by Eric Bowman
Last updated: 12:35 AM ET, Tue July 10, 2018
Delicious dining can be found all over New Orleans.
The hard part can be in knowing exactly where to go to find the best of the best.
However, when the best thing you can eat all weekend happens to be in your hotel's restaurant, you're a major winner.
Madam's Modern Kitchen + Bar, located inside the newly unveiled B on Canal, serves the classic New Orleans dishes as well as terrific seafood, steak, desserts and other unique menu items.
Upon entering, you wouldn't know they just opened their doors to guests and the public in May. The staff is tremendously friendly, the service top-notch and the live music compliments the ambiance perfectly.
The restaurant invites guests into an intriguing past of New Orleans.
Over a hundred years ago, this area was known as Storyville, New Orleans. The neighborhood was famous as New Orleans' red-light district, where anyone and everyone could indulge themselves in food, drinks, music and other risqué things.
Madam's Modern Kitchen pays homage to that era with its décor, food and cocktails.
Executive Chef Drew Mills is a New Orleans native, so you know everything at Madam's Modern Kitchen is the real deal.
"We want guests to immediately feel as if they stepped back in time by delivering an evocative experience from the restaurant's decor and style to the food, drink and entertainment," Mills said. "As a local myself, I envision this being a destination for hotel guests, but also a neighborhood mainstay offering an approachable menu that defines the 'new style' of Nola's traditional cuisine."
The charbroiled gulf oysters were seriously the best thing I ate all weekend, which included stops at multiple heralded restaurants in the famous French Quarter.
Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of oysters. But as soon as the half-dozen oysters and garlic parmesan butter hit my table, the aroma engulfed my senses and I couldn't stop eating.
Many travelers come to New Orleans looking for the iconic meals like oysters, gumbo, muffalettas and po' boy sandwiches. There's something to be said about exceptionally executing these definitive dishes, which is exactly what Mills and his staff have done.
The seafood gumbo was fresh and flavorful and while labeled as a spicy shrimp po' boy, the sandwich was not overly spicy. In fact, I found the "fireman's aioli" to be seriously addictive and had to order a side cup of the sauce for my fries. It was that good.
Of course, there are other flavors to delight the taste buds with, including the wild mushroom ravioli, the Alderman's Steak and the Adobo braised pork shank. Plus, raw oysters and a jumbo shrimp cocktail are available for those who can't get enough seafood.
If you're a fan of unique cocktails, Madam's offers drinks inspired by the Storyville era as well plenty of beer and wine options and the classic Hemingway daquiri. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good daquiri when I travel.
Madam's has ample dining room area and bar seating as well as a private dining room for guests who wish to have a more intimate dinner experience.
Most of the people eating at Madam's were hotel guests, but that's to be expected for a new hotel and restaurant. Speaking with Mills, though, he did inform me the weekday lunch hour has picked up with business from locals looking for a new place to eat and the weekend continues to see more and more non-hotel guests stopping by for dinner and brunch.
Madam's will benefit from New Orleans continuing to revitalize the area of Canal Street. New condos and other hotels will help strengthen the neighborhood. Additionally, being open seven days a week and the prime location to the French Quarter, Uptown and Mid-City districts opens it up for an array of visitors.
For a casual yet sultry dining option in New Orleans, Madam's Modern Kitchen + Bar is well worth your time. Make the trip even easier by booking a room at B on Canal.
B on Canal opened its doors to guests this spring. The 1930's building underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and now features charming yet luxurious accommodations. It's located within easy walking distance to the French Quarter, houses 155 guestrooms complete with flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi and so much more.
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