Need Restaurant Recs for Upcoming Visit to NWA

[NO Lady]

Originally Posted by Rogarven

Thank you for this. I am scheduled to go to NOLA first part of Nov. The Hotel Monteleone is supposed to be back open then and I am staying with some friends in Slidell before hand. This a professional group meeting and we hope we can still have it after the bad storms.
I will keep these in mind. Thank you!

Rogarven, you will be visiting during what is usually our nicest weather of the year. I always encourage prospective visitors to avoid traveling down here from May to September. It truly is miserably hot and humid, and trying to explore a new region under those conditions is a recipe for unpleasantness. The city should be in pretty good shape by the time you get here (relatively speaking), although you may notice storm debris and blue roofs in Slidell. It’s going to take a while to get all of the mess gone.

If you have a little time to explore, there are many charming towns on the Northshore, where Slidell is located. (My friend, who lives there, calls it “the Northshire,” which I find very apt.) My personal favorite is Abita Springs. It is a tiny town with a magical vibe. If you go there, do not miss the Abita Mystery House, the quirky expression of its owner’s obsessions. There is also a brewpub, and a small historical museum, located in one of the trailheads for the Tammany Trace - a rails to trails conversion bike path. Nearby is the Abita Brewing Company, the first craft brewery in the area, which can be toured.

While you are in Slidell, you might treat your hosts to a meal at Palmettos on the Bayou. It’s a beautiful restaurant in a singular setting. Be sure to load up on the bug spray beforehand. We have not actually eaten there yet, but it has good word of mouth from the locals, who are a tough crowd. I have been inside, though, and it is quite lovely. It’s on my Must Visit list; I hope for Sunday brunch there soon, when the nice weather arrives.

I don’t have any real recommendations for Quarter restaurants. We tend to eat elsewhere when we dine out, due to issues with parking downtown. (I hate to pay to park; must be my Scottish ancestry.) Bayona’s is good, with a lovely outdoor courtyard. The Monteleone is a great spot for a base of operations. It has an interesting history, some ghosts, and a storied bar in The Carousel. (I preferred it before they renovated, and replaced the louche booths with glass windows, but that’s me.) If you have some time, check out The Historic New Orleans Collection. It’s a small, but excellent, house museum, with permanent and rotating exhibits devoted to the city’s, and the region’s, history. Their gift shop is on point, also. The campus has grown to include several satellite buildings, also well worth investigating. Another cool spot is the Pharmacy Museum. The hours are tricky, so double-check before before you visit. Nowhere near as glossy as THNOC, this is a funky, musty accumulation of a museum, full of fascinating information on ancient medical treatments. It’s easy to spend more than the time you allot for your visit, so be aware.

Enjoy your stay!


Question for experienced posters: I tried to add a title to this post, but it’s not showing up in the thread, although it is there in the preview post. Am I doing something wrong? Tia.

[btoverdrive]

Originally Posted by Rogarven

Thank you for this. I am scheduled to go to NOLA first part of Nov. The Hotel Monteleone is supposed to be back open then and I am staying with some friends in Slidell before hand. This a professional group meeting and we hope we can still have it after the bad storms.
I will keep these in mind. Thank you!

Also, if you have time please go see the WW2 museum in New Orleans. It will take at least two full days to see most of the exhibits but this place is spectacular and well worth the time if you have it.

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/