Begue's Restaurant

To say this restaurant is a place to 'see and be seen' by locals is about the best thing that happens here. I'm not sure that qualifies this restaurant to have any other positive comments made about it. Having made the decision to go there for a birthday celebration, we left virtually ANGRY at what we experienced. The fact patrons are asked to adhere to their rather 'formal' dress code, makes no sense. The dining room offers no soothing atmosphere. The lighting is too bright, the tables are so close together we struggled getting to our table & so did our server. We were seated off to the side next to the large mirror that covers the wall. Not only were there crumbs all over the ledge, but the mirror was covered with dried crusty food particles. The light fixtures had dust balls dangling so far down, I was fearful it would land on my not so interesting dinner. IT WAS FILTHY If this is the way a landmark restaurant treats its dining room I would be afraid for my life to see what goes on in the kitchen. The service was reasonable considering the server had tables in all corners of the dining room. This made it difficult to get the type of service you would expect for a $320 dinner tab. New Orleans has some AMAZING restaurants where all aspects of the dining experience ARE touched upon. Galatoire's certainly isn't one of them. Trust me on that. more

Unfortunately, this once fine restaurant has run its course. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, but the food was just plain disappointing! Every loaf of bread they brought out was burned on top, my chicken clemenceau was unremarkable, as was my son's steak. For $100 for two, it just wasn't worth the build-up. Wouldn't g there ever again. Pros: Our waitress was great! Cons: Hated walking the gauntlet on Bourbon Street to get there more

Had he most amazing meal at Galatoire with my Fi's family. I suggested the place and no one was let down. The Grand Goute, fried eggplant the potatoes were great beginings. A new thing was the salad with everything, called a Godcheaux Salad, it was just yummy and amazing. I had trout and it was made perfectly. I think they could add a few deserts and the wine list was reasonable. A great night in a great New Orleans tradition. more

We were in New Orleans last month for a weekend to celebrate our seventh anniversary. We decided to go to Galatoire's for our anniversary dinner because we wanted to get really dressed up and have an old-school, New Orleans-style dinner. We went a bit later in the evening and didn't have to wait in line--great start to the night! Our waiter turned out to be fantastic. He was super friendly and made us feel right at home. Now, here's the deal with Galatoire's: don't go there expecting some cutting-edge, super gourmet experience. It's not that sort of place. You go to Galatoire's for the classic New Orleans dining experience and for old, standard, dishes done to absolute perfection. And that's just what we got. Our whole meal was truly outstanding: Oysters Rockefeller, fried eggplant and potato souffles, roasted duck a l'orange, and banana bread pudding. We couldn't have asked for a better dinner to celebrate our anniversary. And don't miss out on the cafe brulot, a house specialty. I can't recommend Galatoire's enough if you want a true, old New Orleans dining experience and old standards cooked to perfection. It was the highlight of our weekend and we can't wait to go back again. Pros: great dining room, friendly service, excellent food Cons: we're big into French wine, and the menu was somewhat limited here. But there's still something for everyone. more

Galatoire's should uphold their end of the bargain. If they are going to insist that men wear coats and on charging $$$$, they should serve food that cannot be mistaken for the Kid Cuisine Seafood Adventure Pack. My girlfriend and I knew that things were off to a bad start when the server mentioned at least 5 recommendations in which the first ingredient was iceberg lettuce. Are you kidding me? The same stuff that's on the Whopper? more

One cannot judge a restaurant simply by the food alone. We had visited Galatoires's several years ago and were anxious to return. Once our flight from Denver landed on 6/6/08, we jumped into the rental car and headed straight for the restaurant around 2:30 in the afternoon. The sign at the entrance said ""long pants."" The maitre d' made us wait, then looked us over and said my jeans were fine but my husbands were too faded. We told him we just arrived from Denver, and yes, he purchased stonewashed blue jeans; they were new Levis, certainly not faded. We are in our late fifties, conservative business owners in Denver and do not wear ratty jeans. If the sign had said ""no jeans,"" that would certainly have been understandable. But we both fit in the ""long pants"" category; the maitre d' just didn't care for the lighter blue color. We were humiliated in front of the other customers and will not return to a place where people are treated with such disrespect. New Orleans is trying to attract more tourists. This is NOT the way to do it. There are so many fine restaurants in New Orleans - Commander's Palace, Arnaud's, Antoines - too many to list. No doubt they still show ""southern hospitality"" in addition to wonderful food. more

My friend and I got dressed up the last night of our weeklong trip to New Orleans and headed down to Galatoires. We dined on the first floor and enjoyed the jovial ambience. The service was impeccable! Our waiter was very attentive and helped narrow our choices down. He also recommended a fabulous bottle of wine. However, the food did not meet my expectations. Everything from appetizer to entree was drenched in butter and lacked any seasoning. I ordered the seasonal fish, Pompano, and my friend likewise ordered a fish dish. While I can appreciate the mild flavor of the fish, I expected it to be somewhat seasoned. It was just plain bland. I was also not impressed with the flavor of the Cafe Brulot, although it was quite a sight for our waiter to pour the flaming liquid onto our tablecloth. The best part of the meal was the other half of dessert- banana bread pudding. It was just perfect! I would go back to Galatoires on my next visit to New Orleans, but would be extremely selective about what I ordered. Pros: well trained wait staff more

Lots and lots of butter. Stuffy. A place for old people to go and feel fancy. The food is bland and utterly devoid of spice, perhaps due to the delicate palates of the blue-haired clientele. Go elsewhere. more

I cannot think of another New Oleans dining experience that measures up to our return visit to Galitoire's, that includes Commander's Palace. The food is quintessential ""New Orleans"" , staff personalize their service and it is great theatre to see traditional New Orleans dining. Seafood, crab, oysters and souled potatoes are great. It is a must to try to be seated in the main floor dining room to get this experience. Pros: A great New Orleans Dining tradition Cons: Parking is a ways off. Plan on walking. more

Had the great privilege to lunch at Galatoire's with three friends on April 21, 2007. From the moment we were seated until we got up from the table, two and a half hours later, we were delighted. Our waiter, Joey, and all of the support staff made us (from Seattle) very welcome and were never more than a few steps away to get whatever we wanted or desired. Try the appetizer combination plate and especially the Shrimp Remoulade, delicious! We all had different entrees; Trout Meunuire, Trout Almandine, Crabmeat Yvonne and Stuffed Eggplant, all delicious. The Sazeracs and Champagne flowed and a lively crowd of New Orleanians and Mississippi folk table hopped around us (and even to our table). Contrary to what other reviewers say the first floor is more locals and the second floor more for tourists. Choose the first floor. When you enter Galatoire's you are entering a culinary and social institution over a hundred years old so why not dress up a little (or a lot!) then you don't have to be concerned about ill fitting hand-out-jackets.. I've never over the years had a bad meal or bad service there. Any food that didn't please me would be taken back to the kitchen and that's that. The prices here aren't cheap so it's up to the customer(s) to say if they are or are not pleased And IF I were to have bad service (unthinkable) I would stand up, tap my spoon on my water glass and say very loudly, ""help, my waiter is being very naughty"". The room would probably burst into applause and you would immeadiately have the best service in the house. Remember, New Orleans is a city of eccentricity and mirth, no matter what suffering it goes through. For dessert , the Bread Pudding and a Cup Custard ( maybe two Cup Custards). I can't wait to return! Oh and another thing, ask for your waiter by name, it's the traditional thing to do. Ask for Joey. Pros: one of a kind place in the whole world, atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere Cons: Bourbon St. at Night more

I was fortunate enough to dine at Galatoire's in May of 2006 for lunch and found the food to be wonderful and the service was exemplary! Definitely great for people watching! Plenty of white linen suits a la Mark Twain and scads of seersucker! Very southern atmosphere. And our waiter kept the champagne flowing! As much a social experience as a fine dining one! Not to be missed! Pros: Great food and great service Cons: None that I experienced more

It is impossible to refute the misconceptions about this place in the space allowed. The changing of table linen in front of the customer is as old as time in a bistro and that is what Galatoire's is. If one is so slolthful as to not wear a jacket then one should be given one with a hole in it. (Some restauarants and clubs used to keep exceptionally ugly ""loaner"" jackets so the miscreant was apparant to all). Galatoire's is one of the last Creole joints in the City: their remoulade is the finest in town. They fry things better than anyone else. Their troute meuniere is the classic New Orleans version. The restaurant is, emphatically, not for Adventurous Diners or those who want a quick meal. It is quirky and clubby but even newcomers will be welcomed into the club. The ""experience"" will owe much to what the customer brings to it. Pros: Seafood, sauces, cholesterol, coffee, fun, Tradition Cons: People bring their brats sometimes, can be very loud even without them more

the service was good and the room pleasant enough but it was inferior to other restaurants that are not as highly rated will have to try again in my lifetime more

My girlfriend and I had a excelent experience on Bacco Novemeber 25, 2006. After frustrated experience on Galatoires (poor services; For Example: Galatoires required dress code they provided me a jacket with a hole on it and the waiter threw out the napkin or table cloth on the table front of us meanwhile he was cleaning the utensil ( it was ridicules to pay so much money to receive these mistreats) . On the other hand, the food and services on Bacco was amazing. The table manner from the Bacco staff were perfect; For Example: serving the food from the right side, the tasting of the wine, removing of the unused utensil by every course of the food, etc) I will say Bacco has very well trained people. And we were very pleased with the Bacco and I would like to recommend to everyone who visit New Orleans. Pros: Location Cons: Bad Service more

Galatoire's is an authentic New Orleans experience. The noise and friendliness of patrons to one another and even to strangers is a part of the package. This classic restaurant reflects a side of the unique New Orleans culture found few other places. Most patrons are locals. The waiters are mostly long-timers, and many are from small towns in Southwest Louisiana, where food is an art. Pay attention to their suggestions. Relax, enjoy the experience, and don't expect it to be like fancy restaurants in Dallas, Houston or Atlanta. They would kill to have a Galatoire's! Break down and wear coat and tie; it is worth the trouble! Pros: atmosphere, food quality, style Cons: noise more

This is our FAVORITE restaurant in New Orleans. The shrimp remoulade is the best in New Orleans and that goes for every other menu item we've ever devoured. The service is second to none. A jacket is required, which is actually a nice departure from the bermuda shorts and t-shirt crowd you customarily find on Bourbon Street. Do not let any naysayers detract from this New Orleans institution; it certainly has not been in business all of these decades for naught. Pros: Cuisine, Service, Tradition more

First, a jacket is required for men - if you don't have one they provide one. So instead of a table of men wearing fashionable business casual clothes, you get to see a table of men wearing jackets that don't fit well and don't match their shirts. How is this a good thing? It is loud (not good for a quiet romantic evening), the service was poor (we never saw our waiter after our entree until long after we were finished), and the food was mediocre (the artichoke was undercooked and inedible - at least they had the decency to take it off the bill.) Cons: , loud, loaner jackets more

Took several 'first-timers' for a Saturday lunch. Waited an hour and a quarter, while watching same size parties who came in much later than us being seated. Kept being reasured 'it would 15 more minutes'. Finally gave up and left. No apologies, as a matter of fact the hostess was aggrevated because I wouldn't give her my name to cross off the apparently non-existent list. more

As a native of Louisiana, I am very disappointed with this restaurant. The service was good, but the food wasnt. I could have gone down the street to get better food for a 1/3 or the price. I would hate to think people from out of town eat here and get the wrong idea about New Orleans great food. Also the fact that you have to have a coat and tie to eat here is also crazy being that the restaurant is on Bourbon St. Most people are dressed very casual if spending the day out in the French Quarter. Pros: ? Cons: expensive, Unseasoned food more

This is the McDonald's of fine dining. Food was mediocre, service was terrible, and you feel like they're trying to get you in and out as soon as they can. You can barely finish one course before they bring you another. You also need one of the wait staff to decipher the menu for you - nothing is described (which I'm sure doesn't give some of their dishes justice). Extremely overrated. Cons: Crowded more