DAY 3 - Being fans of Top Chef %26amp; their season ending finale, it was an easy call to do Commander%26#39;s Palace for lunch. (The 25 cent martinis just made it an easier call.) We hopped the St Charles streetcar %26amp; jumped off at the Washington Ave stop. We did the 10:30 am tour of Lafayette Cemetery with our super nice guide, Val. He is a member of Save Our Cemeteries, a non-profit group. The cost was $6 each. A very interesting %26amp; worthwhile tour of about 1 hour.
After cleaning the mud from our shoes, we walked into Commander%26#39;s at about 11:45 am. There was a line of 5 waiters waiting to escort patrons to their tables. As we walked upstairs to the Garden Room (request this, if you can), there were no fewer than 7 people that said ';hello/welcome'; as we passed by. I kept thinking that there must have been somebody important behind me.
They pushed our chairs in %26amp; put napkins in our laps. Our main waiter, Beau, promptly took our drink orders. Another server then swung by to drop off some garlic bread before we had even ordered. In reality, with their lunch specials, a pair could get out of there w/ a 3-course meal, drinks %26amp; tip for $50. That, of course, didn%26#39;t happen to us. Our tab was $87, but all very well worth it. I had the turtle soup, pork dish, %26amp; bread pudding souffle w/ whiskey sauce. My girlfriend had the soup de jour, the crab BLT salad, and strawberry shortcake. Everything was superb, but the bread pudding was the hit of the day. The Blood Mary was average, but nothing could diminish this splendid lunch.
A mad dash back to the hotel to change into our shorts had us back in the Garden District in no time. We had printed out our own versions of the walking tour, so after getting lemonade %26amp; ice tea from the coffee shop/book store, we took a leisurely stroll through much of the district.
I threw pebbles at the windows of John Goodman%26#39;s house hoping that he would join us for a beer. Okay, so no pebble throwing, but we did stop for a beer at The Bulldog on Magazine St. A nice, casual spot w/ 50 beers on tap. Some good, creative artwork on the walls. The outside patio including a water wall w/ the 50 spouts of water actually being the various beer tap handles - nice!
We walked a few blocks back to the streetcar which we ended up taking all the way down to the end of the line. We passed Tulane %26amp; Loyola Universities in addition to some very grand homes %26amp; Audubon Park.
After being dropped off at Canal St, we did a walk thru of Harrah%26#39;s Casino just to say that we did a walk thru of Harrah%26#39;s Casino. Being a hot, humid day, we both had the hankering for margaritas %26amp; outdoor patio seating. With NO not being a huge Mexican food town, we knew our options were limited. We found our way all the way across the French Quarter to Esplanade Ave and into Tomatillo%26#39;s. I can vouch that the food is authentic Mexican because as long as it took for it to come out of the kitchen, we figure that they had to go to Mexico to get it. The waitress service was actually quite excellent, just a little backed up in the kitchen. But since we were hot and tired, we didn%26#39;t mind too much.
We were too tired for a night cap this time at Lafitte%26#39;s, so we walked the length of Decatur back towards the hotel. There was a young, solitary musician (I use that term loosely) standing on Decatur w/ a single drum stick banging something that we couldn%26#39;t decipher. We both had to giggle as he clearly wasn%26#39;t musically inclined in the least. I do admit, however, as we passed by him again the next night, I had to go back to give him a dollar. Again, all part of the charm.
On the other hand, at the corner of Bourbon %26amp; Canal, was an 8-piece brass band of college-aged looking kids cranking up an impromptu concert. A crowd had gathered %26amp; a few had begun to dance in the streets. A fitting ending to Day #3.
28 different stops in 4 days! Day 3 reportMore, more, more! I can%26#39;t wait to read Day 4. I%26#39;ve loved every line of Days 1-3 thus far! Makes me sooooo excited for my trip at the end of next month. I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;ll be able to match your 28 stops, but I sure will try!!! :)
Thanks for sharing your trip!
28 different stops in 4 days! Day 3 reportCommanders is the bomb. Their soups are superb. I always invest a dollar on their .25 martinis. Is there anything better than when they punch a big hole in your bread pudding soufflé with a spoon, and pour in the whiskey sauce from the whiskey sauce boat? A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
I love the Bulldog, too. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, beer.
Your trip reports are the BEST. I am truly living through your TR. Thanks
Execellent trip report(s)...I feel as if I am there with you!
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