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August, Emeril's, Delmonico.

Delmonicos says you can leave your car w/ valet and pick it up after the game. They suggest taking the street car to Poydras and walking 6 blocks to the dome. We have tried this...streetcars are packed and all cabs are full by the time they reach lower St. Chas. Getting a cab post game is a nightmare.

Had resv. at Emeril's prior to last game...it was packed. Valet was full up. He suggested parking on the street and they'd hold our resv. Ha! We dine there regularly so management quickly remedied the situation.

I have a 1:30 res. at Emeril's on Sunday. Any parking advice?

Go park at another restaurant, one owned and operated by locals. Skip Emeril's and all of the other upscale chains (Besh, Brennan clan, etc) and eat someplace where the owner is there and cares about the people.

Ooooo K. Well then. What would you recommend?

Chili Gentilly wrote:Go park at another restaurant, one owned and operated by locals. Skip Emeril's and all of the other upscale chains (Besh, Brennan clan, etc) and eat someplace where the owner is there and cares about the people.

Angry much? I see no reason for bashing these places just because they are great at what they do.

I don't get chili's response. Emeril has been a greeat ambassador for New Orleans. His restaurant is also pretty damned good (at least each time I have been there).

"Chili"? Cmon! It's obvious that he/she is a Lucky Dog vendor and would rather you not fritter your time at an establishment with seats, tables, servers that actually have teeth in their mouths, etc.
You should dispense of all of those immoral pleasures and turn towards the gray water....with the WORKS!!!

Anger comes from years of watching the New Orleans food community being taken over by chain restaurants. I don't want to give my money to the Applebee's chain nor do I want to give it to the Emeril chain. Yes, Emeril, Besh and the Brennans have done some wonderful things for the city and they are outstanding at their original jobs (Emeril and Besh are well known among their professional peers for their "in the kitchen-line service skills"). However, they have chosen to establish corporate restaurant chains. Higher price, higher quality chain restaurants.

Eat where the owner works: you wanted other ideas at the same level: what about Mila or Iris or Bayona or Stella?

Enjoy your lunch and the game. Sorry to come across as the annoying vegetarian at a BBQ but this is an issue that has bothered me for some time and your message come along at the right (or wrong) moment. Now, I must go find the extra buns for my Lucky Dog cart.

Emeril's was as wonderful as ever. What a great game day lunch atmosphere. And parking was not an issue because we parked downtown at 11 AM.

Chili Gentilly wrote: Eat where the owner works: you wanted other ideas at the same level: what about Mila or Iris or Bayona or Stella?

Susan is opening in Lakeview where Lago was and Scott also has Stanley, so I'm guessing they too are at risk of becoming (in your mind) chains ?1?