Quarter Restaurants Getting Back Their Rhythm, Gumbo and Great Tastes

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	Top to bottom: Cafe du Monde getting back in shape for its world-famous cafe au lait & beignets; A 'revised' dress code at the Red Fish Grill; Irene's Cuisine is "Proud to Be Home"

October 13, 2005 - French Quarter restaurants from the world famous to the beloved neighborhood joints are working around the clock to pull themselves together, restock and open for patrons. Many have already been inspected and passed by the state Department of Health as fully fit for service and are catering to appreciative lunch time and dinner crowds of emergency workers, rehabilitation crews and occasionally the President of the United States.

President Bush, Mrs. Bush, Mayor Ray Nagin and the blue ribbon Bring Back New Orleans commission dined Monday evening October 10 at Ralph Brennan's Bacco on Chartres Street. Bet they enjoyed the hickory grilled ribeyes and praline bread pudding. Can't get that in Washington.

Ralph Brennan's Red Fish Grill on Bourbon has relaxed dress code standards a bit and invites patrons to come in to the popular seafood place dressed "Katrina Casual."

While some Quarter restaurants are groaning along with simplified menus due to the lack of kitchen, line staff and front of the house personnel, others are taking advantage of the Post-Katrina days to try new ways of connecting with patrons' palates. Irene's the wildly popular Italian place at the back of the Quarter is opened for lunch service as well as dinner. Standing room only, that's for sure.

If you're dining in the French Quarter today or tonight, check out all of your options - here's the list of open restaurants and their Katrina hours of operation.