Mardi Gras events start in January and will be in full swing about the time you receive this issue. And there is always a reason to head down to New Orleans, so we went down for an early parade (the Chewbaccus Krewe) and scouted out some dining options for you to consider on your next trip to the Big Easy. We paid special attention to places that would accommodate gluten free and other special diets. We were pleasantly surprised by the frequency with which restaurants in New Orleans asked about food allergies on their own initiative, more than we have experienced in any other city, including Seattle.
Two Mainstream Options
Emeril Lagasse is a prominent New Orleans based restauranteur whose restaurants feature many gluten free options and we checked out two of his restaurants that were a reasonably short distance from the tourist part of town.
We first tried Meril’s, 424 Gerod Street, in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, 524.506.3745, https://bemeril.com, (not to be confused with Emeril’s, another local restaurant in the same group) and found a moderately lively but not too noisy family-oriented restaurant—the type of place that makes a show (a flare for flair) for someone’s birthday or other special event.
Meril’s emphasizes small plates, so we focused on those. We tried the Mexican street corn, the pan-seared scallops, Pad Thai cauliflower, and blistered shishito peppers. The street corn had already been removed from the cob, making it quick and easy to eat, and we liked it enough to order a second. The scallops and cauliflower were both tasty and worthy of ordering again when we go back. The peppers were fine, but perhaps we have become accustomed to those being served with a dipping sauce, these were not.
We also tried an Emeril’s Edition Old Fashioned, made with a demerara syrup—it was good, but we will continue exploring other items when we return. We enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere at Meril’s. We got there early and with a reservation; it was filling up by the time we left, and a reservation would be recommended.
34 Restaurant and Bar, 714 Barone Street, Warehouse District, New Orleans, 504.381.5480, https://34restaurantandbar.com, is a new addition to Lagasse’s
family of restaurants, opening at the end of October 2024 featuring a Portuguese inspired menu. 34 also emphasizes small plates to be shared, but the atmosphere is much more upscale, almost formal, compared to Meril’s.
We tried the Manila clams cooked in miso and olive oil, the carrots in a pine nut cream, the pica pau (seared fish filet in a white wine mustard sauce), and the De Pato (Duck Rice). We were quite happy with the clams and the carrots, but the fish pieces were bland, and the duck rice was disappointing for the price. We accompanied the meal with Portuguese red wine which was reasonably priced and tasted accordingly.
We noticed the bill included a fee for charge cards, but they did not seem prepared for us to pay in cash. Between these two related restaurants we had a strong preference for the much less pretentious Meril’s. The prices were more reasonable, and we liked the selection on the menu better. Judging by the size of the crowds at each, we are not alone in our assessment.
Brunch at the Bearcat
The Bearcat Café CBD, 845 Carondelet St, New Orleans, 504.766.7399, https://cbd.bearcatcafe.com, is a very popular brunch spot for locals. CBD stands for Central Business District, a fairly short walk from the Warehouse District, and directly on one of the streetcar lines. Bearcat does not take reservations, and we 
had a bit of a wait even though we sent someone ahead to get us in line.
We ordered the scallops and grits, the “Robster,” which is grilled lobster tail with creamed spinach over a biscuit topped with an egg, sunny side up, and the shrimp daddy burrito. The scallops were cooked perfectly on top of grits that were cooked well (not soupy) with a gluten free beer-based gravy. Surprisingly, none of those flavors clashed at all and we would definitely order this again. The shrimp in the burrito was fresh, of course, this being New Orleans. The Robster was featured on their fresh sheet, although they admitted they use frozen lobster. The seasoning in the sauce overpowered all the other ingredients, so we will avoid this item if we return.
We found a very nice selection of teas as well as craft cocktails to accompany our brunch. We tried an espresso martini and a breakfast martini, a marmalade flavored concoction. The drinks were all worth ordering again.
Bearcat also has an Uptown location, the original, if that is more convenient to where you are staying. The venue is lively with a high ambient noise level for the inside dining. Depending upon when you are there, the outside dining should be quite comfortable and a bit quieter.
Bearcat automatically adds a 20% tip to the ticket as well as a 2.5% credit card processing fee, both added before the tax, so the bill can come as a surprise. We point this out as a warning as this was not brought to our attention by the otherwise excellent server. We had a mostly positive experience, although the overall price was higher than we expected for the folksy style brunch spot.
Some Excellent Thai to Try
Once again taking our lead from random locals we found Budsi’s Authentic Thai, 1760 North Rampart Street, New Orleans, 504.3814636,
https://www.budsisthai.com, in the Marigny/Bywater neighborhood which is adjacent to the French Quarter. Budsi’s has a long menu and even more items posted by the register at which you order. You might want to check out the menu in advance if you are the type who gets lost with too many options.
We tried the Pumpkin Curry with Chicken and the Drunken Noodle with Crispy Duck. They were both excellent. The pumpkin curry had great flavor, and you will want rice to soak up the broth. The Drunken Noodles are fried with vegetables—the menu claims they are “perfect to soak up all your vices.” The duck was a surprisingly generous portion of tender sliced duck. The duck is not always available, but, if it is, get it. We plan to return and order both items again.
Following advice from regulars we ordered the The Spicy Budsi-rita, a margarita spiced up with their own simple syrup and thai chili pepper reduction. We liked these enough to order some to go. (Drinks on the street are normal in New Orleans.) And the normal (bargain to us) $8 price was reduced to $5 during happy hour. An excellent drink to carry with you to whichever krewe parade you will be attending.
Budsi started her cooking career in New Orleans cooking as a street vendor with very late hours and she built up a loyal following dating back to those days. Budsi’s is not a standard tourist spot. There were tourists and visitors present at the restaurant, but most of those had been brought there by friends or family who live locally. This was some of the best Thai food we have had anywhere. We will return on our next visit. This one was a great surprise find.
We will return to Seattle next month to check out breakfast spots both new and old in and around Seattle. Feel free to send suggestions and comments to Christopher Howard at either chh@f2t.com or 206.669.5956.
