Commander's Palace

Emile Commander opened a saloon at the corner of Washington Avenue and Coliseum Street in 1893. Within a few years he turned it into a restaurant patronized by the distinguished families of the Garden District. By 1900 Commander's Palace was attracting gourmets from all over the world. The turquoise-and-white Victorian mansion sits across from Lafayette Cemetery. In 1969, the Brennan family purchased it and began a redesign — large windows replaced walls, custom trellises and paintings were commissioned to complement the outdoor setting. What emerged was a kitchen that produced more great chefs than any other in the city. Paul Prudhomme ran it. Emeril Lagasse ran it. Tory McPhail ran it. Hurricane Katrina damaged the restaurant extensively in 2005. After a full renovation, it reopened October 1, 2006. The James Beard Foundation awarded it Most Outstanding Restaurant in 1996. Tory McPhail won Best Chef: South in 2013. Ella Brennan received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Since 2012, Wine Spectator has given Commander's Palace its Grand Award. Zagat listed it as the Most Popular Restaurant in New Orleans for eighteen years. The 25-cent martini lunch remains a New Orleans institution. Turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé are non-negotiable. Jacket required at dinner. Reservations strongly recommended.