Mother's Restaurant   

If there is one sandwich every New Orleanian agrees about it's Mother's Debris. Debris, for the uninitiated, is that flaky, juicy meat that falls off in small pieces as a large roast beef slow cooks. What some cooks might call expendable, Mother's has built into a decades-old institution. Those in the know order all the way with The Ferdi: debris on French bread combined with flavorful baked ham. And if you thought you knew all there is to know about local cuisine, you probably haven't had a bite of Mother's mac-and-cheese or mustard greens. Or if you thought all shrimp po-boys are created equally, you need just one bite of Mothers version to change your mind. To get a sense of the history of the place, simply read the writin' on the wall. From letters of adoration sent by the grateful dining masses to 1960s newspaper stories touting Mother's masterful ''spaghetti pie,'' you can spend hours tracing Mother's story. Hey, if it's good enough for Lenny Kravitz, Francis Ford Coppola and Dustin Hoffman, don't you think you need to find out what all the fuss is about? This is a take-your-time experience -- so be prepared to wait in line (outside) at peak hours.-