So we sometimes we used to get threads, on the what to do in NOLA....
And I know we got one tacked at the top

But me and the girlfriend went for afew days recently.
So I thought I would write about what we did... kind of as a summer travel guide.
And also thought we could use afew more threads around here, and some more Louisiana lovin threads

We stayed at the
Hotel St. Helan
It was in a great location!!!!
Rooms was small but nice, and great for the two of us.
It had a real / true old New Orleans.
Nice pool, good staff, free breakfast.
Great Location!!!!
2_Block away from Jackson Square, 2_blocks Bourbon Street, 2_blocks from the French Market, block from Decatur St.
It was in the middle of everything!!!
The downsides
No parking, had to pay to park across the street, or on the corner.
It was a 3_story building with, no elevator. (told you it was old school, which made it cool)  {no big deal to us, but might matter to others}
It did not have cable or satellite, only local channels { hey it is NOLA, how much time are you going to spend in your room watching TV anyway}
None of these were deal killers, and would defiantly stay there again. We both liked it



I am going to tell about afew things, then post some pictures.

Acme Oyster House  Long wait. Kind of over priced. There raw Oysters were very very, good!! But went you can go to the French Markets or many other restaurants and get the same quality {they are all coming from the same place}, I am not sure I can recommend the place souly on the raw oysters.

http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/ Dragos!!!  WOW!!!  The best Grilled Oysters I  have ever, ever ever had the The best Grilled Oysters!!!
We went to the location in Metairie!!

While we were in Metairie, also ate breakfast. at Russel's Marine Grill Go here for breakfast!!

Since we were all ready out in Metairie, we made a half day of it, breakfast, then lunch before heading back do to the French Quarter.
So we went shopping at Clear View Mall If you like to shop, this is much better shopping and much better deals to be found than at the River Walk mall.

Parkway Bakery Stop here, on  your way out of town for afew loaves of bread and a po-boy.

A great place for happy hour to chill and upwind before out loud crazy night at.
Richar Friske Martini Bar


We drove in Sunday evening, and left Wednesday. (I think this was the key!)
First part of the week, it was not that crazy, or that bad.
Did not feel unsafe at any time down there. But we did use common senses, and there were cops around.  
Can not say I recommend one bar over another in the French Quarter.
We spent about a day walking around the French quarter, going in shops, stopping at random bars for a drink.
The French Market is great for going and eating!
And I CCW a pocket knife & flashlight at all times. With no problem. Never had to use either of them.

It was a great time, and would recommend it any one.

Acme Oyster House



Drago's



Russel's Marine Grill
Ate the Eggsaints #33
Grilled biscuit, alligator sausage, grilled tomatoes, poached eggs, homemade country gravy



Not the best picture of St. Louis Cathedral




Me and girlfriend on Bourbon Street.
I followed the rules




Jefferson Davis statue before it get's torn down

Good write up. My wife an I have been meaning to spend a weekend down there sometime soon.

Being a local, only thing I would add is, AVOID acme oyster house, EVERYTHING they make there, can be had somewhere else better. For instance, Bourbon house for raw oysters, Dragos for you know what. Gumbo etc, theirs sucks. Po-boys? Stop by a Cajun anything....  Cajun seafood, cajun brothers, Cajun express etc.... All those tend to be asian owned and have bigger shrimp and over stuff everything.

Ruby slipper is a good breakfast spot.

Pelican club for good service and good food. It's across the street from the Hotel Monteleon.

I like Delmonico's over Emerils (both owned by Emeril) Get their dry aged ribeye, his sauce is awesome and I do not eat steak sauce usually.

Lots of small restaurants uptown, like Salu for small plates, Boulingny tavern if you want a cozy atmosphere, Gordon Birsch which is attached to the garage for Harrah's Casino for beer and burgers etc.  Walk-on's which is a  few blocks from the superdome for burgers.

Mr. Johns and Doris metropolitan for steak.

Zea's rotissirie for cajun/asian fusion (get the Thai ribs, Sweet and spicy chicken, and Corn grits, I promise you, you will enjoy it, and its AFFORDABLE). Their amber lager is pretty good too.

There's really too many restaurants to list. If you want Asian food at any time of day, HOSHUN on st charles serves Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese and doesn't close till 4am!