Clancy's

Description:

• Your friendly cabdriver may insist that Clancy's is "out of town" because this local favorite is so far uptown, but it's really not that much farther than a trip to the zoo or to Brigtsen's . The food and neighborhood vibe alone should be worth the trip; it's a relief to get off the tourist path. The locals who cram into the smallish, oh-so-New Orleans room nightly are a loyal bunch, as New Orleans diners tend to be, but we have to say our last meal at Clancy's was only average and quite forgettable. We may have hit them on a bad night. But to ensure a better meal, follow the advice of those same locals and order the night's specials rather than sticking to the menu (though the duck dish on the menu is as good as duck gets). You could try the fried oysters with brie appetizer or smoked fried soft-shell crab topped with crabmeat (smoke flavor not overpowering, crab perfectly fried without a drop of grease to taint the dish), and veal topped with crabmeat and béarnaise sauce. Food too heavy? What the heck -- make it even more so with desserts such as lemon icebox pie. One local said it was even better than his grandma's!

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010