Brigtsen’s Restaurant

The hallway table was quieter than the dining rooms, so we didn’t have to shout. A little lonely, though.
The BBQ shrimp and veal sweetbread appetizers were phenomenal!
The expensive entrees were so-​so, however. The duck had congealed fat under the skin that had to be picked off with the fork. The lamb shank was just average.
Should have gone to Emeril’s instead.
You live, you learn.

I decided to come here on a whim for my birthday dinner. I had always wanted to do a Reveillon dinner and decided this year was the year to make it happen. For those who don’t know a Reveillon dinner is a remix of an old Creole tradition. Back in the day after midnight mass you would break the days fast by having a rich multi course meal. I’m a foodie I love revamping old traditions so I was in.
First I have to say as a local I have a severe soft spot for restaurants that feel like old New Orleans. Don’t get me wrong I love all the new blood and innovation that has come to my home town but there is something that just makes me happy about places that keep it traditional. Even though this was my first time having a meal here it felt like coming home.
The waitstaff was helpful and warm and really made you feel like family. The cocktails were perfect. While there I had a sidecar and a French 75 with Cognac both were perfectly made.
The timing of the courses was spot on. We had time to relish and savor each of our four courses. I never felt rushed. No one was bringing us an entrée when the soup course was still on the table. Literally everything I ate was perfection. I do not have one bad thing to say. This was the first time I dined here but it will certainly not be the last.

Took the street car and walked two blocks to Brigtsen’s which is located in an older home that was elegantly but simply decorated. Our waitress was great and very personable. We had the deviled eggs which was OK. But my roast duck was fabulous. Great with the cherry sauce. The stir fried veggies that came with it were good too. Pecan pie was great.
I’d eat here again. For sure.

On our first night in town, we chatted up a few locals and they mentioned Brightsen’s. Located in a residential area, it’s a converted home with several different rooms. Drinks, appetizers and dinner were spot on. The seafood bisque was amazing as was the shrimp appetizer. Our table sampled all of the desserts and they were all delicious. Of particular note were the pecan pie with caramel sauce and the lemon crème brûlée. Our server was a hoot and didn’t seem to mind that we were well dressed people with the sense of humor of a ten year old boy. Excellent place for a lovely and unique meal.

Having my birthday dinner at Brigtsen’s has become a must for me, especially after a third year in a row of an amazing meal.
Yet again, Mrs. Brigtsen treated is to a very warm welcome, just as cheerful as ever. She brought us to our (now) regular table and again brought some birthday confetti!
We started with drinks, of course, and enjoyed the complimentary fresh bread and whipped butter as we scanned the menu, knowing full well that we couldn’t go wrong. I had a sazerac and my fiancée had a mimosa. Perfect starts to a perfect dinner.
We split an appetizer — BBQ Shrimp with Shrimp Calas. The shrimp were big, cooked to perfection, and seasoned spot on. The sauce, oh the sauce! We couldn’t get enough! We cleaned the sauce off the plate with our bread. We could’ve bathed in that sauce!
We then split two entrees — Cochon du Lait with Natural Pan Gravy, Cracklin, Macaroni and Cheese, and Smothered Green Beans first. It was like thanksgiving on a plate! The pork was tender and full of flavor. The cracklin were crispy and seasoned well. The macaroni and cheese was gooey, but not overwhelmingly cheesy, very good balance and flavor. And the smothered green beans had a good flavor, but we weren’t sure smothered was the best cooking method for these. We would’ve liked a little more pop, but oh well. They were still good!
Our second entrée was the Seafood Platter, which consisted of:
Grilled Drumfish Amandine with Crabmeat — perfectly cooked and seasoned with a healthy pile of crabmeat on top. The amandine added a good flavor and great texture;
Shrimp Cornbread with Jalapeño Smoked Butter — came in a ramekin with the butter on top. The bread was stuffed with shrimp and pepper and goodness. And the butter just melted on top and soaked in, making this a ramekin full of happiness;
Baked Scallop with Asparagus Béchamel — exactly as described. Scallop was perfectly cooked. And the Béchamel was just super rich and delicious. Asparagus added a nice crunch as well;
Baked Oyster with Bacon, Spinach, and Cheese — again, exactly as described. Was kind of a cross between oysters Rockefeller and charbroiled oysters, except better because… Well… Bacon. Sign me up for that!;
Shrimp and Napa Cabbage Coleslaw — nothing all that complicated. Shrimp, cabbage, dressing. Very good. I will say that they put something in the dressing that made it pop in a very good way, but we couldn’t nail it down;
and finally, Stuffed Cucuzza with Shrimp — Cucuzza is a squash, and this was basically like a thanksgiving dressing I guess? Anyway, I like squash and I like shrimp, and I like whatever they used to complete this dish, because I gobbled it up despite knowing I had dessert coming.
Wait what? Dessert?! After all that?! Hail yea!
So! For dessert, we split Pecan Pie a la Mode and the Chocolate Cake. Now, I pride myself on making a pecan pie that I really like. I mean I’ve never enjoyed one more than my own. This damn near beat it. The pie was luscious with flavor. Sugary buttery nutty goodness, and drizzled with a caramel sauce! I mean damn near a perfect pie. Except… it could’ve been warmer. Still excellent flavor. And the ice cream was vanilla. Plain Jane, but that’s just the way I like ice cream to be when it’s on top of my pecan pie. And the cake was also pretty good. Chocolate cake with chocolate filling, chocolate icing, and chocolate sauce. Truly death by chocolate, but the good kind where you’ve gone to heaven. The cake was moist and, well, super chocolatey. I must say that we both took chunks of the cake and put them on top of chunks of the pie. Oh my goodness, sugar explosion. But man, that was worth it.
Once again, from beginning to end, Brigtsen’s gave me one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The food, the ambience, and the service were all nearly flawless again. Brigtsen’s has retained the title of my absolute favorite restaurant of any kind, anywhere.
See all photos from Christopher J. for Brigtsen’s Restaurant

Simply Excellent!!! This is a great place to go for date night. The place is small, which makes the setting very imtimate. The atmosphere here is very warm and inviting. The staff is excellent.
I cannot remember what we got for appetizers, except that it was fantastic. For my entrée, I ordered the panéed rabbit with sesame crust and my wife ordered the couchon du lait. Both of these were exquisite. On hindsight, there was nothing negative about our evening at Brigtsen’s. Highly recommend!!!

It’s more than the best neighborhood restaurant, it’s just the best. You could choose from the menu blind folded and have the meal of your life. One of the few places I order appetizers, entrée and dessert for myself always. I still eat off everyone else’s plate. The atmosphere is family like and welcoming. Great service, great little house, just great. I always love the fish, and pecan pie or bread pudding. Really, everything. Oh and the un-​fried seafood platter!

My husband surprised me for my birthday and took me to this superb restaurant. I ordered a Chocolate Martini and hubby ordered a Long Island Tea. The martini ended up being vodka and Crème de Cocao. very good, as was the Long Island. BBQ Shrimp was our appetizer, it was very tasty. I had the Seafood Platter and my husband had the Blackened Yellowfin Tuna. Both were absolutely delicious. Our waitress, Mignon was informative, attentive and all around fabulous. In fact the entire staff was delightful and each and everyone wished me a happy birthday. We truly enjoyed ourselves there, and I’m looking forward to our next visit which will be very soon.

Holy good eatin’ my friends! Gotta tell ya, I usually don’t eat everything put in front of me. very picky.but I ate my whole meal at Brigsten’s. My food crew and I tried different pairings from the «cool-​inary» menu, and boy, was it good… all of it. (Even the bread)
Go eat here! Well worth it.

NO DOUBT MY DEATH ROW LAST MEAL.
My friends and I had an amazing summer of ’15 exploring all kinds of foods. I may not know what a «trap queen» is still, but I know Brigtsen’s is simply beautiful and quintessentially New Orleans.
Shrimp & Grits (***** stars) so good I wanted to have it for dessert;
Rabbit Gumbo (**** stars) a tad more rice but worth the try;
Soft Shell Crab (**** stars) not a major fan of SSC but this one was delicious
Paneed Rabbit (***** stars) lightly breaded sesame crust filet which is out of this world;
Chocolate Cake (****** stars) and I dont even have a sweet tooth
Must go, staff is wonderful and makes you feel like family. Take a tour of the kitchen and use the bathroom early as there is only one for everyone!!!

My friends and I had an amazing summer of ’15 exploring all kinds of foods. I may not know what a «trap queen» is still, but I know Brigtsen’s is simply beautiful and quintessentially New Orleans.
The restaurant is located in the Riverbend area in an unassuming charming little house. The house was once a shotgun. The floor plan has been changed to include a long hallway, but all the dining rooms are still connected to one another. Each room contains about 3 to 5 tables. The tables are spaced adequately apart, and each table can have their own conversations without disturbing others.
The staff at Brigtsen’s are amazing. The servers all worked as a team, and they all knew what our table ordered. Different people came to check on us throughout our meal. They were attentive without being intrusive. Marna Brigtsen, the maitre’d and co-​owner, also came by our table a couple of times to talk to us. She is lovely. I also saw Chef Frank walking around, talking to patrons who are regulars. One of our servers offered us a tour of the kitchen. Apparently this tour is a regular thing because Brigtsen’s is very proud of their use of fresh ingredients. They don’t even have a freezer! (This explains why my bread pudding came with whipped cream instead of ice cream!)
The food was spectacular. My dining companion declared that this restaurant is his absolute favorite of this summer, and we have been to some amazing places around the city.
We started with the shrimp and grits. The chipotle grit cake and the shrimp croquette paired perfectly with the sauce. We also ordered the file gumbo with andouille and rabbit. The gumbo was not super memorable for me. It was good, but there wasn’t the same flavor explosion as the shrimp and grits. We also tried the soft shell crab daily special with a buttery garlicky sauce and pecans. The soft shell crab was delicious. The batter was crunchy, and the crab was so fresh. The only complaint I had was that the sauce was a touch salty.
For entrees, we tried the paneed rabbit with a sesame crust, the roasted duck, and the seafood platter. The rabbit was so tender and flavorful, and the sesame breading was sheer perfection in terms of crispiness. The duck was cooked very well too. The fatty skin was crisp with much of the fat rendered away. The meat remained juicy, and the meat didn’t taste very gamy like some ducks could. The seafood platter was the star, however. The grilled drum fish with crab meat was everything fish should be — tender and flaky without fishiness! That was an absolute sign of just how fresh everything is. The oyster pairings were all decadent and flavorful. The shrimp corn cake with jalapeño butter was one of my favorite bites of the meal.
For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding du jour which happened to be peach and the double chocolate cake. The bread pudding wasn’t heavy and was very summery. I really enjoyed the bread pudding. The chocolate cake was very rich but not very sweet. For my personal palate, I wished it was just a touch sweeter, but it was still very good.
This place was da bomb dot com, and we are going back in two weeks.
ETA: I should also mention that I ordered a sidecar to sip on while we decided on what to order, and I was really impressed by the drink. I complimented the drink to the server, and she told me that it’s their house cocktail! The sidecar is a must at Brigtsen’s!

Chef Frank Brigtsen is a master of classic Creole cuisine, turning out perfect dining experiences every time we sit at our intimate table for two. He captures the best of old New Orleans while giving an interesting twist to each of the evening’s selections. He serves only local, fresh fare from farmers and fishermen in the area. Nothing flown in or frozen for his guests. Always fresh or it isn’t served.
There are so many fabulous dishes it is difficult to recommend only one. But I will say this: If you think you’ve eaten pecan pie at some point in your life, order a slice for desert and be prepared to taste it for the first time. Personally, I like to sip a Macallan’s whisky with mine.

Wild Chanterelle Soup with crab meat: perfectly balanced and ridiculously delicious
Gumbo: deep dark roux, smokiness, bits of rabbit, incredible
Soft Shell Crab: enormous, juicy, prepared to perfection
Seafood Platter (Shell Beach Diet): hands-​down choice for my last meal
Chef Frank Brigtsen is a master at bringing out the best in Louisiana seafood. His style is restrained and complimentary — rather than re-​inventive. The results are deeply authentic flavors that balance the freshness of his hand-​selected local ingredients (the kitchen has neither a freezer nor a microwave). His cooking is neither showy or overbearing, the ingredients are always the star. If you want to taste why this region has some of the best food on Earth, eat at Brigsten’s. Chef Frank is our all-​time favorite!
Bonus points for super warm, family-​oriented service from some of the sweetest staff anywhere.

My husband took me here for a spontaneous date night. (he’s good like that) I think I’ve had this place bookmarked for over 3 years so I finally got my chance!
The setting is an old shotgun house with 3 small dining rooms on the right. The décor fits the «if its not broke, dont fix it» style which kinda matched the food. The food is good authentic New Orleans cuisine with a no frills attitude.
We ordered the soft shell crab over meuniere sauce for an appetizer and it was amazing! I hadnt had a good meuniere sauce in so long and it really hit the spot.
Our entrees were the red snapper gulf fish topped with lemon cream sauce and crabmeat with a side of creamed potatoes and sauteed vegetables.
Side note: I had eaten at Charles’ Seafood in Harahan numerous times when they owned it and this dish was actually not as good as it was at Charles. It was good, just not as good and probably even a little more expensive. My husband ordered the slow roasted duck and while it was good, I dont think we would order it again. He was comparing it to the duck he had just eaten at Clancy’s which was the best he ever had so this was just a tough comparison I guess.
The server was pleasant and suggested a nice malbec to compliment our meal. The house brut champagne was very good as well.
For dessert, we ordered the famous pecan pie and it did not disappoint. Its texture was like a pecan candy and it was delicious!
Overall, we had a very nice first time experience and my husband was actually trying to make us another last minute reservation a couple nights later.

Brigtsen’s on Dante in the Garden District is our favourite restaurant in New Orleans.
The setting is intimate and warm as the restaurant is located in a residential house and only hosts a dozen or so tables and the service is stellar, from the call to make reservations to the person keeping your table clean. And unlike Commander’s Palace, you do not have a person standing by your table the entire meal assuring intimacy will not be reached.
The menu is enchanting.
Shrimp & Grits was absolutely lovely — the grits were firm yet creamy and the shrimp accentuated a delicate yet fragrant Chipolte sauce.
Pulled Pork with Corn Griddlecake with Pepper Jelly Glaze & Napa Cabbage Slaw is one of my husband’s favorite. The fresh crispness of the cabbage is a lovely counterpart to the spicy sweetness of the pork.
One year, I had the pan sautéed soft shell crab in a sauce meunière; you can only get it when it’s in season. If you are lucky enough to see it on the menu, look no further. It was life affirming.
The Broiled Gulf Fish was exquisite due to its crabmeat parmesan crust and the mushrooms accompanied with lemon mousselline brought tears to my eyes. The flavours were bewitching. A masterpiece.
The desserts. Dear god the desserts.
The pecan pie might have been one of the best things I have ever tasted. Every bite was foodgasmic. No mushiness, the crust was sweet and crispy… It was heaven.
We first went to Brigtsen’s ten years ago and make it a point to reserve a table three months in advance from San Diego every time we visit New Orleans. It’s that good.
We also love Coop’s and Johnny’s in the quarter. Will post reviews of these next.

We celebrated our 1^st Wedding Anniversary here and truly enjoyed it. The Veal Sweet Bread Appetizer was very good & full of flavor. I had a Lemon Drop Martini & my love had Scotch… neat. Drinks were on point. He had some sort of Brisket Soup with Vegetables for his dinner. I had the famous Seafood Platter and even though the portions are small, there was a lot of food on that plate. After the bread, appetizer and Entrée, I regret that I did not have room for dessert. They had some glittery confetti on the table in celebration of our Anniversary, which was a nice & much appreciated touch. With the candles & small tables, this little converted home is very warm, cozy & romantic, which was perfect for our special occasion.

Brigtsen’s has become officially become a tradition for my boyfriend’s birthday!
I do not believe it is possible to have an unpleasant experience at Brigsten’s. How could you with such a well-​run family business? When you call, Ms Marna answers the phone, when you arrive, your hostess is Ms Marna, and when you dine on exquisite cuisine it is the creation of none other than Chef Frank Brigtsen.
Our last experience at Brigtsen’s was particularly noteworthy because I was adventurous and tried soft shell crab. It was prepared with a crab meunière sauce and was very easily one of the best crab appetizers I have ever tried. Truth be told, I’m not the biggest seafood fan. In fact, haven’t tried soft shell crab in about 16 years. However, it was my boyfriends birthday, and he wanted to try it. Worst case scenario: he gets to finish it and we order an additional appetizer. Of course that didn’t happen because it was AMAZING! Everything was exceptional.
Beverages: side car and porch swing (variation of Pimms cup)
Appetizers: soft shell crab with pecan meunière sauce, rabbit tenderloin, and endless fresh French bread
Entreè: pork chop
Desserts: lemon ice box crème brûlée and tres leches
While everything was delicious, another beyond exceptional item I MUST note was my «porch swing» beverage. After trying the Pimm’s cup elsewhere, I didn’t care for it. Brigtsen’s has transformed me into a Pimm’s cup lover. Now I know that it just depends on who makes it; I won’t order it in a bar again. Lol.
As always, thank you for a memorable and exceptional evening Brigtsen’s.

Dramatically disappointed.
Forget creativity. That’s what impressed us on previous visits. Now, it is plain steamed mixed vegetables, limp and overcooked, as the side to a slab of tasteless fish smother in crab meat and a few shrimp. Boring!
Terrific peach bread pudding. But that’s not reason enough to spend top dollar for a dinner here.
The service was one step below indifferent. I don’t know what changed, but this is not the place it use to be.

Hmmm… it’s another case of the disappearing review. I was sure I had reviewed Brigtsen’s previously.
I ate lavishly on the Coolinary dinner menu here last week. And really, my only problem with any of the dishes here is that they make me lose all self-​control. I eat until I think I’m going to explode like that dude in the Meaning of Life.
The Coolinary courses that I had were: a salad with guacamole and shrimp, gulf fish with crab and shrimp with a bordelaise sauce and lemon ice box crème brûlée.
The salad was good but the fish was UHmazing. It was pompano on the night I was there and my first thought was how jealous my Mom would be since that’s her favorite. It was prepared perfectly and the crab on top was luscious and plentiful so much so that the shrimp were almost an afterthought… don’t worry I ate those too. The crème brûlée was lemony and creamy and I could not stop eating.
The last time I was in was at Christmas and I had a reveillion menu. I need to stop saving this spot for special occasions and put it in regular rotation.
The restaurant itself is a sidehall cottage so you feel like you’re dining in an elegant home and their are 3 small dining rooms so if you have a bigger group, definitely get a reservation. The staff is lovely and accomodating, no snooty waitstaff here.
I definitely need to go back soon.

A serendipitous experience which resulted in one of my most favorite meals I’ve ever had in New Orleans.
After my reservations at another fine New Orleans establishment, (Dick & Jenny’s), was canceled due to renovations, we headed to Brightsen’s at the recommendation of my partner’s mother. Not having any reservations, we phoned ahead. «Are you open?» (the day after Mardi Gras). «Sure, c’mon over, looking forward to seeing ya!» Great!
From greeting to departure, and everything in between, was sheer perfection in every way. Exemplifying the very definition of Southern Hospitality, we were treated as though we were a long lost member of their extended family. The restaurant’s setting actually feels as though you’ve stepped into someone’s home. Just incredible!
The food was as equally impressive and quite decadent. Seafood/​Cajun/​Creole comfort food is the name of their game here and taste tells that they master this quite skilfully. I ordered their signature, «Shell Beach Diet,» which requires no description here as it is mentioned in about one hundred 5 star reviews prior to my own. Just trust me and get it! (See pic).
Other note worthy mentions: The sugar rimmed Side Car was elegant and smooth; The Pecan Pie, served slightly warm and in a pool of silky caramel sauce, was sublime.
Brightsen’s certainly doesn’t need me to recommend them, however, if you have not yet experienced this dining experience, you do not know what a treat you are truly missing!