French Quarter- Restaurants and Cafe's

Lots of people rave about the french quarter and its beautiful old timely essence. Every time I visit i get this sense of warmth and history. But there are always places I find myself gravitating to when i touch down in this remarkable quarter.

First things first is. food, you can't visit and pack a lunch box, to get the full experience you have to actually eat the food. Here are a few recommendations, with great food, great service, and wonderful choices.

• Vacherie- is a beautiful restaurant in the french quarter, they have an amazing copper bar that gives the restaurant elegance in its own right. the bartenders were amazing and food can be ordered to go. They have a wonderful spread of time for their happy hour and the bartenders actually know a thing or two about the drinks they serve.This place may be a little hard to find because it is connected to a cafe that has the same name but just walk a little further down and the door is right next to their menu. I recommend the Chicken Cobb Salad with the dressing on the side. There is a lot of detail to that meal and with a side of gumbo you definitely can't go wrong. (827 Toulouse St, New Orleans LA 70116)

Quick note, lots of restaurants in the french quarter have their menus posted on the outside before you walk in so you can decided rather or not the place is within your price point, or rather it has the food you want.

• Mambos- This restaurant just opened on June 5th and its already created quite a buzz. located on the infamous bourbon street this restaurant brings you simple Cajun dinning with a flare. the seating was great and the ambiance in the restaurant was nice and calm opposed to the wildness going on outside of the doors. a meal i recommend is the Crawfish Poutine, it was amazing and the service was pretty great. They also have fresh raw oysters if you like that. The po'boy we ordered was actually too much food. (Bourbon Street)

One more thing to note, the food portions are large. Keep that in mind, when i went with my husband we had to share appetizers and entrees simply because the food portions were huge.

• The Corner Oyster House- This restaurant topped all others in speed with which the food came out, the portions were large, the wait staff was amazing, and the food was phenomenal. My husband and I actually said we wouldn't go to a place more than once but found ourselves inside this restaurant twice on our 3 day trip. We went for lunch and they have a meal called 'Gumbalaya' a mix of gumbo and jambalaya it was amazing we loved it and of course we had oysters with it. the next day we fund ourselves walking through the door for breakfast. My husband ordered the Jambalaya omelette and I ordered the Pain de Perdu(french baguette breach toasted like french toast). Both meals were astounding. This restaurant was for sure our favorite among them all. (500 st peter New Orleans)
• Gumbo Ya Ya- A nice restaurant ducked in the Jackson Brewery Building near the trolley station. The muffleleta sliders were amazing and it was nice to get out of the hot sun and into the cool shade and AC of the restaurant. The hostess and waitresses were very attentive and nice and the food was good. (600 Decatur Street, New Orleans)
• Organic Banana (smoothie shop)- This shop isn't quite a restaurant but I must mention it. It's located in the flea market and the smoothies were amazing, evidently you can get alcohol in theses smoothies as well but it was a bit early in the day for us so skipped the alcohol. The Strawberry smoothie is amazing and is a must have on any trip to New Orleans. (1100 N Peters st #27)
• Cafe Du Monde- A New Orleans Staple, although its not a restaurant you can't do a New Orleans list without mentioning the Cafe that's been there since 1862. The Beignets are amazing and the coffee is great, there are always long lines for the one in the quarter but remember its open 24/7 so you can go anytime to get your coffee fix and avoid the lines. (800 Decatur St.)
• Cafe Beignet- a nice little cafe with great beignets and nice outdoor eating. The food was great we even got a box of the mix to bring home and make our own. worth the line and worth the wait. (334 Royal St.)