A Progressive Dinner in New Orleans

I love visiting New Orleans, be it for just an evening or for a weekend getaway close to home. Recently my husband and I decided on a quick romantic trip, where instead of your typical dinner, we opted for our own version of a progressive dinner. We thought it would be fun, and we had no itinerary or agenda to follow. We just walked around the Quarter and stopped for a drink here or shared a dish there.

The Starter

We began our meal at Felix’s, which is across the street from ACME. We walked right past the shucker and took two seats at the bar, ordering a dozen raw oysters and two Abita Ambers. As we enjoyed these delicious Louisiana oysters, I would glance across the street at the very long line of tourists waiting to get into ACME. If only they knew that Felix’s was just as cool.

The Entertainment

We walked around the Quarter, stopping every now and then to be entertained by the bizarre sights that are New Orleans street performers. When we had enough of the strange, we were entertained by silly — the drunk tourists walking down Bourbon Street. If you are easily offended, or have children with you, stay off of Bourbon Street, especially at night.

The Libations

There are any number of places to enjoy a cocktail in New Orleans, but I’m a sucker for the history and atmosphere of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. It’s not only the oldest bar in the US, but when you think about the pirates that used to hang out there, it makes the place cool, with a K-E-W-L. My favorite spot is the back corner near the piano.

The Munchies

Walking around after having a few cocktails can bring on a bit of hunger. We decided it was time to be carnivores and stopped in at The Clover Grill for a cheeseburger and fries. You haven’t truly experienced Bourbon Street until you’ve been to the Clover Grill on a Friday night.

Stogies

We continued our walk around the Quarter until we came to a cigar shop. My husband likes a good cigar, so we stopped in before moving along.

The Secret Menu Item

We walked a good ways out of the Quarter and over towards The Riverwalk and Harrah’s Casino. We stopped in to put a few dollars in a slot machine before heading to the grand finale — Besh Steakhouse. I took a seat at the bar and ordered my favorite of all favorites, risotto. Besh Steakhouse serves the best risotto I’ve ever eaten in my life. It isn’t on the menu, but the bartender knew what I wanted.

The one thing we skipped? The Lucky Dog cart.

It was a delightful evening filled with a few of my favorite places in New Orleans. Of course, there are many other places I like to eat, and have a cocktail, but as far as good evenings go, this one was tops.