The 10 best Old Jefferson & Old Metairie restaurants?

We're going through the different parts of Metro New Orleans, giving our top ten restaurants in each. As we've skipped through the neighborhoods, we've learned a little about the history of that place. Today, we're going to learn about two neighborhoods that have always been intertwined, they both even have the word old in their names, but despite being linked so closely, are also entirely disparate. These two areas of highlands look like the forked tongue of a snake from above. Highlands have always been at a premium in New Orleans, so these neighborhoods were both used by Indians in pre-colonial days. Archaeologists were able to find more Indian artifacts in this area of NOLA than any other. In colonial days, the famous Dubreuil family owned much of this land. Joseph Dubreuil was the Tom Benson of the day. He owned 500 slaves and as much land as anyone. He even built the Ursuline Convent, one of the oldest buildings in America. Old Metairie maintained some homes in the 1800s, but not many. The area saw little development until the early 1900s as New Orleans expanded outward. At the time, much of the land was fruit farms and stables. Wild boar were so abundant a section of Old Metairie still is known as Hogs Alley. By 1915, a short trolly was built to connect Old Metairie to Old Jefferson, then known as Shrewsbury. It was around this time that illegal gambling dens opened all along Highway 90 in Jefferson. Jefferson became like the French Quarter of New Orleans, the place where locals went to play. Laws were lax and enforcement of those laws even looser. In the 1940s when mobster Carlos Marcello was looking to expand his empire of casinos, he set his eyes on Old Jefferson. That little strip became nationally known as having the nicest casinos in America. It was the Las Vegas of the South. The good folk in Old Metairie did not approve. They set out to abolish these gambling houses. With the help of the State Police and later, a Congressional hearing, the power of the Old Metairie Protestant elite put an end to Free Jefferson. Today, there is still a divide between the two neighborhoods. Old Metairie, largely extremely wealthy and conservative, is a different world from its brother across Airline Highway. Will we see that division in their culinary offerings? What are the borders? Airline Highways divides Old Metairie and Old Jefferson. Old Jefferson is formed by the river to the south, Clearview Parkway to the west and the Orleans Parish line to the east. Old Metairie also has the Orleans Parish line to the east as a border, but also I-10 to the north and Cleary Ave./Causeway Blvd. to the west.

Top Ten Restaurants by NOLA Metro neighborhood:
Kenner
Metairie
Lakeview
Gentilly
River Ridge & Harahan
Carrollton
Mid-City

As with all lists, you are invited, even encouraged to formulate your own list and critique this list.


10) Mark Twain's Pizza - This is one of the few places in Old Metairie you could throw in Old Jefferson and it would make sense. The pizza here isn't great. In fact, it reminds me of the pizza at Celebration Station, but its garlic-grease crust makes my mouth water. It was a great place to go to as a kid to celebrate Little League wins. The atmosphere is somewhere stuck between 1950s Happy Days and 1980s Saved by the Bell.

9) Mr. Sam's - Mr. Sam's is in the running for the best fried chicken in East Jefferson. The only competition is similarly named Mr. Ed's.

8) Crabby Jack's - Might just be the most overrated poboy shop in the entire metro. Overrated does not mean it's not good. I attribute its high rating to two factors: it's the only decent place in the vicinity and they give huge portions. The rave is the duck poboy. I don't like it. The shrimp is their best and you'll get enough for two or three meals if you get the large.

7) Blue Tomato - One of the stranger fusion restaurants of the Metro. Mexi-talia-gers. The hot plate lunches are good and incredible value.

6) Vega - The best memory I have here is the free bread and chilled tap water glass bottle they bring. The food is okay, but the prices make this tapas establishment a place I would find it hard to recommend unless money were no matter and they wanted to try something new.

5) Rivershack - What a wonderful location and atmosphere. The food is solid, but I think the atmosphere pushes it to #5. Great burgers and the rabbit is a famous dish I will try next time.

4) Parenton's - Another hidden, lesser-known po-boy joint that is as good as any in the city. Parenton's has excellent fried chicken and excellent fried seafood po-boys that are well priced. I often forget about this place, to my loss. You certainly have to be looking for it, but it's worth the search.

3) Little Tokyo - It ranked at #3 in the TulaneLSU best sushi restaurants thread. It is a solid sushi joint with good, sometimes unusual offerings. If they spruced up the joint, it would still be #3, so far is it behind Shogun and Horinoya, but at least the dining experience would be nicer.

2) Radosta's - Consistently a top ten po-boy in New Orleans. I think of it as the Honey Badger of po-boy shops. Get criticized nationally for using pre-cut lettuce? Radosta's don't give a ^%$*. They aren't going to let some snobs determine their food. Why? Because it's great and people love it. This is the best working class place in Old Metairie. It belongs on Jefferson Highway.

1) Chateau du Lac - I have been here when I thought it was as good as any NOLA restaurant. It is without a question the best French restaurant in the city and has been since Crozier's closed. There is a marvelous Parisian bistro feel about it as well. In an area that is bereft of exceptional dining, Chateau du Lac is a welcome exception.