re: NOLA for my first time

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Port of Call best burger in town for an easy eat. Central Grocery for a muffeletta (sp). Café Mespero is good. Usually a line but it moves fast. El Gato Negro is good for Mexican right by the French Market. All of these places listed are $$.

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This is great advice if you are going to be in New Orleans in 1997.

Port of Call is the only one of those places I would send an out of towner, but it doesn't even make my top 5 hamburgers in town. Company Burger holds the title for me.

I agree with other's that Commander's Palace will give you the quintessential New Orleans dining experience. For Italian, I love Vincent's on St. Charles, Domenica in the CBD, and Italian Barrel in the quarter.

I would hit up a Donald Link restaurant for sure. Cochon Butcher is a wonderful lunch spot and Peche is my favorite seafood in the city. Go down Magazine Street and do some window shopping. Walk up and down Frenchman at night (drink in hand!) and find a spot to really listen to some great music. The WW2 Museum is world class. I personally think a morning stroll through City or Audubon parks is worthwhile too, especially if you are trying to recover from a night out.

I like to eat a muffalotta at Napoleon House in the quarter with a drink and just people watch. Royal Street will give you a chance to see a lot of interesting art galleries and street performers.

Bachanal is a great place to grab a bottle of wine and some cheese and enjoy terrific music.

There are tons of other great restaurants and bars to enjoy in the city, if you give us a little direction we could help you find exactly what you're looking for. New Orleans is a very vibrant and exciting place!