Chalmette

Chalmette is a suburb of New Orleans in Louisiana, USA. Chalmette is the "Parish seat" (equivalent to a county in other states) of Saint Bernard Parish, known to locals simply as "The Parish".



Understand
Like New Orleans, Chalmette was damaged severely by the flooding which came with levee failures from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. While 20% of New Orleans was above the flooding, Chalmette experienced the disaster of 100% flooding.

The largest concentration of businesses and restaurants of the rebuilt Chalmette are along the major streets of Paris Road, St. Bernard Highway, and Judge Perez Drive.

Get in
From central New Orleans, drive down Claiborne Avenue, which becomes Judge Perez in the Parish, or Rampart Street/St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans, which becomes St. Bernard Highway in the Parish. From I-10 in Eastern New Orleans, take 510 South which becomes Paris Road.

Get around
Drive. If you get off the main thoroghfares, drive with extra attention, as some side streets are still in need of repaving after buckling in the flood.

See

 * Battle of New Orleans site 8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette. This is where Andrew Jackson stopped the British invasion during the War of 1812. Informative displays explain the battle. Chalmette National Cemetery is adjacent.
 * De la Ronde Plantation ruins The remains of the old plantation house that served as British headquarters during their unsuccessful campaign to conquer Louisiana is now on the median of St. Bernard Highway a block up from Paris Road. Not much is left other than sections of ruined brick walls, but worth a quick look for history buffs if you're in the area.

Eat
Some of the restaurants in Chalmette, and in the town of Meraux which is just to the east of Chalmette.


 * Crave 3201 E. Judge Perez, Meraux. Hearty Cajun-style food. Tel: +1 504-676-3697
 * Rocky & Carlo's Restaurant & Bar, 613 W. St. Bernard Hwy. A favorite local institution for generations, serving ample portions of po-boys, New Orleans style and Louisiana Italian cooking. Lunch and dinner, Tel: +1 504-279-8323
 * Rocky & Carlo's Restaurant & Bar, 613 W. St. Bernard Hwy. A favorite local institution for generations, serving ample portions of po-boys, New Orleans style and Louisiana Italian cooking. Lunch and dinner, Tel: +1 504-279-8323

Drink
More bars on and around Paris Road at St. Bernard Highway. Par 3 Diner - Wednesday's & Saturdays - 16oz T-bone steak special
 * Rocky & Carlo's, listed above
 * Community Grill on Judge Perez Drive in Arabi

Connect
Telephone area code is 504, same as New Orleans.

Go next

 * The picturesque Terre-aux-Boeufs region along Bayou Road is to the south-east
 * Fishing trips from eastern St. Bernard Parish
 * New Orleans is a short drive to the west.