NOLA's Coolest Meals & Deals
August in New Orleans is hot, but you don't have to be! Take advantage of COOLinary where, for the entire month of August, local restaurants have speciality, fixed price meals for more affordable prices. COOLinary offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menu options, depending on each participating restaurant's cuisine. With over 140 participating restaurants, there is something for everyone.
Check out 10 of these great restaurants for some of your next COOLinary favorites.
1. Arnaud's
813 Bienville St., (504) 523-5433
arnaudsrestaurant.com
A beloved French Quarter favorite, Arnaud's is known for the excellency of its food. It is truly one of those places where it doesn't matter what you order, because everything is so well done. With dining options from the formal dining room to the French 75 and Richelieu bars, to the Jazz Bistro, Arnaud's caters to everyone and for every occasion.
For COOLinary, they are offering a dinner menu with three courses for a fixed price of $55 per person, Monday to Saturday. The first course offers a choice between their Tuna Tartare, Seared Louisiana Jumbo Shrimp, Lobster Bisque, and Celeri Remoulade. For the second course, there is a choice of Swordfish Milanese, Pan Roasted Snapper, Chicken Fricassee, Risotto, and Pan Seared Scallops (which adds $5 to the total price). The third course offers Mango Coconut Cheesecake, Profiterole Mousse Trio, and Mille Feuille.
2. Commander's Palace
1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-8221
commanderspalace.com
With seven James Beard Foundation Awards, Commander's Palace is a favorite New Orleans destination for amazing food and a warm, sophisticated atmosphere. Managed by the Brennan family since the 1970s, it has a "dirt to plate within 100 miles" policy of sourcing 90% of its ingredients from a 100-mile radius of the restaurant.
For COOLinary, Commander's Palace is offering expansive brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. The brunch menu, offered Saturday and Sunday, includes three courses with starters such as the Summer Cucumber Salad, Commander's Creole Gumbo, and Meyer Lemon & Squash Vichyssoise. The second course has options including the Mississippi Blueberry & Pecan Praline Pain Perdu and the Grilled Tournedos of Black Angus Beef. For dessert, try something delicious such as the Southern Style Pecan Pie à la Mode or the Ice Cream & Sorbet Du Jour. Depending on what entree you choose, the price of the meal ranges from $44 to $58.
The lunch menu, offered Wednesday to Friday, shares some plates with the brunch menu and includes two courses. For starters, there are options including the Shrimp & Tasso Henican. Entrees include the Crispy Confit Chicken Leg Quarter, the Tempura Local Summer Squash, and the Cochon de Lait Tostada. Depending on what options you choose, the price of the meal ranges from $23 to $28.
The dinner menu, offered seven days a week, offers three courses with starters such as the Turtle Soup au Sherry and the Soups 1-1-1, which offers one small bowl of each of their three soups. The entrees include choices such as the BBQ'D Duroc Pork Chop and the Café Pierre Painted Texas Quail. For dessert, there is Banana & Coconut Cookie Dough Cobbler, Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake, and more.
3. Brennen's
417 Royal St., (504) 525-9711
brennansneworleans.com
The creators of the Bananas Foster dish in 1951 to utilize banana imports to New Orleans, Brennan's has always been a leader in combining tradition with modern creativity. Brennan's is known for both its brunch and its dinner menus, which are loved by locals and tourists alike. What better opportunity to try Brennan's than during COOLinary?
For COOLinary, Brennan's is offering a brunch and dinner fixed price menu, seven days a week. For brunch, choose between their Banana Upside Down Cake or Turtle Soup for a starter. Then, select their famous Eggs Hussarde or Shrimp & Grits. The dinner menu offers the Rock Shrimp Boil or the Cochon De Lait. Both the brunch and the dinner menu offer a choice of the Snickers or the Louisiana Bread Pudding for dessert. Both menus cost $48 per person.
4. Galatoire's
209 Bourbon St., (504) 525-2021
galatoires.com
Located on Bourbon Street, Galatoire's has been a local favorite for French cuisine since its opening in 1905 by Jean Galatoire. It is still overseen by the Galatoire family today, five generations later, and majority owned by local businessman John Georges. Galatoire's is perhaps most well known for its Shrimp Remoulade and Bread Pudding, the recipes for which can be found on their website.
For COOLinary, they offer a lunch and dinner menu, Tuesday to Sunday. The lunch menu has two courses, starting with the choice between Cucumber Soup and Escargot. For the main course, choose between the Fried Chicken Clemenceau, Fried Des Allemands Catfish, Bronzed Gulf Shrimp, or the Fried Oysters & Grilled Watermelon Salad. The cost of the fixed lunch menu is $28 per person.
The three-course dinner menu has the same starters as the lunch menu with the additional option of the Grilled Watermelon Salad. For entrees, it has the same fried chicken, shrimp, and catfish plates as the lunch menu, as well as a the addition of Broiled Pork Chop. For dessert, there is Bread Pudding and Chantilly Berry Trifle, for a total cost of $58 per person.
5. La Petite Grocery
4238 Magazine St., (504) 891-3377
lapetitegrocery.com
Located in a historic Magazine Street building, La Petite Grocery honors the past while embracing the present. Starting as a tea and coffee market in the late 1800s, the location was successful until the building was destroyed in a 1908. When the shop owner decided to rebuild in the same spot, he created a building that acted as a full-service grocery with a storefront and space in the back for delivery carts and horses. Passing hands twice throughout the years, the building remained a grocery until 1982, when it became a florist's shop. After the florist closed down in the early 2000s, La Petite Grocery was opened in 2004.
La Petite Grocery will offer a COOLinary dinner menu on Saturdays and Sundays. It starts with options of Grilled Broccolini Caesar, Chilled Melon Soup, and Ramp & Basil Arancini. The main course options are Cornmeal Fried Redfish, Handmade Fusilli, and the Grilled Hanger Steak. For dessert, there is the choice of Roasted Peach Cheesecake, Butterscotch Pudding, and Watermelon Sorbet. The cost of the meal is dependent on what entree you choose, ranging from $40 to $56.
6. Rib Room
621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045
ribroomneworleans.com
Located in the Omni Royal Hotel, the Rib Room has been in operation since 1961, offering brunch, dinner, and drinks from its Touché Bar. It has recently hired a new executive chef: Dan Dienemann. Dienemann has two culinary degrees from the Santa Barbara Culinary Institute and two certifications from Le Cordon Bleu. The Rib Room's dining room is iconic and a great place to check out during COOLinary.
The Rib Room is offering a lunch and dinner menu seven days a week during COOLinary. For lunch, it is offering its Rib Room Salad and Turtle Au Sherry for starters. The main dish offerings are the Royal Club Sandwich, Prime Rib Debris Po-boy, and Moss Salad. The meal costs $28 per person, or you can add a side such as truffle fries for an additional $10.
The dinner menu offers Aged Gouda Beignet for the first course, followed by a second course choice of the Rib Room Salad and Turtle Au Sherry. For the third course, choose between a Half Rotisserie Chicken, Queen Cut, or Pan Seared Salmon for a total cost of $58. You can also add a side such as the Mashed Potatoes or Black Truffle mac and cheese for an additional $10.
7. New Orleans Vampire Cafe
801 Royal St., (504) 581-0801
nolavampirecafe.com
A personal favorite, New Orleans Vampire Cafe is a truly unique dining experience in the Big Easy. It combines two attracting factors of New Orleans: the great food and the spooky side of the city. Located in the French Quarter, the Vampire Cafe is a popular place to get brunch, dinner, and drinks—especially their cocktails that come in blood bags! With a vampiric music and gothic chandeliers, the Vampire Cafe offers a nontraditional setting that seems right at home in New Orleans.
The Vampire Cafe is offering lunch and dinner COOLinary menus seven days a week. The lunch menu starts with an appetizer of Turtle Soup, followed by a Pappardelle Pasta for $25. The dinner menu starts with a Roasted Beet Salad, followed by the Pappardelle Pasta, and completed with assorted macaroons for dessert, costing a total of $50.
Additionally, the Vampire Cafe has a sister location that is also offering a COOLinary menu called The Apothecary, which is located across from Pat O'Briens on St. Peter Street.
8. Brutto Americano
600 Carondelet St., (504) 581-0801
bruttoamericano.com
Brutto Americano offers the perfect blend of traditional Italian cuisine and New Orleans culinary flare. Run by the same team behind Costera and Osteria Lupo, Chef Brian Burns and restaurateur Reno De Ranieri, and located in the the Barnett Hotel, Bruto Americano offers a comprehensive food and drink menu in a sophisticated atmosphere.
For COOLinary, they are offering a $56, three-course dinner menu seven days a week. For the first course, enjoy a choice of Seared Gulf Tuna, Beef & Pork Meatballs, or Burrata Con Panna. For the second course, there is the choice of Pappardelle, Rigatoni, Gemelli, and a 1/2 Pound Burger. And for dessert, there is the Italian favorite tiramisu!
9. Tacos del Cartel
1010 Girod St., (504) 354-9038
tacosdelcartel.com
Tacos del Cartel presents a crossroads between the cultures and cuisines of Mexico and New Orleans in a vibrant and colorful setting. With additional locations in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and West Palm Beach, FL, Tacos del Cartel's popularity has only continued to grow.
For COOLinary, Tacos del Cartel is offering a $20 lunch menu Monday through Friday. The fixed menu starts with a beverage choice of lemonade, iced tea, or a fountain drink. Next, choose between Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, or a House Salad. For your entree, choose between five selections of their craft tacos, which come in threes, or opt for the Carne Asada, Roasted Chicken, or Pescado Veracruzana for an additional $6.
10. Cafe Normandie
480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 459-0741
higginshotelnola.com/new-orleans-restaurants/cafe-normandie
Cafe Normandie is located inside of the Higgins Hotel, which is the official hotel of the National World War II Museum. It aims to capture the element of French food and culture we have come to love in the U.S., in large part due to the exposure of American soldiers to French cuisine during World War II.
For COOLinary, Cafe Normandie is offering lunch and dinner menus. The lunch menu is offered seven days a week and includes three courses for $28. The first course is Warm Artichoke & Goat Cheese Gratinee Salad, followed by second course choices of Drum Fish Milanaise and Steak Frites. For dessert, there is a Lemon Meringue Tart.
The dinner COOLinary menu is offered Friday through Monday for $54. Like the lunch menu, it starts with Warm Artichoke & Goat Cheese Gratinee Salad. For entrees, choose between Blackened Redfish and Veal Scallopine Normandie. For dessert, there is a choice between Beignets and the Lemon Meringue Tart.
Don't Miss Out on NOLA's COOLinary Savings!
COOLinary is a great time to take advantage of more affordable menu offerings and check out the restaurants you've been meaning to try. Note that the days in which COOLinary menus are offered differ from restaurant to restaurant, so be sure to check ahead of time!
