Commander's Palace

A New Orleans classic, but it feels a bit mechanical after so many years of operation. Not the place to worry about calorie count, but desserts and cocktails can be cloyingly sweet.

A New Orleans staple. Does it live up to the hype? Probably not. But it's worth checking out at least once.

Never got why people rave about this place.

I lived in New Orleans for more than 6 years, I worked in the Quarter, and often dealt with foodies as my regular guests at the Hotel. Truth be known the food and service at Commander's Palace are damned good. But let's be honest, it's possible to get some of the very same food at just about any hole in the wall eatery in New Orleans. Yes it is VERY stuffy, requiring a dress code to dine, is idiocy, especially in a city which has 90% plus humidity more than 8 months out of the year. New Orleans likes to hold onto those elements of it's past grandeur, but the essence of New Orleans crole cuisine, and especially cajun cuisine, is that it is made by the regular people, it's NOT haute cuisine. Commander's Palace is a bit over the top, too pricey, too pretentious, too stuffy, too dressy and way too full of itself.

Truly a delight

This is the old fashioned south at it's best. At first I was concerned about this place being too stuffy (the dress code requires a jacket) but even on my first visit I felt comfortable. the food is amazing (and rich) and the service delightful. On our second visit we were a group of about 10 gay men and the waitstaff had a ball with us, even down the to flirty (but obviously straight) busboy. The food was again amazing. And extra plus is that it is located in the beautiful garden district. Take the trolley early and plan to walk around before or after dinner.

Often rated No. 1

Top restsurant in New Orleans. Flagship for the Brennan family. You can get a seat in the main dining room on non-event occasions. Just ask :-)