Just got back today and we had an awesome time! I got a lot of advice and help in planning my trip so I wanted to let you all know how it went!
Landed on Thursday, and after a crazy cab ride from the airport, dropped our bags off at the Hotel Monteleone while we waited for our room to be ready. We took a self guided walking tour of the French Quarter all the way down Royal Street enjoying the beautiful architecture and funky mimes and musicians playing in the street. We saw Cafe Du Monde and probably should have stopped there since there wasn%26#39;t a line or wait, but we were so excited to eat at Coops we couldn%26#39;t wait.
Sat down at Coops and I had the Taste Plate, and my wife had the Oyster Po Boy. All I have to say is WOW! That was the BEST Gumbo I have EVER had! The best jambalaya too!!!! 4 Abita%26#39;s later, and our check was only $30 some dollars! It was great eating some awesome food, and sitting next to some real cajun people speaking French to each other at the next table a few hours after landing in New Orleans! We knew right at that moment we were off to a great start!
Left Coops and strolled through the French Market, then headed on up to Lafitte%26#39;s for our first Hurricane! What an awesome bar! It was very laid back, and you could just FEEL the history in that place. Beautiful fireplace in the middle, and the old weathered candlelit tables were just perfect. The dark corridor to the bathroom in the back was a bit spooky, and just added to the flavor of the place. I loved the hurricane there and couldn%26#39;t wait to try the hurricanes at our next stop Pat O%26#39;Briens.
Walked up Bourbon to Pat O%26#39;Brien%26#39;s, and easily found a table in the courtyard by the fountain. I stepped away to get two hurricane%26#39;s, and by the time I came back my wife had already made friends with a mother of four on vacation with her husband and friends. Pat O%26#39;Brien%26#39;s was not what I expected. I thought it would be some crazy place with people dancing and bumping into you... it was the exact opposite. Very upbeat atmosphere, but relaxed at the same time with everyone lounging around the fountain drinking various mixed drinks. The Hurricanes were good, but the one%26#39;s at LaFitte%26#39;s just couldn%26#39;t be beat.
We got a call that our room was ready, so we headed back to the Hotel to check in. We were a little nervous about the room being small or not have a nice view, but when we saw the room it was perfect. The room number was 975, and we had a good view of the city. It wasn%26#39;t the biggest room in the world, but was plenty big enough for the two of us! Instead of being charged $10 a day for their internet, I just signed on for the NO wireless ($14 for 3 days). It was a bit slow, but did the job.
After getting settled in to the hotel, we went down to the Carousel Bar for our first drinks of the night. I had the Vierre Carre, and a Sazerac. After trying those out, we headed over to Canal street, and up to Bourbon for our dinner at Red Fish Grill. Red Fish had a franchise feel to it, but the food was great. We had redfish and sheepshead, and topped it off with their chocolate bread pudding a la mode. WOW, I still remember the bread pudding! Very good.
After eating our fill of fresh fish and chocolate, we started our first glimpse of Bourbon Street at night. OMG!!!!! Strippers hanging out at the doors of the clubs was not was I was expecting! But hey it%26#39;s Bourbon street! We had some coupon%26#39;s for free drinks at Mangoes so we decided to use them and got two frozen drinks. I wouldn%26#39;t reccomend getting them for two reasons.... One they were $12!!!!! ...and two, they took too long to drink!
Stopped in to the Funky Pirate and saw big, and I mean BIG Al Carson singing some blues. It was pretty good, but we were starting to get tired, so we left there and made our way back to LaFitte%26#39;s. I had to see that place at night, and it was all that I thought it would be. Very cool, and very chill. Had a few more Hurricanes, and then decided to call it a night and head back to the hotel.
Wow... that was day one. I am going to have to split this up if I%26#39;m going to get it all in. Sorry if this is too long, but I just want to get everything out! More to come later on....
Trip Report: 4/9-4/12 (Day One)
Loved reading your trip report....makes me all the more anxious to be in NoLa this Thursday....my first meal will be lunch at Coop%26#39;s!! Gonna have to try the hurricane this time at LaFitte%26#39;s :)
Trip Report: 4/9-4/12 (Day One)
Great trip report, can%26#39;t wait to hear the rest!! I, too, will have to try the hurricane at Lafitte%26#39;s. I always get them at Pat O%26#39;s and will definitely try one at Lafitte%26#39;s during my next trip in July. Don%26#39;t worry about the trip report being long...we LOVE hearing all the details :)
i agree that lafittes hurricanes are the best. my sis in law also SWEARS by their bloody mary%26#39;s w/cajun beans too.
yum! Can%26#39;t wait!
Get some rest so you can experience more to tell us about.
We have never been to Coops but that is on my list.
Thanks for the TR!
Thanks for your report! The double chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish Grill is one of my favorite desserts in the city :)
Great report. We will be staying at the Chateau Bourbon, so we will have to try the Bread pudding at least at Red Fish- it is in the hotel isn%26#39;t it? Absolutely loved Coop%26#39;s and can%26#39;t wait for the spicy Cajun fried chicken- yum!!!
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