Trenasse

I found Trenasse on my second day in New Orleans and I am so glad I did. Fortunately, I was able to walk in with no reservation and no wait but I could imagine it being busy where a resy would be needed.
The server, Lexi, was pleasant and helpful when asked about menu items. I wanted crawfish but didn't want to be overwhelmed by one dish so the starters worked perfectly. I ordered the Unca Duke's BBQ shrimp and fried green tomatoes. The fried green tomatoes were crisp on the outside with added flavor from the crawfish. Bread with the shrimp was icing for an absolutely savory meal.

For drinks, I had the Blackberry Bramble and sparkling water. Dessert was the brulee.

From the host to Lexi to the bar and the menu, Trenasse was a highlight of my trip!

This restaurant is located in the Intercontinental Hotel and it wasn't crowded on the evening I stopped by. It's a dimly lit restaurant good place for a date night.

My waitress was welcoming and informed me of the specials of the night as well as her favorites. I opted for half dozen oysters cooked in champagne the Crawfish Pie and the Blue Crab Bisque. Instead of bread for the table they bring skins with a dip.

The skins were tasty and light, I see why they serve these. The oysters were still sizzling when they arrived. My crawfish pie was very rich and good. I didn't eat the grits that were on the side.

Now, let's get down to the Blue Crab Bisque. I was most looking forward to this. It was thin, it had good flavor but I wish it had more body. It wasn't bad but I was underwhelmed. I was expecting more.

In any other city this restaurant would be a find. But given the competition in New Orleans, well, it's just mediocre, and truthfully the lower level of mediocrity. That said, the service was outstanding and for me made this a three star experience, rather than two star experience. We returned a dish and the staff was tremendously accommodating and apologetic. Our waiter was helpful, prompt, cheerful, and made us feel at home, as was the manager (at least I think she was the manager.) That we had to return a dish, though, speaks to the executive chef's inattention to the food flowing out of the kitchen. There are other restaurant options within a 10 minute walk that, at the same price point, deliver a much better product. The ambiance is about what you'd expect from a mid level hotel restaurant anywhere in the USA, meaning corporate and functional. Which again puts Trenasse at a disadvantage, as there are very charming places within a 10 minute walk. (This is a corporate hotel restaurant, and it shows in the product and the ambiance.) If you are staying at the hotel then by all means run downstairs and grab a bite here. Otherwise, seek different options.

One additional point for Trenasse to consider: Every restaurant we have been to in New Orleans except for Trenasse asked about food allergies. Management should have the wait staff ask about food allergies.

We visited Trenasse for their Happy Hour special, a bar that is situated on the side of a hotel.

Of course I started off with some oysters which were pretty good, I've definitely had better in New Orleans but for the price you couldn't beat it. We then tried some of their food from the happy hour menu, the best thing was the Brussels Sprouts. BBQ Shrimp & Boudin Balls fell short for me.

However, our server was great! I can not remember her name but she was prompt and very friendly. She also gave great recommendations. The Sangria & Spicy Marg was very good.

I would give this experience a 3.5/5 with highlights on the happy hour specials and drinks.

This place was amazing to said it was a hotel/restaurant, beautiful lighting the entrance does it justice on welcoming you to this place. The food was delicious seasoned very good the presentation well put together. The drinks were tasteful just what you would need on a dinner date. I would definitely recommend!!!!

Went for our first meal in NOLA just in time for their fabulous $7 Happy Hour menu with a nice offering of food and drinks. So happy we shared so we got a broader introduction to Creole cuisine (or maybe Cajun or maybe both? Even after looking it up I still don't know how to distinguish between the 2 ! )
Ratings: * for good, ** for great

FOOD
Happy Hour menu:
*Uncle Duke's BBQ shrimp-3 shrimp served with a delicious rich sauce
*boudin bites-2 pieces traditional pork and rice sausage
crawfish hush puppies- not a hit with our group
**Raw oysters (half a dozen $7)- super sweet and fresh and half price! My cousin ate 2 dozen these by himself!


Regular menu:
**Louisiana crawfish pie- delicious creamy pot pie with a nice crust on top
*fried green tomatoes
*blue crab bisque - my friend ordered this but it wasn't what she expected, maybe because of the sherry? So I graciously volunteered to help her eat it!

DRINKS
Gator bait cocktail- pineapple juice with jalapeño infused tequila, a little bit of a bite to be expected!
White peach sangria- very easy to drink! Nice blend of flavors

Get here between 3-6:00 pm so you don't miss it!

Trenasse was an incredible stopover and perfect start to the day as we arrived around 11am to kick off the day. Our server, Joe, was infectious with his energy, kindness, and energy. He made all the right calls and recommendations for us and did not disappoint!

Shrimp & Grits: These were literally the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. EVER. It was decadent, velvet-y, buttery, and the smoothest texture filled with a perfect blend of spices and a kick to round it out. I never thought I could love grits as much as I did upon taking the first bite of this dish. If it's anything here, that's the thing to get.

BBQ Shrimp: This came highly recommended from our server. I will say, it's flavorful, juicy, and that perfectly saucy BBQ flavor over shrimp. However, for a $16 dish, I expected more than 5 pieces of shrimp and a garlic bread. That's my only ding on this dish, so if you're running tight on a budget, skip the BBQ shrimp. It's not worth the price. Sorry!

Burger: It's great. If you're coming in with a hungry stomach, make sure you opt for the burger. It's messy, it's heavy, but it's everything you want out of a burger. My only gripe was that it fell apart so easily, and the bun didn't hold it together. That's never fun to eat.

The food was decadent, rich and delicious!! Everything I tried was wonderful. Our server was very friendly and kind with great recommendations and the service was exceptionally attentive. The restaurant was also beautiful and wonderfully lit. I'll be back!

What's the best way to explore New Orleans? Whatever you do, do it with a local, better yet a local that works for Yelp! My local led me here :).

First and foremost, before you judge, drop every stereotype you have about hotel dining. If downtown was closer to Marigny, they'd have to wheel me out of this place!

From the first sip of my strawberry jalapeño margarita, I knew I was in for a treat.

The Buffalo frog legs are perfectly fried, and accompanied by honey and blue cheese. The perfect bite requires you to ask for extra Buffalo sauce. Dip the wing, grab a bit of honeycomb, a bit of blue cheese and be prepared for your tastebuds to do the happy dance!

The duck confit is equally delicious and thoughtful!

But whatever you do, get the sampler. Why isn't there a picture, because as soon as it arrived, my primal instincts took over. I would drive the 5 hours from my house the comforting warmth of this crawfish pie. I'd cross the street without looking both ways for these shrimp and grits...I wouldn't do anything of the sort for the redfish, but it was pretty tasty as well!

If you've yet to visit, or visiting from out of town (like myself), just know, parking can be challenging and tables can be tight, but even if you find yourself on the long side of a table wait, or sat near folks who stare you down like you're a demon in human flesh (eh helm), the food is worth it!

I'll certainly be back- after all, it's only a 5 hour drive away!

This restaurant inside the InterContinental hotel was a very pleasant surprise!

I saw several reviews raving about the Blue Crab Bisque; It was good but did not blow me away as I like my soup a bit thicker. The Buffalo Frog Legs were such a delight! I haven't had frog legs in quite a while so was very excited to see them on the menu. The legs were incredibly meaty and juicy. The honey comb that came with was a special touch, reminded me of how different real honey tastes from the artificial ones. And the Louisiana Crawfish Pie. OMG. It was so good that I went back and ordered it again the next day. It had generous amount of meaty crawfish tails, and the pie crust was incredibly flaky. Every bite was heavenly!