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New Orleans: Arnaud's

813 Bienville Street , Phone: (866) 230-8895, Locally (504) 523-5433
www.arnauds.com

Reviewed by: sharonzuk from NJ, review #3438

When: 2010

One of the historic NOLA restaurants. Beautiful rooms. Fantastic service. Too bad the didn't measure up.

I started with oysters Bienville. The menu says: "An Arnaud’s original. Shrimp, mushrooms, green onions,herbs and seasonings in a white wine Sauce." The oysters were hidden under a thick topping; I couldn't pick out the flavor of anything, but the oysters were great (after I found them!)

Next up another Arnaud's special: "Roast Louisiana Quail Elzey - partially deboned and filled with foie gras mousse and mushroom duxelle, wrapped with country-smoked bacon and served on a bed of truffle-infused Bordelaise sauce" and "Souffle potatoes - legend has it that Collinet, French King Louis Phillipe’s (reign 1830-1848) Chef unintentionally created soufflé potatoes by plunging already fried potatoes into extremely hot oil to reheat them when the King arrived late for dinner one night. To the Chef’s surprise and the king’s delight, the potatoes puffed up like little balloons. We hope that you will be equally delighted. Served with Béarnaise Sauce."

The potatoes were great: little, puffy pillows of potatoes. The quail? Not so good. The bacon overpowered the dried-out quail, which was over-stuffed with something bland and black. The waiter told me it was wild rice.

To their credit when I said how disappointed I was, the quail was immediately taken off the bill and they sent me "Chocolate Devastation" - a flourless chocolate cake featuring Belgian dark chocolates and espresso. That was great!

I left very disappointed. Maybe it's time to shake up the kitchen and put some life back into the food.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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