$17.25, plus tax and tip, will buy you a gourmet two-course lunch, complete with a martini, at the venerable Commander's Palace. If there is any better deal in fine dining, I don't know it -- I've spent more on mediocre diner fare in New York and Los Angeles, and even in comparably cheap New Orleans, you can spend twice that much in any given schlocky tourist trap in the French Quarter. For a visitor to this town to not take advantage of this spectacular deal is downright criminal.

One of New Orleans' old-line restaurants, Commander's has been operating since 1880, and celebrity chefs such as Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme have made their bones in the kitchen. 

Now in the capable hands of Chef Tory McPhail, 2013's James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef: South, Commander's Palace stays true to its grand tradition of fine Creole fare, but with a contemporary flare and an eye for local, seasonal ingredients.
 

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Commander's is decidedly -- and delightfully -- old-school. Fresh flowers are found on nearly every flat surface, and silver champagne buckets sit between the white linen-dressed tables. The patrons themselves bring glamour to the environment as well. Though jackets are not required at lunch, they're de rigueur among the men in the room, and the women are dressed even better. 

The service is impeccable. The wait staff knows the intricacies of the ever-changing menu, and they're equally well-versed on the history of the restaurant itself, as well as the Garden District, Cajun and Creole foodways, and the many local producers who supply the restaurant with choice ingredients.

The staff times the service with a classical grace that you seldom see in dinner services elsewhere, let alone at lunchtime. Perfect pauses allow for the savoring of each course, but no one sits hungry for more than a moment at any point.
 

Food

Though I could prattle on all day about what a lovely, luxurious experience it is to simply sit in Commander's Palace on a lazy New Orleans afternoon, the real focus is, of course, the food.

Though, again, the menu is constantly changing with the seasons and with availability of local ingredients, lunch specials typically start at $17, which gets you a bowl of soup (including the famous sherry-finished turtle soup and the Creole gumbo) or a salad, as well as a gourmet sandwich. For a few dollars more, a hot entree is an option (veal grillades and grits were on the two-course special menu at $22 on my last visit).

Three-course options are also available, including the chef's special luncheon menu, typically priced at $34, which includes a more intricate entree and a dessert.

A la carte, you'll find bowls of soup or small salads in the $8.50-$10 range, entrees from $20-30, and desserts from $7.50-$9.50. If you can swing it, don't skip dessert. Particularly recommended is the Creole bread pudding souffle, which was invented by Chef Paul Prudhomme in 1980 when the restaurant turned 100 years old. 
 

Drinks

Perhaps the most beloved Commander's Palace lunch tradition of all is the 25-cent martini. No, they're not top shelf drinks, but they're not swill, and with a limit of three ("'cause that's enough"), you couldn't go over a dollar if you tried. Martinis are available in both classic form, as well as some sweeter varieties (e.g. a cosmopolitan) for those of us who can't stomach straight gin in the afternoon. 

There are also always wine specials at lunch, usually at $6 per glass for a really excellent (though short) list. And the full bar and wine list are always available at standard prices for anyone who prefers more variety. 
 

If You Go...

 

• Dress in the nicest clothes you've got with you, though if that's only simple slacks and a blouse or button-down, you'll still be treated like royalty. Men, you must wear close-toed shoes, and no one may wear shorts, flip-flops, t-shirts, or sweatshirts/sweatpants. Jeans are discouraged. Yes, even at lunch.
• Make a reservation. Odds are good that you'll get a table without one, but occasionally, if there's a big convention in town, the place can pack full. You can do it easily at their website.
• If you're taking the streetcar out to the Garden District from the French Quarter, be sure to leave plenty of time, as it can be slow. You'll get off at the Washington Street stop and walk just a couple of blocks (follow the crowd; there are always a bunch of people headed to the Garden District). If you get there too early, no worries -- you can kill time at the excellent Garden District Book Shop, strolling through the beautiful Lafayette Cemetery, or just taking a walk around the block, where famous houses like Colonel Short's Villa can be seen.
• Trust the wait staff's recommendations on food. They know what they're talking about! 
• Don't be afraid to try the turtle soup. Though if you're not from around these here parts, it's unlikely that you've eaten turtle before, you'll find no better preparation anywhere. It's delicious.
   

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.