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.

Cafe Adelaide

In the Lowes hotel near the end of Poydras is Cafe Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick bar. The bar is well known for the bartender's inventive cocktails and my Tequila Mockingbird (tequila, lemoncello, bitters) was a good way to put an end to the days stress.

I had the Muscovy Duck and it just melted in my mouth. I'm not sure all was in the croquette but the fried egg on top was an interesting touch. The praline encrusted pork tenderloin was a perfect combination of taste and texture (and not sugary as might be thought). The Black Drum with squash, corn, tomato raisins with a shrimp fra diavolo sauce was a little busy for my taste.

The biscuit bread pudding was very good--the white chocolate sauce was delicious. I had the the lime-ginger creme brulee and the bananas foster sundae was perfect with the special addition of a drizzle of chocolate. That one came with cinnamon rum ice cream--yum!

The wine by the glass selection was pretty good as was the selection of after dinner drinks. We had a Chardonnay, a Riesling, a Cabernet Sauvignon and ended with an Ice wine.

Cafe at the Square

Sitting on the corner of Lafayette Square is an unassuming cafe that serves tasty comfort food for the modern businessperson and the occassional tourist. There is a sign for the place on Poydras but the actual cafe is further down St. Charles.

I had the Fried Green Tomato BLT and there was plenty of bacon. The lettuce was actually baby spinach and the combination was perfect. It comes with shoestring potatoes. My lunch companion had the Lafayette chicken with a fried egg and sauce and he cleaned every drop off his plate.

I sent a friend over the next day to try it and she reports that the gumbo is fully loaded with shrimp, chicken, or sausage in every bite.

The blackberry cobbler was a delicious way to end the meal. The vanilla bean ice cream cooled things just enough so I didn't burn my mouth until my last bite--but it was too yummy not to scarf down.

From what I understand, their breakfast is fabulous too so I might have to get back over there earlier in the day. They are only open from 7-2pm and they stop serving breakfast at 10:30.

Angelo Brocato's Italian Ice Cream

A visit to the Mid City area isn't complete without a stop for a gelato or another Italian Bakery classic from Angelo Brocato's Italian Ice Cream Parlor.

I had the pistachio and St. Joseph's almond chocolate (the almonds are chocolate covered, too) and got a bag Pigniolata (bits of fried dough glazed with sugar and sprinkles). My dining companions got the strawberry gelato (with fresh Ponchatula strawberries) and the pistachio almond. Excellent mouth feel of the homemade Italian ice creams and the taste is stupendous.

Doson Noodle House

In Mid-City at Canal and Carrollton is a very good Vietnamese restaurant. Doson Noodle House bills itself as having authentic Vietnamese. While not the French-Vietnames I'm most familiar with (Le Chevel in Oakland, CA is an example), it was good, filling and inexpensive.

We started with the steamed dumplings (Banh Quai Vat). The filling was flavorful and the dipping sauce was nice and spicy. I ordered Bon Tom (grilled shrimp over vermicelli noodle. The veggies that were served with were grilled too and that added to the flavor. It did need a little Siriacha to kick it up a notch but the flavors were well balanced. One of my dining companions got the Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup) and it was good but without the profile of some of the other Pho's that I've had in my life. I can imagine getting it next time I'm sick, as the lemon grass awakened the senses although the broth itself was bland. It had plenty of noodles and chicken, so this is definitely when soup makes a meal. My other foodie friend had the Mi Doson (Chicken and Shrimp Pan Fried Noodle). This dish was a good balance of sweet and savory.

Ugly Dog Saloon

New Orleans is not particularly well known for its BBQ. However, one big exception is the Ugly Dog Saloon that is located at the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Andrew Higgins. A hangout for cops and construction workers, the food is definitely rib sticking good.

I got the 1/4 lb pulled pork sandwich. Loaded with meat, they serve their tangy bbq sauce to the side so, if you're like me and want to taste the pig, you can add just a little. And this meat is definitely worth tasting as the pork melts in your mouth. I wouldn't necessarily order the platter as the sides aren't that great. The chili has a good flavor but its a little watery and the potato salad was nothing to write about.