Patois

6078 Laurel Street  New Orleans, LA

504.895.9441

http://www.patoisnola.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food:   A / A

Ambiance: A / A

Service:    A / A

Drinks: B+

Overall Experience: A / A

H says, Overall, Patois is a fantastic place to eat. C and I just had small plates, a salad, and a dessert when we went, but each was very good. The only real issue with Patois is that it is located in the same city as Herbsaint. It is my opinion that each dish was just a bit below that which you would get at Herbsaint. That being said, it is still a fantastic place to eat.

C says, I had gone to Patois several years ago and really enjoyed it, so I decided H and I should go for Valentine’s Day. Patois is tucked away in a mostly residential neighborhood, and I think gets a lot of business from the neighbors. It’s a cute little place with really good food.

Overall thoughts:

H says, Patois is located uptown in a residential area.  Parking was easy and the staff met as at the door and quickly seated us. They have a daily list of specials along with their specialty drinks. I enjoyed mine, but C said it tasted like cough syrup. [C says, Guess I don’t like Chartreuse!] For our dinner, we had Roasted Octopus, Gnocchi, Mussels & fries, and a Fried Oyster salad. The octopus was cooked perfectly, nice and tender with great flavor, the Gnocchi were very good but a bit heavier than those found at Herbsaint. Still very tasty though. The mussels were very unique. They had a smokey flavor and were topped by great fries. Lastly, the Fried Oyster salad was amazing. This was by far the best dish we tried. Really enjoyed it. For dessert we had their famous snickers bar, which was very good, but I felt that they skimped too much on the salted caramel. If they had included more it would have been fantastic. Overall I would recommend if you are here for a few weeks, otherwise just go to Herbsaint.

C says, I thought everything we had was good, and I was proud of H for being adventurous. He even ate the white bean hummus with the octopus, which he usually claims not to like. The gnocchi came with crab and small fava beans (I think) and was tasty, but H is right, the gnocchi at Herbsaint are just beyond compare. The mussels were in a smoked tomato broth, which was quite good, and the fries were crispy and delicious. The aioli served with them was not my favorite--I like a more garlicky one; this I think had a lot of paprika in it--but it wasn’t bad, and H liked it a lot. The oyster salad was the best thing we had. For dessert, we ordered the “Snickers bar,” which was my favorite dessert until I ate at Herbsaint. It has a layer of cake topped with mousse, a crisp layer of caramelized sugar, chocolate ice cream, salted caramel and peanuts. Still really delicious, but Herbsaint does win out. So, overall, Patois was very enjoyable for a night out, and nice for a change, though it doesn’t beat out Herbsaint.

Clancy's

6100 Annunciation Street New Orleans, Louisiana .

(504) 895-1111

http://clancysneworleans.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food:  B+ / B+

Ambiance: A / A

Service:  A / A

Drinks: B+

Overall Experience: B+ / A-

Photo courtesy of Clancy's website

H says, I had been to Clancy’s before and really enjoyed it. I had planned on bringing C here eventually but, we don’t eat uptown all that often. As fate would have it, though, when we went to take my parents to Crepe Nanou, the power went down. I quickly called Clancy’s and they had a table for us upstairs.

C says, We went to Clancy’s on a fluke. H had been there before, and when the restaurant where we were supposed to have dinner lost power, he suggested Clancy’s. Since I had heard good things (and it was not in the power outage zone), away we went.

Overall thoughts:

H says, Clancy’s is a wonderful little restaurant located on a quiet corner of Uptown. The inside is very inviting, and has a family-type atmosphere. I really enjoy it. Now, the first thing you need to remember when you go is that Clancy’s does one thing really well: Meats and desserts. [C says, That’s two things...] The rest of the food is good, but nothing amazing. The lamb/steak/pork are all fabulous. C and I had an appetizer of mussels, which were good, but not amazing. I much prefer Adolfo’s still when it comes to mussels. For dinner I had a filet mignon, which was wonderful. Cooked to perfection with just the right amount of sauce and taste. The wine list is extensive and very well stocked. My parents and I shared a bottle of wine and it was very nice. Overall, I would recommend Clancy’s. It’s not in my top 5, but I would definitely go back again.

C says, Clancy’s is an upscale neighborhood restaurant--it’s smack in the middle of a residential zone. The atmosphere inside was quite nice; we sat upstairs, which was quiet and a bit secluded (only one other table in the room we were in)--I liked it. They bring hot french bread and butter to the table, as any self-respecting old school NOLA restaurant should. I thought the mussels H and I had first were delicious. We told them we wanted to split them, so they divided the serving into two bowls for us. For dinner, I had the drum with muddy waters sauce--which was invented at Uglesich’s--a NOLA restaurant that “ain’t dere no more.” It’s basically a meuniere sauce with garlic and jalapenos, and they add some parmesan on top as well. It was fine, but I wouldn’t order it again. The corn and asparagus with it were good, but the yellow rice was underseasoned. That is why I marked down the food score; Henry’s dad, who also had fish, was similarly unimpressed, whereas the meat diners (lamb and steak), were in heaven. So maybe fish just isn’t the way to go. The brownie dessert, with ice cream and hot fudge, was good, but nothing really special, and should have had a little more ice cream. The butterscotch budino (pudding) with salt and caramel sauce was heavenly, though, and H’s mom loved the fresh strawberry sorbet she had.

Budino. Photo courtesy of Clancy's website.

Boucherie

8115 Jeannette St, NOLA

504.862.5514 http://boucherie-nola.com/

Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)

Food:  B- / B++

Ambiance: B / A

Service: C / B+

Drinks: C

Overall Experience: C / B+

Photo courtesy of the Boucherie Facebook page

H says, Not impressed. I was looking forward to dinner with Caitlin, but I hadn’t really read much about the restaurant. It was converted from a house to a restaurant and it is very cramped inside. I felt that they tried to fit one too many tables into the space. Also I felt the service was slow for such a small place. Normally I am ok with it, but it just felt off to me.

C says, I had heard good things about Boucherie, so I suggested to H that we try it out. The restaurant is tucked away in a little uptown cottage off of Carrollton, though they also run a big purple food truck sometimes spotted around town. The truck serves much more casual fare than the restaurant, though the restaurant is not expensive (but portions are not overly generous, either).

Overall thoughts from H:

First off, don’t go. It’s inexpensive but the portions are not great and the portion size is quite small. We had the mussels appetizer and it was well...terrible. It was basically just boiled mussels. The grit bread that they served with it was good but the mussels themselves just tasted like mussels; there was nothing to the broth. Not a fan. I ordered brisket and fries as my main course and I was planning on having a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon but they didn’t have one listed. I was a bit shocked honestly. I had never been to a restaurant that didn’t have a simple glass of Cabernet available. So I ended up skipping any of the drinks (they seemed overly expensive) and just went with water. The brisket was quite good but also quite small. It’s not overly expensive, but I did feel let down by the portions. Honestly, I could have gotten more and better from The Joint for about ½ the cost. We ended up skipping dessert and I was glad to leave. Never going back.

Overall thoughts from C:
I think H’s review is way too negative! The restaurant is small, and they do have as many tables in there as they can, but I didn’t find it cramped; I thought it was cozy, and the decor is very nice. I would describe the service as leisurely; I was a little annoyed that they didn’t bring silverware right away, but that was pretty much my only complaint. H was turned off right away when he saw that the wines by the glass didn’t include a Cabernet. First, they bring an amuse bouche; it was a snapper terrine, which was pretty tasty--I would guess that they change this up depending upon what they have, but maybe it’s always snapper! We ordered the mussels first--as H said, the grits crackers that came with it were great, and the collard greens were delish (H didn’t try them), but the mussels themselves were a little underwhelming--I’m not sure if they were cooked separately, but they didn’t seem to soak up the flavor of the sauce much. It was a small portion, but most mussel appetizers tend to be overly generous, honestly. I had the blue cheese gnocchi for an entree. It was quite good--not nearly as good as Herbsaint, though! It was also a small portion and when it first arrived I was rather surprised at how small it seemed, but by the time I ate it, I was not disappointed. I didn’t really need a bigger serving. I also tried some of H’s fries, which were pretty tasty. So, I gave the food a B++ not because it wasn’t good, but because the portions are moderate and mostly because there is not a lot on the menu I would actually order; most of what they offer is meatier than I prefer. I don’t think we will be back, but I certainly wasn’t as disappointed as H was. [I will also note that I gave him 3 choices for dinner, and he picked this one, so he can’t blame it all on me!]

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.

Brigtsen’s

723 Dante St
New Orleans
504-861-7610 http://www.brigtsens.com/

*photo courtesy of the Brigtsen's website, as we didn't remember to take any!
Overall Ratings (H in orange, C in purple)
Food: A / A
Ambiance: B/ B
Service: B/A
Drinks: B+
Overall Experience: A-/ A-

C says, I had been wanting to go to Brigtsen’s for years, so when H offered to take me anywhere for my birthday, that’s what I picked! Brigtsen’s is in the Riverbend, right across the street from Dante’s Kitchen (another yummy choice, but that’s a different review). I was not disappointed in my choice!

H says, I really thought C was going to ask to go somewhere she knew but she surprised me with this one, and it was quite enjoyable. A nice, small restaurant that has a very uptown feel. It is located in an old house like many restaurants in the uptown area. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Overall, just a very enjoyable experience. If you are in the area, I would suggest giving it a try.

My Top 5 so far:

1) GW Fins
2) Muriel’s
3) Brigtsen’s
4) Adolfo’s
5) Clancy’s (I haven’t taken C there yet)

C says, All of H's top 5 restaurants are really good; I also love Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, Antoine's, and Patois, but he hasn't been to most of those yet!

Overall thoughts from H:

When we first walked in, I felt a little under-dressed as most people were in jackets and slacks, so I would suggest semi-formal dress. Overall the decor was a bit forgettable. It felt like most uptown restaurants, on the older side with some pictures. I am ok with it, but it doesn’t really do anything for me either. [C says, the restaurant is in an old Creole cottage. It's cozy, with dim lighting. It does feel a little like it caters to an older clientele, but there certainly wasn't anything uncomfortable about it.]

Now for the food: My main course was a blackened tuna with an amazing sauce. [C says, It was the Blackened Tuna with Smoked Corn Sauce, Red Bean Salsa, & Roasted Red Pepper Sour Cream.] It was to die for...C may say that I was scared because of the description that they might overcook the tuna, but that’s a lie, I totally believed they could pull it off. [C says, He was completely scared, both that they would overcook the tuna and that he wouldn't like the sauces. But, he loved it! See what being adventurous gets you?] The dessert was, of course, bread pudding. Quite good, but not up to Muriel’s or GW Fins standards. In the end I would give it a Solid A-.

C says, I don't think H or I ordered appetizers, which is kind of unusual for us, but I think we were not overwhelmingly hungry. I do remember my main course, though: Broiled Gulf Fish with Crabmeat Parmesan Crust, Mushrooms, & Lemon Mousselline Sauce. It was completely delicious. The Sauce was basically like a hollandaise, if maybe a little thicker. Really excellent. I also had the Double Chocolate Cake for dessert--after all, it was my birthday! It was a very generous slice of cake. Quite tasty, too, but I couldn't finish all of it. Next time, I am definitely going to try the seafood platter. I think we had eaten a big lunch or something and I just wasn't sure I could eat it all, but next time I am going to give it a shot!