Commander's Palace, Garden District
33 people recommend, 6 warn against itvia r/AskNOLA, r/NewOrleans30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 16 threads.
What people say, in short
Commander's Palace is a classic Garden District fine-dining destination that many diners recommend for Creole cooking, a sense of occasion and a memorable jazz brunch. One diner praises the garden room for food and service, and another calls it a great setting for a milestone celebration. Some visitors say it is more about the experience than the food, and a few report inconsistency in recent years. One commenter finds it cheesy and past its prime.
Address
Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
At a glance
- Price
- Premium
- Signature dishes
- Turtle soup, Bread pudding souffle, Shrimp henican
- Best for
- Celebrations
- Opinions divided
- Yes
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Caveatu/kb583 in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2024
Feels the restaurant comes across as cheesy and has lost its edge.
- Recommendsu/NOLA2Cincy in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024
Says this classic fine-dining spot is a safe choice you cannot go wrong with.
- Recommendsu/slowllama420 in r/AskNOLA · Nov 2023taste
Calls it the ultimate creole spot with outstanding brunch, dinner and tableside bananas foster.
- Recommendsu/ThatsNotGumbo in r/NewOrleans · Aug 2025
Suggests a three-martini lunch here as their pick for a last meal.
- Recommendsu/Affectionate-Ad-527 in r/AskNOLA · Jun 2025
Lists it as a place they like outside the Quarter.
- Recommendsu/EntrepreneurAfraid46 in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024
A memorable recent fine dining meal at lunch.
- Recommendsu/ohno_its_happening in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2026
Recommended for the full experience.
- Recommendsu/TravelerMSY in r/NewOrleans · Mar 2024taste
Requests two specific dishes from here as a last meal.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Mixedu/JustinGitelmanMusic in r/NewOrleans · Nov 2025consistency
Views it as a landmark but finds meals and service unreliable.
- Recommendsu/JamalHashburn in r/NewOrleans · Feb 2025taste
Ranks Commander's turtle soup as runner-up for best.
- Recommendsu/smangitgrl in r/NewOrleans · Jul 2024ambience
Suggests it for the upscale NOLA vibe, unsure about budget.
- Mixedu/lateral303 in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024
On the list more for the experience than the food.
- Recommendsu/saintsfan in r/NewOrleans · Aug 2025taste
Chooses turtle soup and stuffed quail, followed by the bread-pudding souffle, for an imagined last meal.
- Mixedu/timar48 in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024ambience
Beautiful but felt like corporate dining.
- Recommendsu/zephile23 in r/NewOrleans · Sep 2024taste
Adds the watermelon gazpacho to the must-try list.
- Recommendsu/HeyBuddy20 in r/AskNOLA · Sep 2024
Names Commander's Palace among old-school picks when asked for authentic cajun/creole restaurants.
- Recommendsu/doremifasolatidoremi in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024
Calls it timeless.
- Recommendsu/The_Professor_NOAC in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2026service
Great service and food, ideal for hospitality workers.
- Caveatu/jacquetheripper in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2026
Called it a tourist trap to avoid unless you just want the history.
- Recommendsu/Manduille in r/AskNOLA · Oct 2025
Notes it's awesome but in the Garden District, a short streetcar ride away.
- Recommendsu/emmersp in r/NewOrleans · Jul 2025ambience
Calls it a great setting for marking a milestone celebration.
- Recommendsu/eayye96 in r/NewOrleans · Feb 2025taste
Recommends the bread pudding souffle, which they've tried and failed to recreate.
- Recommendsu/Whygoogleissexist in r/NewOrleans · Sep 2024taste
Lists the turtle soup as a must-try.
- Recommendsu/PeteEckhart in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2024
Believes the garden room still delivers excellent food and service.
- Recommendsu/croque-monsieur in r/NewOrleans · Aug 2025ambience
Agrees, saying it evokes NOLA nostalgia and mentions martinis.
- Recommendsu/Mundane-Ordinary9084 in r/NewOrleans · Oct 2024taste
Lists the shrimp hennican as a must-try.
- Recommendsu/Brilliant-Client-564 in r/AskNOLA · Sep 2024
One of the classic top three fine dining mainstays.
- Caveatu/Southern-Atlas in r/AskNOLA · Aug 2024taste
Not so good on a recent visit
- Recommendsu/spockalot in r/AskNOLA · Apr 2024ambience
Jazz brunch was special with perfect ambience and food.
- Caveatu/omurat in r/NewOrleans · Nov 2025consistency
Finds the restaurant dated and inconsistent.
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Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.