My friends and I haven’t seen each other in months, so we reserved a table at Ralph’s on the Park. Ralph’s on the Park is a fine-dining establishment that’s right across from the lush green acres of City Park. We ate there on a beautiful autumn’s eve (which is my way of saying “last day of summer”). Needless to say, it was the perfect time and place to get the 411 on our busy lives!
I arrived at the restaurant early with a friend of mine (we rode together), so we ordered some cocktails at the bar while waiting for everyone else. While waiting for them, we sat at the bar and ordered some cocktails. I don’t really care for alcohol TBH, but I won’t say no to a fruity cocktail (that is, if I’m in the mood for a boozy drink or two), so to get into the Sunday brunch spirit, I ordered my old faithful—a single mimosa (because nothing beats a glass of Vitamin C with a splash of champagne to start your day, right?)! It was the perfect blend of tart, tangy, and bubbly that you barely even notice the overwhelmingly bitter taste of alcohol.
When our friends arrived at the restaurant at 11 a.m., we were able to sit down. Sadly, we didn’t get to eat outside, which was quite a shame because the weather was so beautiful (minus the humidity, ha-ha). Plus, there were seats on the balcony overlooking the colossal mossy oak trees that tower City Park. But we ate in an antique and chic dining room with vivid paintings on the walls and windows large enough to let sunlight in, which I found aesthetically pleasing.
What’s on the Menu?
The menu at Ralph’s on the Park consists of modern Louisiana cuisine with farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can choose between the regular menu or the $45 three-course menu for brunch. Personally, I ordered various items from both menus (you’ll soon know why!). Honestly, I’d recommend ordering from the regular menu since you’ve got plenty of items to choose form, but you can also chose the three-course menu if you want a unique dining experience.
We started off with a bowl of hand-cut truffle fries ($10) to share. The fries were so soft and perfectly seasoned that I had to restrain myself from eating them all! While I could’ve ordered a second round of fries, that would’ve been a dangerous move!
Other than the tempting truffle fries, I ordered an heirloom tomato salad ($14) as my first course a la carte. The salad was colorful and wholesome and paired well with avocado mousse, smoky chipotle vinaigrette, and creamy melt-in-your-mouth burrata. I’d recommend it to vegetarians and anyone trying to live a healthy lifestyle.
For my main entrée, I got the redfish on the half-shell ($37) with summer squash, fresno pepper romanesco, ricotta salata, and pickled mustard seeds. Albeit a bit smaller than expected, the redfish was well-seasoned and tender and had the perfect blend of Creole and Gulf flavors. It’s the perfect dish for pescatarians and seafood lovers!
But the real star of the show was the dessert. If you’re a chocoholic like me, you must try the blackout doberge cake. With 11 layers of decadent, moist devil’s food sponge cake with chocolate-flavored cream blanketed in rich chocolate ganache and silky vanilla creme anglaise, it’s the kind of doberge cake that will truly awaken your senses. While this chocolatey delight isn’t part of the regular brunch menu, our server allowed me to order it!
(Keep in mind though: you can only order the blackout doberge cake on Saturdays and Sundays! On weekdays, you can only get the dueling doberge cake ($14), which is half-chocolate, half-lemon. So if you’re not a fan of lemon-flavored cake, you might have to order something else!)
Wrapping It Up
If you have a clear schedule, visit City Park after brunch and admire the 1,300 acres of green space and imposing mossy oak trees if you have time. You can also check out the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), or order some beignets with a café au lait at Cafe Du Monde if you want. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from Ralph’s on the Park.
Overall, Ralph’s on the Park was a great brunch spot. The restaurant’s historically charming interior and lively ambiance make it a fine venue for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, high school reunions, and engagement parties. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but I promise you: you won’t regret it. I thought my brunch was worth every dollar spent, and I’m looking forward to coming back soon!
Address: 900 City Park Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: 504-488-1000