Restaurant Reviews Part VIII (Fresco, Coop's Place, Zea's Restaurant, One Restaurant and Lounge, Cafe East, Rio Mar)

1) Fresco (Uptown)
Stats: Genre - Mediterranean, Price - $-$$, Ranking - 3 stars

Diners looking for healthier quick bites don't have as many options to choose from in New Orleans, where the ubiquitous po-boy and muffuletta, albeit tasty, are not the healthiest choices. Thankfully, the influx of Mediterranean style eateries into the city has provided alternative, healthy choices, and Fresco is no exception.

Located on the busy hub of Maple St near Tulane University, Fresco is a great little gem with an even better menu. Diners have the choice of sitting inside or outside on the patio, which on breezy, sunny days is the better bet - perfect for people-watching! Parking is available in a lot adjacent to the restaurant or off the many side streets in this residential Uptown neighborhood.

The food at Fresco is reasonably priced and comes in large servings. The Mediterranean spicy tomato dip is an excellent start, thick and creamy with a spicy kick. For entrees, I'm partial to the wraps, rolls and sandwiches, but the pizzas and strombolies are good options, too. In fact, Fresco is one of few places that offers to make the food using whole wheat dough and bread - a refreshing change from the white bread loaves that pervade the city. The chicken portabella roll and shrimp pesto wrap and excellent choices; the salads are also large and filling.

Overall, I'd highly recommend Fresco, if for nothing else, to add a little new, healthy and fresh to your diet.

2) Coop's Place (French Quarter)
Stats: Genre - Cajun/Creole, Price - $-$$, Ranking - 3 stars

Coop's is that perfect place for a late night after-partying craving or a chill, no-frills lunch in the French Quarter. It's a small, casual, bar-style restaurant that serves down-home New Orleans style classics at a reasonable price than what you would find elsewhere in the Quarter. Most dishes are under $10.

Coop's is located on Decatur St, just a stone's throw from the French Market, so it's right in the heart of the French Quarter. Parking is available on the street or in nearby lots. The restaurant is not very large, and there are only a few tables/benches inside, aside from the bar in the back. It can get crowded, so be prepared to wait during peak times, though thankfully, the restaurant is not as overrun by tourists as other French Quarter hotspots.

Surprisingly, Coop's has a pretty extensive menu, with ranging from po-boys to jambalaya to etouffee. Almost everything at Coop's is try-worthy, but Coop's is known especially for their jambalaya, gumbo and Cajun fried chicken. I also enjoyed the shrimp creole and crawfish etouffee, which both had a great combination of spices, though the etouffee was too oily for my taste.

Overall, Coop's is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter and enjoy a quality meal at the same time!

3) Zea's Restaurant (Garden District)
Stats: Genre - Cajun/Creole/Soul, Price - $$, Ranking - 3 stars

This review pertains to the St. Charles Ave branch of Zea's. Zea's is an upscale-casual restaurant that serves an extensive array of barbecue, grilled and rotisserie meats, along with several New Orleans classics. Located on St. Charles Ave right off the streetcar line, Zea's makes a perfect spot for a lunch meeting or get-together with friends. Zea's offers complimentary valet, and street parking is also available.

Zea's has great ambience, and the formal, pristine decor evokes many of New Orleans' finest restaurants, which was unexpected surprise for a more casual eatery. The service was also top-notch, and we received our food in a timely, efficient manner.

Zea's has a great selection of lunch specials, which include an entree and one-two side dishes. Most are priced under $15, which is a great deal for the quality of food and serving size. Zea's definitely serves large portions, so you'll get a filling meal at a great price.

My favorite dishes on the menu are the Asian tuna salad and grilled rainbow trout for entrees, and the roasted corn grits for the side dish. The burgers and sandwiches are pretty good too. For diners that don't mind getting a little messy, the ribs are a good bet and come prepared in a variety of ways to your liking.

Overall, I am not a big fan of chain restaurants, but for Zea's, I'll definitely make an exception.

4) One (Riverbend)
Stats: Genre - Mediterranean/fusion, Price - $$$, Ranking - 3.5 stars

I stumbled upon One Restaurant and Lounge by accident one Friday evening, after the wait time at my party's original destination - a popular Uptown restaurant - exceeded two hours. One is an upscale Riverbend eatery that is the perfect choice for a romantic dinner out or a classy evening away from the tourist hordes. In fact, I got the impression that the majority of diners in the restaurant were regulars.

The restaurant itself is not very large, so diners are treated to a more intimate setting. The decor is sleek, modern and minimalist, and the dim lighting sets the mood. Once we arrived at One, we were seated immediately. Throughout the dinner, the service was consistent and efficient. The food is pricey, and the bill came out to around $30-40 per person.

For appetizers, I ordered the pepper-seared scallops atop roasted acorn squash and the tuna carpaccio with sliced avocado and citrus ponzu sauce. Both of these dishes were outstanding. The scallops had just the right amount of flavor, and the pepper was not overpowering. The tuna selection was my favorite dish of the night! The combination of rare ahi tuna and avocado with a citrus sauce was unbelievable - definitely worth the price!

I am giving One three stars instead of four because after such great appetizers, I was ultimately dissatisfied with the main entree. I ordered the pan fried rainbow trout, which unfortunately, was bland and had no flavor. It even tasted a bit fishy, which is NOT a good sign for a fish dish. However, the other members of my party enjoyed the stewed country rib and grilled beef tenderloin main entrees.

Overall, if you're looking to try a classy restaurant with good ambience, then One is the place to go! One Restaurant is located on Hampson Street at the Riverbend. There is plenty of street parking/parking lots nearby.

5) Cafe East (Metairie)
Stats: Genre - Asian fusion, Price - $$, Ranking - 3 stars

With the explosion of Asian restaurants in the New Orleans area comes the introduction of modern Asian fusion restaurants into the mix. Cafe East is a high quality addition to this genre; the restaurant is operated by the owners of Sake Cafe Uptown (a high gloss yet low substance Japanese restaurant on Magazine St). Thankfully, Cafe East is a better alternative.

Cafe East is located in Metairie, right near the Clearview Mall. Parking is available in lots on either side of the restaurant. The decor of Cafe East is decidedly modern, a mix between art deco and contemporary stylings. Combined with the dim lighting, the ambience adds a touch of class to the restaurant.

As for the food, the menu can best be described as Asian fusion, with elements from Pacific rim and French cuisines. The food is reasonable priced, with most entrees under $20; the portions are also quite large. The crawfish spring roll and Mu Shu wraps were excellent starters. I was also impressed by the selection of various sauces that Cafe East offers; different sauces to go with the different cuisines I suppose.

For the main entrees, the Thai red snapper and Samba Delight were excellent - their respective sauces really made the dishes work. I was disappointed with the Ahi tuna, as it tasted very frozen and lacked much flavor. The creme brulee trio was a nice finish to the meal, especially the mango.

Overall, I'd recommend Cafe East for diners looking for a different take on Asian fusion.

6) Rio Mar (Warehouse District)
Stats: Genre - Spanish/South American, Price - $$-$$$, Ranking - 4 stars

In a city devoid of much Spanish or South American cuisine, Rio Mar is a saving grace and provides a much needed alternative to the fried seafood that pervades the city.

Located in the Warehouse District, Rio Mar is only two blocks from the Convention Center. There is plenty of street parking surrounding the restaurant, and validated parking is available for a fee in the Embassy Suites parking garage.

The decor of Rio Mar is simple, with warm tones and basic wooden tables, giving the restaurant a cozy ambience. Rio Mar is first and foremost a seafood restaurant but has a good selection of non-seafood items as well. The head chef and owner of Rio Mar has trained in Spain, so there is a strong Spanish influence pervading the restaurant, as well as some South American delicacies. Dinner at Rio Mar is a more upscale, fine dining experience with larger portions of many of the tapas dishes.

The tapas lunch is a great value because you get to sample small plates from some of the best items off the menu, so you get to try a little bit of everything. My favorite dishes include: the Mixto ceviche (citrusy with a hint of pepper - this dish really hit the palate), Bacalaitos or salt cod fritters (the right combo of salt/fish and a great sauce), octopus Galician style (smoky and tender meat), and the oysters "al ajillo” (garlic goodness). For dessert, the flan was decadent and creamy.

Lastly, the service at Rio Mar was outstanding. With many upscale restaurants in the New Orleans area undergoing service issues, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and efficiency of the waitstaff. Very impressive.

Overall, Rio Mar is an excellent choice for those diners craving a different type of seafood restaurant in New Orleans.