The Camellia Grill — Restaurant in New Orleans

This is one of my MUST STOP places when in New Orleans. I love taking the trolley, seeing all the homes along St. Charles, and then eating at this diner. They do their food old style.

Order a burger. It is like having one you prepare on your own grill. The person I was with was all over it, "This is like a real burger!"

The servers, cooks, everyone are incredible. They are warm, inviting, and funny. I enjoy the company as much as I enjoy the food. Just a fun place to eat.

The fried green tomatoes are the best I've ever had. The seasoning blend is unreal delightful.

Great gumbo. My friend said their tomato basil soup was the best they've ever had.

That said, I come for the fried pecan pie with ice cream. It will ruin you for all other pecan pie. They fry it on the griddle, making it warm and a little gooey. Then the ice cream is a perfect compliment. All conversation in our group of 9 stopped as they were eating their pie.

I brought my wife along for this meal. It's her first time. She hasn't experienced the fried pecan pie previously. My wife is an incredible individual. She can make a friend with anyone and can chat with anyone. So when she doesn't talk, it's for a really good reason. She didn't utter one word while she was chowing down on her pecan pie, other than a word here or there such as "unreal good" or "so good" or "this is life changing." Yep, it's that good. My favorite dessert in New Orleans and I eat it every single time I visit.

The whole dining experience is just so much fun. Sitting at the counter next to people you don't know, but you do by the end of the meal. The cooks are right there in front of you. The rest of the staff dodging cooks and helping out customers. The staff having fun and creating an enjoyable experience....

Today was my first and last time eating here. The guy taking my order was far from welcoming. The atmosphere was giving the 1940's keep in mind segregation in Louisiana didnt end until 1958. So if you want that experience by all means come here. This is a tourist trap and not for locals. Despite NOLA being a black city, the guy that took my order and the customers there looked at me like they have never seen a black person before. After ordering my food I asked the guy for a place to sit while I wait, indicating if its okay to sit at the open wall seat. The man said I can go down the street and go to a boutique. This is after I paid and left a tip. He was far from hospitable. I sat outside on the public picnic bench because clearly I was unwelcomed there. I go back inside asking for my burger. And he was like I saw you outside I'd figure you would come in sooner, we were so busy I couldn’t bring it to you. People were already seated and no new customers were coming in so a clear excuse. I was just like okay well can I have my burger. And he looked at me like he didnt want to get it for me or tell me where to go to get it. It was like he was literally holding it hostage or like he wouldnt be willing to have a cook make me a new one in the case they threw it away despite seeing me waiting outside. Then he called for the chef asking for the burger and I got it. The burger was just greasy if anything and had no flavor. Its not worth the alleged hype. Atleast I know now that the long line outside isnt for the food but because its literally a small waffle...

You come to this place because of the atmosphere, the tradition, the cultish following, but then you’re shocked by how good the food is.

There is a reason that this remains a New Orleans classic.

They are famous for omelettes, and for good reason. These aren’t the airy French kind, instead they are the American dinner kind full of veggies , cheese and whatever… dense almost crisp with tons of flavor.

Maybe it’s the well seasoned grill, the place has been there awhile.

The lifer I sat next to always has the special, today’s was smothered in the chili the place is also famous for. I had the baby spinach and onions with a side hash browns

There is a reason people, often the same people, have becoming here since 1946. We sat between an 85 year old and twenty somethings talking about LSU football, food and the Saints’ game and whatever is on anybody’s mind. These kinds of places often disappoint on the food, not this place. My wife went to the nearby university many decades ago. She says it hasn’t changed and looking around at the clientele, and the relatively low prices, I believe her.

A classic American dinner, everyone sitting together at a series of u- shaped lunch counters - (calling it undulating would miss the informal spirit of this place) naturally talking to each other across every age, race, class divide as if we were all old friends just sharing a meal, an experience and a tradition.

If I come back I. Six months or next years it would probably be the same wonderful food and...