Lola’s Restaurant

A unique Faubourg St. John Restaurant with local art decorating the walls. This small, special place doesn’t take reservations. Try to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before opening time and wait in line. If you come later and there’s a mob, don’t be discouraged: Service is attentive and food comes quickly, so your wait shouldn’t be too long, though we’d either not bother on the weekends or bring a book.

They serve incredible Spanish dishes, from various paellas to starters such as garlic shrimp tapas and garlic soup. I recommend the seafood dishes. Don’t forget to bring cash!

Visit their Website!

This is my home away from home. I was a waiter here for one year but it felt like forever. This is the best restaurant in New Orleans. If you are looking for some home town cooking that will make you want to spank your grandma then this is the place. Not only will the food excite you but the atmosphere will make you fell like you are eating at your Mamma’s house.

I recommend anything on the menu. I have eaten it all many times and I have no favorites. Please, this isn’t a cop out. Try everything. Order a sampler if you can, or go family style and order a few entrees for the table to share. Also talk to everyone. This is the most friendly place on earth and you never know who you are going to run into.

So, don’t spend all your time trying to find the best restaurant to eat in New Orleans because you have already found it. K Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen is as good as it gets and as they say in ole New Orleans, les la bon ton roule.

Telephone: (805) 688-4820
Fax: (805) 688-8965
website

BrothersRestaurant@MatteisTavern.com

This is one of my favorite dining experiences. It is right out of a movie or at least fantasy. Before I get into the description of the restaurant I have to start with a story of one of my many visits to Mattei’s.

This night began after a day of wine tasting, which makes life beautiful. I was dining with my Sister Megan and my Brother in law Michael who flew in from New Orleans. I was also with my finance Tracy. Tracy and I had just told the story to Megan and Michael about the last time we dined at Mattei’s. Which was about how we happened to sit next to Bo Derek and her boy friend from “Sex in the City” and that I also happened to have my video camera and we snuck a picture of them eating next to us. Megan had a crush on Bo Derek’s boyfriend when she was younger so Megan got a kick out of the story and as we pulled up to Mattei’s she said she had a feeling that we would see another celebrity. She is saying this as we are closing the car doors and walking to the entrance. Not two seconds after she finishes I almost run over Matt Leblanc from Friends. I started laughing and I say a “Hello” in a really bad, I know who you are but I don’t want to act like a fool, attitude. We are then seated at the table giggling and laughing like fools and as we watch Matt Leblanc come back in the restaurant and sit down with his wife in the other room. The story isn’t over yet! We notice that the wait staff is young and star struck from his presence. We say to our waitress “Wow, it must be fun knowing that Joey from Friends is in your restaurant?” She then says, “That isn’t half of it, look behind me, next to the fireplace, that is Kirk Russell the movie star!” Well, that topped my Bo Derek story and Megan and Michael couldn’t have been more pleased in the experience.

Now, I can’t say that you will have that experience dining at Mattei’s but who knows? As for the wine and food you have a lot to be excited about as well. The wine is excellent, well that is because you are in the wine country and if wine isn’t your bag then they have on tap the firestone local brew of beer.

By far my favorite is their surf and turf. It doesn’t come in one dish but it is worth ordering it together. Try either the lamb or filet with the scallops. To die for! I also recommend one of their specials, the filet tacos. It is the end cuts of the filet cooked in a garlic sauce. The lamb and filet are cooked in a traditional style, very tender, juicy and nice cuts.

If you are looking for the best experience Mattei’s has to offer visit the restaurant in the winter. It is an original stage coach stop and it has that old cozy feel. In the winter sit next to the fireplace in the bar and have some hot coffee for desert.  If you are a desert fan, most would say Mattei’s is one of the best restaurants for desert. I would have to say it is definitely one of the best.

Mattei’s is one of those restaurants you wish was in your backyard. I could eat their everyday and always have a unique experience.

I highly recommend this restaurant. Highly!