fine dining with kids

When we bring our 3 granddaughters to New Orleans in December, we would like to take them out for a few really nice meals. Can anyone recommend a few of the nicer restaurants that are kid-friendly. The girls are 8, 12 and 15 and very well behaved but I don%26#39;t want to take them somewhere where they would feel out of place.

Also, will the nicer restaurants allow sharing of meals? I can%26#39;t eat much due to gastric bypass and the 8 year old doesn%26#39;t eat much at all, so I was wondering if it would be possible for us to just share a meal rather than pay a lot of money for food that would just go to waste.

I know that there will be revillion dinners at that time but not really interested in that...feeding five at a revillion dinner would easily run us $250 - $300 for a meal and that just doesn%26#39;t fit into our budget.

I am considering Muriel%26#39;s and Mr. B%26#39;s, based on comments here...are either of them OK for kids?

fine dining with kids

Of the two restaurant you mention, Muriel%26#39;s might be the better choice. Also, there are some very interesting rooms upstairs at Muriel%26#39;s that the girls might enjoy looking at (simply ask a staff member if you may explore Upstairs - the rooms remind me of a movie stage for a brothel, but are fun to see).

Also, I find that girls really enjoy Commander%26#39;s Palace, especially upstairs in the Garden Room (which you must request when you make your reservation, and it helps if you%26#39;re celebrating a specion something), which is bright and pretty. It is especially nice to go for lunch, and there are always plenty of well behaved children at that time. I%26#39;m not a fan of their Sunday brunch, as I find the roaming musicans a bit intrusive, so I%26#39;d suggest Saturday. I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll have a problem sharing a meal, or do what my mom and I often do (we can%26#39;t eat very much), and just order starters. Commander%26#39;s is in the beautiful Garden District, and is really a must, though call now because around the holidays, they get pretty crowded.

Another thought for December is tea at the Windsor Court. It%26#39;s a small meal anyway, and just lovely. I think three young girls would LOVE it. The hotel is decorated beautifully, and the food is quite good (so much better than the tea I had at the Plaza in NYC).

If you have easy transportation to Uptown, I have even more suggestions. Feel free to email me (via tripadvisor) if you%26#39;d like. And, have a wonderful time!

fine dining with kids

nolachar, thanks for the advice, and yes, we do have transporation, we will have our own vehicle. So please feel free to offer additional suggestions. I wasn%26#39;t aware of the tea at Windsor Court, that definitely sounds like a possibility. I have taken them to a couple of %26#39;teas%26#39; in our town which they absolutely loved. Probably a little bit on the frilly side for my husband, but he will go along with whatever we decide.

It sounds like the girls are very well behaved, so honestly, you will do fine at most restaurants (children in New Orleans tend to start dining out at an early age, as long as they can sit fairly quietly). I initially suggested Commander%26#39;s because it is just always lots of fun (for all ages) and very attractive, so will keep them entertained.

Emeril owns a restaurant on the downtown end of St. Charles Avenue called Delmonico%26#39;s, and I think the girls would be comfortable there (and would like it more that Emeril%26#39;s namesake restaurant). The restaurant itself is elegant, and I think it%26#39;s just beautiful.

Mr. B%26#39;s is a bit more traditional in a masculine sort of way (I happen to love it, but if is fairly plain and sometimes fairly mellow).

Less formal, but also very good restaurants, all of which are Uptown and easy to navigate to (on or just off of main streets), include: Dick %26amp; Jenny%26#39;s, the Upperline and Mat %26amp; Naddies. Though I don%26#39;t have children, I have been to all of these places with children, and we all had a good time. Also, they all include festive, local art, which gives them a funky feel that children seem to enjoy. And, none are ';too frilly'; for your husband! [Note - tea at the Windsor Court is mainly ladies, though I have seen a few men there, and recently went with a man who LOVED it.]

I hope these suggestions help.

I have always wanted to go to Commanders but never been there, so we might add that to our list. I have read wonderful things about Dick and Jenny%26#39;s. Decisions, decisions! I have been to New Orleans 30+ times but eating is not high on my list of things to do (because I can%26#39;t eat much)...but I want it to be special for the granddaughters. I am very well acquainted with the inexpensive places toe at, but not so much on the better restaurants.

nolachar, thanks so much for your suggestions!

I%26#39;ve always been impressed with both the food and the service in the main dining room at Arnaud%26#39;s. I%26#39;m sure they would be happy to accommodate well-behaved children and I%26#39;m equally sure the children would be impressed with the decor and the service.

Here%26#39;s the URL of their web site.

http://www.arnauds.com/

I%26#39;m sure you know this already, but just a reminder that D**k and Jenny%26#39;s (so yummy) is uptown and not in the FQ.

Thanks for the reminder Supreme Court... we will have our car so transportation isn%26#39;t a problem.