Vincent's-Metairie

Hello, this is my first blog dedicated to the New Orleans dining scene. Tonight, I went to Vincent's Italian Cuisine in Metairie. I've always been a fan of Vincent's, but must confess that I have usually restricted myself to their two signature dishes of Veal Cannelloni and the legendary Corn and Crab Bisque served in the bread bowl. I would recommend those two dishes to any first time visitors of Vincent's, but tonight I felt like drifting away from the same ol' same ol'. I started out with the Artichoke Vincent, which consisted of 5-6 breaded and fried artichoke bottom, which served as a circular barrier around a lovely combination of crabmeat, bits of shrimp, and green onion, held together in a creamy sauce with a nice little kick of pepper to keep you awake. I ordered the Veal Florentine as a main course, which included a salad of greens and a creamy Italian dressing, which was okay, but just that. The main course was set up much the same as the appetizer--three breaded veal cutlets surrounding a small mound of sauteed spinach. A rich main course, as the cutlets had small pools of butter resting in crevices. Delicious, as I left nothing on the plate. Vincent's is a place I would recommend for anyone in the New Orleans area looking for Creole-Italian. The ambiance may not be the greatest--the tables are very close together, and the conversation from across the room can be heard if the voices are above a whisper. But the service is very friendly--Vincent himself WILL stop by your table and some point during your visit, and come on--this is what we're looking for when we eat Italian, right?