Next in my series of 18 Eats, I head uptown to Camellia Grill for a quick bite at its famed counter.
If you ever find yourself nursing a hangover in New Orleans or up late working on one for the next morning, keep Camellia Grill in mind. It’s the Garden District go-to for giant omelets, particularly moreish pecan pie, stout coffee and all sorts of other delicacies designed to you help cope with post celebratory suffering and start feeling like a champ again.
Honestly, I wasn’t (all that) hungover when I dropped by for breakfast. Nevertheless, my slice of pie and bottomless cup of coffee hit a most appreciative spot. And I definitely got a sense of why so many folks list this humble greasy spoon among New Orleans’ most cherished eateries.
A relative newbie of broad appeal in a city renowned for its refined century-old restaurants, Camellia Grill has been satisfying locals with hearty diner fare since it opened 1946 and is today as well know for its large portions and cheap prices as it is for the classicist columned portico. A comedy of scale, such an attention grabbing entrance might suggest an overly expansive interior. But don’t take too many steps once you’re in the door! You might flip over the bar and land on the grill! Despite the pompous frontage, this diminutive diner is hardly big enough to fit the kitchen and counter wrapped round it.
Camellia Grill is located at 626 South Carrollton Avenue, 70118 – conveniently situated just across the street from South Carrollton at St Charles streetcar stop.
There doesn’t seem to be any official online presence for the business, but there’s a page about the restaurant on the New Orleans Official Guide website to use as a reference:
neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=1784.
Save room for the next post! I’ll be back soon with more in my series about New Orleans in 18 Eats.
