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I recently returned from a trip to New Orleans.  Many thanks to the folks who posted a suggestion to the request for information on the list.  I had a great time and got through it without any major problems, but, as usual, you have to manage your dining (and as expected - increase your food budget).

Hard Rock Café , 418 N Peters St, (504) 529-5617, turned out to be a gem of a place.  We talked with the manager, he went over the menu with us and put together a great steak dinner with garlic mashed and vegetables and salad to start.  One of the better meals for the price during our stay.  Went back a couple days later for lunch and had the salad and smoked chicken wings - delicious!

Crescent City Brewhouse, 527 Decatur St, (504) 522-0571, has always been one of our favorites.  Great people on staff that worked with us and OKed the barbeque ribs with baked potato and corn on the cob.  A dozen oysters started this meal - no gluten in oysters on the half shell anywhere in town.

Hip Stix, 870 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 581-2858, in the warehouse district, is an Asian fusion restaurant that had some great noodle bowls and fresh spring rolls.  Other items on the menu had possibilities and the staff was very cooperative in putting a \tegether a great lunch.  Didn't make it back for dinner, but it would definitely work for the main meal.

Harrah's casino buffet, like any buffet, was a bit of a risk, but by sticking to the obvious choices - salads, boiled shrimp, vegetables without sauce, etc, you can fill up.  I made a dent in their supply of steamed mussels in wine & butter sauce - very, very good.  We talked with the waitress and she offered to have the head chef come over to talk with us, which he did.  He obviously didn't have a clue, however, since he had "just come up here a week ago" whatever that meant.  The servers behind the buffet counters were very helpful, however, and knew how the dishes were prepared.  My timing was off and I missed the creme brulee, so I had to settle for pecan pralines and ice cream for desert.

 G W Fins Restaurant, 810 Bienville St, (504) 581-3467, was a great place, but very expensive.  Again, the staff worked with us and offered to make almost anything on their menu gluten-free.  The appetizer was sizzling oysters with a delicious salty sauce and the main course was scallops on a bed of rice and vegetables - outstanding, but as with most high level restaurants not huge portions.  We didn't have reservations, but they seated us at a table in the bar without a wait - we managed to get there just ahead of the party of 32 that waited for their table in the bar which made it a bit crowed, but they handled it well.

The biggest disappointment, mainly because I had been looking so forward to it, was Acme Oyster & Seafood House, 724 Iberville St, (504) 522-5973.  The very helpful staff went over the menu and unfortunately, though the fried oysters were breaded with corn flour only, they fry other breaded items in the same fryer and advised that they would not be safe for me.  I don't know if it was just that night or if that is the way they do it now, but no fried oysters for me this trip!  The jambalaya, and gumbo both start out with flour rue, and that put them off limits, so the meal was oysters on the half shell and red beans and rice - without the cornbread.

Overall, the people in New Orleans are great, the French Quarter is just about like it always was, just a bit smaller crowd than before.  Go, eat, enjoy!

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