NOLA Eats | Port of Call & Napoleon House

Dinners in The Big Easy were memorable, but make no mistake the brunches and lunches were just as noteworthy. The laid-back food and drink establishments in New Orleans are top notch.

From the burgers at Port of Call to the Jambalaya and Muffuletta at Napoleon House to the Beignets at Cafe Du Monde and the not-to-be missed upscale three course brunch at Brennan's, we ate like there was no tomorrow. (Warning: this is no time to start a diet.) It is doubtful I can pack all the aforementioned spots into one post; but if my first two recaps have you off planning a trip, there is a lot you need to know about lunch down here and I'm not about to skimp on the details.

Port of Call sits on the outskirts of French Quarter bordering a neighborhood called Marginy. It is definitely walk-able, providing a nice leisurely stroll down Bourbon only slightly off the beaten path at 838 Esplanade Ave. We entered through a battered forest green door with an awning to match over head and a tiny brick stoop underfoot. We hesitantly maneuvered past the crowds inside, searching high and low for a hostess after no one seemed eager to greet us. It was super busy and felt like a local haven. Dimly lit with dark wood weathered walls, Port of Call is a convivial dive with décor representing its namesake. A thick maritime rope net drapes overhead and nautical maps and rafts line the walls.

Hostess, are you in here?! Eventually we flagged her down on the opposite side of the bar.It was only about a 10 minute wait after we put our names in. We were seated in a crowded back room at a table squished in the corner. With a window front view overlooking a side street, daylight streamed into this section of the bar. Heavy drapes convened in the corner and a framed vintage Hawaiian themed poster hung on the opposite wall. Port of Call was recommended to us with a note that they had amazing burgers. We were a bit surprised to learn that burgers are the only thing on the menu. I barely exaggerate. There were a few entrée options along the lines of a $30 Filet Mignon and rib-eye steaks. Sides come only in the form of a baked potato - no French fries here!They do offer your typical rowdy NOLA cocktail menu but we started off easy with bottles of Abita Amber. With the limited menu selections dictating our order, the decision was an easy one: burgers and baked potatoes for all!! Eventually we had to laugh at the fact that someone would recommend you "get a burger here" when it is legit all you can get! Word to the wise. That being said, I wasn't at all unhappy about this. In fact, I was absolutely thrilled with my burger. A large juicy monster of a patty came loaded to the nines with long strands of shredded yellow cheddar cheese, a boatload of crisp onion, a thick slice of tomato and tangy dill pickles. I have never experienced this much cheese, never mind the fact that it is shredded, on a burger until now. Incredible! Barely contained by a soft sesame seed bun, this is one of those dive in face first and make a mess of yourself in the process burgers. And a serious hangover cure to boot, thank you very much! The enormous piping hot baked potato comes loaded with your choice of sides; cold sour cream and thick coils of freshly chopped green onions were the natural compliment.Our waiter was a nice guy - very attentive, making sure to offer us more beers and promptly delivering extra napkins before we had to ask. Best burger in the city of New Orleans? The locals will tell you so. Must visit while here? I'm tempted to say yes! Sure you can get a burger anywhere, but this is truly a damn good one. I am ultimately really glad we ventured here for lunch on our first day. If you wanted to do the same I wouldn't steer you elsewhere, unless you had limited time and in that case I would definitely recommend you to visit this next spot...

On our second day we went to lunch at Napoleon House, an iconic café and bar with historic French Quarter atmosphere situated at 500 Chartres St. Locals and tourists alike flock here whether for lunch, dinner, late night, or a drink at the bar.

White paint chips off from the brown walls where antique framed photos hang in a haphazard collage. It is immediately charming and wants to transport you to another place and time, a characteristic I've come to realize is typical of many bars in NOLA.

We entered to find yet another line at the hostess stand and no hostess in site. Today we were in a time crunch with reservations to board the Steamboat Natchez in the near future, so when four seats opened up at the bar and a good 5 minute wait later saw us no closer to speaking with the hostess, we jumped right up.

We were greeted immediately by a hardworking bartender with character. Ha! Not Napoleon, the gentlemen below.

Already a Bloody Mary deep (to-go from the hotel bar makes for a fabulous morning pick me up) the Pimm's Cup ($5.50) was eager to please.

The British Gin based liquor is combined with lemonade, a splash of lemon-lime soda and garnished with a cucumber for the epitome of a refreshing cocktail. Wouldn't you know, this is actually the beverage that Napoleon House is known for. Order one for sure. They are also known for their Muffulettas ($14) the Italian sandwich infamously associated with New Orleans. Definitely a must order while in NOLA, a whole sandwich here only costs $14 (trust me that's a deal, it's HUGE). We decided to split one four ways. You could also order a half ($7.50) or a quarter ($4.25) on its own. The whole sandwich is served on a round sesame seed loaf and cut into quarters. The amazingly fluffy yet dense bread is layered with classic Italian sandwich meats including ham, Genoa salami and pastrami. Dueling cheeses in the form of swiss and provolone melt generously over a house-made olive salad. The "salad" seals the deal with crispy bites of celery, salty capers, red peppers and of course, small chunks of olives. Accompanying the main plate are crispy pickle spears, whole olives and pearl onions. I believe a typical Muffuletta is served cold and therefore Napoleon House's version is significant for being the only hot one in town.  The menu offers a side of portion of Jambalaya ($3.25) with any sandwich. A classic creole rice based dish combining peppers, onions, tomatoes and celery with chicken, sausage and whole lot of spices, this small scoop ended up being the perfect accompaniment to the muffuletta.The fact that easily shareable and smaller portions were offered on the menu, combined with the swift service of the bartender allowed us to finish quickly and be on our way in time to board Steamboat Natchez for a cruise on the Mighty Mississippi. 

Port of Call

838 Esplanade Ave

New Orleans, LA 70116

Napoleon House

500 Chartres St

New Orleans, LA 70130