Restaurant Reviews Part VII (Slice Pizzeria, Deanie's Seafood, Jaeger's Seafood Beer Garden, Domilise's Po-Boys, The Store Restaurant)

1) Slice Pizzeria (Uptown)
Stats: Genre - Pizza, Price - $-$$, Ranking - 2 stars

The best things Slice Pizzeria has going for itself are the price and location. In a post-Katrina climate, prices for food (and housing!) have greatly increased, so it was nice to have dinner on St Charles Avenue and not be grossly overcharged.

When I first heard about Slice, I thought it would be a hole in the wall, but the decor surprised me and is reminiscent of some neighborhood pizzerias in New York or even Chicago.

Unfortunately, the food was not up to par with that of pizzerias in New York or Chicago. I ordered the caprese salad as a starter. While the dish had nice presentation, the mozzarella tasted as if it had just been defrosted, though the sauce was a nice touch.

Unlike most pizzerias in the city, Slice actually serves pizza by the slice and offers an array of toppings. However, the slices I ordered came to my table cold, as if they were made hours ago (I suspect they were!). The paninis were better. Also, unlike previous reviewers, I did NOT have a problem with the service. It was functional and efficient, and we were in and out within less than an hour.

For great pizza in New Orleans, I would hit up Reginelli's, Italian Pie, or even LA Pizza Kitchen. But, if you're on a budget and looking for a decent meal, then Slice Pizzeria will work out fine!

2) Deanie's Seafood (French Quarter)
Stats: Genre - Seafood, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 3 stars

While many French Quarter restaurants are grossly overpriced, it's refreshing to find a restaurant that serves simple seafood dishes at a reasonable price. Deanie's Seafood French Quarter location is a relatively new addition to the growing list of quality French Quarter restaurants. It's Bucktown location has been charming locals for years.

NOTE - I want to clarify that Deanie's is reasonably priced for the FRENCH QUARTER. At Deanie's, $7.95 for a pound of crawfish and $3.50 per crab is NOT cheap - it's double what you would pay at other places outside the Quarter. You can definitely find better and cheaper seafood at many other locations across the city.

As previous reviewers have mentioned, Deanie's is a large, clean restaurant; it's not a hole in the wall seafood joint. The service is also fairly efficient. My party arrived there at 7pm on a Friday night, and we were immediately seated.

The dishes at Deanie's are not fancy, and visitors should not expect complexity in the flavors. Rather, Deanie's menu focuses on fried and boiled seafood, as well as some New Orleans classics like crawfish etouffe, charbroiled oysters and BBQ shrimp. Of all the dishes I've tried at Deanie's, I find the BBQ shrimp, charbroiled oysters and boiled shrimp/crawfish to be the most satisfying. The portions are a good size too.

I would avoid the fried seafood - it's bland and tasteless (thankfully there is a bottle of hot sauce kept by your table) and frankly, not all that good for you. The boiled shrimp and crawfish have good flavor, though the seasoning was a bit salty.

The charboiled oysters were tasty, but the BBQ shrimp was my favorite dish. Served in a saucepan with a mixture of oil, butter and spices, this is definitely a dish that sticks to your ribs. Prepare to get your hands dirty because this is a messy dish (lobster bibs are available on request!) While I enjoyed the dish, it would have been even better if they greatly cut back on the oil and butter - the spices alone are what sells it.

I would definitely recommend Deanie's to those visitors in the French Quarter, who want to experience New Orleans seafood without paying outrageous prices.

3) Jaeger's Seafood Beer Garden (Elmwood)
Stats: Genre - Seafood, Price - $$, Ranking - 3.5 stars

After Katrina, New Orleans suffered heavy losses to the Bucktown area, including the destruction of several well-known restaurants. Thankfully, the popular Jaeger's Seafood and Beer Garden has re-opened on Clearview Parkway near Elmwood.

If you're looking for a fancy seafood restaurant, Jaeger's is not for you. But if you are in the mood for good, fresh Louisiana seafood at an even better price, then Jaeger's is the perfect spot to take family and friends.

On my most recent visit, my friends and I had a major crawfish craving and took advantage of Jaeger's great boiled seafood options. We ordered 4 pounds of boiled crawfish (less than $15 total), boiled shrimp and crabs, and heaps of potatoes, mushrooms and corn - the makings of a fine crawfish boil! The charbroiled oysters are commendable, and the lobster bisque should not be missed. I would avoid the fried seafood, though it is passable.

The service was also great, and I'd expect nothing more from this family run restaurant. Plus, our waitress kept bringing us free refills of all our drinks (the menu made it clear that the drinks we ordered did NOT come with refills!)

Overall, Jaeger's is a great place to visit for good New Orleans seafood without shelling out too much from your pocketbook.

4) Domilise's Po-Boys (Uptown)
Stats: Genre - Po-boys, Price -$-$$, Ranking - 4 stars

Ostensibly, po-boys are simple creations: cut loaves of French bread, filled with meat or fried seafood, and dressed with lettuce/cabbage, pickles and your condiments of choice. Yet, not all po-boys are created equal, and in a city where many restaurants serve po-boys, it's hard to find the best one. Domilise's certainly is a welcome home for this challenge and offers some of the best po-boys in New Orleans!

The restaurant is not much to look at. In fact, it blends with many of the other homes on Annunciation, and if not for the massive line waiting outside its doors, you might miss it when driving by. This is a no-frills po-boy shop. As soon as you get inside, you'll only see the small kitchen, where po-boys are being made at the speed of light, a smattering of tables and a bar, where regulars are chatting up the bartender. So when you come inside, take a number and wait your turn. During the lunch time rush hour, wait times can range anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, so it's best to come early.

As for the food, never did something so simple taste so good. My favorite po-boy to order at Domilise's is the shrimp po-boy, which comes dressed on Leidenheimer bread, along with a special ketchup mixture. The shrimp are light and flaky, and the sauce adds an extra kick of flavor.

All menu prices include tax for dressed po-boys. Domilise's is cash only, but there is a small ATM in the back of the restaurant by the bar. Overall, if you're looking for a great po-boy out of the mix of mediocrity, then look no further.

5) The Store Restaurant (CBD)
Stats: Genre - Sandwiches/salads, Price -$-$$, Ranking - 2 stars

Downtown New Orleans contains an eclectic mix of high end restaurants, fast-food chains and hole in the wall sandwich shops. I was surprised to come across The Store, tucked in between several high rise buildings. Finally, I had found a lunch dive that was clean, with nice ambience and dim lighting. It's simple name is contrasted with an extensive menu of sandwiches and salads.

On my most recent venture, I veered away from the sandwich menu and ordered a special, the crawfish risotto. Unfortunately, the risotto was bland and lacked any seasoning (or salt for that matter!) The sandwiches are a better bet, though some are still hit or miss. The Store has a good alternative selection of sides, such as green onion potato salad and sweet potato fries, a nice change from greasy french fries.

The Store also has a good selection of breakfast items, from eggs to pastries and beignets; I actually prefer The Store's breakfast items to the lunch ones. Overall, The Store is a nice alternative to greasy lunches found at other CBD hotspots. When the kitchen fixes its inconsistency in seasoning and flavor, it'll be even better!