re: 10 best restaurants of 9th Ward & NOLA East

TulaneLSU, that is an excellent write-up. I grew up in New Orleans East (even though i'm in Baton Rouge now), and i can appreciate the respect and history lesson you gave. What's sad is that back in the day, even as recent as just before Katrina, there were many many more good eateries in the East.

As i stated in another thread, you're spot on with Castnet at the #1 ranking, but i have to be candid and disclose that i'm partial, as i used to work there, and all 4 of my little brothers have worked there, with my baby brother still working there today. I started working there in 1991 and stayed there for 10 years until i got off of my arse and came to BR to go to cllege. I watched that place grow from a shack to a megaplex.

LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I HAVE ZERO OWNERSHIP OR FINANCIAL INTEREST IN CASTNET SEAFOOD.

However, because i worked there behind the scenes, even played a part in the development of the kitchen and some of the recipes, i can attest to the quality of the ingredients and preparation, and the owner's FANATACISM with the consistency of his product.

Some of the "under the radar" options from the kitchen that i would recommend:

The Tuesday lunch special .. paneed veal with baked mac-and-cheese (that's second only to rocky and carlo's) ... get it with the roast beef gravy/debris.

Fried Speckled Trout po-boy or plate ... they clean a speckle trout from the fresh market next door WHEN YOU ORDER IT ... best fried fish you can get.

ALL of the seafood is fried to order, even the shrimp ... and they shuck their own oysters on site, so they literally have the freshest fried oysters in the city.

They also make a mean 1/2 pound burger, and grilled chicken, both of which are flame grilled .. and they make a nice 6 inch muffaletta.

Probably the one thing i can attest to the most is the cleanliness of their kitchen. Everything in there is stainless steel and vinyl white-board, and is scrubbed and hosed down daily. It's also open where you can see everything going on as they make your food, ... no hidden kitchen.