Where Are Dick And Jenny

Daughter - college student - all knowing "resident" of New Orleans - proudly proclaimed she knew where Dick and Jenny's was - we drove - from the top of Tchoupitoulas Street to F&M - "cool place for drinking and eating and dancing from room to room" - she asked - "... want to go there?" - and then added - "we went too far ... we missed Dick and Jenny's" - three point turn - we drove back to the beginning of Tchoupitoulas - "look left ... its on the left" - she exclaimed - another three point turn - "it must be further - beyond F&M" - we continued our search - not recognizing the omen -

Eventually found the restaurant - only to ask - after our meal - where were Dick and Jenny -

It had all the elements of classic one-time New Orleans converted-residence-on-the-corner rising to greatness -

27/Food - 24/Service - in Zagat -

CCN worthy -  up from hard luck story of selling plates to finance its opening -

One enters through the back - sipping drinks on an enclosed patio while waiting for a table - assuaging the no-reservation policy - not a terribly long wait - finally led to the front dinning room via a path almost thru the bustling kitchen -

Initially seated at a two-top pressed into service as a three-top - we were uncomfortable - our request to move - prompting a serious mini-conference before eventually being granted - even though the table sought was empty - waiter kept coming by - "are you ready to order/" - rushed - he appeared to be covering the entire 20 table room -

Wanting water for the table - which we saw being served in cute individual jars - unable to get our server's attention - we asked the hostess as she hurried by our newly acquired four-top - "you'll have to get that from your server" - she retorted - long minutes passed before successfully getting his attention - voicing our request - many more minutes before the by now - not so cute - water made it to our table - brought by the hostess !!!

in a timely - unceremonious manner - food appeared via runners - who did not talk - utter a sound - interact other than to put the plates down -

Corn Fried Louisiana Oysters with Southern Slaw & New Orleans Remoulade - extraordinary - perfectly made -

Crab Cakes atop Fried Green Tomato - nothing to write home about - green tomato - hard as a rock - even though it was fried - did no more than act as platform for the two  - slightly dry - mini crab cakes -

Chef James’ Famous Barnyard Gumbo with Acadian Popcorn Rice - very nice but lacking that special something - bits of sausage at the end - finally brought the dish up -shame it took so long to get to the good stuff -

Pecan Crusted Gulf Fish topped with Smoked Corn & Vegetable Capellini Salad over Acadian Popcorn Rice with Creole Meuniere Sauce - say that one ten times -

No Gulf Fish - substitute was Red Fish - this dish did rise to near greatness - although the presentation was very very flat on a non descript white plate - tastes were wonderful - texture was wonderful - i.e. - change the plate

Jenny’s Salad – Mixed Baby Greens with Sliced Green Apple, Spiced Pecans & Blue Cheese tossed in a Blue Cheese Vinaigrette - consumed without a whimper - just a smile of contentment

The King – Grilled Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich on Pound Cake Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce - how could you not order this - good but slightly dry - next time with ice cream -

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Toasted Pecans & Toffee Sauce - WOW - served very warm - a knock out -

Drinks for the night - Daiquiri - Daiquiri - Tapestry - McLaren Vale - Riesling - 2005 - nice white from down under -

Tab was very reasonable - but the service and unevenness of the food takes it off the - "you've got to go when you're in New Orleans" - list -

Post script on Dick and Jenny - Jenny left and is working on a farm - Dick sold the place to his bartenders - would have liked to have dined prior to their departure -

Comments

[craig]

this guy is a clown. redfish is a gulf fish. dick and jenny's has sixteen tables in the entire restaurant. i have found the staff to be more than accomadating every time i have eaten there.
i did eat the king though, it was dry.