RSS

Tag Archives: New Orleans

Review: The Company Burger

Company Burger with Bacon and Yard Egg

The burger craze is in full effect in New Orleans and the newest burger joint on the block is The Company Burger. Serving burgers, sides and beer is a pretty much fool-proof concept, but The Company Burger’s concept is not only fool-proof, but genius.

In my visits to The Company Burger I’ve tried just about everything. My favorite? The Turkey Burger. Yes, that may sound weird and health-conscious, but it’s the best turkey burger I’ve ever had. The patty is thin and juicy, but the tomato jam, green goddess dressing and arugula it comes standard with really push it over the top. I could eat one every day and die happy.

The Lamb Burger is also a solid choice, but falls just short of the Turkey Burger and the Company Burger if you ask me.

However, The Company Burger’s biggest seller is its antibiotic/hormone-free beef patty burgers. The only items complementing the beef patty? Red onions, American cheese and housemade bread and butter pickles. It’s simple, it’s grilled to perfection and it’s full of flavor. I can usually never resist adding bacon and a yard egg to mine. There’s nothing better than an egg yolk bursting in a burger and creating a rich, makeshift sauce.

Speaking of sauces, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the mayo bar at The Company Burger. All of the mayos are made fresh daily and there’s a mayo for every tastebud. The Basil Mayo is the best in my opinion. Especially when you dip the Sweet Potato Fries in it. I also like making my own Sriracha mayo which is something I wish they would add. The Company Burger also offers Baconnaise, but I have to admit, I wasn’t a big fan. It was too sweet. The best part is that you can mix, match and sample as much as you want so the mayo combos are endless.

The Company Burger, Brisket Sandwich and Onion Rings

The sides at The Company Burger are just as well done as the burgers. The Company Fries are handcut fries that always come out crispy and salted just right. Plus, the skin is left on which is always something I enjoy in a fry. The Sweet Potato Fries and Tater Tots are also great choices. As for the Onion Rings, they rank in the top three for onion rings I’ve ever had. Made with red onions, the batter and the sweetness of the red onion combine amazingly to create a heavenly onion ring.

On one visit, I was fortunate enough to sample the Brisket Sandwich. It was so great, I’m thoroughly disappointed it was a special. It held its own against most briskets I’ve had in Texas, and Texas is serious about brisket. The homemade cole slaw and brisket were an example of crunch, sweetness, saltiness and meatiness. On second thought, I’m glad it was a special because it would be trouble for my belly if it was a regular item.

Tin Roof Beer at Company Burger

The Company Burger has a great beer and cocktail selection that seems to be continuously expanding. Local beers and other beers from all over the country are available. I really enjoyed the Tin Roof I had on a recent visit. The cocktails are also meticulously crafted and worth sipping on.

If you still have room for dessert, The Company Burger has some very decadent brownies which are probably best split. There’s also a Carrot Cake, but I’ve yet to try it. I usually don’t have room for dessert after scarfing down my burger and fries.

The Company Burger is the perfect example of a neighborhood burger joint sticking to burger roots, but experimenting enough to please consumers from all aspects of life. This is a great place to bring anyone because if they can’t find something worth eating on the menu, there’s something wrong with them, not the restaurant.

The Company Burger is located at 4600 Freret St. and is open daily (with the exception of Tuesdays) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Takin’ the Streetcar

28 Sep

The Streetcar at Sunset

I’ll start out with an admission: for the first three years I live in New Orleans, I never rode the streetcar. Thankfully, I hopped on during my fourth year. There’s just something about taking a streetcar ride through uptown New Orleans that feels so timelessly authentic. Maybe it’s the history of the streetcar itself, maybe its the palatial homes along St. Charles. Whatever it is, it’s definitely an inspirational journey.

What was once something I never paid much attention to is now one of my favorite ways to get around in the city. Think about it. On a standard ride from the beginning of the line to the end of the line you pass Oak Street, Camellia Grill, Tulane, Loyola, Audubon Park, The Wedding Cake House, several daiquiri shops, Fat Harry’s, Superior Grill, Avenue Pub, a Popeye’s, Lee Circle, Lafayette Square, and countless restaurants. It’s like a who’s who of New Orleans all along the same tracks. I’m not sure you could ask for more whether driving, biking or riding. Plus, the $1.25 fare each way really can’t be beat in the days of close to $4 gas prices.

In addition to all the great stops along the route, there’s always something happening along the streetcar route. In fact, just yesterday, a lady was passed out on the tracks near Napoleon causing the whole line to come to a halt. Still not convinced? Only two weeks ago, an errant driver hit a streetlight post and shut down the service. And let’s not forget the tree that fell on the tracks right after Tropical Storm Lee.

The Streetcar in Motion

While all of those incidents may sound like reasons NOT to take the streetcar, in actuality, they are perfect reasons for taking the streetcar. Point being, it’s never a boring ride. How else can you explain such an unconventional mode of transportation serving generations of New Orleanians?

On a serious note, the streetcar drivers are some of the best designated drivers in the city. We know we like to drink, the city knows we like to drink so they hired us a full fleet of designated drivers at minimal cost to us New Orleanians.

So next time you’re looking for any interesting way to get around (whether you’re sober or not), don’t forget about the New Orleans institution that is the New Orleans streetcar.

Review: Pho Tau Bay

27 Sep

Pho Tau Bay Vietnamese Cuisine

Great Vietnamese food isn’t hard to come by in New Orleans, especially on the Westbank. While it took me at least two years to fully discover the Vietnamese restaurant scene, it’s become some of my favorite cuisine. I love the freshness of the ingredients used, the complex combinations of ingredients that create the perfect balance of spicy, cool and crunchy. Another plus is not feeling like you’ve just inhaled the food equivalent of a bus the way some other cuisines do.

One of the best places for Vietnamese in the city is Pho Tau Bay. While it may not be as traditional as some of the other Vietnamese restaurants in the city, it’s definitely one of the most convenient. While I think there is better pho and better banh mis in the city, Pho Tau Bay overall offers a great menu that’s affordable, delicious and quick.

Pho Tau Bay Vermicelli Bowl with Pork and Egg Rolls (B3 on the menu)

They definitely have the best Vietnamese egg rolls in the city. Nothing I’ve had elsewhere even comes close. In fact, I usually order them as an appetizer (to share if I’m feeling generous) and I add them in a vermicelli bowl if that’s what I order. The companion nuoc mam sauce really sends them over the top. The wrapper is crispy, but not crunchy and the filling is always fresh and complex in flavor.

After chowing down on the eggrolls, I normally go with one of the vermicelli bowls. While it’s a nice size portion, you can upgrade to a large for only a dollar more. Filled with noodles, lettuce, cucumbers, fried shallots, carrots and meat of your choice, the bowls make for a great lunch or dinner. While I don’t know the ins and outs of the nutrition facts, I can’t imagine them being nutritionally void.

While I’m not crazy about Pho Tau Bay’s banh mis, they’ll do in a pinch. The bread is good, the meat is good, but the pate and jalapeno on traditional banh mis are missing so they don’t quite stack up to other banh mis in the city.

Pho Tau Bay Banh Mi with Pork (BM#5 on the menu)

The pho is great at Pho Tau Bay as is the PTB wonton soup. The broth at Pho Tau Bay doesn’t feel overly salt and isn’t as greasy as other broths I’ve had. The herb basket that come with the pho is also one of the most generous in the city. I always feel guilty not using every leaf of basil, every bean sprout, every slice of cucumber and every jalapeno.

To wash it all down, I highly recommend the soda chanh (club soda with lime juice and sugar). It’s always refreshing, isn’t packed with sugar and has a great tart/fizz combo to it.

Overall, Pho Tau Bay offers inexpensive, quality, fresh Vietnamese food in a hurry. It’s one of the best places to go on the Westbank. So if you ever get the urge to venture across the Crescent City Connection, be sure and stop in for some of the best Vietnamese around.

Pho Tau Bay is located at 113 Westbank Expressway (take the Stumpf exit). Hours: Mon.-Wed., Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

1 Comment

Posted by poboylivinrich on September 27, 2011 in Eatin'

Tags: Banh Mi, Food, New Orleans, Pho Tau Bay, Review, Vietnamese

Review: Dat Dog

26 Sep

The Dat Dog Menu

When you think of New Orleans, the thought of a hot dog doesn’t come immediately to mind. Enter Dat Dog — the Freret Street restaurant doing everything in its power to change that. And if Dat Dog’s success is measured in terms of hot dogs, sausage, bratwursts, kielbasas and all the other things on a bun they offer, they’re off to a successful start. In fact, they’ve already outgrown the original location and will open in a larger venue right across the street.

I can sum this place up in one word: addicting. I’m not sure there’s a better restaurant in New Orleans where the minimalist approach works so well. Everything is equally delicious. The toppings are out of this world.

The most beautiful and delicious assembly line in the world.

But the best part may be the buns. The sourdough complements everything wonderfully. Order anything, top it with anything. You can’t go wrong.

On my first visit I went with a bratwurst topped with chili, cheese, onions and mustard. It turned out to be one of the best things on a bun I’ve ever had. I’ve used subsequent visits to venture out. Another favorite? Crawfish sausage topped with Andouille and avocado. Maybe the thought doesn’t sound too appealing, but let me assure the taste was. The Friday-only special Chicago dog is also a great choice.

Dat Dog Fries

Now about those fries. Crispy. Tasty. Crunchy. Seasoned to perfection. These are some of the best fries in town. Hands down. I’ve yet to try them with chili and cheese, but I can’t imagine it would be a bad idea.

Above all, the thing about Dat Dog that impresses me the most is that it’s consistently great. During my lunch and dinner visits I’ve always been greeted courteously and the food is always top notch. Dat Dog is a simple concept full of complex flavors and an endless variety of ways to dress up a hot dog or sausage.

Dat Dog is located at 5031 Freret Street. Open Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All photos courtesy of Dat Dog.

1 Comment

Posted by poboylivinrich on September 26, 2011 in Eatin'

Tags: Food, Hot Dog, New Orleans, Review, Sausage, Street Food

Love in the Garden

24 Sep

Last night, I attended LOVE in the Garden in the New Orleans Museum of Art’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden. It was a great event with an awesome venue. The food, drinks, entertainment and crowd combined to make a fun night. The Firefly vodka bar helped a lot as well (they may as well have given me a bottle).

The LOVE Sculpture

Organized by local socialite Annie Flettrich (in what she billed as her “retirement event), the event came off without a hitch. Two other friends of mine, Katie Hardin and Jennifer Jeansonne, also helped organize the event. All did a great job!

Local restaurants including Acme Oyster House, Squeal, Zoe W Hotel, Mondo (with my favorite dish of the night — a chicken pate with pickled watermelon rind), Cafe Noma and Le Meritage. While the food was great, we all know why people go to these events: the open bar. For me, the Firefly bar was genius! I think I had at least a bottle, but surprisingly, no hangover.

The Besthoff Sculpture Garden is one of the city’s true gems (as is the entire City Park/NOMA combo). The sculpture/gondola/green space works extremely well as an event venue. I would highly recommend visiting even if an event is not going on, however.

A contemporary sculpture in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA

The Mixed Nuts provided the night’s entertainment. And they really know how to get white people movin’ and groovin’. All of the cover songs were spot on and the band has some nice vocalists and a great horns section.

I have to admit, this was my second favorite event of the year behind the American Cancer Society Hope Gala, but I’m biased because I help organize that one. I’ll definitely be back next year and in the years to come.

Po' Boy Livin' Rich

Tag Archives: New Orleans

Review: The Company Burger

Takin’ the Streetcar

Review: Pho Tau Bay

Review: Dat Dog

Love in the Garden

Follow Po' Boy Livin' Rich via Email

Twitter Feed

Archives

Blog Categories

Tags