Ernst Cafe

Several folks from the office had lunch from Ernst Cafe the other day. They've got good fried food--shrimp and chicken. I had the Big Fat Chicken Sandwich (fried, although they will make it grilled). Very flavorful, with a nice bite to the coating and a super generous portion of fries. I had a taste of the chicken wrap (they let you choose your own dressing--cesar, ranch, etc) and it was very good. The fried shrimp come in a generous portion both on the platter and in the poboy.

We got our order to go but I love the old tin ceiling and they have a upstairs with balcony which is great when there is live music across the street.

Rotolo's Pizzeria

I took a break from work the other day to go up to the Rotolo's Pizzeria on Rampart street with a couple of Forum For Equality Board members and the new Managing Director (she's replacing me). This was my first time at this Louisiana chain--they're mainly in the Baton Rouge area but they're expanding into the Greater New Orleans area.

Billed as the "Official Pizza of the New Orleans Saints," our large pizza was loaded with fresh ingredients--we had pepperoni, onions, mushrooms and extra cheese on our pie. The onion slices were large so you got more of an onion taste than the specks of diced onion some chains try to pass off to their customers. The pizza crust was nice and chewy and it stood up to the toppings. The rest of the diners enjoyed the Cesar salad and the BBQ chicken wrap was big in size and flavor.

This place was great for lunch service as the pizza was delivered quickly to the table. The service was excellent upstairs with fast refills on the drinks.

Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar and Restaurant

A block from my office is Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar and Restaurant. You might have seen the place on YouTube when Drew Brees was teaching the crowd his pre-game motivational chant or when Scott Fujita had his going away party. In any event, it isn't just a football bar. Its a good place to hang after work and to eat during the day. Friday nights sees the party spill onto the sidewalks but they usually have a grill or crawfish boiling going on outside to handle the crowd.

The lunch menu is filled with a wild mix of California/Baja favorites and local flavor. The Juicy burger is big and loaded, there are a ton of sprouts on the Turkey burger and the Shrimp poboy definitely doesn't skimp on the shrimp.

The drink menu is fun with a free shark for those bold enough to order the Shark Attack and lots of tequila and rum varieties.

Captain's Choice

At the bowling alley in Foley, Alabama (behind the outlet mall) is a great place to get a burger and fried food. I've always enjoyed that aspect of bowling, I mean, what other sport encourages you to eat and drink while playing?

At the Captain's Choice on Juniper, the seafood selection is good (including the usual fried shrimp, oysters, grouper, etc) and the jalapeno peppers are stuffed with crabmeat. The burgers are some of the best around, although my sisters selection of a trash burger (cheese, fried onions, bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato) was a little too big for even my mouth. I think they make their own tarter sauce because it was sure better than what you get out of a bottle and the ranch dipping sauce was thick and rich to go with my order of fried mushrooms and fried pickles. The gumbo is pretty tasty, too.

Middendorf's Seafood Restaurant

On the way back from the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, I stopped off at Middendorf's for lunch. Their thin fried catfish is incredible. The coating is perfect--so light that the flavor of the fish comes through. I got the fried shrimp and catfish meal and the plate was piled high with 5 pieces of fish, 6 shrimp, 2 hushpuppies and a good size portion of crisp French fries. It came with coleslaw but I gave mine away. The service is fast and friendly and I'd definitely say that this place is worth the drive from New Orleans.