Camellia Grill - New Orleans

Robin with his mother and brother waiting outside the Camellia Grill

One of the things that I like to do when I take visitors on a tour of New Orleans is take the streetcar from Canal Street to Carrollton and eat at the Camellia Grill.  The ride takes you past some of the most lavish homes in the city down a beautiful street.  You pass Loyola and Tulane Universities and Audubon Park.  When you finally reach Camellia Grill, you see what looks like the front of a home with white columns.  Most of the time there is a line outside.  My most recent trip was with some visitors from Holland.  The Peters family started their tour of the United States with a visit to the home where their son spent an exchange year.  I had visited them last fall in Holland.  Well, we finally get to the Camellia Grill on the hot late July Saturday about 1:00 and yes there was a line.  You wait outside for a spot to wait inside.  Since we had come all the way down St. Charles we decided to wait.  After about 30 minutes we were seated on the benches inside and then soon after a place opened on the counter.  Although our group of nine did not get to sit together, we did sit in groups of three.  

The food at the Camellia Grill is basic diner food with an emphasis on breakfast.  Here is a link to their menu:  http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/menu/1557319?p=0   I had the Doc Brinker special which was a double cheeseburger on rye with cole slaw and chili.  Although it was good, I am not sure I will get it again.  Mainly because I want to try different menu items each time I come.  They are also know for their freezes.  Since we were the last group to sit and eat and everyone was finished we did not get one.  They are like a blended drink with ice cream - orange is their most popular flavor. 

Our waiter at the Camellia Grill - almost as famous as the food. 

 Besides the food, part of the attraction is the waiters.  Ours was particularly "interesting" - see picture.  Although he was friendly he was not a very good waiter.  He gave us a hand "bump" and was excited but we didn't get our drinks until we were halfway finished with our meal.  His enthusiasm worked because I gave him a good tip - even though he wasn't the best. 

French Quarter location.  The Camellia Grill recently opened a French Quarter location.  Although I have not tried it, I understand that it is the same as the original.  If you are visiting the French Quarter - this would save the two hour round trip on the street car (depending on traffic) but you will miss a part of New Orleans that some tourist never see.  New Orleans is more than the French Quarter.