In town for training and staying at the Hyatt (which is across the street), I thought it looked cute from the outside. My first impression walking in was that it seemed very plain. The walls were decorated with Mardi Gras posters, and the light fixtures and ""tin"" ceiling were cool, but it really lacked the feel of a true New Orleans restaurant.\r
My waiter was around just enough to keep my water full; which was fine, but the food took a little longer to be prepared than I would have expected it to. I ordered the Crawfish Etouffee ($16), which had the following description: ""We cook the roux until it?s chestnut brown, add our own spice blend, onions and peppers and give you a sauce to 'smother yer yaya!!' then stir in tender and sweet crawfish tail meat."" Maybe I caught them on a bad roux day, but the sauce was watery, more like a soup than a sauce, and it was also bland. I've had etouffee in New Orleans enough times to know that while I'm eating it, I shouldn't consider needing a spoon, nor should I have to add salt, pepper and hot sauce!\r
From where I was sitting, I had a direct view of the kitchen door, and on several occasions, I saw people who appeared to be patrons walking in and out of the kitchen, including a girl with long dark hair, not pulled back. Disturbed by this, I asked to see the manager and expressed my concern. He told me the people I saw walking into the kitchen were employees that were off and had met there prior to going to a concert nearby, and he encouraged his employees to make themselves at home even if they were off duty. I don't think the proper place to make yourself at home would be in the kitchen when you are off duty. He asked if the food was good, and I told him no. He offered me dessert, but I declined it because after what I had seen, I didn't want anything else from that kitchen. He did not offer me a discount to make up for the bad food and the disturbing view, which would have been appropriate. FYI: They don't accept Discover.
Pros: Priced
Cons: Food
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