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SPRING RESTAURANT
GUIDE
2003
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
V
VAQUEROS
4938 Prytania St. 891-6441
www.vaqueros-restaurant.com
It's practically a prerequisite to start your Vaqueros experience with the salsa sampler, featuring five different homemade salsas to tantalize your taste buds. Order one of multiple margarita choices as an accompaniment, and prepare for main courses such as fresh gulf fish stuffed with chaytoe and oyster dressing finished with tomato tarragon butter sauce, or grilled venison served with crispy corncakes and berry demi-glace. Reservations recommended for parties of six or more. Breakfast and brunch Sunday, dinner daily. Credit cards and checks. $$
VEGA TAPAS CAFE
2051 Metairie Road, Metairie 836-2007
Considering that most people love appetizers, it is hard to believe that Vega Tapas is the only tapas restaurant in town. Try the smoked duck breast with pistachios, sun-dried cranberry couscous, or the tomato Napolean: polenta-crusted tomatoes are layered with goat cheese, baby spinach and basil pesto. Early birds can come in for a special early evening menu from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. Dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $$
VENEZIA
134 N. Carrollton Ave. 488-7991
Even the construction on Carrollton Avenue can't hide the fact that Venezia is a Mid-City mainstay with its classic Italian dishes prepared for hearty appetites. Consider the eggplant Vatican, a hollowed-out, batter-fried eggplant stuffed with a seafood cream sauce. The family vibe seeps into other favorites including the traditional veal parmigiana and Venezia's pizza. Reservations for Monday through Friday only. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
VERA CRUZ
7537 Maple St. 866-1736
Vera Cruz pulls double duty with Mexican and Cuban offerings complemented by a wide selection of vegetarian items. For Mexican fans, The Guadalajara is two chicken enchiladas cooked with salsa verde, smothered in white cheese and topped with guacamole, while Pechuga Gratinada is grilled chicken breast broiled with spinach and smothered in Monterey Jack cheese and salsa verde. Whatever your choice, you can now enjoy your meal at Vera Cruz's new outdoor patio dining section. Reservations accepted. Lunch Thursday through Saturday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit Cards. $
VERANDA RESTAURANT
444 St. Charles Ave. (Hotel Inter-Continental) 585-4383
www.new-orleans.interconti.com
Chef Willy Coln's dishes reflect influences from his native Germany as well as Cajun and Creole cuisine. The result is healthy yet robust menu. Lunch is done buffet-style, with a number of salads and soups offered; the Sunday brunch is also a buffet but with champagne and an emphasis on local favorites. Popular dinner entrees include shrimp Barataria, filet mignon, and veal. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$
VERONA RESTAURANT
1821 Hickory Ave., River Ridge 739-9875
Verona can please diners regardless if their taste is surf or turf. From the sea, the kitchen specializes in Gulf shrimp simmered in fricassee lobster sauce over angel hair pasta. For meat lovers, there's the pork tenderloin marinated in honey and rosemary accented with orange peel, grilled on apple wood and served with rice pilaf. Reservations recommended for parties of six or more. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$
VERTI MART
1201 Royal St. 525-4767
New Yorkers may be able to grab a quick slice when they are on the go, but
New Orleanians can slip into this French Quarter corner store and grab a po-boy
just as quickly -- "open all night, baby." Verti Mart recommends two new sandwiches:
All That Jazz, which features grilled shrimp, ham, turkey, tomatoes, mushrooms,
Swiss and American cheese and WOW sauce on French bread. Delivery available.
No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards for in-store purchases. $
VESPERS' BAR & GRILL
1414 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 833-0050
Vespers' offers burgers, steaks and cheese fries along with the Cuban sandwich on their expanded menu. Enjoy two-for-one well drinks and beer during Monday through Friday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Salsa lessons take place 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and cost only $10 a week. No reservations. Dinner Wednesday through Friday, late-night Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $
VETERANS EXPRESS SUSHI BAR
8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 466-1129
For a cheap way to satisfy your sushi jones, stop in here for six-piece rolls
priced at $2.99, while a la carte sushi costs 99 cents per piece. The "Roll Call" includes
Alligator Rolls, Caterpillar Rolls, Spider Rolls, Red Hot Summer Rolls and the
Flying Dragon Roll, which sushi chefs create from shrimp tempura, snow crab,
avocado and smelt roe. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
No delivery. Credit cards. $
VIC'S KANGAROO CAFE
636 Tchoupitoulas St. 524-4329
An Australian-inspired pub, Vic's is located in the Warehouse District. Many enjoy the Guinness-enhanced shepherd's pie. Hot lunch specials are served during the day. At night nibble on bar food as you enjoy various Australian wines. No reservations. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $
VICTOR'S
921 Canal St. (The Ritz-Carlton Hotel) 524-1331
www.ritzcarlton.com
With menu changes every two months, Victor's is determined to keep their internationally influenced cuisine fresh. In his three years at the helm, Chef Frank Brunacci has won rave reviews for innovative dishes such as a roast lobe of fois gras served with caramelized daikon root and a spice tuile, and a lobster tail served with corn cake and a warm nicoise salad. Reservations recommended. Breakfast daily, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$
VINCENT'S
4250 Hwy. 22 (Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center), Mandeville (985) 624-2300
4411 Chastant St., Metairie 885-2984
7839 St. Charles Ave. 866-9313
Vincent's has that neighborhood feel with an Italian flair. With daily specials and a menu packed with Italian staples, Vincent's will keep you coming back. Try the housemade cannelloni stuffed with baby ground veal, pureed spinach and Parmesan. Reservations accepted; recommended for large parties and on weekends in Mandeville. Lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner daily Uptown; lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday in Metairie; lunch Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, and dinner Tuesday through Sunday in Mandeville. Credit cards. $$
VISKO'S
516 Gretna Blvd., Gretna 366-1516
This Gretna seafood house steams, fries, boils, broils and grills all manner of seafood, much to their customers' delight. The Seafood Saint Vincent is fish sauteed in a buttery seafood stock and topped with shrimp and crabmeat. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
VOODOO BBQ
1501 St. Charles Ave. 522-4647
8550 Pontchartrain Blvd. 283-8301
8853 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie 496-0005
www.voodoobarbecue.com
Stop in for great barbecue at this dine-in/take-out favorite. If you're there
on a Monday, check out the hot wings -- only 25 cents at the bar. One of the
house specialties is the pulled pork and beef brisket, which takes 16 hours to
prepare, while all the barbecue meats are seasoned with a dry rub. No reservations.
Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
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