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Commander's Palace Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
1403 Washington AveNew Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 899-8221
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 6:30 pm - 10 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Sun 6:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
575 reviews for Commander's Palace Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Do NOT miss the bread pudding souffle."
(in 112 reviews)
"The turtle soup is phenomenal, every entree perfection."
(in 192 reviews)
"25 cent martinis, great jazz brunch."
(in 55 reviews)
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575 reviews in English
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Review from Harri S.
2/8/2012
SERVICE- 5+ stars
AMBIANCE- 5 stars
DRINKS-3 stars
FOOD- 5 stars
PRICE/VALUE- 5 stars
I felt like a dowager countess a la Downton Abbey as I was greeted and seated. The four-time James Beard Award winner had the potential for pretentiousness, but veered instead towards accomating, polite and even homey.
There are 4-6 separate dining rooms each with their own unique and artistic design scheme. We were seated in what I'm going to call the Garden Room; it had a view overlooking the back garden which when it's not raining hosts an outdoor bar.
DRINKS: Burgundy, Ramos Gin Fizz, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling.
We got the cheapest of each of the wines on this list. The burgundy had an acidic twang to it, I hate riesling and got it anyway (mea culpa), the pinot was REALLLY good crisp and clean.
Now the Ramos is a New Orleans twist on a classic cocktail (the gin fizz) they add egg white and orange flower water. The result is supposed to be this airy creamsicle of a concoction served in a highball glass. Instead the result was a frothy mix of white (this is slowly starting to sound like the definition of a SANTORUM) in a short glass. Not gonna lie, it was the worst Ramos I've ever had. BUT WAIT...it gets better.
APPETIZERS: Gumbo, Turtle Soup
Between the two of us we had the obligatory turtle soup and the thick, dark, hearty and delicious gumbo. Best I've had, and personally I liked it better than the turtle soup. The opposite was true for the biff.
As apprehensive as I was about having turtle soup (had it once and it wasn't perfect. Also it was in Malaysia...) it was a really nice tangy soup. Reminded me oddly of Panda Express's hot and sour soup, in the best way of course! Looked like it too!
MAIN COURSE: Pecan crusted redfish, Scallops over Louisiana rice, mushrooms, tomatoes, and greens.
Man, the main course was fucking awesome (pardon my Louisiana French)! The red fish was traditionally found in the Mississippi, but due to overfishing is now mostly farm-raised. Despite that, this piece of fish was heaven. Call it the chicken of the fish farm....mmmmmm.
The scallops were on a whole new level. Every sense was engaged at all times. The 4 tastes, spice and the elusive umami (no msg here though) tooooooo. Scallops were perfectly tender and not remotely rubbery. Pure perfection.
DESSERT: Bread Pudding Souffle with Whiskey Cream Sauce
Let me start by saying overly sweet desserts gross me out and the biff "doesn't like dessert." But like the turtle soup, this dish was obligatory. All I can now say is WOW! What a complex and amazing dish despite being high on the sweet end of the spectrum. The waiter drizzled the whiskey cream on top and popped the souffle (I wanted to do that...) to get it on the inside too. Left the rest on the side for our pleasure. You can really taste the whiskey in the whiskey cream if you eat it on its own, but it is magic with the souffle.
We got our check and paid $150 (including tip) for 4 drinks, 2 apps, 2 entrees, and a dessert. With food and service like this I would expect to pay close to $300 dollars in Boston or New York Service was both polite and personable which is a hard hard balance to strike. The girl two tables over despite being obnoxoiusly loud ( and cute) provided me and the biff great entertainment; too bad you probably won't have the pleasure when you go. As a tourist and a local this place is a must. There is a reason Gayot put it on his list of 40 best places to eat in the US. -
Review from Jamison U.
Kansas City, MO
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Don't believe the hype Commander's Palace is a stuffy overblown fixture of culinary history.
If you think the best thing about Commanders must be the service, you must like condescending waiters and a chaotic 'team' of helpers.
If you think Commanders must be the best for food, again no, New Orleans houses some of the best restaurant experiences in the country and sadly Commanders is not it. They served us food that was still boiling, literally.
The only place Commanders Shines is history, so if you can eat that go ahead. I went to say I had been and it ranks on my list of eaten there places. Skip the hype and look for much better food elsewhere. -
Review from Erin T.
Corpus Christi, TX
2/4/2012
Ab.so.lute.ly AMAZING.
We dined here while in NOLA a few weeks ago. Beyond impressed.
First off, the service was excellent. My wine glass was never empty. The server recommended quite a spread of all delicious-sounding items. I opted for a sweet potato soup for starter [to die for], then scallops in a yummy sauce, followed by their famous bread pudding souffle.
I seriously wanted seconds. All I can think about is how delish EVERYTHING was.
We'll be back next time! -
Review from Ryan C.
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was our first meal in NOLA. We dressed our 14 month old up in a little black dress, put on some fancy clothes that would remain in the hotel closet for the rest of the trip, and took a cab to the garden district for lunch in the turquoise and white building.
It's no surprise that 130 years provides ample time to learn most of what there is to know about how to make delicious food and how to treat a guest. We'd put on our best clothes, and it seemed like Commander's leaped up to meet us as we were greeted by a phalanx of waiters, towel over an arm, and taken to our table. On the way, we walked through the kitchen area which was bustling with lunch preparations. I don't know if that visit to the kitchen is a standard feature of every Commander's visit, but my wife and I agreed later that it was one of the cooler non-food elements of the visit.
The glass-clad dining room we were seated in was elegant and showed its age in all the right ways. All of the restaurants we planned to visit on the trip had said that our little one would be welcome, but I'd wondered how true that was. Commander's set a high bar: the wait staff played, flirted, and even brought a balloon for her. She's already very good at taking social cues about behavior, and put on her best for this meal. The only thing that made me more proud of her was all of the compliments from the wait staff.
The food was outstanding. We split a gumbo and turtle soup. The turtle soup was my first introduction to the dish and the deep, complex flavors would have outshined nearly any soup had the gumbo not been there. Short of the gumbo at Stanley, it was my favorite of the trip.
The cochon de lait and lacquered quail were both delicious. I'd been told that we would roll out of the restaurant absolutely stuffed, but I didn't find the portions to be overly large at all. By the time we reached dessert, I had plenty of room. We ordered the bread pudding souffle and a strawberry shortcake. Both were good, though I preferred the shortcake. I'm not a huge fan of souffle and, while it was tasty enough, it didn't sway me over to the eggy side of dessert.
There are many restaurants that I'd like to visit in New Orleans. We barely put a dent in my list during this trip, in fact. So it's high praise, given the limits of time and stomach space, that I don't think I'd be able to make a next trip without visiting Commander's. -
Review from Erin A.
Atlanta, GA
2/7/2012
Just great! My husband and I went here for brunch, food & service were top notch. Yes, it's pricey but it's really good. Make sure you go here with a BIG appetite and plan to spend some $$$. Enjoy!
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Review from Oriana J.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
Eggs Cochon - that's all you need to know.
Yes, it was awesome putting on our fancy pants and dressing up for New Year's brunch.
Yes, our server Todd and his attentive team kept us wanting for nothing.
Yes, the Jazz Trio made me blush like some lovesick puppy when the manfriend requested "All of Me".
Yes, the turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé will make you wonder why something(s) so delicious isn't available in the Northeast (especially on those bitter, below freezing days).
And yes, having Adelaide Brennan - the owner - check in with every table in the room and serve our entrée was a nice touch.
But fuck all that - whomever was the first person to top 2 split biscuits with scrambled eggs, pulled pork, followed by a pitcher-full of crazy sherry mushroom gravy, and then serve it up in a bowl needs to be beatified. I could wax poetically or post pictures about my entrée, but until you've sat in front of this steaming bowl of sexy mess, nothing will do it justice.
REAL TALK.
Go. Dress up*. Order the Eggs Cochon. Pull a Drake and thank me later.
My only gripe with CP's would be the cocktails; the Bloody Marys (or is that maries?) were weak on both flavor and booze.
*Seriously, put on some khakis and a blazer at least; there's a dress code clearly stated on the website. If I have to suffer in Spanx, the least you (giant group of German tourists) can do is shun your safari shorts.Listed in: N'awlins for New Yorkers
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Review from Neha S.
New Orleans, LA
1/22/2012
I wrote this place off in the beginning because I never heard the end of it...everyone loves it. So, of course, I decided I knew I would hate it. But, my friend knew better. She made reservations for a bunch of us and dragged me out there.
I had a change of mind and a change of heart.
It's a wonderful restaurant. The food is delicious. The service is excellent. And don't forget the 30 cent martinis.
Love. Love. Love it. Just about as New Orleans fancy as you can get. -
Review from Lalaine C.
San Diego, CA
Lalaine & Julius vs. FOOD. That's what it felt like!
Going to Commander's Palace for their jazz brunch is one of the must-do's in New Orleans - your visit isn't complete otherwise! Come HUNGRY - brunch here is a three-course meal of rich, decadent food. Sorry, no fruit & granola for you light eaters!
We started the eating marathon with drinks. Julius enjoyed a spicy bloody mary (in hopes of easing his hangover from partying on Bourbon the night before lol), while I had a New Orleans traditional - a brandy milk punch (forget a mimosa, you can get that anywhere! This is delicious!) For Course #1, Julius tried the soup du jour, which was a tomato bisque that hit the spot. The tomato must have been roasted or grilled, the soup had a nice, smoky flavor. I ordered the yummy Commander's Sardou, a beautiful plate of grilled artichokes arranged like a flower, and a poached egg on top of eggplant and mushrooms covered in lemony hollandaise sauce. If my meal ended there, I would've been happy & satisfied, but there were two...more... courses... to... go...
For Course #2, Julius had the Sportsman Brunch. Sounds like something Elmer Fudd would order during duck (wabbit!) season: a poached duck egg and braised duck meat over pecan griddle cakes and duck fat hollandaise. (Duck fat? F*** dat!) Although delicious, Julius could only finish half of his dish. I had the Black & Blue Pancakes - light blueberry pancakes with pecans, white chocolate, creole cream cheese, and blackberry jam, covered with Southern Comfort cane syrup. I too could only finish half! I can picture Adam Richman standing over our table, shaking his head at us. Rookies!
We were sooo full already, but we still had dessert to conquer. Julius had the creole cream cheese cheesecake - the cream cheese made from scratch in the Commander's Palace kitchen. If you're a cheesecake lover, you have got to try this - the cream cheese has a wonderfully different flavor & texture. I ordered the citrus parfait, thinking it was going to be somehow lighter. Yeah right! The flavors were bright and the texture super creamy...I think I finished this one :)
Besides all that amazing food, the Commander's Palace is a really great restaurant. The strolling jazz trio played traditional jazz favorites, and the waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. It's been around since 1880, so I appreciated all the historic and period details in its décor. It's true, the price is pretty steep, but the menu consists of creations you can never get anywhere else, and even the James Beard foundation once named it THE best restaurant in the US. You might get your full money's worth if you clean your plates, though. We wish you the best of luck ;) -
Review from Cameron A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
Should you go to Commander's Palace...
Well, wow. Let's start with the food:
-The scallops were the best I've ever had. Huge. Giant. Lumbering masses of perfectly cooked awesome. Fresh. Sweet. Excellent mushrooms as well.
-There has been some criticism of the soup, mainly that it is too salty. I agree, but the soup I had was still good.
-The Bread Pudding Souffle. Holy shit, talk about an amazing dessert. Fabulous. No words here.
-Strawberry shortcake, also tasty. Delicious and wonderful fruit.
-Beginning starter bread was good.
As for the service... I've never had better. An excellent experience. The wait staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They can tell you ANYTHING you want about the menu. They will also help you make a good meal decision and guide you to a tasty evening. Also pretty fun that they serve everyone at the table at the exact same time.
It's expensive, but it's also great. -
Review from Jodi W.
Alexandria, VA
1/29/2012
I've heard great things about CP, and tried (and failed) to get dinner reservations. So, late lunch it was. It was a beautiful day so my husband and I walked there from the French Quarter. I was a bit concerned when the bartender asked us to get rid of our water bottle - thought it would be too snobby for my taste. I was wrong!
Wait staff was delightful, food was DELICIOUS, and reasonably priced for an overall amazing experience. Will definitely go back every time I am in NOLA. -
Review from Kimberly C.
New Brunswick, NJ
1/22/2012 2 photos
Commander's Palace is a classic New Orleans restaurant.
Excellent service, classy, and beautifully decorated.
Food is prepared with love.
Well worth the wait, the walk, and the trip to New Orleans alone.
Don't forget to make a reservation and put on your fanciest outfit. -
Review from Bill B.
Can't I rate this place 6 stars?
All other Sunday brunches simply do not measure up. Seriously, dine here and you will reconsider downgrading all of your other ratings by one star!
Gastronomic pilgrimages end at Commander's Palace. -
Review from Megan w.
1/10/2012
Commander's Palace has been around since 1880 and is a New Orleans landmark known for its many awards, top chefs, and fabulous Creole cuisine. It is truly an elegant establishment. It's owned by the Brennan family who after my recent trip seem to own half the city of New Orleans.
My bf and I chose Commander's Palace for our fancy schmancy anniversary dinner this past weekend because of the wonderful things I'd heard about it. I'm sort of afraid to even say that our expectations were so high that we left slightly disappointed. I'm not saying the food wasn't good because in fact it was great, it's just that we weren't blown away.
We had the trio of soups, which included a gumbo, turtle and soup du jour (can't remember what is was). I am no expert on this type of food by any means but I found the sherry in the turtle soup to be a little too empowering and the other two were just okay. I had better gumbo elsewhere on our trip. For an appetizer we shared the escargot. It was tasty but forgetful. For entrees, we both had the fresh catch pecan crusted gulf fish with champagne poached Louisiana lump crabmeat, crushed corn sauce and spiced pecans. It was the perfect combination of flavors; the pecans really made the dish stand out. Skipped dessert, and looking back on it -
I kind of regret it.
Extensive wine list and great cocktails. My bf really enjoyed the Sazeracs. Their house wine was a good price and and had good flavor.
5 stars for service (it really was top notch) and ambiance and 4 for the cuisine. -
Review from Mario P.
Humble, TX
1/31/2012
Indisputably one of the finest restaurants I have ever dined at. I have been there a handful of times (and we don't live in New Orleans!) in the last couple of years and I have never been disappointed. The food, wine list and service is stellar and Commander's reputation is well deserved. I will always dine at Commander's Palace.
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Review from Tierra J.
1/26/2012
I cannot say enough good things about this place! From the warm reception from the host to the bread pudding -- perfection all around!
Boyfriend and I came to New Orleans in search of good food and a connection to culture. Disinterested in those Bourbon Street eateries, we asked shop owners where we should dine. Several people said "Commander's Palace, hands down." So there we were!
We were seated promptly at 11:30 upstairs in the Garden Room. It was beautiful, light and airy. Apparently, everyone else likes this room as well, as it was packed in no time!
Our server was so helpful in recommending items on the menu! We began with the gumbo. This gumbo was rich without being overpowering. It was tasty and smooth. Also, garlic bread is served. That garlic bread is to DIE for! It is buttery, warm and just melts in your mouth. The next course was the main course. I had shrimp and grits (called something else on the menu though) and boyfriend had the quail. Words can't even really describe how good this food was! My grits were creamy (not too creamy, as I hate that!) and the shrimp was well-seasoned and cooked to perfection. Boyfriend's quail was juicy and filled with flavor as well. We thoroughly enjoyed the food as we threw back our 25-cent martinis. Yes, you read that correctly. Ordering an entree will get you up to three martinis for a quarter apiece. They have different flavors and I guess they are ok, but I'm a classic girl myself. I asked for it dirty, with gin and requested they add a splash of vermouth. They did. Wonderful dirty martini!
Now here's where this place goes down in history: Bread Pudding Souffle. JESUS take the wheel! Take anything but that souffle! OMG! It comes out looking rather odd. It's a souffle, after all. Well, the server comes over and finishes it tableside with whiskey sauce, smooshing it down a little and drizzling sauce on it. YUM! It can be shared by two even after a pretty substantial meal.
This whole restaurant experience was a delight. Don't come here if you're in a rush and can't wait on good food. Good food takes time. But the entire time, you're being attended to, so you never notice. This is a place to have a nice leisurely meal and some cocktails. Worth every penny. It's a little dressy, so if you are going to venture to wear jeans, dress up the outfit considerably. -
Review from Judy H.
1/13/2012
Full service from when we entered til we left. Everyone was more than accommodating and so helpful and professional. We sat in the room with windows for walls with a view of the trees. As soon as we sat down the captain (or whatever the main guy is called) told us the specials, knew exactly everything on the menu was able to give suggestions and pairings. I think this was one of those few high-end restaurants where you wouldn't feel ashamed if you order something cheap because they make it more about the experience.
I got the scallop three course dinner dish which contained the biggest scallops I've ever seen and they were cooked to perfection. My only regret was that there was no more. I think I cleaned out every course: appetizer of turtle soup, my entree, and my dessert of Louisiana Citrus Parfait. Next time I want to try the lamb meal because my friend got it and it looked amazing. Apparently the meat melts right off the bone.
I didn't get to use the bathrooms but I heard it was also an experience. My friend explained it as "it feels like you're at someone's house and you're waiting in line for the bathroom with 3 other guys but the mom is trying to make you feel right at home"
At the end, our check was cheaper than it was at Arnaud's and I feel the experience and food was worth so much more.
When we were leaving, we walked down too far and accidentally ended up in the kitchen. As proof of how well selected and trained the staff was, they had an answer for everything! "Oh, we have an open kitchen, go ahead and walk through!" We found out about the kitchen table where you could sit and watch them create your meals. O_O
Amazing. I was blown away and soooo satisfied with every part of the night. -
Review from TheHungryNomad E.
1/23/2012
Oh my! Where to begin on this one? I guess I'll begin by telling you that this is my most favourite spot for Sunday brunch in the city. What makes it so amazing you ask? Imagine yourself walking through doors back in time. At first you are greeted by the friendly staff and escorted to your table. If you are lucky enough to go for Sunday brunch you'll immediately be surrounded by Jazz musicians. Then it is time for the food. Chef Tory McPhail creates a combination of haute Creole and Louisiana inspired cooking on every plate (see menu). During the week you also get 25 cent martinis! Really!
Around since 1880, Commander's Palace is history served on a platter. The restaurant is located in the Garden District directly across from the famous Lafayette Cemetery. So, on a foggy day in late December the Count and I embarked on a a culinary journey through time to Commander's Palace. As soon as we sat down, we were served martinis, warm bread and butter. For our starters, of course the turtle soup (that is one of the main reasons we keep going back), its creamy with the right amount of spices and sherry making every spoonful heaven in your mouth.
For our main dishes, we had the Quail and Gulf Coast shrimp pasta. Both delicious as always. If I had to choose between meals, I definitely choose the restaurant's brunch menu over their lunch and dinner menu. However, that is not to say that I don't thoroughly enjoy lunch each and every time...because I do. The best part as always is dessert: this time we ordered the strawberry shortcake and their world renown bread pudding souffle which is truly to die for.
For photos visit my blog:
http://hungrynomadeats... -
Review from Erin B.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
Go for lunch- GREAT deal. One of our cheapest meals with the best service. $60 for 2 lunch specials
Immaculate service.
Turtle soup, champagne salad, quail & open-faced po-boy.
Bread pudding soufflé was epic.
$.25 martinis (3's the limit).
Respect tradition--- don't wear jeans. Make reservations. -
Review from Michelle M.
Las Vegas, NV
1/3/2012
Commander's Palace was our last stop after a whirlwind New Year's Eve in New Orleans. It was the *perfect* way to end our trip.
First of all- the service is great. Everyone, from the guy spoke to on the phone to inform the restaurant that we might be a couple minutes late for our reservations, to the waitstaff lining the halls who greeted us when we walked in, to the servers who brought our food and kept our water filled throughout the meal, was totally friendly and professional. They have a ton of staff who keep the restaurant running totally smoothly even on a crazy busy day, like New Year's Day Sunday jazz brunch!
But- most importantly- THE FOOD! Everything I tasted was delicious. My husband started his meal with a smoked duck and foie gras gumbo that was rich and delicious and basically the best gumbo I tried in New Orleans. I had a crab cake with poached egg and baby greens (also yummy). For our entrées, he had shrimp and grits in a cognac sauce that was really fabulous, and I had the eggs cochon de lait, which was totally perfect, even if I could only finish half of it due to extreme fullness. The smoked pork was so tender and flavorful with the mushroom fricassee. AHH!
My only regret is that I could not give the amazing bread pudding soufflé with whiskey cream sauce the attention it deserved because I was just too full of utterly delicious food. I will totally come back here for a special meal the next time we visit New Orleans. It was just such an enjoyable experience in every way! -
Review from Holly E.
Dallas, TX
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was referred to Commanders Palace by numerous folks. Tonight, I'm finally here.
Beautiful chandeliers. Helpful staff!
I ordered great cocktails. Strong. Great flavor. Bacon Makers Mark and Widows something.
Appetizers: turtle soup is yummy. Taste like a stew with citrus.
The fois gras is the bomb! It's so damn good. Just get it. The expresso shot that accompanies is meant for sipping. Don't pour over.
Oh yeah, the garlic bread. Wow. Last meal on Earth would definitely include this bread!
Just ordered the Buttered Rum cocktail. It's warm and taste like dessert. Holly Berry is your typical Pomegranate Martini. Good. Nothing special.
Dinner was WOW!
Gulf Fish plate - oh my. Order this! The BEST dinner of my life! The cream cheese truffle gnocchi is yummy as well.
One of the best meals of my life and I eat well! -
Review from Perla N.
Palo Alto, CA
1/29/2012
Wow! It doesn't get better than this! Sunday brunch with fantastic traditional New Orleans jazz, bread pudding souffle, grits, and absolutely amazing waitstaff who can accommodate kids. You can dress up, but you don't have to. It's the kind of place where the friendly and prompt wait staff makes you feel comfortable. We were a party of 7 including 3 young kids - we took the St. Charles trolley from the French Quarter. It was a beautiful morning and after brunch, we walked around the Garden District. A perfect way to enjoy New Orleans!
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Review from Travis V.
Lubbock, TX
1/15/2012
before I say anything else best restaurant service i've ever experience. Knowledge of the menu was superb. The timing of the courses was impeccable
here's the secret, make reservations for lunch. many of the entrees are available at lunch too and for a more affordable price
25 cent Martinis
dirty martinis on the rocks - personal preference
$30 - appetizer, Entree, dessert
soup trio - turtle soup, safood gumbo, soup de jour
Seafood Courtbouillon
Strawberry Shortcake
We had the last reservation of the lunch hours. We had much of the dining room to ourselves as we definitely took our time taking in the experience. THis was also a major plus. Our captain(lead waiter/ess) was so curteous. She got our menus and cookbook purchase signed by the chef. Also as some of the last diners we got a personal tour of the restaurant grounds as well as in the kitchen while they were prepping for dinner service.
This meal will be a memory I'll recall fondly for the rest of my life. -
Review from Patrick S.
New Orleans, LA
12/24/2011
I reluctantly give Commander's Palace four stars. It is the ambiance, superb service, and attention to details that makes this dining experience worth while. I think it is time someone have a serious conversation about the taste of some of the items offered. The quality, along with the wait staff is top shelf.
The Turtle soup is not on par with that once offered at Windsor Court Hotel's, nor is the fish memorable, compared to a G W Finn's. The twenty five cent Martini's are special. No more than two please. -
Review from Jean-paul V.
New Orleans, LA
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three and a half words: twenty-five cent martinis - - - during lunch during the week.
Commander's sets the bar in all ways. Cuisine. Service. History. Nestled in the heart of the Garden District on the corner of Washington Ave and Coliseum the storied life of this restaurant in it's family fit hand to glove with the Crescent City and its centuries old lore and traditions.
Dress is upscale but then so is everything else. In some ways it's like a country club for all without crazy dues and a golf course. In other ways it's an iconic brand to the world reflective of the seasons New Orleans endures.
Give yourself a minimum 2 hours to truly enjoy the experience. More if you want to walk the neighborhood.
MOVIE TRIVIA: The "Benjamin Button" house is a block away on the corner of Fourth and Coliseum. Pretty cool - - - -
Review from A E.
Dallas, TX
1/30/2012
My boyfriend and I were coming into town so I made reservations for Saturday night several weeks in advance. I am glad I did because this place, even though it was huge, it filled up fast! We arrived about an hour before our reservation (at 8:30) and thought we could get a drink while we waited. They were happy to seat us at an open table right away instead which was great. From the beginning the service was outstanding! Drinks and the best garlic bread were on the table within 5 minutes. Throughout the dinner several people came to check on us and a drink was never less than half full before they refilled it or offered another.
For an appetizer we got the Oyster & Absinthe "Dome" which was amazing. I am not a huge fan of oysters so I was not sure if I would like it or not but I definitely wanted more when it was gone. For dinner we had the Pecan Crusted and Griddle Seared Gulf Fish... soooo good, and for desert Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé. We usually share a desert but I am glad we got two of them because I ate my entire thing.
I was worried about what to wear because I knew it was pretty nice. It was cold so I ended up wearing black pants instead of a dress which I felt comfortable in. I saw girls wearing everything from formal dresses to pretty fancy jeans but I would lean towards the nicer outfit if you want to fit right in.
Overall this place was wonderful and definitely somewhere everyone should go at least once while in New Orleans. It is pricy but worth the splurge! -
Review from Mande P.
New Orleans, LA
1/27/2012
The only reason I give this place an extra star is because of the service. It really is second to none. As far as the food is concerned - I am unimpressed for a myriad of reasons. I am a native and have been eating amazing food all of my life. Commander's is way overpriced for what you get, which is food you can get in way bigger portions in less dog and pony show if you drive over to Oak Street and go to Jacques Imo's. Commanders rides solely on it's history and performance. Their big claim to fame, turtle soup, is soup with turtles in it. It has no special flavor except the yuck factor of being full of a dirty reptilish creature that can bite your hand off. Whoopy sh&t. I can remember being served amazing turtle soup at my grandmother's Christmas Party when I was a child and this wasn't it. If you'd like a date night on a special occasion you will get more bang for your buck at Muriel's in Jackson Square or Brigsten's on Dante Uptown.
For some reason my husband loves Commanders and I think it's because he's only been experiencing NOLA for 6 years. -
Review from Jeremy L.
New Orleans, LA
1/26/2012
Although you may not believe it, dinners at commanders is a great value. In CA or NY you'd pay 2-3 times the price, and get worse food. Even within New Orleans, it's not much more expensive than other top-notch-great-value restaurants (like Jaques-Imos).
That's enough.
And to maintain the integrity of my review after I move and my profile changes, I'm from New Orleans. -
Review from Jeffery M.
Long Beach, CA
1/23/2012
This was where my wife wanted to go while in New Orleans on our honeymoon. I'm pretty much a simple blue collar foodie so while she said all the food was fantastic I thought it was ok enough...but...I liked my meat lover pizza at the slice better...that's me...guess I'm just not the sophisticated sort..lol
The service was fantastic, the jazz trio was great, the timing for each course was just right. We had a great time and I wouldn't hesitate to take her back there next time we are in town. -
Review from Melissa C.
Queens, NY
11/26/2011
My experience at Commander's Palace rendered me nothing short of being in a complete state of food coma. No, I am not exaggerating.
My friend and I were lucky to get reservations for their Sunday Brunch at the very last minute. When we called the man who answered became very stuck up when we asked how egregious would it be if we were late a couple of minutes to our reservation, telling us that we should "consider yourself lucky" that they would even accept a reservation this last minute. This made me wonder how condescending the staff was going to be when we actually got there.
We arrived in time for our reservation. I love how a restaurant as famous as Commander's is tucked away in a residential neighborhood. The light blue exterior was modest and antiquated, but the interior decor was updated and pretty modern that made me feel like I stepped into a rich person's home! Also I really enjoyed the live music and the colorful balloons they have for Sunday Brunch. It was very festive and memorable. It looked like they had a special menu design for Sunday Brunch too...it was super cute.
I was excited that everything I wanted to try was offered for brunch. I ordered the Turtle Soup, Eggs Couchon, and Creole Bread Pudding. My friend ordered the Commander's salad, Eggs Couchon, and Creole Cheesecake.
Turtle soup...this was my first time trying it and I really wanted to love it, but it didn't make a huge impression on me - I would describe the taste as a yummy tomato soup with chicken bits. This is probably my general sentiment towards turtle soup in general though as I'm sure Commander's version is one of the best out there. My friend's salad...well, it came with a bacon dressing, enough said.
The eggs couchon were delicious. It was basically two poached eggs over biscuits with tons of pork and sauce. It was great, but insanely heavy. Our biggest mistake was that we both loaded up on the garlic bread they gave us beforehand because halfway through the dish we were STUFFFED. It was such a struggle trying to eat the other half, but we tried and failed. Oh well!
Then I remembered I still had the bread pudding to tackle. Good god, I had no idea how I would handle this. It was oozing hot and came with a cream sauce. Again, I wasn't WOWed, but this was my first bread pudding ever and, like the turtle soup scenario, I probably just don't love bread pudding in general. BUT, it was good enough that I was able to finish 3/4 of it! My friend's cheese cake was great - I like dthat it was less sweet than the NY cheesecake I'm used to.
To comment on the service, I was so relieved that all the staff was very nice and welcoming. Our waiter was very helpful and several managers also stopped by to chat with us. It's definitely a friendly, family-like atmosphere here.
Overall, this place is incredibly welcoming and a must for anyone stopping by New Orleans. I'm giving this place 5 stars because of the atmosphere, quality of service and food. It's very well worth the money you paid!!! -
Review from Tamar D.
If I based the rating soley on service, they'd get five stars. I'm talking first class, six sigma, Michelin-winning service. Our waiter was more than a little sweaty, and that kind of grossed a couple of my companions out, but I just chalked it up to him working his ass off.
The food was pretty good, for sure. My grits with goat cheese was amazing, and my trout was perfectly prepared: crunchy skin, but moist fish. I tried a couple of forkfuls of two of the desserts, and they were definitely good. The whiskey sauce makes the bread pudding. Without it, you just have bread pudding. With it, you have the big O.
I loved the little animals that they make out of tin foil for to-go food. I got a snail for my grits, with olives for eyes! -
Review from Lior S.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
12/29/2011
"Best place in NOLA"
Reviewed July 19, 2011
for visitors or colleagues no better place to impress
food is awesome
service superior
brunch best in town
bread pudding priceless
for everything else there is bourbon st. -
Review from Jenna L.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/8/2011
We made reservations for Commander's Palace, one of the most fancy schmancy places in the area, located in the Garden District. We even got all dressed up, to go to the jazz brunch there. We were overwhelmed with how fancy it was. People pulling out chairs, giving me napkins, wiping crumbs, switching glasses, waiting for me to use the bathroom.. I'm just not used to that kind of stuff. It was super nice. I can see how so many people love it and rave about it.. and the FOOD! Oh my goodness, I am not kidding when I say that this is the best thing I've ever eaten, probably ever. Garlic bread to start, really really light and delicious.
I started with the turtle soup. It was finished tableside, with a splash of sherry, oo la la. Good though, very rich compared to what I thought it would be. Surprisingly good. I've never had other turtle soup, but I can imagine it's nothing compared to what I had here.
For my entree I got Gulf Fish Pecan "Champagne poached jumbo lump crab, poached avocado, grilled sweet corn, spiced pecans and crushed corn sauce" was the desciption on the menu. It was AMAZING!!! SO AMAZING!! the fish was perfectly cooked, and the corn cream sauce was Delectable, with a capital D! I never truly understood food shows when they talked about a mix of textures until I had this. Cannot say enough about how much I loved it.
My friend got a duck pot pie, which also looked pretty good... but can't compare to what I got ;)
I was hesitant about getting bread pudding again - Mother's was pretty good.. and for all I knew, I didn't really like bread pudding. But oh man.. this Creole Bread Pudding Souffle still haunts my dreams... I have cravings for it... and can't do anything about it! One of a kind... only here at Commanders.... :( I was actually in the bathroom when it was ready, so they were waiting for me to come out, and when I sat down, they came over and finished it tableside. They poked the top open and spooned in the delicious Whiskey Cream sauce! Oh man.. my mouth waters just thinking about it...!!
Amazing, I'll have to go back just for the bread pudding souffle every time I visit! -
Review from randy c.
Glen Arbor, MI
12/14/2011
Sunday jazz brunch, first timers.
Service was a little presumptuous until he gathered we were spending more than we looked. Once that went away things were good but still a little pushy in the up-sell dept.
Had to get the turtle soup, I've had many over the years and always heard this was the benchmark. I prefer K-Pauls or the version I've made myself.
Food was good but not as composed or thoughtful as I had expected. Most of our 6-top had plates that looked like any turn n' burn breakfast house. Flavors were all outstanding though.
The music made the meal. The room and history also pulled it up.
I'd go back, but not tomorrow. -
Review from Krista M.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
We opted to have lunch at Commander's. From the outside it doesn't look like much, once you enter you feel as thought you are in for something special. The decor is old and a little odd with some wood chandeliers and birds on the wall, but it is unique. The staff is amazing, once seated they fetched a black napkin for me so my black pants wouldn't get linty. I wish all places did that. The wait staff was friendly and professional. The service was really impeccable, the best I have experienced anywhere.
During lunch they have a 3 course prefix for $30 and a 2 course for either $16 or $20 depending on your choice.
3 Course: Starts off with a turtle soup that takes them 3 days to make, splashed with some Sherry this is an interesting taste. It was quite flavorful and the turtle meat was very tender. The coffee rubbed pork tenderloin was very good, the bread pudding souffle was absolutely amazing, it was light and upon arriving at the table the waiter, punched a hole in it to spoon in some of the cognac sauce. Excellent dessert.
2 Course: Start with either a salad or soup, I opted for the soup du jour of soft shell crab bisque. It was the silkiest soup I have ever had and the taste was spot on. The pork cochon with corn and onion rings was so flavorful and tender.
The 2 course doesn't include dessert, but warm pecan pie was on the menu and I was told it is made in house, so I couldn't pass it up. By far the best pecan pie I have ever had. It was sooo delicious. Served with some homemade ice cream it was just perfect. The coffee was equally good.
Lunch also offers some $.25 martinis so that was fun.
This was a fantastic experience that everyone should encounter at least once. -
Review from Jeff D.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
In town for a conference and was looking for a classic for a large group. CPR (which you may need after you eat there) did not disappoint. The soup sampler with Turtle Soup should not be missed. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their food in a very classy restaurant in a great neighborhood (garden district). Old world dinning experience.
-
Review from Lan W.
Brooklyn, NY
12/16/2011
No matter how full you are after your meal, order the bread pudding souffle. You will not regret it.
Also, the quail is outstanding. -
Review from tanna l.
Atlanta, GA
12/2/2011
Went in mid-October. Went to school in New Orleans but first time at the restaurant. Served by Martin and his crew.
One word: southern oyster stew. Yeah, I know that's more than one word but this was freakin' awesome. No overpowering fishy/oyster-y smell or taste; cooked in some sort of light garlic-y broth with collards, amazing. If it is on the menu and you half like oysters, get this dish.
I also got the gumbo, very good. Duck and sausage that day. One of the best gumbos I have had and I have had plenty and make my own as well.
I also got the couchon de lait--pork. Didn't really know what to expect, came out room temp. Still tasted pretty good. Didn't look right to Martin, he actually asked the temp and I said it was cool. He took it back and it took some time to get the replacement but well worth it. The dish came out much flatter after fats and other good things melted down and the taste of the pork was phenomenal. Definitely get this as well.
Tried my friend's turtle soup, honestly wasn't too impressed. Also agree with others, not sure if it was the sherry but had a bit of a bitter taste.
Also got the bread pudding souffle. Guess I was hungry that day. Probably would be a while before I was back in town so had to try as much as I could. This was also a must dish. Great souffle, wonderful texture and taste.
Incidentally, didn't really think the 25 cent martinis were that strong but hey, it's 25 cents.
This is a no brainer restaurant to at least try once. Martin wasn't exactly the most bubbly person in the world but very professional. His "helpers" took more of the bubbly role. We ate at 11:30 am on a Friday, right when it opened. Service was good. Maybe a tad on the slower side but still fine. Yes, bad service sucks but I feel sad for other reviewers who would give up eating this food again because someone had an off night. These are the kinds of people who would have never met the soup nazi. Don't be one of those people. -
Review from Allison G.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
Commander's Palace is way over-rated. I was really disappointed because i've heard such great things about it.
Food: Turtle soup tasted terrible. I think they might have put too much sherry, so all I tasted was the sherry. Just make sure you reject their serving of sherry on top of your soup if you ever get it. The Gumbo du jour tasted like chunky soup out of the can..and was way over-salted. I have tasted way better gumbo from small joints in the French Qtr for half the price. The Griddle Seared Gulf Fish was perfectly "griddled" and the fish was nicely cooked, but the dish itself was way over-salted. It tasted just like the gumbo du jour which makes me think the cooks don't taste their own food because it was way too salty and had the same flavors as the gumbo du jour. I sadly could only finish less than half of the plate. The only saving grace was the Bread Pudding. It was delicious! And also, my boyfriend had ordered the Chocolate tasting of "imported Swiss dark, white, and milk chocolates with "salted" chocolate fudge ice cream, roasted pecans & a chocolate fudge brownie"..and we only ended up getting this piece of chocolate fudge cake..nothing like the description. We were so confused. It tasted fine but was not what we ordered. We didn't bother to complain. We just wanted to get out because we already knew we were highly disappointed.
Service: Waiters and staff are very friendly, but there are way too many servers! I was confused. At one time, a lady was getting my order and then she gave our ticket to another server half-way..and then he continued to get my boyfriend's order. Also, they had run out of the Brown Buttered Seared Sea Scallops..a dish that I really wanted to try. And to our understanding, the first server who was explaining the food to us had said they had ran out of the scallops for the Three-Course entree..but I believe it was still available for the Chef's Playground tastings. So we had asked another server (I told you it's confusing, there were too many) if the scallops were out for the Chef's playground because we were thinking of doing the Chefs Playground..and she had said "it probably is completely sold out" and didn't even bother to check. Well, another table who had arrived after us had ordered the Sea Scallops and ended up getting it, so they didn't run out of it after all! But oh well, I wouldn't have wasted an extra $100 anyway because the food overall, pretty much sucked.
I am sad to say I will never go back to Commander's Palace. They need to get it together over there! -
Review from Astrid G.
10/21/2011
500 reviews and 4.5 stars overall? Indeed. That says it all. What else can I say that already hasn't been said in previous reviews? Commander's Palace is a New Orleans institution. My best friend took me here for my birthday. We proceeded to enjoy both a beautiful meal and wonderful experience. They really pull out all the stops for a birthday (minus the cheesy and embarrassing birthday serenade). For dessert, the bananas foster (CP is supposedly where it was created) is a must.
If you have the means and manage to get a reservation, do not pass up the opportunity to have what might be one of the best meals of your life. And for a place like this, please leave the jeans at home. Make an effort and dress up. -
Review from Steve S.
Rowland Heights, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I write this review with some sadness
I have considered Commanders Palace one of my top Restaurants and by far my favorite in NOLA
I am in town for New years with friends and family and have been building up the restaurant all week.
Everyone was extremely excited as Thursday came along
Expectations were high,maybe that was my mistake
Don't get me wrong the experience is still very good, but nowhere near what it once was.
It was hard to hear that no one in our party would care to return.
I was devastated.
Out of all of our meals only the Veal chop was outstanding .
One out of six not great odds
The deserts were the highlight and the service still impeccable
We sat in the garden room and had air conditioning blowing on our table off and on all night, when I mentioned this to the waiter , he just shrugged and blamed it on faulty repairs.
No big deal right , wrong this was not just any ordinary restaurant this was the Commanders Palace .
Once the star of NOLA now just another of the hundreds of any run of the mill restaurants.
