26#39;s food is better than Arnaud%26#39;s for dinner (although for large groups and events, Arnaud%26#39;s can%26#39;t be beat). Why is Galatoire%26#39;s not on your list? That would be great for dinner too!

And like the OP said, I%26#39;m not sure what has been posted here, but the food at any of those restaurants is wonderful - it%26#39;s just that some are better than others!