CRESCENT CITY — In this first section, Eats ‘n’ Beats, locals share favorite food places, music clubs, and watering holes in and around New Orleans, as we get ready to rock the Clean Show, June 20-23.
Here I am. Rock you like a hurricane
(Come on, come on, come on, come on)
—Scorpions
Clean ’19 and New Orleans are gonna Rock you like a Hurricane ... and yes, we mean the drink too!
New Orleans invented the cocktail, they say.
There are more than 1,400 places to eat, drink, and be merry, they tell.
The party never seems to stop here.
Some names you’ll recognize in New Orleans include: The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Pat O’Brien’s (their Hurricane drink is famous), and Café Du Monde.
While the Clean Show 2019 is happening in the Ernest Morial Convention Center, Thursday through Sunday, June 20-23, we’re offering you some peeks at local spots you might want to check out on your off hours. It’s not 1,400 places, but it is a bunch! Here comes our Go Guide.
For this first portion of the Go Guide that we’re calling Eats ‘n’ Beats, we’ve called upon two locals to help you rock on over to the “in” places to carouse around the Crescent City, named for the way the Mississippi River bends.
Helping us out, and graciously serving as your tour guides, are Alyssa Kelly and friends at Milnor, which is located in nearby Kenner, Louisiana; and Andree Bauer, co-owner with her brother Eric, of family-owned Russell’s Cleaning, a well-know cleaner right here in New Orleans.
They are going to take you on a New Orleans insider’s guide to their own favorite, coolest, most fun, best places to get your Clean ’19 groove on! (When you’re done perusing the Clean Show, that is.)
Get ready now to sample New Orleans’ hot spots, as recommended by locals, in Eats ‘n’ Beats....
Eats ‘n’ Beats
Alyssa Sez
Alyssa Kelly and friends at Milnor list some of their favorite places to eat and drink in New Orleans, and they also provide the websites for those picks, and add some of their own tips.
• Jacques Imo’s www.jacques-imos.com Alyssa sez: “No reservations unless 5+ people.”
• Paladar 511 www.paladar511.com 511 Marigny St. Open evenings and weekend brunch.
• Muriel’s Jackson Square www.muriels.com Alyssa sez: “Recommend shrimp and goat cheese crepes.”
• Johnny Sanchez Inventive Mexican eats and drinks. www.johnnysanchezrestaurant.com Alyssa sez: “Try the cauliflower taco.”
• Juan’s Flying Burrito Creole-tinged Tex-Mex. www.juansflyingburrito.com/ Alyssa sez: “We recommend the pork and slaw tacos. Excellent frozen margaritas.”
• Bacchanal Wine www.bacchanalwine.com/ Alyssa sez: “Purchase wine from their store, create your own cheese plate, listen to music in their backyard.”
• Manolito www.manolitonola.com/menu/ Alyssa sez: “Sip the frozen strawberry daiquiri. It’s no longer on the menu, but I bet they’d still make it!”
• Urban South Brewery www.urbansouthbrewery.com/
• Carousel Bar New Orleans’ only revolving bar. www.hotelmonteleone.com/entertainment/carousel-bar/
• Hansen’s Sno Bliz Snowballs www.snobliz.com/ Alyssa sez: “Great for hot June weather!”
Alyssa Kelly and friends at Milnor also list some of their favorite activities in New Orleans:
• Blue Bikes www.bluebikesnola.com/
• Fulton Alley Bowling www.fultonalley.com/
• New Orleans Museum of Art Sculpture Garden www.noma.org/sculpture-garden/background/
• Cajun Encounters Swamp Tour www.cajunencounters.com/ Alyssa sez: “It’s in Slidell, but they offer shuttles from downtown.”
• New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum www.voodoomuseum.com/
• Frenchmen Street www.frenchmenstreetlive.com
Andree Sez
Andree Bauer, co-owner with her brother Eric, of family-owned Russell’s Cleaning, here in New Orleans, lists her favorite restaurants, sweet treats, music clubs, bars, and things to do. She also includes websites along with her thoughts. “These are several of my favorites around town,” she says.
Restaurants:
• Liuzza’s (Mid City area) www.liuzzas.com Andree sez: “Family owned, local favorite!!”
• Station 6 (Lakefront area) www.station6nola.com Andree sez: “Family owned, good oysters!”
• Marcello’s (CBD) www.marcelloscafe.com Andree sez: “Italian, good wine prices.”
• Borgne (CBD) www.borgnerestaurant.com Andree sez: “Seafood, great happy hour, good oysters.”
• La Crepe Nanou (Uptown) www.lacrepenanou.com Andree sez: “French; need reservations.”
• Jacques Imo’s (Uptown) Andree sez: “Unique New Orleans style; usually a line, try off times.”
• LA Pizza Kitchen (Uptown on streetcar line) Andree sez: “Their second location in the French Quarter is Italian and has a wood-burning oven pizza.”
• El Gato Negro (Lakeview) www.elgatonegronola.com Andree sez: “Upscale Mexican with two locations. The best is 300 Harrison Ave. Great margaritas, outdoor seating. The second location is in the French Quarter.”
Sweets:
• Brocato’s (Mid City) www.angelobrocatoicecream.com
• New Orleans Cake Cafe and Bakery (Bywater) www.nolacakes.com Andree sez: “Breakfast and lunch, home-made pastries, cupcakes; expect a line unless early.”
Music clubs:
• DBA (Bywater) www.dbaneworleans.com Andree sez: “Early (6 p.m.) and late shows.”
•ChickieWahWah(MidCity) www.chickiewahwah.com Andree sez: “Early (8 p.m.) shows.”
Bars:
• Bayou Beer Garden (Mid City) www.bayoubeergarden.com Andree sez: “Outdoor seating.”
• Bayou Wine Garden (Mid City) www.bayouwinegarden.com Andree sez: “Outdoor seating. Patios back-up to each other.... large outdoor space, good food at both, wine bar has great happy hour and more upscale food items.”
• The Delachaise (Uptown on street car line) www.thedelachaise.com Andree sez: “Wine bar.”
• Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (French Quarter) www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com Andree sez: “Historical, oldest bar in the USA, and named after pirate Jean Lafitte!”
Things To do:
• Two chicks walking tours www.twochickswalkingtours.com Andree sez: “Several walking tours available, will customize private tours by request.”
• New Orleans Historical Collection (French Quarter) www.hnoc.org Andree sez: “Interesting collections, nice courtyard, music events sometimes.”
• Audubon Zoo (uptown) and Aquarium (French Quarter) www.audubonnatureinstitute.org Andree sez: “Both excellent.”
• New Orleans Jazz Museum (French Quarter) www.nolajazzmuseum.org Andree sez: “Several interesting varying exhibits of local talent.”
Those are some of the things to see and do in and around New Orleans from our local tour guides, Alyssa and Andree. Thank you both for sharing your favorite places to eat, drink, listen to music, try sweets, and check stuff out. Clean ’19 will have your attention, but so will the city of New Orleans!
Check back Thursday for the conclusion.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].