Brennan's

Brennan's is a Creole restaurant at 417 Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, recognizable by its pink exterior and its large tree-shaded courtyard. Owen Brennan opened the family's restaurant in the Quarter in 1946, and in 1951 the kitchen created bananas Foster, a dessert of bananas and rum flamed with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and served over ice cream. It is now served around the world and is the restaurant's most emblematic dish. The building itself is historic, and Ralph Brennan's group reopened the restaurant in 2014 after a major restoration. Brennan's is known as a breakfast destination. Visitors order multi-course Creole breakfasts that can include eggs Hussarde, eggs Sardou, turtle soup, and a Creole-spiced Bloody Mary or milk punch, and the morning meal is a long-standing New Orleans ritual. Lunch and dinner run to dishes such as Gulf fish, shrimp, steaks and rich sauces, served in the same old-world manner. Dining rooms include elegant indoor spaces with chandeliers and high ceilings and a courtyard with a fountain and greenery that is among the most pleasant outdoor rooms in the Quarter. The atmosphere is celebratory and polished but not stiff, with tableside flaming and attentive service. Dress is smart casual to dressy; jackets are not required but shorts and athletic wear are discouraged at dinner. The wine list is substantial and the cocktail programme honors classic New Orleans drinks. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend brunch, which can book several days to weeks ahead, and during Carnival. Expect to pay about US$60-110 per person, and breakfast and lunch are generally less expensive than dinner. A visit pairs naturally with a walk on Royal Street and its antique shops and galleries. Visitors planning a Carnival or holiday meal should expect the courtyard and main rooms to fill early, and parties of six or more are best arranged directly by phone with the restaurant's reservations staff.