Raves & Reviews TRAVEL & LEISURE Have you ever compared a spud to a baby's kiss or a May breeze? You will after tasting the souffle potatoes at Arnaud's. ... Light as snowflakes, they're eaten dunked in a tarragon-happy Bearnaise. You can have these potatoes and leave -- or die, for that matter -- or stay at the restaurant's dark, ornate bar and keep nibbling on smoked pompano slices and triangles of toast, all while plucking small, spicy shrimp from a puddle of superb remoulade. If you'd rather dine in style, reserve a table in the nostalgic main dining room, with its gorgeous mosaic floors and beveled glass windows, or in the Arnaud's Jazz Bistro, where you can indulge your appetite for food and jazz alike. SOUTHERN LIVING New Orleanians know a good thing when they see it, and they hang on to it. Take Arnaud's. This French Quarter member of the culinary old guard is still serving up tradition in grand style...... From the moment you arrive, festivity fizzes in the air. More of the past unfolds on Arnaud's second floor in the Mardi Gras Museum with an astonishing display of exquisite jeweled ball gowns and other memorabilia belonging to the restaurant's former owner...... You don't want to miss this. THE SUNDAY TIMES (LONDON) Louisiana is the foodie heaven of America, with New Orleans right at its gastronomic heart. My personal pick of the city's restaurants would have to include Arnaud's, the 80-year old grande dame in the middle of the French Quarter. SUNDAY, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE MAGAZINE Arnaud's sparkles and offers an updated menu that subtly blends old and new plus one of the city's best-chosen wine lists. CULINARY TRAVELER, CONDE NAST TRAVELER I am revisiting the old classic restaurants of New Orleans, and this trip I chose Arnaud's. I had house specialties that involved first cold, spicy shrimp and then fried trout with fried potatoes, followed by creme caramel and a nap. DIVERSION Critic-Proof. This glittery old-line Creole institution manages to keep on sparkling with such winners as grand puffs of souffle potatoes, and a silky and rich oyster stew with cream. Dress up and bask in the finery of the handsome old main dining room. THE TIMES-PICAYUNE, NEW ORLEANS ... some of the most picturesque dining and banqueting rooms in the city, and food that draws on the best French-Creole tradition. A glittering nostalgia sets the mood in a maze of colorful 19th century dining rooms. The main one, with huge windows of sparkling leaded glass and an ancient tile floor, is the epitome of understated Creole elegance. Excellent. ... the vast menu of luxurious Creole-French classics with earthy yet elegant dishes that inject some new spirit into one of the city's grandest old restaurant. An impressive version of New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp, called "Bellaire," matching big, firm shrimp with an herbal, garlicky sauce of butter and olive oil.Roast Poussin Eleanor, a whole baby chicken whose stunning flavor is underlined with herbs, olive oil and a garnish of bittersweet garlic pods. THE GULF COAST TRUBUNE The brunch menu at Arnaud's, a legendary New Orleans restaurant for over 80 years, offers a unique Creole experience, from aperitifs to dessert..... to the accompaniment of traditional New Orleans jazz. VITTLES, VINTAGES & VOYAGES Good restaurants in New Orleans enjoy longevity becoming legends in their own right. And we had the good fortune to visit some of the most famous..... One evening we dined at Arnaud's, established in 1918....considered the "Grande Dame" of New Orleans dining establishments.... MICHIGAN LIVING Lunch proved that Arnaud's, made world-famous by the late Count Arnaud Cazenave, deserves its restored excellence under Archie Casbarian. The soft-shell crab had a rich, buttery center with crisp legs and light flouring. It was the best of the four versions I sampled this trip. Strawberry Arnaud with whipped cream and ice cream was perfect. THE BRUNCH BUNCH, WHERE NEW ORLEANS Arnaud's is another fine choice for Sunday brunch. ..... the restaurant is housed in a row of historic buildings marked by a labyrinth of handsome dining rooms. On Sundays, when strolling jazz bands echo throughout the halls, diners feast on appetizers such as Shrimp Arnaud, poached egg dishes, omelettes, and grillades and grits. Crepes Suzette is a must for dessert, and no one makes a finer pot of cafe brulot. THE HOMESTEADER One of the best kept secrets in New Orleans is the Mardi Gras Museum tucked away on the second floor at Arnaud's. The 80-year-old restaurant on rue Bienville in the heart of the French Quarter is a New Orleans institution. The museum displays what is probably the most extensive collection of Mardi Gras objects. COUNTRY ROADS Arnaud's .... Mardi Gras museum is devoted to exhibiting the side of Mardi Gras seen only by invitation. One can experience Mardi Gras any day of the year with a visit.... WHERE NEW ORLEANS Where to see costumes - Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum (upstairs at Arnaud's Restaurant) is named for the daughter of the restaurant's founder, said to have been queen of more Mardi Gras balls than anyone in history. The museum was opened by Arnaud's owner Archie Casbarian in 1983, and is free to the public during regular restaurant hours. THE WASHINGTON TIMES Arnaud's covers its corridor and stairway walls with photos of the famous who have been customers. ... This is where ladies wear their Sunday finery -- hats for a special occasion -- and where strolling musicians share New Orleans jazz along with the Shrimp Arnaud. [»top] [»website comments] Arnaud’s - New Orleans Restaurant ©2006 Arnaud's Restaurant, Inc.