Must Have Food in NOLA?

These suggestions and links provided are great.    Thanks.

There are some great restaurants not all that far from the convention center. Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Capdeville, American Sector, Domenica. problem is there are so many good places. Just depends what kind of food you're looking for.

Dont forget to have a praline too.

Also Chef Paul Prudhomme has a restaurant there. We were there on the 25th anniversary of his opening and they had brought the menu with the prices from opening day.

http://www.chefpaul.com/kpaul

I'm looking forward to what NOLA has to offer for food. It'll be a nice update to my Foodspotting profile.    I wonder if there's a Malaysian restaurant in NOLA.

My personal FAV is Beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde!

@MackRobinson:I shall try Cafe du Monde.

OK....

1. Scott already mentioned Capedeville

2. Yo Mama's Bar & Grill on St. Peter Street. Best burgers ever...at least when I went there

3. +1 on Rickster's Cafe Beignet recommendation

4. Lucky Dogs. Located all over the FQ. Great drunk food. Seriously,after a night of daiquiri's or whatever you're drinking, you don't care what's in them

5. Acme Oyster House on Iberville. If you like oysters and can deal with a line.

6. If you're willing to travel a little: Juan's Flying Burrito on Magazine St

There's a million restaurants in NOLA so take your pick. You need to watch out though, especially in the Quarter. Some bars/restaurants are just total tourist traps  Read some reviews before you go.

@RicksterCDN:Good pointers there Rickster!

@DBegley:You got me at banh mi. 

If you are into Thai food, check out Singha Thai on Carondonelet street. I enjoyed their food when i was there last time

Hey...I travel here all the time, and can give you a few recommendations.

First of all, a local news anchor has a great website that has tons of videos of local restaurants, letting you see the inside in action.

go to www.LizReyes.com

As for my favorites:

Acme for Oysters
Commanders Palace for Sunday brunch
August for fine dining
Central Grocery for best Muefelata

@Dannyboy: For the Sunday Brunch @ Commanders Palace, do you have to wear a jacket and all that jazz? I like to dress down for TechEd.

@Dannyboy:Excellent! Thanks for the tips and link.

@ShaneW: I believe they have relaxed the standards a bit since Katrina, and a jacket is no longer necessary.  BUT NO SHORTS!! 

Sunday brunch tends to be a little dressy...all in the Southern spirit and you will see women wearing hats and dressed very nicely, so keep that in mind.  I would call and find out about the jacket though....just to be on the safe side.

Also....during the week, they do 25 cent MARTINI'S !!!! For you martini lovers that is the best time to go.

And DO try the turtle soup....with Sherry..it is simply amazing.

Also....I want to be careful how I say this....but be cautious with going to the well known restaurants ie. Emeril's.  It is very inconsistent in my opinion and when you spend that much you dont want disappointing.  In my experience what I found is that WHEN he is actually THERE in the kitchen...it is phenomenal, but when he is NOT, it can be quite bad.

He is quite the terror in the kitchen and keeps them in line like Marines.  If you want to go there, then I'd call and see if he is in town and working....if he is not, then it is a crap shoot.

If you want fine dining, the only place that I would recommend is Commanders and ESPECIALLY Restaurant August.  August is simply AMAZING...expensive, formal, but by far one of the best restaurants in the U.S.  ... think French Laundry!

Another few fav's is Mosca's, and if you are up to a trip to Lakeview, then you MUST go to Draggo's 

While they have one at the foot of Canal street, it simply is not the same, and the ambiance is the best at the original in Metairie  (near the Lakeview Mall)

Draggo's in my opinion is simply the BEST seafood place in the city, and the very very best charbroiled oysters.

I am very fond of Original Pierre Maspero's at 440 Chartres.  Casual and moderate price ($$),  Best bread pudding in town!