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Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I went there for Sunday brunch and had their brunch menu. I love the experience with Live Jazz and impeccable service. They always try to greet you with your name (from reservation host desk to the table), amazing! It's such a 5 star treatment at this restaurant.
I had Oyster & Absinthe "Dome" for an appetizer.The sauce leaves a little bitter taste in your mouth. So, it's not quite my favorite actually. I had fish for my entree which was amazing. My dessert was the peach upside down cake which was ok.
This is obviously a big institution in New Orleans. It's the kind of place where everybody dresses up for a nice night out. The building is beautiful and has lots of character and charm.
The soups that started the meal were all gloppy and way salty for my taste. I could barely get through half of mine. The flavors were very concentrated, maybe too much. I was expecting something different.
The scallops were very fresh, prepared well, and served atop risotto or something like that.
The highlight for me was the desert of bread pudding. Very enjoyable.
The overall dining experience was nice but I left thinking the food was quite average. Especially at those prices.
I got the lunch special, including a turtle soup and the shrimp and grits entree. To be truly in the spirit of the town, I also ordered the bread pudding and a 25 cent Cosmo. The Cosmo was great, even though I don't typically enjoy vodka. The turtle soup was good, although I failed to accept the extra splash of sherry and seemed to suffer with a soup that was overly salty. Otherwise, it was interesting: I imagined a green goo, but it came out like a meaty beef stew (couldn't tell what turtle actually tastes like). Portion size was decent.
The shrimp and grits were good, though somewhat of a smaller portion. I believe it came with 5-6 shrimp over a lump of cheesy grits. They were the tastiest grits I had ever had, though the dish overall was a bit lacking--compared to some wonderfully perfect shrimp I had had a previous evening as an appetizer at a wedding at the Audubon Zoo.
The bread pudding was fun, though I am a dessert fanatic and found it difficult to take more than 3 bites of this overly sweet gooeyness. Perhaps it's my love or chocolate or my knowledge that you need enough fat in a dessert to counteract the sugar, but this was way too sweet and a virtual waste of $9 and only 2-stars. I did try my friend's pecan pie, however. And although overly sweet as well, I think I could have managed at least 5 bites of that. It was a 4-star dessert.
What was absolutely 5-star was the service. As soon as you walk in, you feel the attention on the customer... From everyone having about a 10' awareness of you walking around (so they can let you pass with great ease) to pulling out AND PUSHING IN your chair when you sit, to laying the napkin on your lap... damn! Great service. And, beautiful ambiance.
Note: go for the lunch to save some dough. It's typically a $16-$30 entree for lunch and about a $20-$40 for dinner.
OVERRATED! Don't misunderstand me, the food is good but you will definitely get a better meal elsewhere AND better service. I had the drum fish, the romaine salad, turtle soup and creme brulee. The fish was the best course....
So, we made a reservation 3 months ahead of time, arrived a few minutes early for a drink and were told it would be a few minutes until we were seated, as we had expected. We went to the bar for a drink, there was absolutely no standing room left in the bar so we grabbed a table outside. No problem, we were content to wait until our reservation time. Well, the bartender ignored us. We stood at the bar for over 30 minutes trying to get the bartenders attention. There was a celebrity at the bar, a local horn player, and the bartender simply ignored us, and most everyone else as well, as all his attention was on the horn player's party. Finally we got a drink. Well, after an hour our drink was gone and we were still waiting (this is 45 minutes after our reservation). We had been touching in with the hostess , but I finally went and complained. They told me it would be a bit longer. After an hour and a half from our reservation time we were finally seated. We were not offered an apology or a free drink to make up for this incredible rudeness. All fake smiles they simply acted like this was commonplace, perhaps it is?
Our server was nice and the upstairs service was good. The majority of the food was excellent. I loved their turtle soup. My husband had a steak and I had the gulf fish. The steak was amazing. The gulf fish was very underwhelming. We didn't get desert because we' d been there for over 3 hours already waiting and then eating whole time we were eating we had to deal with the drunken wedding party. These very young wedding part guests (late teens to early 20's) were running around the upstairs dinning room, talking very loudly (shouting and yelling at times), drunk, with odd napkin hats they had folded on their heads (I am not kidding). It felt like behavior more appropriate for Chuck e Cheese or the frat house. One young lady actually tripped right in front of our table and sprawled out onto the floor. At this point someone from the staff did come along and tell them to keep things down, or at least confined them to their wedding party room. For the cost of the meal, and considering the reputation of this restaurant, I really expected a different quality of service, ambiance, and food.
The meal was expensive, but we expected that and have no problem paying for good food and good service, but when we left that night we both agreed that we would NEVER go back. This decision had nothing to do with their price, but with how uncomfortable we were throughout the night. We spent the first half of our time being ignored and getting more and more hungry, and the second half having to try and drown out the drunken noise of this wedding party. I left the restaurant exhausted and wondering what all hype was about.
Oh Commanders Palace....I thought I was black listed after my last visit to you (long story) but thankfully I wasn't. This is some old school New Orleans fine dining at it's best....and this was definitly one of our "splurge" meals.
My friend and I did Sunday brunch here. We were staying in the quarter and hopped on the trolley over to the Garden District. 25 cents for the trolley...nice way to see the city and admire the beautifu houses in the G.D. After getting off at our stop...it was just a short walk to the restaurant which is across from Lafayette Cemetary - which I believe is one of the oldest cemetaries in NOLA and part of Interview with the Vampire was filmed there (it's a very interesting cemetary & walking tours are available). Ok, enough about all this....on to the food!
As I said we did Sunday brunch which is a three meal for about 60 bucks. Now, you might think 60 bucks is a bit much for brunch but this is actually a pretty great deal for C.P. as dinner could easily cost you 100 bucks per person. It's a jazz brunch too...that's right...a live jazz band tours the restaurant and plays throughout the brunch time. It's great fun. Also, there is a lovely outdoor patio for you to sit and enjoy a drink while waiting (not sure if you can dine there during brunch as I didn't see anyone eating outside).
To start I had the classic eggs sardou which was delicious. My friend started with the white shrimp remaloude. We both enjoyed our starters...and the nice hot bread they serve you with your brunch. Next up was bbq shrimp for me (so so good) and the pecan roated gulf fish for my friend (which she enjoyed). Finally we ended with the bread pudding (I enjoyed it, my friend liked it but felt she was just not a fan of bread pudding)...I cannot remember what my friend got...I want to say it was some sort of custard or creme brulee...I know she enjoyed it and that's what counts.
We each got a mimosa - this is not included with brunch but like I said this was our splurge meal so we went for it. It was money well spent in both our opinions...we were STUFFED for the rest of the day! We walked it off exploring the Garden District and Magazine Street...
If you are looking for a special treat and a NOLA tradition (the place has been around since the late 1800's for crying out loud)....go to C.P. You can easily make a day or afternoon of brunch and a walking tour of the G.D. and/or the Lafayette Cemetary.
(The first time I went here was for a work thing and our party wanted to get the tasting course which was 5 zillion dollars. This was also my first introduction to sweet breads and mint juleps...I'll tell you I'm not a huge fan of either. I would come back for dinner but in my opinion...brunch is definitly the way to go.)
(Woops! One last thing...if you think you can walk in wearing shorts and a tee - think again. C.P. is sort of formal - jackets are preferrred. We went in sandals and sundresses and were fine but we did see people get turned away for being to casual, ie jean shorts.)
It's 5 stars for the service. From the moment we arrived.
We were whisked away upstairs into the garden room overlooking the patio. We had 3 waiters (it was just the two of us) and we enjoyed an amazing lunch. Yes we had the bread pudding, and the turtle soup with sherry. And 25 cent martinis - yes they got them JUST right and another would show up just as you'd set the empty glass down, made exactly to your specifications. It was a 2 martini lunch for me but I still remember every moment of it. Genteel, refined, it was the epitome of what good restaurant service should be. I felt like I was royalty, it was an experience like no other. This is a MUST do restaurant in New Orleans, by far the most classic and so easy to get to via the St Charles Streetcar - so go ahead, have another martini!
Dining here is quite an experience. Dining is formal and very traditional New Orleans. Everyone should come here at least once in their lifetime. There are private rooms for groups, and the service is impeccable. Definitely one of the best restaurants in the city. You shouldn't leave here without trying the shrimp remoulade, bacon fat potatoes or the bread pudding soufle. You can't go wrong with any of the entrees either.
One of the TOP restaurants in the world. This is fine dining at its best. Maybe the best service of any restaurant I have ever dined at. The food is amazing.
Must haves:
Turtle soup
Banana souffle
whisky smash
The price is what you expect from one of the best! Great for lunch, brunch and dinner! They make you feel like royalty. Great for special occasions!
New Orleans Birthday Trip = Dining in the Garden District
Everyone knows Commander's, it's probably the most recognizable Brennan restaurant there is. You don't go to New Orleans and not eat at Commander's. So, without fail, we decided to indulge ourselves in the spectacle and splendor of a wonderful evening, great food and long-standing tradition.
Food:
Now, I've met a few of the Brennans before Ralph and Jimmy, but not Momma Ella, not the Brennans that run the venerable Commander's Palace, so in all honesty, I had no clue what to expect--other than a fantastic meal. And for the most part, the uptown clan delivered. After taking time to properly plot and plan our way though the menu, we knew our course.
We stared with the Soup 1-1-1: gotta love a sampler platter. The gumbo was what I came to New Orleans for, and it was damn good. Dark, spicy and rich in flavor--but it was the turtle soup that made the appetizer worth while. Succulent and hot in way that grew with intensity and addiction with each slurp, we probably would have been fine with just a vat of it for dinner. Alas, we refrained and finished up the Oyster and Absinthe Dome as well. Oysters in a cream-absinth broth surrounded by a puff pastry? Who knew such a delicious creation existed? Well, the Brennan's did, and they did it well.
With refreshed drinks and a renewed appetite, our entrees arrived: the special, Mustard Breaded Seared Tuna with sticky rice and avocado, and the a la carte Rack of Lamb with Potatos and Jus Roti. The tuna was cooked perfectly, and when the whole bite of rice and crispy phyllo dough with the avocado hit the tastebuds, it was all instantly recognizable as an almost deconstructed sushi. The whole dish was consumed rather quickly, but what impressed me most was the rice, which wasn't over cooked or too soppy.
The lamb was another story. It was ridiculously fatty. It was cooked medium rare, and tasted fantastic, but while lamb should be on the fatty side, when more than half your rack is pure inedible fat, it's something to ponder. And we did, for 20 minutes. As delectable as the potatoes and jus were, as mouthwatering as it smelled, when you spend 20 minutes talking about a dish, not praising, it, unfortunately, that's not 5 stars. Super close though, Commander's. Next time.
Venue:
There's this big house on a corner in the Garden District, surrounded by lots of other big houses, but this one is different. This one is Robin's Egg Blue, my favorite color. The place is huge. Often rented out for private parties and events, there are more than 8 dining rooms, with decor ranging from traditional Victorian to modern Country Club. We were in Column Room, upstairs surrounded by ceiling to floor glass windows.
Our service was impeccable, with ever gracious and always helpful. Suggestions and jokes were abundant, and every bit of coordinated presentation was appreciated. What was my most favorite part though, was exiting through the kitchen. Being upstairs means your only trip down and out is through the entire brigade, and what a sight it is. I stayed for a bit, talked to everyone, thanked them, and marveled at the display of culinary expertise on show. Chef Troy was more than accommodating and let me poke around through his poissonner and saucier. So impressive.
Ella and her sister still live out back, in the main living quarters. We sneaked back there for a bit and before leaving. Impressive, all around. Suffice it to say, go you won't be disappointed, if only to fine something to talk about.
BONUS - Brennan Family Tree
For those that have always wondered, I reveal: the three generations of Brennan restauranteurs.....
Owen P. Brennan & Nellie
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Owen E. --- Adelaide --- John --- Ella --- Dick --- Dottie
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Jimmy Ralph Alex Dickie Brad
Pip Cindy Ti Lauren
Ted Lally
Owen E. and his sons are the restauranteurs of Brennan's on Royal Street, and to this day, no long have an affiliation with the other side.
Ella and Dick took over Commander's, and now runsit with the help of John and Dottie and Lally.
Ralph has his own restaurant group (Bacco, Ralph's on the Park, Red Fish Grill and Jazz Kitchen), Ti and Lally run Cafe Adelaide and Commander's in Destin, Florida. Dickie's in charge of Bourbon House, Palace Cafe and the Steakhouse, while Alex is out of town renovating Brennan's Houston. Brad is a partner of several of the restaurants, and Cindy took over Mr B's.
This place offers high-end food at very reasonable prices. I should specify that my companion and I had lunch here. We sat outdoors, which was extremely pleasant, except that there was quite a cloud of flies.. not sure if that's a seasonal (September) problem or not. Service was very crisp, knowledgeable, and polite, maaaaybe shading a bit into overattentive. No big complaints.
Drinks may be a little over-rated. A "Whisky Smash" is tasty, but also just a mint julep with whiskey instead of bourbon. A Watermelon Caipirihna's melon solids settled as the meal progressed, leaving my companion with a quick buzz followed by dessert. Again, not serious problems, but when you're paying over a hundred dollars for the experience, even a small inconvenience is worth noting. Table rocked.. we fixed it pretty easily.
Pork shank with house-made mustard was excellent, tender and potent. The wait staff confidently explained about the free-range game reserve where the meat was sourced. Blackened shrimp were large (10-15 per pound?), juicy, and expertly seasoned.
Turtle soup and oyster dome were very tasty, but maybe just a bit oversalted. It was my first time eating turtle (waiter explained that this type of snapping turtle is a local pest), the flavor was much like beef with a nice sour earthy twist at the end.
I found the bread-pudding souffle to be silky almost to the point of invoking sliminess. My companion tells me I am a dessert ignoramus. She can write her own reviews :) Pear-apple cake was actually really enjoyable.
If you're in New Orleans on a food mission, this seems like a place not to miss. I might recommend staying indoors and skipping drinks. But definitely go.
My hubby and I just returned from our annual trip to New Orleans. The morning after arriving we figured - what better way to celebrate our arrival into town then by hitting up Commander's Palace for lunch. We've been to CPR before but for dinner. If you had asked me after that experience what I would have rated the restaurant I might have gone with four stars.
This time however I would easily dole out ten stars if that was possible. We were quickly seated without a reservation in the dining room overlooking a large courtyard. As this was the start of our mini vacation we were happy to see that they had a 25 cent martini special (with the purchase of an entree). I started with the turtle soup. Words cannot describe how delicious it was! For my entree I decided to go with something a little different for me - the crab salad. I was not disappointed - it was absolutely delicious. Huge pieces of the freshest crab imaginable tossed in a really nice vinaigrette. To end our meal we shared the praline parfait. It was nice and light and perfect for sharing after lunch.
One funny experience to note - we were seated up against a mirror. Occasionally it would rattle - after a few times I realized (and I am 99% sure it's probably just coincidence) when I said something kind of sarcastic. I can't help it - that's just me. Anyway, so the last thing I said to hubby was in regards to one of the servers - I might have just been reading into her a little too much but she seemed to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder about something... Less than a second passed, the mirror shook again and my bra snapped open in the back.! This has never happened before and it has never happened since. Sure showed me! I decided to behave myself for the rest of the meal and the mirror never shook again.
After lunch we walked around the Garden District a bit, took a few pictures and then wandered up to the St. Charles streetcar line. It's a $1.50 per person, very short wait for a car and a pretty ride back to the French Quarter area. I would definitely go this route the next time instead of taking a taxi as it is also such a short walk between St. Charles and the restaurant.
There are too many great restaurants in New Orleans to try or we would have definitely been back to Commanders Palace for seconds on this trip. Can't wait for next year!
How would you like to dine at an Award Winning Restaurant for Less?
We are from the gourmet zone in Northern California Wine Country, so we are no stranger to high-priced gourmet restaurants. Frankly, they are hard to resist for too long, regardless of their rapacious prices.
Example....Chez Panisse. I mean REALLY...how could a salad cost THAT much?!
So you can imagine our shock when the bill came after eating a multi course meal at Commander's Palace! Gracious service and outstanding food and all for an incredibly tiny price, tip included! At first we thought they'd made a mistake.
They never made us feel rushed. There's nothing worse than sitting down for a special dining experience to find it marred by overly frenetic wait staff (think Lili Kai of Petaluma for example...they make the Soup Nazi look mellow).
We thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely meal and will never forget the experience. We highly recommend this restaurant.
I don't really know what to say about Commander's Palace except that it is an New Orleans institution that is a MUST. Make sure to order the bread pudding at the beginning of dinner. It takes a while to prepare it Commander's Palace style. Oh...make sure to have a Pimms Cup or a Mint Julip.
TOURISTS, if you are planning to visit new orleans you have to have to try this place.
It's a different kind of fine dining. Happy setting, very comfortable people around, musicians serenading to each table, good right portioned (not tiny) food.... It's my first time eating in a huge huge bungalow and I loved it.
the bread pudding souffle, the first bite was as though my tongues were bouncing on clouds. But, for me, bread pudding must have a crusty something, otherwise the 2nd bite would be too mushy and filling. Which, it was.
Their cantaloupe melon salad was REALLY GOOD. very refreshing, something new, and cozy at the same time.
The Banana cream ice cream with banana bread at the bottom which was bruleed beforehand, was The Star of the brunch. I couldn't stop eating it!!! I love bananas, but not banana cream pie in general cos they tend to have overloaded cream on top. this ice cream topping was a very nice twist to banana cream pie.
Great service, and to top it all off one of the waiter looks a lot like edward cullen from twilight haha!
The boyfriend and I went here earlier this year on my birthday trip. We wanted to do one fancy New Orleans restaurant, and chose this one based on it's long history.
We were definitely the youngest couple in the restaurant, but were treated no differently than anyone else (except the fact that everyone kept telling us how "absolutely adorable" we were together...but those were the other patrons, rather than the workers...and the patrons were outside and drunk waiting for the taxi to arrive so there could have been wine goggles there). Anyhow, it's a bit away from the French Quarter, but they ask on your way out if you need them to call you a taxi, so it shouldn't be a problem to get to and from this place.
I had a 3 course meal: turtle soup, rack of lamb, and bread pudding. The boyfriend had gumbo, fish, and cheesecake. I'm a huge turtle lover, I donate to the sea turtle foundation. It was really hard for me to order the turtle soup and you can hate me for it, but I did it. Deal with it. I figured Commander's was famous for it's turtle soup and I would likely not have another opportunity to try it...so the foodie in me won out this time. It was pretty good, the sherry gave it a bite and the turtle chunks were chewy. I didn't finish it though, not because it wasn't good, but more because I was having this internal battle with myself. I've tried it, I will never order it again...let's move on. The boyfriend's gumbo was fabulous. I only tried the sauce, as it was filled with seafood and I didn't want to get sick on the trip. The lamb was perfectly cooked...the fish, I didn't try. The cheesecake? Good. Anywhere else it would probably be great, but here it was just good. Why? Because the bread pudding completely rocked my world!
I have never had bread pudding before. Never. It sounds so bland and unappetizing to me. But Commander's is also known for its bread pudding, so I figured I had to try it too. I am a convert...well, a Commander's bread pudding convert! This was fabulous. I went on this trip in January and still think about this bread pudding. I've since found the recipe and will be making it many times in my life...I'm just looking for the right bread, and I think I may have found it! It was so amazing and I was so glad that I ordered it instead of the boyfriend because I was able to say "I win!" (We have this game where we compete to see who orders the better meal at restaurants.)
If you can order anything from Commander's just order the bread pudding. I know they do 25 cent martinis, but skip it. The bread pudding is worth the additional $8.25 you'd be paying and you will get a more satisfaction than any martini you could ever drink.
Every aspect of my dining experience at Commander's Palace was worthy of 5 stars. It's an old school southern restaurant, where business casual attire is expected for lunch with no beachwear or jeans allowed.
The food was very good - GREAT, actually! I was there for lunch on 7/10 and had the boneless black angus short ribs that were served with mustard and sour cream smashed potatoes - YUMMY!!!!! It really was perfection on a plate. My husband ordered the sugar cane grilled pork which was very juicy and a little sweet - absolutely delightful. Everything was so good that we both made happy plate, and it should be noted that they were generous portions for an upscale restaurant.
For desert we had the bread pudding souffle with a whiskey sauce - It's something that you simply cannot miss out on. At some point in your life, you MUST go to CP and order this desert.
The dining experience that you get @ Commander's is parallel to none. During lunch, you are surrounded by the wealthy housewives of New Orleans in what they call "social luncheons". They have a $0.25 martini menu, which almost everyone takes advantage of. The servers use phrases such as "May I get you a libation?"-- That's a southern way of saying, "Can I get you something from the bar?" And, "Has your drink expired?" These are the little things that really do make this a standout experience in my book. On top of the service and food being impeccable, of course!
I am very, very pleased that this has such a high star rating.... the service levels are fine dining old school Southern service.... white gloves and one server plating one diner... tip o the tops, gents and ladies.
The turtle soup is stellar, almost eponymous to the establishment. I am a fan of rarer tastes or dining excursions, without being cruel or close minded. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith, and in this case I did. I think the cartoon like turtles imbedded in my mind since my youth turned me off to the idea. Now I am festering angry at Disney for convincing me that a turtle was cute, instead of delicious.
You don't need my normal rundown of the whole meal... you get it.
If you are in New Orleans, and like fine dining.... Voila. Enjoy!
Service was top notch. I ordered the preset meal with soup (selected the sample of 3 soups which include the gumbo, turtle and soup du jour), mixed grill which included steak and veil and the chocolate lava cake. I was not pleased with the soups. To be honest, although they weren't bad, there wasn't anything great about them either. After a few bits, they all tasted similar but the turtle soup would have to be my favorite.
Now, the mixed grill plate was just heavenly. It was the best steak dinner I've ever had, even beats Peter Lugar's steakhouse! It was cooked medium rare just perfect to the point where it melted in my mouth. It was the most juicy and most tender meat I have ever had. I accompanied my dining meal with the Cabernet Pinot Noir 2006, which I thought was a great idea.
I tried the bread pudding, the chocolate cake and creme brulee. All three is a must do! You just can't have dinner without finishing it off with a sweet ending.
"hahahaha all along, I thought Commander's Palace was a Chinese restaurant." - my boyfriend.
Can you blame him? Other than the fact that over the past month prior to our New Orleans trip, I have tried over and over again to educate him on the history, prestige and overall respect the world has for Commander's Palace, he still thought we were going to get some rockin' fried rice and a poo poo platter. I think he was pleasantly surprised.
Okay, first off, do I need to go into why this place is so world renowned? I don't really feel like I need to educate all the yelpers about this, so if you want to know why this place is incredible, why the best chefs in the world always work their magic here at some point in their careers, then google it. I want to tell you about how delicious this place is, and really, how perfect the food is. It is perfect. Absolutely perfect.
There are some dishes you have in your life, where the moment they hit your tongue, you realize you've got not only impeccable quality, but something truly extraordinary. Everything you eat at Commander's Palace is like this.
I'm going to start off with the drinks. The Whisky Smash is the best cocktail in the place. Whisky, mint, bubbles, simple syrup = heaven. Southern heaven. The only heaven. Nothing cools you down like a whiskey smash on a hot balmy Summer night out on their tree lit courtyard under a big oak tree. You'll never feel more antebellum, I assure you that.
We ordered two salads as an appetizer because we realized we hadn't seen a single vegetable the entire trip, so it was time. We ordered their version of a kicked up caesar and man, it was delicious. Gruyere, creamy peppery dressing, garlic, romaine, a little heat, made this salad well worthwhile. The seasonal tomato salad, however, was even better. It had a serious kick, and the tomatoes were just perfection on a hot night. If you see this on the menu, order it. You must.
We decided to split the grilled shrimp and the filet. The shrimp was delicious, absolutely perfect and the compliments of grilled peppers/vegetables were to die for. The filet is one of the best filets in the world. My mother, who never eats any type of steak other than a filet mignon, has always claimed that the Commander's Palace filet is the best in the world. I can see why she thinks that. It's incredible. It's how a steak should be. It's what every little steak hopes to be when it grows up. The mashed potatoes under that filet, though, are just as, if not more so delicious. Creamy, cheesy, smooth, intense, everything you want out of mashed potatoes.
And now...the strawberry shortcake. They bake the home-made biscuits to order, and top these freshly out of the oven biscuits with strawberries and cream. What is better than that? Simple, delicious, and it reminded me of childhood.
Another perk of Commander's Palace? The Summer Dry Rose Wine List. We ordered the first one off the list and were completely in love, all over again.
And of course, the service is impeccable.
So, no, we didn't have the mushu pork my boyfriend expected, but hell, we were a-ok with that.
If food could ever be choreographed, someone should award the Commander's Palace Best Performance. The new husband and I took the St. Charles line out to the Garden District and upon walking Lafayette Cemetery and the neighborhood, we landed here one of the best meals in New Orleans.
We were greeted with enthusiasm and genuine Southern Hospitality. Seated by the hostess, then introduced us to the team of servers led by a Captain - that was a sign that we were in for amazing service. Led by Steve, the group of servers were hands on for our needs, and very charismatic in telling us the history of the restaurant.
We started with amazing garlic toast, the flavor was crisp and delicious, hubby and I put butter on everything, but truth be told this toast was yummy on it's own. The butter was left untouched. The husband decided upon the soup du jour, which was a Chicken and Bean soup in true Southern style - thick yet mellow in taste, the beans were not overpowering and the chicken was not diced but rather shredded, it made a good opener. I went with a Pris Fix, and started with a Romaine salad with a creamy pepper dressing - I have never had anything like it ever! I love pepper and this dressing was not overdone or over oily. Perfectly creamy with kicks of peppercorn in each bite of evenly mixed bacon and pressed eggs. Hubby followed with the Fillet Mignon in a mushroom reduction over the fluffiest mashed potatoes we have ever known. The fillet was tender and moist, the reduction complimented the protein without taking away any flavor and the potatoes melted in your mouth with every bite. It was buttery and so light, the hubby went as far as to say the potato was ever better then the fillet! I had the Commander's Grille which gave me three treats on a plate - a spicy Cajun chicken sausage, a veal medallion injected with bacon marinade which made the veal very tender, and a beef medallion. All three proteins came on a bed of andoullie stuffing and some fried greens. I couldn't decide what I wanted, but this dish was a right mix of everything I wanted. Each meat was prepared well, I asked for medium - I got medium on the veal and beef but bot cuts retained a moistness and soft tenderness. My fig reduction was a little under seasoned, but the stuffing well makes up for it. We finished with the molten lava chocolate cake - chocolate cakes it was decadent but now I wished I tried their bread souffle.
It seems the menu on-line is different from the in house menu we were offered, so it really pays to visit the place. During the course of our meal, our water glasses were replaced with new ones with additional ice. There was little waiting time between dishes and the whole meal came and went without fuss - truly well choreographed. The house "mother" came by and ensured we were having a great time, and the staffed congratulated us on our recent nuptials. The Commander's Palace is everything I could imagine for a classic New Orlean's Garden District institution. The staff cares for your experience with them, and the little things matter to them. I wish I took pictures of my dishes, but the hubby said it wasn't classy. He was right, Commander's Palace is one of those rare classy places to take a step back in time and enjoy new modern dishes.
* A meal for two with starters, entrees and a dessert - $100. Well worth it! *
Almost everything we had are exceptional.
Service is impeccable
The best bread pudding ever...
Please go to this place when you visit New Orleans.
Commander's Palace did not offer me the best meal of my life, but it was a real treat and our family of five walked away happy. The place is an institution, and the inside felt old-fashioned and charming, partly thanks to and in spite of the interesting birds-on-the-wall decor. The service was excellent, very formal with multiple people presenting each course, clearing the table, keeping water and wine flowing, and generally treating us like the royalty we most certainly were not. At the same time, there was nothing sterile or impersonal about it - our main waitress was sweet and upbeat in a warm, genuine way. For the level of service and cooking, the prices were outrageously reasonable as well. The three-course set dinners were all under $40, with the prices listed by the entrees encompassing appetizer and dessert. The portions are huge and the set menus do not limit your dessert options. That's good value, folks.
The garlic bread they put out before the meal was awesome, with good crunch and plenty of flavor. We went more or less family style on appetizers, of which we tried the turtle soup au sherry, the seafood gumbo, and the oyster and absinthe "dome." Despite my love for the Teenage Mutants, I always thought turtles would be delicious. The soup was very salty, but satisfactorily good. Now that it's been-there-done-that, though, I don't think I'll be craving it. The gumbo was great, easily the best gumbo in a rather gumboful trip, balanced and deep. I didn't know what an oyster and absinthe "dome" might look like, but it was, as described, oysters with bacon, artichokes, absinthe, and cream under a flaky pastry shell. Hearty and very nice.
I went with the "King" of Seafood entree, one of three choices for complete dinners. It came with wild shrimp, gulf fish, and jumbo lump crab over four types of summer corn with Creole tomatoes and fresh basil. The shrimp was great, but the fish was nothing special. It was a bit too meaty and maybe a touch overdone. The corn was wonderful - I ate every last kernel. I also stole snatches of the hickory smoked pork tenderloin (another set menu option), the veal chop Tchoupitoulas, and the pepper grilled black angus filet. These were all decent, but none of them sang.
We ordered four desserts: the roasted peach and white chocolate bouchee, the creme brulee, the Creole cream cheese cheesecake, and the Creole bread pudding souffle. Incidentally, three of the "e"s in that last sentence should be accented. The bouchee and the souffle had to be ordered at the beginning of the meal, and for that consideration, I thought the bouchee was rather disappointing. It consisted of "sliced Alabama peaches and house made mascarpone layered in a French puff pastry shell with white chocolate pastry cream and spiced mayhaw honey" - sounds good, right? This was by far the most complicated dessert on paper and the least exciting in execution. No worries, everything else was good to great. The creme brulee came in a large dish with a powdered sugar fleur de lys stenciled on top. It wasn't the best creme brulee I've ever had, but the abundant amount of surface area created a high brulee:creme ratio, just as the good Lord intended. Both the cheesecake and the souffle were amazing. I don't know how Creole cream cheese is different from the usual stuff, but the cheesecake, with house made cream cheese, honey graham cracker crust, warm caramel, and chicory coffee toffee was insane. The bread pudding souffle with raisins and whiskey sauce, the signature "Queen of Creole desserts," was equally notable, with a giggly light texture and metered sweetness.
Overall, the food fell short of transcendent, but we were well-fed and the experience was perfectly lovely. If you're coming through New Orleans, do not miss Commander's Palace.
I had lunch at Commander's Palace with three of my foodiest of foodie friends, and we were collectively in our happiest of happy places from the moment we walked into the place, to the moment, three hours later, when we stumbled reluctantly back out. A meal at Commander's Palace is an event in and of itself.
The building is beautiful- a turquoise mansion located in the gorgeous Garden District. The interior is elegant but quirky, with lots of little decorative surprises like padded polka dot walls in the bathrooms and 3D birds and metal chair frames designed to look like bamboo canes. We had lunch on the second floor, which, with it's glass walls overlooking the foliage in the courtyard outside, was like dining in a tree house.
Everything about the meal was perfection- the service was top notch, the sauces were so amazing I came close to shamelessly licking the plates, the ingredients were fresh and cooked exactly right.
While I am sure you'd be hard pressed to find anything on their menu that wouldn't rock your world, I highly recommend:
- crawfish cake appetizer (made with grilled crawfish that adds a smoky bite to the dish)
- grilled black drum entree (a fish local to the area, and absolutely the most beautifully cooked piece of fish I've ever eaten)
- side of grits with whipped brie (probably don't need to say much more than that, huh?)
- Creole bread pudding dessert (it comes drenched in a Jack Daniel's creme anglais that we wanted to take a bath in)
Be warned that if you come here to celebrate your birthday, they will make you wear a stupid looking chef's hat while they sing to you. But, they will also tie balloons to your chair and generally make you feel extra-special.
I can't imagine making a trip to New Orleans and not eating here.
I have to say you get what you pay for and its top notch service and food here. An ultra fancy restaurant that uses many local produce and flavors. Commander's Palace has Inspiring dishes and flavors with a special environment.
My friend and I each had an appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert plus a few drinks. The bill, including a 25% tip was around $250. Not bad for the night we had.
Of all the restaurants I visited in New Orleans, I looked forward to my meal at Commander's Palace the most. This place is a culinary institution of New Orleans cuisine and rightfully so. (Read the history about the place elsewhere)
It was our final stop in New Orleans and the anticipation, great. However, the appetite and overall feeling of our bodies, not great. After a rough final night, we awoke hungover and still full from our dinner the night before (Emeril's!) and asked ourselves: Can we really do this? I was fully committed, by boyfriend who was in much worse shape than I was reconsidering. {Although, it's one of his favorites restaurants ever so he'd already been plenty of times}
We pulled up in a cab with our luggage in tow (they kindly will hold it in lobby for you) and immediately my shoulders relaxed, my feet felt lighter and my amazement of the interior beauty of CP was written all over my face. We walked from room to room until alas we were sat in the back room upstairs--the one facing the courtyard and of all the people I know who have been here, it's their favorite room.
The service, impeccable. The 25 cent lunch-time martinis: deliciously expensive tasting. The food, outstanding.
I did the $29 Creole Luncheon special that day: a salad (they let my sub the gumbo!), black angus braised short ribs wrapped in an onion ring on a bed of sour cream smashed potatoes, 'frizzled' leeks and tchoupitoulas sauce, AND I chose the bread pudding soufflé for my dessert. Everything was perfect. I loved every last bite of that rich dark roux of my seafood gumbo, the short ribs were perfectly seasoned and just juicy enough and who doesn't love a phat onion ring and mashers!
My bf, who sadly was rather sick and could not enjoy his meal (I forced myself!) ordered the Gulf Fish Niçoise and 1-1-1 soup trio to start, which included small tasters of the gumbo, turtle and the soup du jour. I guess they're known for their turtle soup so I had to have a taste--pretty darn goode! My aunt wasn't terribly hungry either (I think this may be an epidemic in Nola) so had the wild gulf shrimp remoulade "Moderne" to start and one of their many salads that I cannot recall at the moment.
To end the wknd right, I had to have one last bloody mary, this time --being at Commander's Palace and all -- I made it fancy and got it with Ketel One. Boy, was this baby strong! Wish it had more greenery in it, but it made up with the smooth, tasty vodka.
CP, your family treated me so well I -- as I like to say -- simply cannot wait to get back!
Who is Commander? I would gladly follow him into battle any day. Pound that beef! Mash those bacon potatoes! Bake that bread pudding souffle! Stir that turtle soup! The food was cooked to perfection.
The Commander has a loyal legion of servant followers. They obviously obey his every whim. They never leave you waiting and everything is done efficiently. Our servers were also friendly and patient.
The restaurant looks like it used to be an old southern mansion. There are many different rooms, nooks, crannies, and stairs. I could easily get lost here. Commander's Palace easily lives up to its 5 star general hype.
No, no, no...
I'll start with the good - their bread pudding should be ordered at all costs. You have to place your order for it at the start of the meal as it takes some time to make and is done so individually. Totally worth it.
Everything else was kind of a disaster. Two friends of mine ordered the steak and seemed pleased with it but why would I go to a creole restaurant in NO and order steak? I have Houston travels for that kind of thing. All the other items we received were, quite frankly, mediocre at best. If the entrees cost something in the range of $15 - $18, I would have been ok with it. But at close to $40, it was pretty disappointing.
Then, and our waiter seemed perfectly lovely, but completely incompetent. My friend ordered a scotch. We waited while all the other drinks were delivered. Then we asked for it again. Then we waited. Finally we asked for it a third time. And received the wrong one. Awesome.
During every single course, they brought the wrong dish. My friend was digging around in his entree looking for the soft shelled crab before asking the waiter where it was - he noted that he had not been served the dish he ordered. Oops! Then, after a long wait, it came. He took a few bites, reported it wasn't that good and passed. WTF? If you're ordering soft shelled crab for $38, it should be really, really good!
Also, they claimed that they had a 'year round' menu which, I thought I had seen online and basically had chosen to go here based on the fact that they had crab cakes. Then we showed up and, no crab cakes! Disappointing but I wouldn't have minded had anything else been spectacular. Which it wasn't.
Then came desert. Picture this: you're the waiter and you've f*cked up every single round of food (and even drinks). Wouldn't you apply extra focus and get the deserts right? Yeah, I would too. But instead he actually brought one of my friends the exact wrong dish. Totally blew me away. We were all baffled.
At one point, they did bring us a round of shots we hadn't ordered to make up for the mistakes. They weren't very good. It was also awkward when the waiter said that it was Hemingway's favorite drink. Once he walked away, I noted that a) Hemingway was a total alcoholic, b) later killed himself. We started joking that they were going to bring us the special 'Koresh shots'. We weren't sure if he was trying to say we should all off ourselves although we hadn't had any negative encounters, on a social level, with the staff. Again, blown away. But I would have rather had them comp the rounds they f*cked up instead of giving me a round of shots I didn't order.
In the end, we tipped just over 10% and elected to not even mention that they f*cked up the bill too. It was only a few dollars and we were ready to leave.
Try elsewhere. Went to Cochon the following night and totally had my socks knocked off. This place is done - stick a fork in it.
I love Commanders Palace and some of the other restaurants owned by the same family. While I'm not a HUGE fan of creole, I can't pass up the Bananas Foster -- my favorite dessert in the whole world that was invented here. Not sure why more places don't have Bananas Foster -- and going to New Orleans isn't something I do much anymore since most conferences have bypassed this city.
The Oscar Wilde quote that appears on the top of the lunch menu at the Commander's Palace is truly the best way to describe my entire dining experience: "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it." Oh, and yield to it I did.
I came to this beautiful restaurant with my sister on my recent trip to NoLa. My mother had very kindly offered to foot the bill so we decided that we were going to go all out: three amazingly decadent courses and four stiff martinis. Yeah, the four martinis may not have been the best idea. Just ask my sister's phone, which ended up in the toilet.
This place is like one big Tiffany's box...turquoise inside and out. I loved the 3D bird wallpaper and other peculiar but charming touches. I was shocked to see how crowded it was considering it was a Monday afternoon, but my sister told me that New Orleans is known for extravagant and lengthy lunches.
Highlights of my meal were the turtle soup (poor adorable, but so delicious turtle) with sherry poured in table-side, bites of my sister's amazing crawfish cake appetizer, bites of the brie grits, and the phenomenal bread pudding souffle. I ordered the soft shell crab entree which was amazing...the crabs were cooked perfectly. I wasn't blown away by their other signature dessert, strawberry shortcake. It was refreshing and def much lighter than the bread pudding, but pretty ordinary. Every dish seemed to be very well thought out and everything was truly delicious.
We didn't receive the stellar service other reviewers had mentioned. I always think the team waiting concept is not a good one. My sister and I had a straggler in our party so we were seated first. A waitress took our drink orders but then never returned with our drinks. We had to ask again for them to be brought out. I also wish they would have brought us menus while we were waiting. I am sure that it is the polite thing to do to wait for the whole party to arrive, however, with so many difficult choices to make, it would have been nice to have more time to agonize. Finally, I was not at all a fan of the Commander's Signature Martini (I think). It was the blue curacao one and mine may have been made poorly but it was like drinking pure (bright blue) gasoline.
Def make this a place to stop in NoLa if you have three hours, money to spend, and have no probably taking an exceedingly long nap/food/martini coma when you leave. Be careful not to drop anything as you stumble out.
I loved this place from the minute I walked in (but not before--as the exterior was a bit dingy) and saw their embroidered padded wall coverings. I was already thinking of ways to redecorate our tiny Brooklyn pad when they escorted us to our table where we were surrounded by ever more lovely wall art in the form of birds --some three dimensional and some painted on. I was in love and I hadn't even eaten yet!
We went for the prix fixe meals. FYI I didn't see it on the menu but you can get a three soup tasting if you can't decide between the gumbo or the turtle (the turtle soup by the way was exciting for the novelty factor but in reality tasted like chili -- booring).
The short ribs were tender and delicious. The bread pudding souffle tasted good but was more ile flottant than bread pudding.
This was by far the best meal we had in New Orleans... and if I weren't barefoot and pregnant I would have been all over the 25 cent martinis.
We popped in for cocktials, hear we were supposed to do the brunch, but it was too nice to not go sit outside on the patio with a beverage instead.
The bartender was sweet and really helpful and friendly.
the BEST part about the whole restaurant, is there is one special table IN - that is correct IN - yes you read that right.. IN the kitchen. Forget eatting in the dining room, you can EAT IN THE KITCHEN!
How friggin coolio is that?
As anyone with experience will tell you, get the hell out of the french quarter and try something different! Getting to this restaurant will allow you to do that; take the trolley down to the Garden District and stroll the streets and nearby cemetery before you eat.
Remember to bring a jacket if you are a guy, as it's a little more upscale inside than the outside looks like it deserves. There is also plenty of staff on hand with excellent friendly service.
They have a 3 course special that is actually reasonably priced. Definitely pay the extra for the turtle soup and bread pudding. The turtle soup is really delicious. One taste and it's clear they've been simmering that sucker for some time. I imagine the meat would be chewy if it didn't cook for so long. And don't feel bad about the little turtles, visit the swamps and you'll see they have plenty to spare!
The bread pudding has to be ordered at the beginning of the meal because it takes an hour to cook. It's more like a souffle actually and it has to be one of my favourite desserts ever. Absolutely soft and with the bourbon sauce, delicious and will have you mmm-ing with every bite.
This was the best dining experience I've ever had. I've read about Commander's Palace offering 5 Star quality with their menu, wine selection and service. I am very pleased to report this place delivers. If you get to New Orleans, make a reservation and see for your self.
The menu is amazing. Chef Tory creates a fine mix of Creole cuisine for any taste. The soups are delectable and the entrees are not like any that you would see elsewhere in New Orleans. Enjoy some excellent French wine with your meal too. I tried an excellent white Chablis for the first time and now I'm looking to try more.
Synchronized service ensures you and your dinner party will have enough waiters to constantly take care of your dining needs as well as anticipate your next course timing perfectly.
What an amazing place and I can't wait to get back there.
Turtle soup...who knew? Coq aux vin...superb. Service by Jamey...incredible! And 25 cent martinis? Holy moly...this place is must!
25 cent martinis! Woohoo!
Ok, so that may or may not have been the main reason why we stopped by for lunch.
The location is in the oh-so-lovely Garden District, right across the street from a cool cemetery (good for wandering around if you have to wait for a table). The food was great and the lunch specials came with gumbo (yay!). And the garlic bread that was served while we waited for our meals? O.M.G. The best most buttery garlicy delicious bread I've ever had in my entire lifetime. So. Good. Should have asked for more but was attempting to behave seeing as they stuck us in the nearly-empty upstairs room (seriously, was that the time out room or something? No idea why they stuck us up there practically alone). Food was great, martinis were cheap. Sounds like a good lunch to me.
warning...apparently dinner is priiiiiicey. Lunch is the way to go!
25-cent martinis!?! And bread pudding souffle? Can this place be any more perfect?! :)
I went for lunch, a much better deal if you want to splurge, but not break the bank. I had their "creole" lunch which included a Caesar salad, short ribs, and the souffle. Food was delicious, but not sure if it really represented "New Orleans" cuisine.... I considered it much more contemporary American.
Service was excellent... very attentive but not annoying.
Felt like as a fan of Top Chef and Food Network, I had to pay my respects and eat at the Commander's Palace. Should be a definite destination for any food fan. :)
Unfortunately, we were very depressed because our beloved Giants lost to the Saints. That was the only damper and negative of our trip. To make up for it, we hoped Commander's Palace could ease the blow and massage our bruised egos. Again it goes without saying that we got incredible service.
Food was good to great. In short apps were good, father's entree was a bit disappointing, yet desserts really shined. The garlic bread is seriously addicting. We had to try gumbo somewhere before we left so my dad got the special duck and mushroom gumbo and it was delicious. We also went with the shrimp and tasso henican and oysters absinthe dome. Both great starters. For mains I went with the Veal Chop and my dad had a special duck breast. My veal was perfectly rare and huge. The goat cheese grits were a great complement. My father's duck was a disappointment. Unfortunately, the dish was boring and just not great. We love duck but this just didn't deliver. Very salty and the side of rice it came with had chunks of weird seeds in it. Probably should have went with a more signature entree. We also got a side of sauteed crabmeat, which turned out to be horrible. The crabmeat was soaked in some kind of alcohol and tasted bitter. They took this off the bill thankfully. Highlight of the meal was definitely dessert. Since my father's was a complete meal, he elected for the bread pudding souffle. We also being gluttons added the cheesecake and praline parfait. Without a doubt, the bread pudding souffle MAY be the best dessert or tied with the Baked Alaska from the great Antoine's as the best I have had. What a creation. Cheesecake and praline parfait were redonckulous also. The coffee was the strongest I have ever had. I didn't care for it because it actually tasted like it had alcohol in it. But my father loves strong coffee and he really enjoyed it, which I am glad about since he didn't love his entree much. Overall, we are glad we went because it is just one of those places you need to go to. Great atmosphere, service. Left a little disappointed, but the desserts at the end served as a great ending.
Jazz brunch on Saturday, April 25th with a lovely group of friends. Our party of 8 was seated, as requested, in the beautiful Garden Room for a lively noon reservation before heading to the fest.
All drinks were enjoyed, meals worth every penny ($80/person may sound shocking, but not in this environment), and desserts to die for! This is basically a 3-course meal, served early in the day as opposed to dinnertime, so pricing should be in the $80-$100/person when drinks are involved.
Our server did not miss a beat, even getting in on our corny inside jokes with gusto! She was really great.....
The farmers' market salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes was lovely, and my glazed pork & egg dish with crawfish hash = perfection. Tried lots of the desserts at the table, everything came out picture perfect, especially the drizzling of the white chocolate on the bread pudding.
Our local companion took us for the requisite walk through the kitchen, and we took some great pics down in the garden to remember this lovely experience.....
This place is like Disneyland if you love to eat out. You are treated like a Prince or Princess upon arrival. Simply the best service I have ever had!
The Cuisine is amazing. The restaurant is quiet and elegant. Simply a different experience, and one you will never forget.
And don't leave there till you have the Turtle Soup. I won't even try it anywhere else!
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New Orleans, LA
The more the merrier lunch!
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
Category: French
New Orleans, LA
Category: American (New)
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: Southern
New Orleans, LA
Category: Restaurants
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