Lunch at La Petite Grocery

[MindyMoo]

While shopping for dresses for our high school reunion Saturday, my girlfriends and I lunched at La Petite Grocery on Magazine Street. We started with the Blue Crab Baked in Brie Cream, which was served with a perfectly browned crust on top... it was DELECTABLE and was enough appetizer for 3 ladies, which surprised me.

For entrees we each ordered something different and shared. I had the BLT with fried green tomato, V. had the burger with arugula and Gruyere, T. had the Pork Cheek Open-Faced Sandwich... everyone raved about the pork and burger, while I think the BLT was one of the weaker items on the table.

Service was exemplary and the dining room was quite full for a Saturday lunch.

[Double M]

Glad you had a good experience, I did not. 5 weeks ago, went for lunch with my sister...terrible service :mad: and lackluster food.:eek: Hope the improvement is permanent.

[bam bam]

The place is very hit or miss. I find the best time to go is for lunch. The menu is limited, there are fewer customers and the service level is at its highest. I do think the food can be outstanding at times but they do miss on occassion.

[spudly]

Didn't Chef Joel Dondis originate this restaurant? It's been a few years!

...But we finally made it to lunch on Tuesday. It's funny since pre-K we were Galatoire's regulars but just recently I want to catch different venues.

I am impressed with the "Magazine St. Corridor"...very vibrant.

OK

We were seated at the window on Magazine...well we were only the 2nd table and since I'm from the northshore I actually liked seeing out. But I did notice most all the regulars wanted to be tucked away from the front of the house.

The crab and brie cream was stellar...could certainly fill up 3 women on a diet and beats the pants off of Besh's gnocchi, brie and crabmeat if only for the quantity.

I was fond of the "oyster stew" which some MILA people could have discribed as a deconstructed oyster rockafellar...but one that works. The anise flavor was pronounced and aggreeable.

We both ordered the "crispy" skin (that's how the waitron said it) redfish with saffron broth over polenta/pureed corn with sliced roasted okra and red bell peppers. There was no skin (thank God) but a nicely encrusted filet of seasoned cornmeal fried crispy. Very good with a lot of saffron flavor in the broth.

For dessert we ordered the shrimp remoulade and was not disappointed. The sauce was a white version that had a heavy lemon flavor that satisfied the sweet tooth.

We were in picking up some artwork at Crescent City Auctions, a very fine place. I don't see us getting back into the city until the fall but these few trips have been nice.

Wine is getting vague but they had a superb rose champagne by the glass that was suprising even at $13 a glass.

[The Bear]

Joel Dondis, born and raised in Lake Charles by the way, is the owner of the restaurant but to my knowledge he has never cooked there. It has gone though several chefs. My dinners there have been excellent but they knew who I was so I may have gotten better treatment. The few times I have meet Joel he seemed to be a standup guy.