Restaurant Reviews Part IV (Jacques-Imo's, Kim Son, Nine Roses. Juan's Flying Burrito)

1) Jacques-Imo's (Uptown)
Stats: Genre - Cajun/Creole, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 4 stars

Jacques-Imo's is a quintessential New Orleans favorite, among locals and tourists alike, so it's no surprise that the restaurant ranks among my personal favorites for New Orleans cuisine. I recently went there with a large group (10+ people), and we had made reservations well in advance. The restaurant only accepts reservations for groups of 5 or more, so you should expect to wait for a table, especially Friday and Saturday nights. Oak St. can get pretty lively, and since it's mostly frequented by locals and college students, it has a more authentic flare.

The homestyle atmosphere and great food of Jacques-Imo's are its two best selling points. The colorful tablecloths, funky decor and down to earth staff make the culinary experience even more enjoyable. As for the food, you can't go wrong with seafood, especially in New Orleans. For appetizers, we had the stuffed shrimp and fried calamari, both excellent choices. My friends had the shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake, which they claim was the best appetizer of the night. As for the main entrees, as a group, we ordered almost every one on the menu, so we all got to sample what Jacques-Imo's had to offer. The Stuffed Catfish Des Allemands and Cajun Bouillibaisse were my two favorite entrees, since they had such great flavor, and you could tell the seafood was fresh aka no fishy taste. The blackened redfish was also very nice. Since, we were a lively and appreciative group, Jacques-Imo's even threw in dessert for FREE! Truly a wonderful experience that must be repeated!

2) Kim Son (Westbank)
Stats: Genre - Vietnamese/Chinese, Price - $$, Ranking - 2.5 stars

Though it may come as a surprise for some, New Orleans is a premier destination for authentic Vietnamese food, thanks to its large Vietnamese population. And the Westbank is one of the best places to find great Vietnamese food. Kim Son is one of the more popular restaurants and has a more mainstream Chinese as well as authentic Vietnamese menu. The Chinese food is ordinary at best, but the real pleasure lies in the Vietnamese selections. My favorites are the Vietnamese spring rolls for appetizers - the cilantro and other fresh vegetables are very refreshing - and the salt braised crab and charcoal shrimp over vermicelli as entrees. In fact, any of the salt braised or clay pot options are winners. The prices are kept reasonable with seafood entrees under $15. Additionally, the lunch specials are quite popular. Parking is not a problem as there is a parking lot in front of the restaurant, easily accessible from the Westbank expressway.

3) Nine Roses (Westbank)
Stats: Genre - Vietnamese/Chinese, Price - $$, Ranking - 3 stars

Nine Roses is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the New Orleans area. Although not the best location for pho, Nine Roses, nevertheless, has tasty entrees and is a great option for family dinners and other get-togethers. The staff is friendly and accessible and is was willing to make changes to the menu to suit our needs. For example, with many of the dishes that included pork, the kitchen substituted another ingredient in its place. Many local restaurants are unwillingness to do this, so it was a refreshing change. Again, I went with a large group and we were able to sample many dishes, but my favorite was the catfish clay pot; the fish was so tender, and the sauce was just fabulous. This restaurant is also pretty easy to find, right off the Westbank expressway, and there is a large parking lot right in front of the main entrance.

4) Juan's Flying Burrito (Garden District)
Stats: Genre - Mexican fusion, Price - $-$$, Ranking - 2.5 star

Juan's Flying Burrito is a fun, grungy locale on Magazine St. that serves good burritos at an even better price. I recently went there with friends for drinks and a quick bite to eat, and we ended up spending less than $10 per person, including tips. What's great about the place is that the menu is really amenable to change. In fact, it's hard to find that many Vegan options in the New Orleans area. The super burritos are quite tasty and large; I had a shrimp one, and it was very filling. The staff is also courteous, friendly and down to earth. Parking can be a hassle, depending on the time of day, but there's usually always side street parking. Good times, good times.

Restaurant Reviews Part III (Superior Grill, Hookah Cafe, China Rose, Five Happiness, Elizabeth's)

Okay, I realize it's been a while since I last updated, and I've eaten at A LOT of places since then, so I'll try to do my best to catch up.

1) Superior Grill (update) - I still mostly agree with my original review, especially about the fact that Superior Grill is fabulous for large groups, as I have eaten there many, many times with members of my med school class. The food is decent, albeit greasy, so it's probably best to stick with the fajitas, which are quite tempting.

2) Hookah Cafe (Marigny)
Stats: Genre - Asian/Creole fusion, Price - $$, Ranking - 3.5 stars

Hookah Cafe is one of the gems of Frenchmen Street in the Marigny. In a street filled with jazz clubs, bars, and other live music venues, Hookah Cafe is a great addition to the list of chill establishments that offer a fine alternative to the drunken and tourist heavy! Bourbon Street/Quarter. As the name suggests, Hookah cafe is primarily a hookah bar/lounge, but it offers some tasty small plates (tapas), the majority under $10. The fried green tomatoes Napoleon rank among some of the best fried green tomatoes I have ever tasted. Stacked between succulent bites of shrimp and crawfish, the tomatoes are tender and juicy and complemented with a butter-cream sauce. In fact, I was quite full after the meal. The goat cheese dumplings are a fine choice for appetizer and come with an orange-ginger sauce that suits the strong flavor of the goat cheese. Aside from the food, the atmosphere of Hookah Cafe is its strongest selling point, with dim lighting, high ceilings and plush couches. Plus, a lemon-mint hookah at the end of a meal goes down nicely. Street parking may be hard to come by, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. But, there are several pay to park lots only a block away from Hookah Cafe.

3) China Rose (Metairie)
Stats: Genre - Chinese, Price - $$, Ranking - 2.5 stars

For a different take on Chinese food in the New Orleans area, try China Rose, a hole in the wall restaurant located in Metairie. The food is traditional, authentic Mandarin, a nice change from the Americanized Chinese food that pervades most restaurants in the country. I went with a large group of people, and so we were able to try many dishes. Some that stood out include the fried tofu - large chunks of tofu in a succulent sauce, and fried mushrooms in brown sauce. We had various other seafood and meat dishes. One of my friends is a pure vegetarian, but there was plenty for him to eat too. Overall, it was a refreshing, different experience.

4) Five Happiness (Mid-city)
Stats: Genre - Chinese, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 3 stars

Five Happiness is the premier Chinese restaurant in the New Orleans area. Having undergone a major renovation after Hurricane Katrina, Five Happiness is back in business with updated, modern Asian decor. Therefore, the restaurant makes a perfect spot for entertaining visitors as well as conducting business. The menu is extensive and caters to all tastes, with many seafood and vegetarian selections. Unfortunately, the overall quality of the food has taken a nosedive since after the hurricane, which makes me wonder if there is a new chef in charge. Many of the dishes, such as kung pao or hunan specialties, taste the same - only the vegetables are different. The best bets are the Mu Shu shrimp, spicy eggplant and the ginger shrimp with walnuts. Finally, the honey banana with ice cream is a great dessert - fried chunks of banana with honey glaze served hot with vanilla ice cream. Overall, a quality Chinese restaurant in a city known for its food.

5) Elizabeth's (Bywater)
Stats: Genre - Cajun/Creole/Soul, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 3 stars

In the Bywater area of New Orleans, adjacent to the 9th Ward, right alongside the levee, sits one of New Orleans' culinary treasures - Elizabeth's. The homestyle atmosphere is reminiscent of another New Orleans favorite - Jacques Imo's - right down to the colorful tablecloths. I had dinner here with a large group, and we had the upstairs room to ourselves, with a bar and pool table right outside. The staff was also friendly and answered any and all questions we had. Aside from the ambience, the food at Elizabeth's is exceptional. I had the seafood mirliton and fried green tomatoes as appetizers - the vegetables were quite fresh and crisp. For my main dish, I had the grilled amberjack. Amberjack and sea bass are two of my favorite fish, since they have great texture and are soft and flaky. The amberjack at Elizabeth's was quite good, as were the accompanying vegetables. The only issue we had was when it came time to pay, and the restaurant was not equipped to handle our mix of cash and credit cards, which every restaurant should be able to do with large parties. Parking is not a problem, as there is plenty alongside the levee. Overall, my party and I had a wonderful time at the restaurant.