Hot Tips
Notes from a mostly victorious weekend entertaining particular out-of-town visitors:
Six adults can squeeze comfortably along the oyster bar at Casamento's (4330 Magazine St., 895-9761).
The cooks at Liuzza's by the Track (1518 N. Lopez St., 943-8667) have found a way to make pretty good soup from a B.L.T.
No, aside from iceberg lettuce, there are no green vegetables at Mosca's (4137 Hwy. 90-W., Avondale, 436-9942).
You can find green vegetables at Lulu's in the Garden (2203 St. Charles Ave., 566-1200) during brunch, but no one will order them when there's fried chicken with waffles.
Cocktails always help. Herbsaint's (701 St. Charles Ave., 524-4114) Half Sinner Half Saint (equal parts dry and sweet Californian Vya vermouth, with a splash of Herbsaint), the Rib Room's (621 St. Louis St., 529-7045) too-smooth-for-safety golden margarita, and Bourbon House's (144 Bourbon St., 522-0111) sabayon-rich bourbon milk punch, were the weekend favorites.
Reveillon Time
This year's officially sanctioned Reveillon menus can be viewed at www.frenchquarterfestivals.com. I recommend the sprawling one offered at Upperline (1413 Upperline St., 891-9822); this month, it adds to the restaurant's perpetually festive air. The price is $38 for four well-portioned courses, including signatures like the oyster and watercress soup, the fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, and the roasted duck with ginger-peach sauce.
Caribbean Holiday
The Holidays in the Caribbean menu at Mango House (8115 Jeannette St., 862-5848), available all month for $32.95, begins with a sorrel cocktail and progresses through four courses including choices of roasted pumpkin soup and duck with guava glaze.
High Marks
Proprietors Greg and Mary Sonnier are celebrating Gabrielle's (3201 Esplanade Ave., 948-6233) 27-point rating in the Zagat Survey by offering a three-course menu for $27 on weeknights throughout December. In addition to regular Friday lunches, Gabrielle will open for lunch on consecutive Thursdays, Dec. 16 and 23.
Indigo's New Mood
Indigo (2285 Bayou Road, 261-8652) is newly open for dinner on Wednesday evenings with a three-course menu for $24.95. Chorizo cakes with spicy tomato remoulade, pork tenderloin with andouille-cornbread stuffing and creme brulee are among the special menu's offerings.
Grand Opening
Oasis, a Middle Eastern pastry shop adjacent to Cleopatra restaurant (2701 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 361-1113), is now open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Other Stories This Week in Cuisine:
Wine of the Week
Piper-Heidsieck Brut Non Vintage
Reims,
France
$28-$33
Restaurant Review
Margaux's
Other Stories by Sara Roahen:
Restaurant Review 12 07 04
Restaurant Review 11 30 04
Restaurant Review 11 23 04
Sara Roahen Archives
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