Legendary | Worth driving from anywhere
Camellia Grill
Review by: Roadfood Team
Get to the Camellia Grill the New Orleans way
For a feast for all senses away from the French Quarter, take the St. Charles street car line to Camellia Grill. This trip to a great New Orleans institution includes an architectural tour as “the car” moseys past fabulous houses, mansions and Audubon Park. Jump off at Carrollton Avenue near the end of the line. Just across the street is The Camellia Grill, with its white columns and pink neon sign. Inside you will find 29 seats at a serpentine counter staffed by white-coated waiters and cooks at open grills.
What should I eat at the Camellia Grill?
While there is no one signature dish, the Chef Special omelet is a house specialty: bacon, ham, onion, Swiss and American cheeses, and French fries all held together with lighter than air eggs whipped in a blender. This concoction is cooked on a flat grill, gently folded and then blanketed with a delicious, rich chili. Finally, the plate is crowned with French fries and delivered piping hot. The chili is almost a necessary anchor, as this omelet is so light and fluffy it could otherwise float away.
Camellia Grill is known not only for its breakfast served all day, but also for its sandwiches. A simple hamburger (dressed, of course, which is New Orleans speak for mayonnaise, chopped lettuce, tomato and pickle) or grilled cheese with bacon is elevated to gourmet delight, especially when paired with an order of chili cheese fries.
Camellia Grill’s desserts include a variety of pies: pecan, chocolate pecan, apple, and several cream pies. The pecan pie notable because the usual way of serving it is to grill a slice in butter before topping it with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. Grilling intensifies the flavor of the buttery crust.
Get the Orange Freeze to wash it all down
For a beverage choice, the orange freeze is another house specialty. Available in several other flavors, the orange freeze is quickly blended using orange juice, simple syrup, ice and French vanilla ice cream. Its texture is neither that of a shake nor a slushy. It is frothy and the flavor is delicate, not too sweet, so it is a great companion to a meal.
Don’t let the line stop you!
Don’t be surprised is there is a line of eager, hungry diners. You will find an eclectic mix of locals, tourists, and students from nearby Tulane University, just blocks away. It’s definitely worth the wait.
— Original Review submitted by Marlene Bellis and Philip Roth, aka, tsores.
Directions & Hours
Information
| Price | $ |
| Seasons | All |
| Meals Served | All |
| Credit Cards Accepted | Yes |
| Alcohol Served | No |
| Outdoor Seating | No |
What To Eat
Doc Brinker’s Special
DISH
Cheeseburger
DISH
Chili Omelette
DISH
Pecan Pie a la Mode
DISH
Chef’s Special Omelet
DISH
Breakfast Sausage
DISH
Scrambled Eggs
DISH
Coffee
DISH
Pecan Waffle
DISH
Harry’s Yankee Special – Roast Beef
DISH
Pancakes
DISH
Gumbo
DISH
Chocolate-cherry freeze
DISH
Camellia Special (Sandwich)
DISH
Red Beans and Rice
DISH
Camellia Grill Recipes
Discuss
What do you think of Camellia Grill?
2 Responses to “Camellia Grill”
Jim Dudlicek
January 12th, 2011
The Camellia Grill has a location on Chartres in the French Quarter, too. We stumbled across it by accident on our way to Central Grocery (where we finally made it the next day for our muffaletta fix). It was a 15-or-so-minute wait for counter space, but it was worth it, not just for the food, but for the joyous interaction between the cooks and the wait staff.
The Chef’s Special omelet was fantastic, and washed down with a chocolate-cherry freeze, it couldn’t be beat. The Camellia Grill was a surprise highlight of our latest trip to NOLA.
Derek Freeman
May 15th, 2010
This is a must-stop in New Orleans. Friendly, quirky staff and patrons. It is definitely worth the wait. People in line were discussing what the must-eat dish is and it seemed to be the omelets. The portions are huge so unless you are hungry, plan to share. If you are doing New Orleans the right way, you are probably NOT hungry because you’ve been sampling the many other restaurants in the city.
I got an omelet with bacon, Swiss, onions, and peppers, with a side of grits. Definitely go for the grits, not only are they delicious, but you can get fries anywhere. The menu says grits are not available after 11am but there was two full pots on at noon.
My wife got a pecan waffle. This is a must-eat. We split the omelet and waffle, but I could have gone for more waffle (and more cowbell, of course).
The coffee is pretty good as well, not your standard diner-fare.
A girl next to me got the Chef’s Special omelet, smothered in chili. She said the chili was good, but the overall dish was a little too overbearing (or overwhelming–don’t remember the exact word she used, but I knew what she meant). I didn’t order it because I thought this may be the case.
The price was extremely reasonable. Our bill was around $17 for what we ordered, and I figure it is about the same that we would have paid at Denny’s. So be sure to tip well because the staff is GENUINELY KIND AND FUNNY. The staff seem very genuine and really make you feel like they want you to enjoy your dining experience.
As far as my overall rating, I’m new to Roadfood and I can’t say I’m a fan of the rating system based on miles you would travel to go to a particular establishment. In a city like New Orleans everything is within close proximity, so it is hard to say I would travel 100+ miles to go to this restaurant alone. I guess I wouldn’t travel to New Orleans JUST for THIS restaurant, BUT if you are in NOLA, you need to go here. I don’t think the rating system reflects that, if that makes any sense. Camellia Grill is a must-eat, even if you are here for a weekend. It is definitely at the top of my list for a breakfast joint in New Orleans. The omelets are better than average, the Pecan Waffles are outstanding, and the atmosphere is also what makes the place a must-visit.