I finally experienced lunch at this buffet place across from Stetson around ten days ago. It cost $14. The regular is around two bucks less. This level gets you a free drink and dessert. It was ok. Very old school. I can't get behind it for two reasons. They force a mostly unnecessary (and often times counter productive) waitress on you and they only allow one serving of one of their "meats" per visit. That and the food wasn't that great or the selection that extensive. First course options were basically salad or cold salads like pasta. I just had some carrots. There were around eight sides. I had mashed potatoes and one slice of roasted potatoes. I had some sliced beef (might have been labeled prime rib) as the entree. It was ok. They also had pork, turkey or chicken, that cheapest river fish called basa and a few other things. Dessert was bad. I had maybe the worst pecan pie I've ever had. Very jelly. Few pecans. I don't think they refilled my soda once and it was mostly a glass of ice. Waitress also got lost at check time. The place looked like someone's (old) home. Every veteran was there celebrating their day. You can box up a meal. I think they open at 11am. I believe they are open for an early dinner too. I pass it every time on my way to 75. I was just curious. It was about what I expected.
*Travel Notes - Georgia/Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana: I'll stick to Natchez MS and New Orleans LA info because the rest wasn't worth retelling. In Natchez (which is at the southern end of a historical Parkway (Natchez Trace) from TN to MS, I had brisket and ribs at Pig Out Inn Barbeque. Ribs better than the brisket. They said they use green oak. I haven't heard of that. They said it burns slower. It didn't give the meats much flavor. I also had some beer at the Natchez Brewing Co. Pretty good. In New Orleans, I had a half and half po boy (one side shrimp/one side oysters) at Domilise's. It was good. The place is like 100 years old and famous. I had the best french fries ever (and a pretty good tuna steak burger) at Bryant Park in the Warehouse district. Imagine slices of potato that look like snow peas in the pod. Perfect thickness. Not a fry. Not a chip. Fried perfectly. Soft AND crunchy. I had brunch at Arnaud's. They state that there is a strict dress code. but, I begged my shorts and T shirt ass in (supplied sport coat). It's a three course prix fixe. I started with their "signature" dish of cold shrimp. A fair portion of medium sized shrimp in a sauce that was basically cocktail sauce and cajun spices. I tried poached eggs in artichoke hearts in a bed of spinach for the main dish. Just curious. The artichokes were a bit bland and watery. I hope the bitterness I tasted was to keep them from coloring and didn't mean they came from a can. The spinach was great and soaked up the yolk. I don't even like creamed spinach. The dessert was crepes Suzette for $4 more. Terrible. Old crepes. Cheap liquor. My meal was around $34. You could order things like veal or eggs benedict with pompano for a few bucks more. I don't think anything was over $40. I checked the dinner menu and it wasn't that different. This Antoine's and Galatoire's are three of the more famous places. Full service. Old school. They were closed on the subsequent days I was in town (Covid schedule). All on or off Bourbon St. I had a mufaletta at Central Grocery (where it is said to have been invented). A half cost $13 or $14. Fine. Only one layer of meat and cheese. The worst (and second most expensive) meal I had was at Seaworthy in the Ace Hotel. It was supposed to be an oyster haven. They were out of all but two. I tried one Humboldt Bay (for $4!). It was dry. Pieces of sand or shell. Boo. I also had the worst pot of mussels ever (looked like chewed chewing gum) and a sloppily prepared tiradito of cobia. I had a meat lover pizza at Slice in the Garden District on St Charles. It was on Pizza Cuz. Bad dough. Good meats. I bought a dinner to go at Le Petit Bleu on Washington and Coliseum in the same district. That is the address for Commander's Palace. The most famous restaurant in town. Open 5-9pm. So, techinically I've knocked that off my list because this is their to go market. I tried the Cafe Pierre (from NY?) Lacquered Texas Quail for $29. It was great. They stuff it with a ricey boudin and lay it on a bed of braised cabbage and "roots". Grand Marnier and Cognac jus. I would by a "tv dinner" from them every week if I lived there. They also sell menu items like: turtle soup, dirty duck confit, gumbo, white shrimp curry, etc. All under $30. Great way to get a feel for such a difficult place to get a table at. I grabbed a good donut from District Donuts on the walk back. Four locations in NO. Not famous to my knowledge. I guess that's it. If you go, I'd recommend staying near the convention center. It's in between the French Quarter and Garden District in the Warehouse District (under the bridge by the river). There is a new WW II museum and two art museums just north. It's cheaper and less noisy and easier to drive to and from. There is a famous restaurant just north (that I tried with Mother's last trip) called Cochon. Not terribly dangerous. Saturday night did seem like a Freak-nik, but, it (the city) calmed down after that. If you like weed, this is the out house for you now that I assume it has been made legal. If you want real quiet stay in the Garden District. I still have a long list of places to try. Covid and the recent hurricane is playing havoc with the schedules at present.
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