Two Days in NOLA- Part 1

Here in 210 Gibson Hall, the question "what should we do in New Orleans?" is heard almost every day. We love pointing our visitors towards our favorite restaurants, sites, and activities, but we thought it would be fun to take it a step further.

Since so many families come visit New Orleans for just a night or two, we've decided to put together some two-day itineraries for different types of travelers. From the Frugal Foodie to the Sports Addict to the History Buff, our Tulane Admission brain trust came together to provide y'all with different ideas of how to explore our favorite city. In total, we have 8 trips, and we've got the first two for you here today. And of course, they're all about the food!

Hop on the streetcar and go check out these great ideas from our Admission team. Photo by Don Chamblee.

The Frugal Foodie- Owen Knight, Admission Counselor and 2014 Tulane Grad

New Orleans is a food city, and an amazing one at that. However, it can quickly become expensive to try all of these great restaurants you’ve heard of. Fortunately, it is very possible to eat world class food here without breaking the bank. Saving money after flying your family of four down here? Broke college student visiting a friend? Take a look at these happy hour deals and cheap eats!

Lunch: Vietnamese at Lilly's Cafe
New Orleans is home to a large Vietnamese population and thus some great authentic Vietnamese restaurants. I’ve eaten at 7 of the Vietnamese places in New Orleans, and Lilly’s Is the leader of the pack. Definitely treat yourself to some spring rolls ($4/order) and then Vermicelli with Pork or Chicken ($7.95). The pho is also the best I’ve had in New Orleans, and is a bargain and a half at $8.50. Lilly’s location far down Magazine street will allow you to take a nice streetcar ride, or take a drive down one of the best shopping streets in New Orleans.

Pho from Lily's (Chris Granger, nola.com).

Dinner: Pizza Happy Hour at Domenica or Pizza Domenica
You’ve heard of John Besh. Everybody’s heard of John Besh. The charming southern chef owns six of the hottest restaurants in New Orleans. From August to Borgne, you can’t find a bad meal at a Besh restaurant. However, most of the meals ain’t cheap. Fortunately, Domenica has a happy hour that rivals the best. From 2-5pm, pizzas and libations are half price ($9 for a gourmet pizza). Try a couple pies for the table (my favorites include the clam and prosciutto), and you MUST order the cauliflower appetizer. Thank me later.

 Two pizzas and kale from Pizza Domenica (Ken S. on TripAdvisor).

Breakfast: Uptown’s own  Panola Street Cafe
Panola Street Cafe is one of my weekend staples. Just minutes from campus, this neighborhood joint serves up some of the best breakfast and iced coffee in town. It’s also very reasonably priced. You can’t deny a $6 bacon egg and cheese with hash browns, and the California Benedict is the way to go if you’re feeling fancy.

Lunch: America’s Best Fried Chicken at Willie Mae’s
Willie Mae’s Scotch House is a New Orleans staple. By something close to a miracle, they opened a second location just five minutes walking from Tulane’s Gibson Hall. Willie Mae’s Grocery and Deli offers the same amazing chicken and sides at a great price- $10 for a plate. While the tagline of “America’s Best” is often abused, Willie Mae’s certainly worthy of it. Go grab some before your tour!

Who else wants to eat their computer? (Craig Cavallo)

Happy Hour: 50 Cent Oysters at Superior Seafood
The title says it all. 50. Cent. Oysters. Superior Seafood has a great location right on Saint Charles at Napoleon, and Gulf Coast oysters are an absolute steal at this price.

So there you have it- two days of affordable meals that are still delicious. Just because you’re saving money doesn’t mean that you don’t get to treat yo self. Happy eating!

The Health Nut- Rachel Rosenberg, Admission Counselor and 2014 Tulane Grad

While I am in no way claiming to be a health nut myself, I know a lot of people come to New Orleans looking for good food that's not super heavy or fried. I'm here to point y'all in that direction!

Breakfast- Satusma
Popular amongst Tulane students- great salads, sandwiches, and a different “Pancake of the Day” every morning!

Lunch – Seed
A new vegan restaurant with great fresh options for vegans, vegetarians, or gluten free folks.

Raw Veggie Spaghetti (Seed on FB)

Snack – D’Juice
Fruit and vegetable smoothies and juices, all with fresh ingredients. Perfect for a snack, or add whey protein to a smoothie for a meal replacement

Dinner – Carmo
Vegan-friendly restaurant in the Warehouse District – I recommend the banana nut bread for dessert! 

The Rico Salad from Carmo (Lorin Gaudin)

Also make sure to take advantage of Audubon Park’s 2 mile track across the street from campus, or rent bikes or paddle boats at City Park if you’re looking for some activity between meals!

So there you have it, our first two specialized itineraries! Check back soon for the next two. We hope to see you in New Orleans soon!