Introduction
The Camellia Grill is a classic brunch/lunch location near St. Charles and Carrolton. Opened in 1946, this classic New Orleans diner has an unchanged late ‘40s atmosphere with peninsula counter seating. The seating arrangement can make for long lines, however indoor waiting space is available and throughput is high. The food available includes po’-boys, sandwiches, pancakes, omelets, and “freezes,” all prepared in a unique open kitchen.
Presentation
The zig-zag counter and the framed pictures of Camellia which gives it its name combines to give a feeling of a friendly space. Plus, with it being right near where the streetcars turn 90 degrees to go up Carrollton gives it an interesting viewpoint for railroad nerds. The white plasterwork outside contrasts with the 1940s diner aesthetic inside.
Atmosphere
The dining experience is quite unique in the grill. Rather than ordering from a waiter, diners fill out an ordering slip; this makes it so you won’t have the embarrassment of a wrong order due to the waiter mishearing you or forgetting a particular preference of yours. This is especially important because it can often be quite loud as the area is quite cramped. If you are one that cannot stand the hustle and bustle of waiters, the chatting of patrons, or acoustics in a restaurant I would recommend sitting outside.
Food Quality
The food is the typical diner. I would say that it is well worth the price. The cheeseburgers are quite good as they are not overly greasy yet not so dry that it is impossible to eat. The fries are very thin which I prefer as I find thicker fries less pleasing. You might look at the menu and wonder what the heck is a “freeze”. A freeze is like an interesting combination between a milkshake and a slushy; you’d think that it would be too watery but honestly it is delicious.
Final Verdict
In the category of Presentation it gets 1 out of 1 stars, for Atmosphere it gets 1.5 stars out of 2, and for Food Quality it gets 2 stars out of 2. Overall it is a pretty decent place with my only main criticism being that the acoustics in the place mean that noise reverberates quite easily. However, I would say that most people wouldn’t go to a diner to have a heartfelt and deep conversation. The food quality is delicious for what they offer and I have never been disappointed. Overall, it gets a 4.5 star rating.
Instructions for getting there
Take a Carrollton bound streetcar and get off at the St. Charles and Carrollton Avenue stop which is also called Riverbend. Alternatively, you can get off at the Maple Street stop and walk to it from there. The fare for the streetcars is $0.50 if you’re under 18 and $1.25 if you are 18-64. You can either download the Le Pass app, using it to purchase tickets, or pay with cash. I would highly recommend using quarters if you are going to use cash as the dollar bill acceptors have a habit of being a tad unreliable.
