New Orleans Creole Café

Last date I was here: 03/20/2009

Restaurant: New Orleans Creole Café (http://www.neworleanscreolecafe.com/)

Location: San Diego, CA – Old Town

Total Rating: 4.5
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 3

Summary: New Orleans Creole Café serves lunch or dinner and is located in the mystical and charming gardens of the Whaley House, San Diego's first brick mansion built in 1856. Legend has that it is one of the most haunted houses in America. Located in historic Old Town, New Orleans Creole Café offers authentic generations-old Creole dishes.

Went for dinner with some coworkers and was I pleasantly surprised. We sat in the quaint 1870's indoor dinning room, historically recreated in San Diego's 1850 American period which looks out on centuries old Pepper trees in the park setting. With wood floors, old pictures on the wall, gas lanterns, and soft Cajun xydaco music playing – the New Orleans Creole Café is a cute spot that transports you to New Orleans from the heart of San Diego. The food was delicious and made fresh in house (including the sauces) in the little kitchen next door. The atmosphere is great but I rate low on the accessibility because of the limited amount of seats (capacity is 20) and the limited days (Monday and Tuesday is lunch only - closed on Wednesdays). I tasted the jambalaya with sausage and chicken and it was nice and hot – with chunks of meat and not too spicy. My macaroni and cheese was just right. I would love to come back to this café during my next visit to San Diego. And that time, I will not pass up the red velvet cake – it looked divine!

What I ate:

♥Macaroni and Cheese with Andouille Sausage♥

NOLA

Last date I was here: 12/31/2008

Restaurant: NOLA (http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/)

Location: New Orleans, French Quarter

Total Rating: 4
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, NOLA has an established identity as a funky, informal restaurant whose menu features the fresh adaptations of New Orleans Creole and Acadian Cajun for which celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse is renowned. A relaxed atmosphere and the signature personal attention of Lagasse's staff lure his local following in the French Quarter. Nola's location, innovative menu and personable service make visitors and locals alike feel at home.
My first write-up of a restaurant outside of the DC metropolitan area! We went to New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s Eve and had the great pleasure at dining at this restaurant. Being a busy holiday night, the wait service was kind and informative of the menu items and drink selections. They never made us feel rushed, so we were able to enjoy our dinner and linger while we waited for the festivities to begin in the nearby Jackson Square. Decorated with black and white balloons on the tables of all white, the restaurant had a lovely ambience. The menu was Cajun and tasty. It was not super high class and a little disappointing for the price and expectation of “eating at Emeril’s”, but the food was good enough that I was pleased.

What I ate:

Baked Oysters
Gulf Oysters and Crabmeat Baked in the Wood Oven with Garlic Butter and Herb Bread Crumbs
GumboChicken and Andouille
Shrimp and GritsSautéed Gulf Shrimp, Grilled Green Onions, Smoked Cheddar Grits, Apple Smoked Bacon,
Crimini Mushrooms, Creole Tomato Glaze and Red Chili-Abita Butter Sauce

Plus Keith ate:

Garlic Crusted Texas Redfish
Cooked in the Wood Burning Oven with Brabant Potatoes,Wild Mushrooms, Bacon and Sauce Beurre Rouge