New Orleans is a haven of fresh gulf seafood; gumbo and jambalaya and all things bayou; and with French and, more recently, Vietnamese, influence in much of its cuisine. Classic stalwarts and an onslaught of new players join a broad culinary landscape to inspire innovation. One of these classics is Mothers Restaurant, only ten minutes from the French Quarter, a diner that still features an image of “Helen Waite”.
Mother’s has been a staple in New Orleans for over 50 years, still housed at its original restaurant location. It’s a quick walk from Canal Street, and certainly well worth the exercise. We hiked over to the storefront on our second afternoon in NOLA, an easy ten minute walk from our hotel.
Immediately upon entering, we were handed menus for our hungry eyes to peruse. We had already made up our minds before our foray, but it never hurts to double check the offerings. In addition to our fried catfish po’ boys, we opted for a side each – potato salad for Travis and green beans and tomatoes for me.
We stepped up to the counter to place our order, and got our food ticket and a glass of water. We chose a seat in the middle of the front of the house, and a waitress grabbed our ticket for service. A short while later, our plates appeared – lightly toasted rolls encircling our fried fish.
Armed with Crystal hot sauce for each bite, we devoured these po’ boys in a matter of minutes; they never stood a chance. Happily satiated, we made our way over to Bourbon Street to walk off our late lunch. Next time, we’ll go for the pulled pork and shrimp po’ boys.
Mother’s Restaurant
401 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-9656
Ninja Girl Eats 