Acme Oyster House – New Orleans, Louisiana

I have been to New Orleans a hand of times and I never tire of it. But as someone who doesn’t drink all that much, dislikes loud noises and crowds friends always ask what the draw to the city is. What else is there to do in New Orleans that doesn’t involve a 24 hour party? Among other things, eat of course!
Call me crazy but months and years after I have had a particularly good meal I dream of the foods and someday returning to experience them again. Acme Oyster House is one of those places.

Now it may look like an 80s florescent nightmare, it isn’t the fanciest place by any means and I could imagine a good many people cringing at the thought of stepping into the place let alone eating in it. I have in fact suggested this place to people before and they reported back that they chose to eat at a ‘nicer’ place. Big mistake!
So first things first right off the plane in November I marched my family down the side street and before they had a chance to protest asked for a table and sat down. I don’t eat shellfish but I have heard their oysters are top notch, they are after all called an oyster house. However I go for the po-boys.
About 20 minutes after sitting down the sandwiches were devoured and goofy looks of sheer ecstasy were plastered on my dining companions faces. I had converts! We almost went back but there are so many other places to eat we instead chose to equally dream sweet dreams of returning someday.
No the picture below is not blurry, the glass protecting the diners from the hot grill is just very greasy. Just goes to show you can’t always judge a restaurant by its atmosphere. Sometimes the very best places are a little rough around the edges.

Additional information:

Acme Oyster House
724 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (just behind the Crown Plaza hotel in the French Quarter).
Open 7 days a week 10:30 to 10

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Gem Creole Saloon – McMinville, Oregon

I had the opportunity to go to New Orleans in 2017, but before that happened I had been craving good creole food (let’s be honest I am ALWAYS craving creole food). It’s not common in the pacific northwest. There are plenty of restaurants that claim to have it, but most fall fairly short in my opinion. If you find yourself in a similar situation in Portland proper Miss Delta on Mississippi Ave or her predecessor and slightly dive-ier cousin The Delta Cafe  on Woodstock are my go-to places. I promise eventually I will get around to writing up reviews. Which means I have to visit and eat at both again. I am not in the least bit sorry about this.

But this is not about those restaurants, this is about a new restaurant. New to me and new to the valley area, Gem. I discovered it on accident, a very happy accident indeed. One day wandering around McMinville Oregon wishing I could find some decent cheesy grits. And then right there in front of me was a lovely little restaurant with cheesy grits on the menu.

The interior is very purple and gold. VERY. Which makes sense as those are two of the three official colors of Mardi Gras.  It was quiet (blissfully), the service was prompt (even better) and the food was hot and delicious.  We were given a nice table by the window to watch all the happy people wander around in the sun (a rarity for that time of year here).

We ordered many (most) of the appetizers, giddy to get to try some long craved goodies. They did not disappoint. The grits were the best I have had outside of the south. Just thinking about it is making me want to go back. I wonder how they would feel if I ordered ALL the grits to go? Fried Okra, Hush Puppies and Fries were of course also incredible.

Gem is situated next to  La Rambla (my favorite Spanish restaurant in the states) at 236 NE Third Street in McMinville Oregon.

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