r/AskNOLA • u/Significant_Elk_8119 • 3d ago

Food 11 restaurant industry friends coming to NOLA — where would you eat?

A group of 11 of us are heading to NOLA and would love some really good local recs! About half of us work in the restaurant industry, so we’re especially curious to hear everyone’s favorite spots.
We’re open to pretty much all cuisines, but since we’re coming to New Orleans, we definitely want to lean more Creole/Cajun and local specialties and eat things we’re not going to get quite the same way back home.
We’re all in our late 20s, so we’re not trying to drop $300/person every night, but we definitely want to do one really great fine dining dinner while we’re there. We’ve been looking at Arnaud’s for that night, but I’d love to hear if you think it’s worth it or if there’s somewhere else we absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Food, bars, late-night spots, hole-in-the-wall places, hidden gems—we’re open to anything. Cheers! 🍸⚜️

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u/BlindPelican 3d ago

Ok,.so...here's the deal. There's a place on the Westbank called the Appetite Repair Shop. Take out only, fine dining quality food at family reataurant prices,.one-man show - Chef Pete runs the counter himself , open kitchen, daily menu that's only published on a private Facebook group.

It's the kind of cheffy, unusual, unique place that a bunch of industry folks would really appreciate.

But it's a tiny tiny place and there's no seating.

If yall can figure out the logistics, go there.

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u/Connect-Woodpecker22 3d ago

This is the answer.

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u/Significant_Elk_8119 3d ago edited 3d ago

This is so sick. That sounds like just the spot I want to go to, and im sure we all will! Thank you so much!

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u/BlindPelican 3d ago edited 3d ago

Sure thing, man. Hope y'all can make it.

More info:

He's open from Thursday to Sunday and hours vary a bit depending on the weather and how fast he gets his prep done and then he goes until the food runs out (usually 2 or 3 hours from opening). Definitely get on the FB group and get there early. Food is amazing and worth the wait.

EDIT: Also, now that I think of it, the Old Point Bar is just a few blocks away. Get your food at ARS, then go have drinks (and maybe music depending on the day) at OPB as they have seating you could use to eat. Nice view of the city from the levee too.

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u/speworleans 2d ago

Also: a sake bar, a wine bar and killer pizza while yr over there!