Irene's Cuisine

539 St Philip St New Orleans, LA 70116

(504) 529-8811

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food:  B / B+

Ambiance: A / A

Service:  A- / A-

Drinks: B (Wine selection was good but not excellent)

Overall Experience: B+ / A-

H says, C and I were walking in the Quarter and I thought we should try our Irene’s as it always smells so nice walking by. I really was worried it wasn’t going to be that good, but I was pleasantly surprised.

C says, Whenever we walk by Irene’s, the smell makes us hungry! A little Italian restaurant off of Chartres, it always smells enticing, so the other night we decided to go in. The meal had a few bumps, but was enjoyable overall--there’s just some room for improvement.

Overall thoughts from H:

First off, it doesn’t look like much from the outside but the interior is just what you think of when you mention old fashioned New Orleans interiors. I might be wrong but it just felt like this is where people went out back in the day. Not that it felt dated but it was just a very enjoyable ambiance. We had the mussels appetizer which was ok, nothing special but ok. I think when we go back we will try something else. [C says, The mussels were in a red sauce, which is not our preference. The sauce was very good, though. The problem was that some of the mussels were overcooked--not cool. The bread served with the mussels was especially tasty, though.] 

Mussels Marinara

For the main course I got the filet mignon which was very well cooked, but the potato side that went with it was a little cold, they heated it up for me and it turned out to be a very nice meal. Now, it wasn’t the best-tasting meal but the steak itself was delicious. All it was really missing was more sauce. I enjoy steaks, but it’s really about the sauce and steak together that does it for me. Now my favorite part: the dessert. They have a bread pudding with bananas foster dessert that is amazing. Enough to feed 2 easily, but it is amazing. So overall it was enjoyable, probably one of the better restaurants in the Quarter that isn’t named GW Fins. Definitely planning on trying it again.

Filet and potato gratin

Soft-shelled Crab w/ Pasta

C says, I will agree with H that the ambiance is perfect for a New Orleans Italian restaurant. When you sit down, they bring you a couple of pieces of Italian bread with sliced tomatoes and melted cheese--a nice amuse. Then, later in the meal, they bring a basket with tasty rolls. As you should know by now, H and I love bread, so that was a plus! The mussels were ok, as we said above, but next time I would try a different appetizer. For dinner, I had the soft-shelled crab with crawfish pasta. The crab was cooked perfectly, nice wide pasta with plenty of crawfish, spinach, and a cream sauce--the sauce was over-herbed, though. Someone had a heavy hand with the oregano or something and it threw the dish off. Otherwise, it would have been really delish. As H said, the dessert was bread pudding with bananas foster sauce and vanilla gelato--basically his 3 favorite foods--and it was very good. Now, from what I hear, we really lucked out being able to walk into Irene’s. We went really early and got the last table in the house. So, if you want to check it out, you might make a reservation first. And expect to spot Irene herself puttering around. Not our favorite place, but a fun one to try. They just need to make a few tweaks and it could be excellent.

Mariza

Photo courtesy of the Mariza website

2900 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70117

504-598-5700 http://marizaneworleans.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food:  C / B

Ambiance: B / A-

Service:  C / A-

Drinks: N/A

Overall Experience: C / B+

H says, I was really looking forward to going to Mariza. It is a spin off of a great restaurant in the French Quarter and it looked great from the outside as they were building it. Once I arrived, though, my hopes were dashed. The food was ok, the decor was ok, but the temperature of the restaurant was so cold as to detract from the experience and the prices were too high for the quality of food that we got.

C says, Mariza is very conveniently located to H’s place, so we thought we’d try it out. The first time we went, it was right after they opened, and some of the food was overseasoned and some was underseasoned. We were rather underwhelmed. After it had been open for several months, though, we decided to give it another try. They had expanded the menu a bit, but I think it is not really our style of food. Nothing on the menu is expensive, but the portions are small, so I wouldn't call it a bargain. The ambiance is nice, but both times, we just felt “meh” about the whole experience.

Overall thoughts from H: Look, Mariza would be a nice restaurant to eat at if it were in the quarter because they would be compared to other restaurants in the area. The problem is they aren’t. They are located in the Bywater, which yes is undergoing gentrification, but honestly it is still home to many small, delicious cafes and restaurants.

Mariza is just trying to be more than it should and with so many other great options in the area, I don’t see the reason to go. I even live above the restaurant and my laziness isn’t even enough incentive to go ever again. I tried it twice and both times I was disappointed. The food was just well...too exotic. They are trying to do a weird spin on Italian food. The thing is, JUST DO ITALIAN, I mean come on. This is not New York, people don’t go to restaurants down here to sample crazy foods, they come for the familiar, the family and good food. [C says, I would disagree with that, and I don’t think the menu is that exotic, but it is not Creole Italian or your standard red sauce and fettuccine Alfredo Italian, which is what I think H prefers. We could both find things on the menu we would like, but not much we would BOTH like, and we like to share things when we go out, so it makes the place less appealing.]

The dishes I had were Tuna carpaccio which was good but over seasoned, a hanger steak which was cooked (I was not offered an option of doneness) to medium rare which was fine but the sauce they added was not enjoyable. There was no bread as you would expect with most restaurants and the service was terrible. [C says, I would not say the service was terrible, but we do both love our bread.  It’s one of the first things we look for at a restaurant. H is just complaining about the service because once he decides he doesn’t like a place, he wants out ass quickly as possible.] I had to eyeball our waiter to finally get the check. Now they are new and they could improve but for now, don’t go. Pass by; go eat at Bacchanal. Trust me, you will be better off.

Burrata Appetizer - Photo courtesy of Mariza website

C says, I had the burrata appetizer, which was overseasoned and, in my opinion, overpriced, but good, and the squid-ink seafood pasta, which was underseasoned, the first time we went. The second time, I had the soft shell crab special, which was quite tasty, but a pretty small serving for an entree. As I said above, the decor is nice, we like the bottles of water on the table (and they have added little dishes of sea salt since the first visit--maybe they were getting complaints about the seasoning?), and overall the ambiance is good. The menu just isn’t to our tastes. You’re much better off at Maurepas Foods or Bacchanal. And if you do go, DON’T PARK IN NOCCA’S LOT. You’ll regret it. 

Bacchanal

600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana

504-948-9111 http://www.bacchanalwine.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food: A / A

Ambiance: A / A

Service: B- / B-

Drinks: A

Overall Experience: A / A

The Courtyard--Photo Courtesy of Bacchanal's Website

H says, Bacchanal is giving Adolfo's a run for its money as the place to bring new people when they come to town. Now, it might not have as great a location, but honestly once you show up, unless you really want to go bar hopping and dancing there is no reason to leave. It is just that great. Definitely has a European feel and is definitely one of my top places to bring people for a relaxing dinner and drinks.

Upstairs--Photo Courtesy of Bacchanal's website

C says, I finally convinced H we should give Bacchanal a try, since it is just a hop, skip, and a jump from his apartment. We took two of our friends and had a lovely night out. Service is limited at Bacchanal--you can buy a bottle of wine or get some cocktails, find a seat wherever you like, and when you’re ready for some food, head up to the counter and order (Cash only for the food!). There are no waiters/waitresses. They have live music every night, so it is a great place to go and have a relaxed night out with friends.

Overall thoughts from H: Bacchanal is located in the Bywater almost into the Lower 9th. Now, that might scare you at first if you don’t know the area but trust me, driving there and parking is fine. Even me, as timid as I am when it comes to crime in New Orleans, felt comfortable. When you first walk in, you're greeted by a wonderful wine selection and a helpful staff to pick something out. The wine selection is great. Some are better than others but it is honestly all in the eye of the beholder.

A small secret is in the main foyer on the left side of the entrance is a fridge with different types of cheeses. Pick out a few that you like and bring them to the desk along with your wine, order extra bread and they will give you a table number. Now sit down have some wine, enjoy some cheese and listen to the music. (They almost always have a live band playing in the later evening). After enjoying the cheese, wine, and company, go up to the window and order dinner. Make sure you have cash as it is a cash-only window. There is an ATM right there as well, but don’t be that person who doesn’t have enough cash to pay and they have to wait for you to use the ATM. It’s just not to be done, plus there is a sign right on the window stating this! [C says, The wine shop in the front takes credit cards, and I think the cocktail bar upstairs does, too, but food is cash-only!]

My favorite meal that I had there was the flat iron steak. Their menu changes a bit from time to time but all the food that I have had there was wonderful. The flat iron steak, though, might have been the best steak I have had since moving to New Orleans--it was cooked to perfection. Overall, a great place to go. If you come to New Orleans this has to be on your list of venues to go to. Period.

C says, Bacchanal is now one of fave spots for a laid-back evening with friends. As H says, the menu changes a bit depending upon what the kitchen can get, but I have had the mussels, green curry shrimp, the warm cannellini beans on ciabatta, the braised butternut squash, the bacon-wrapped dates, and the chocolate bark, and everything is yummy. I wish they had more desserts, but next time, maybe we'll just swing by Maurepas Foods for dessert after--never a bad option!

Grand Isle

Picture courtesy of the restaurant website

575 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

504-520-8530 http://grandislerestaurant.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food: C / B+

Ambiance: B / B+

Service: B+ / A

Drinks: B

Overall Experience: C / B+

H says, Okay, I’ll go right out and say it: Not A Fan. I was not impressed in the least and I felt the food was pretty bad for a New Orleans restaurant. If perhaps I was living in Durham, I could see going back, but the food here is just not worth my time. Honestly. Go to Bacchanal or Adolfo's. Both are in the same price range, same fanciness level and have infinitely better food.

C says, We went out to dinner with a couple of Henry’s co-workers to Grand Isle, which is convenient to the convention center and Harrah’s. The meal was not bad, but nothing really special. There are so many other restaurants that we love in town that I doubt we’ll be back, but it’s a fairly affordable restaurant with quick service; if you’re in town for a convention, you could probably do worse.

Picture from the restaurant website

Overall thoughts from H: Like I said above, I was not impressed which is unfortunate, I was told it was quite good and I was looking forward to a great meal. The service was fast and the ambiance was much like a large restaurant. Lots of tables, lighting that could change depending on the time, and well, what you would normally see at every other type of restaurant set up for tourists.

We started off with the Oyster sampler that I was looking forward to. In fact it was not all that great. They did too much with the oyster and I could have been eating pretty much anything because the taste of the other ingredients overpowered everything. Oysters can be helped or hurt by doing just the right amount or way too much. In this case it was way too much. [C says, I didn’t think the oysters were bad, though I will say the breadcrumb-topped ones were probably the best. The others were cheesy--they were tasty, but H is right, the oysters were kind of overpowered in those two.]

The drinks were good, but normal. Nothing spectacular. The dinner that I choose was a oyster and pancetta pasta with a cream sauce. Which sounds amazing, but when it arrived, all I saw was a white dish in a white bowl. Where was my pancetta? Well in fact...there wasn’t any. Seriously, what the heck? I have seen more pancetta as decoration on a cheese plate at the supermarket than I had in my pasta. It was virtually non-existent. On top of that ,the oysters weren’t that great and one was even overcooked.

Look, if you are going to be a restaurant in New Orleans and serve oysters, you better damn well have some good oyster dishes, but what I had could have had any other type of mollusk. This should never happen, period. Was not happy, will not go back. Trust me, stay away. Go somewhere else, not worth the $3 parking fee.

C says, I agree with H that there are much better places, but the food was not bad. I commented on the oysters above. I had the seafood stew. I should have gotten the small plate; the entree is literally a pot full of stew--they bring it out in the pot! It could definitely serve at least two. The broth was good, and there was plenty of seafood, including fish, shrimp, oysters, and mussels. The rice was underseasoned, though, which threw off the balance of the dish, and the veggies they included were kind of a strange combo with the seafood (green beans, squash, etc), but they seemed to be fresh. Also, a pet peeve of mine is leaving the tails on shrimp in a dish like this. It’s unnecessary, unless the goal is to make me get my hands dirty. Our other dining companions had the crabcake--which looked great--and the chili-butter fish (swordfish), and they both seemed happy. For dessert, we tried the white chocolate bread pudding, which was okay, but nothing special, and the chocolate truffle flourless cake, which was also not bad, but I doubt it was made in house.

So, this is really a place for tourists and convention attendees. You could do worse, but you could also do so much better.

Jim's

Photo courtesy of Jim's Facebook page

3000 Royal St , New Orleans, Louisiana 70117

504-304-8224 https://www.facebook.com/eatatJIMS

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food: B+ / A-

Ambiance: B+ / A-

Service: B+ / B+ to A depending on the waitress

Drinks: A

Overall Experience: B+/ A-

H says, I might be a bit biased as Jim’s is 500 feet from my apartment but I just love the atmosphere and the food for a Saturday or Sunday morning brunch. When I first saw Jim’s I was unimpressed, but like most Bywater cafes and restaurants, looks are deceiving.

C says, H and I love to go to breakfast/brunch on the weekends, but we haven’t actually reviewed any of the places yet, so here is the first!

Overall thoughts from H: Jim’s is a lunch place Monday thru Friday with burgers, fish sandwiches, and other food. [C says, The grouper sandwich (a special) I had the other day was delish! But I want a side with my sandwich--don’t make me order chips or fries separately! It was really filling even without the side, though. Also, they now serve breakfast and lunch til they close at 4 pm] Most of the sandwiches have their own flair, and I enjoyed the fries I had there. The burger I had was very good and the bacon was great. (Note: They seem to have changed their bacon to a thinner style which in my opinion is not as good.) The sandwiches are not just average; they make sure the ingredients are fresh and they usually have some specials based on what they can get. Overall the food was very good and not too overly priced.On Saturdays and Sundays they serve brunch.

What really sets Jim’s apart in my mind is the breakfasts, however. It is just perfect as a brunch place, quiet, small, intimate, and friendly. My normal fare is eggs benedict with a side of bacon, extra sauce and a strawberry lemonade. On a Sunday morning there isn’t much better. If you are in the area definitely give it a shot. And for everyone to know, Jim’s is 10x better than Elizabeth’s. This is a nice friendly restaurant with great food and a great strawberry lemonade. I definitely recommend it.

C says, I usually have the Jim’s breakfast, which is a ton of food for the price--your choice of eggs (I usually get scrambled and add cheese, and sometimes avocado), hash browns (or you can have grits), bacon (I ask for extra crispy and they usually do a great job) and delish sourdough toast. It’s really too much food--I usually make H eat some, too. I’ve also had the eggs florentine, which is basically the eggs benedict with spinach and no ham--yum. H is right: the strawberry lemonade is quite good. The service is usually good, too, though some of the waitresses are nicer than others. It’s just a great neighborhood joint for a quick breakfast on the weekend.

Herbsaint

 701 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
504-524-4114 http://www.herbsaint.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)
Food: A+ / A+
Ambiance: A- / A
Service: A / A
Drinks: N/A
Overall Experience: A / A

H says, I might have found my second favorite restaurant in this one. It is in one word, stupendous. The ambiance is perfect and the food is amazing. The only issue I have with it is the location. It is in the warehouse district and I really don’t enjoy that part of town. If you are catching a show in the area I would suggest it but I just feel like that section of the city is disconnected from the rest. But overall well worth the trip out there!

C says, We went to Herbsaint for our anniversary, even though neither of us had been before, and we absolutely made a good choice. Herbsaint is Donald Link’s flagship restaurant and it is no wonder he has made a name for himself. I am still dreaming about the dessert...H and I split several of the small plates, which I think is a great idea. The waitress talked us into ordering 4, but 3 plus the dessert would have been plenty.

Overall thoughts:

H says, The food here is top-notch, as well as the prices. Don’t fool yourself ,though; this place is worth every dollar. C got drunk off the chocolate dessert--that never happens. It was amazing and funny, too. [C says, “Drunk” might be a little harsh...] We decided to try out as many dishes as we could so we went with 4 small plates and their famous chocolate dessert. We went with the mussels special, pasta, gnocchi, and a shrimp and rice dish. All of them were good, but the gnocchi was probably the best I have ever had. The pasta was amazing as well. If you are only going to be in New Orleans for a few days, this would definitely make the list of choices. Right now, it might be my second favorite restaurant in New Orleans after GW Fins. With that, I think I will let C tell you all about the desert.

Delightful gnocchi

Shrimp & Rice

C says, Herbsaint is definitely on my list of favorite restaurants now. I think it beats GW Fins for me. It’s located near Lafayette Square, which is not an area we find ourselves in too often (though I go for the concerts in the spring & fall, H doesn’t usually come with me). It is, as H said, definitely worth the trip. The mussels (which were a special) were our least favorite dish, but they were still tasty. The Gnocchi, as H said, was the best I have ever had. I also loved the shrimp dish, which was kind of like a risotto, with artichokes and mushrooms. Yum! The waitress warned us that it was particularly small, but I don’t agree. The house-made spaghetti was delish--the sauce was almost like a hollandaise, with a fried poached egg on top. H thought just a regular poached or fried egg would have been better, but I thought the breadcrumb coating added a nice texture. Now, on to dessert--quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten, and I’d go just to have that. A friend recommended it to me, but I thought she was exaggerating the deliciousness. Do yourself a favor and order the Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Salted Caramel, Cashew Ice Cream and Cocoa Nib Caramel Corn. You won’t regret it. I’ll admit, it made me a little giddy, but even H thought it was great--possibly better than bread pudding, which is high praise from him.

The best dessert...just heaven

Flaming Torch

737 Octavia St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
504-895-0900 http://www.flamingtorchnola.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)
Food: B+ / B+
Ambiance: B+ / A-
Service: A / A
Drinks: B
Overall Experience: B+ / A-

H says, A great place to grab some food if you are going to be Uptown, but a bit expensive unless you have a Groupon. Look for the Groupon and then go. The food is good and ambiance is great if you are early because there is hardly anyone there. Don’t let that scare you though, the food is great and the service is top notch. I think they suffer due to their location more than anything else.

C says, One of my Groupon/Living Social deals finally paid off! Most of the restaurants we have tried on deals like that have been “eh” at best, but The Flaming Torch was really a great experience. We’ve actually gotten a Groupon twice for this place ($25 for $50) and enjoyed the visits both times. Good food, good service. Sorry for the lack of pics!

Overall thoughts from H:
I was really skeptical because the last couple of places that C had us go that had a “deal” were, well...some of the worst meals I have had in the city. This was her last chance to have me change my mind, and luckily enough she was right. The Flaming Torch is a great place in uptown to grab a bite to eat. I will say, however, it is a bit on the expensive side if you don’t have a Groupon or some other kind of deal, and since it looks like they keep putting them out all the time I would wait and buy one before you go. The wine selection is nice but a bit lacking as compared to other places we have been. The wine I had was very good though. C loves the mussels here so we usually get those. I think Adolfo's are still better but they are very good. Probably in the top 3 I have had in the city.

For my main meal I went with the Fillet topped with lump crab meat, they don’t offer the crab meat all the time but it was well worth the extra. The steak was perfectly cooked and seared just right. The sauce was again excellent. The bread pudding I had for dessert was ok, nothing spectacular but good.

Overall I would say go there if you have a Groupon and plan to be in the Uptown area. Don’t be scared away by the lack of patrons. There is nothing wrong with it other than the prices are a bit high without a “deal” and they are just off the main road.

C says, I had the moules frites first, which I absolutely loved. The sauce was amazing. The “frites” were more like potato strings than fries, but were quite tasty. The waiter also brought us wet towels with lemon to wipe our fingers after the mussels, which I thought was a nice touch. The bread they bring out was also very good and helpful for sopping up the mussels’ sauce. The first time we went, I believe I had a fish entree, but this time, I just got the crab and lobster risotto appetizer as my entree, and it was more than enough food--very, very rich. I thought the risotto was slightly salty, but good. For dessert the first time, I had the chocolate pot de creme, which was really good, and the second time, I just had some of H’s white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce, which was pretty tasty. The entrees are on the pricier side, but for me, splitting an appetizer with H and then ordering another appetizer was more than enough food, so you don’t have to go too overboard with the cost. This is not a low-cost option, however, but a place for a nice night out (as most of the places we go are, really). The food is good, and I wouldn't put it up with my most favorite places, but if you can get the Groupon, it really is a good deal for a nice night out.