489455 Wed Feb 13 16:44:28 -0800 2008 33 9 New Orleans 0 3395178 Tourist beware. For the record I have been to New Orleans many times and love the vibe and food. Chose Coop's from the chow hound recs. Most of the food was great. However , don't expect a warm reception if your from out of town. The bar tender w/ the chignon was definately not forth coming with what the locals order. When my husband and I asked what the obviously locals were eating, we ordered it.Yes it was good, but the portions were noticably smaller. No biggy! We went back. This time my order came w/ FFs that were a soggy refried mess. I didn't send them back because I had been put in my place by the watiress for getting in her way as I was trying to navigate through the tight space to the bathroom out back. I think I was afraid of a pay back.I was amazed as I was headed to the bathroom that all the grilling was done on a small charoal bbq grill. It was an only in NOLA type of thing. Over all it was an interesting experience. I would go back. My disappointment was .... in this still obviously devistated town there was very little appreciation for those pouring money in to the economy. We were there for a weekand had a great time. Thank yall for absolutely pointing us in the right chow directions. This isn't a complaint, merely an observation. Wed Feb 13 16:44:28 -0800 2008 165819 wilwrk4fd 1 3400495 That sucks about the smaller, crappier portions. I eat there every so often when I'm in the area and always found that the service sucked. I think they take all that Dr. Bob art a little too seriously. Fri Feb 15 08:31:15 -0800 2008 3395178 93575 missmable 2 3400619 The food is better than the customer service, that's for sure. Fri Feb 15 08:58:05 -0800 2008 3400495 70925 philmaur 1 3400848 Please, stick to the food or service. I live in this "obviously devastated city"...where did you go that was so obviously devastated? I'm really curious, because it would not be where tourist generally go and it is certainly not the French Quarter... we greatly appreciate any one that comes to visit or volunteer to help rebuild our city. And, spending money does help us. But if you expect servers in a dive bar to fall all over you for buying dinner there you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Coop's fried chicken rules! Fri Feb 15 09:41:45 -0800 2008 3395178 108790 luvbigeasy 2 3400911 The fried chicken w/coleslaw is my favorite as well. My husband's choice is the rabbit & sausage jambalaya. Now I'm getting hungry! Fri Feb 15 09:53:48 -0800 2008 3400848 70925 philmaur 3 3402792 The fried chicken is served with a side of the jambalaya! Fri Feb 15 18:12:28 -0800 2008 3400911 10820 Blumie 2 3403041 We are out-of-towners, ate at Coops today while nursing serious hangovers, and found no problem with the service. I had read previously that the service there could be icy if you were an obvious tourist, but our server was helpful and friendly. I had the burger and my husband had the "taste of Coops" platter, both portions were enormous and we waddled out happy. Fri Feb 15 20:17:02 -0800 2008 3400848 17948 jennyo 1 3403062 I was clearly a tourist when I visited in March of '07----iPod earbuds sticking out of my shirt and all, but I felt completely at home there in short order. Maybe it was the jukebox.... Fri Feb 15 20:26:51 -0800 2008 3395178 19030 chris in illinois 1 3403085 We love New Orleans and for the most part hate tourists. We love Coop's because you are supposed to be a regular or at least act like one-know what you what dont ask for a menu and be glad you ar not in Razu's (s.p) fighting for 3 for 1 happy hour and whatever is in the that test tube! Coops has bad service down to a science and it keeps us coming back. Cant touch the fried chicken or the Crawfish beignets when they are in season. dc Fri Feb 15 20:33:02 -0800 2008 3395178 73130 don515 1 3429238 I hope that luvbigeasy reads this. Funny that you brought that up wilwrk. We were in NOLA and at Coop’s for the first time in May of 2006. We had asked a bartender at a club the night before where he would eat and well...So anyway, we are at Coops at the bar talking to Fay the lead bartender. She was very nice and was even kind enough to mention a few other local spots. While she was speaking to us one of the locals sitting across from us at the bar said "Don't miss Margarita Ville across the street!” At that point, Fay excused herself and went over to the woman and calmly asked her to leave. She returned to us and offered this apology… She thanked us for coming in and even for coming to New Orleans so soon after the storm, stating that every penny spent from tourist or local, in the Quarter at a dive or a tourist trap like Buffet’s Margarita Ville helps put people back to work. Many of the restaurants were still not open then because a large portion of the wait staff and prep cooks lived in the parishes that had been flooded. Wilwrk made a good point and used “obvious” correctly. On a side note, we will be married in New Orleans in June, and will DEFINITELY stop in to see Fay, and eat Coop’s fantastic food! Fune’ Sun Feb 24 07:22:57 -0800 2008 3395178 166849 funejack 2 3429335 I found Coops while on my honeymoon almost 13 years ago. Every return trip we go to Coop's at least once and usually several times since we most often stay on Frechmen Street. I have never had bad service there ever. Sun Feb 24 08:05:48 -0800 2008 3429238 168938 LBD 3 3495554 LBD, Bet you never look at a menu.... Been going to Coops at least that long do miss the old jukebox it was the bomb! dc Sat Mar 15 10:47:36 -0700 2008 3429335 73130 don515 2 3429667 May 2006 was almost two years ago, though. If we're using the number of restaurants in NOLA as a benchmark for recovery, then we're doing really well. There's actually more restaurants here now than there were pre-K! I wouldn't agree with "obviously devastated" at all. In regards to service at Coops...while I wouldn't describe it as impeccable, I think it's a fair trade-off for their awesome jambalaya! When I want good service, I will go to Brigtsen's. Sun Feb 24 10:10:11 -0800 2008 3429238 169038 hamsandwich 3 3430210 Thanks hamsandwich...I guess I let wilwrk's comment get to me...I own a business that caters to tourist. Without them I would not be in business...so believe me I appreciate and Thank God for everyone of them. Having been back in NOLA since mid September 2005 the only "obviously devastated" parts of the city today are the parts that were affected by the Federal Flood (and I see progress there)...not the areas that our guests visit i.e. "the sliver by the river" that was damaged by the Hurricane itself. For wilwrk to say that New Orleanians do not appreciate our guests is...well it is just wrong. So let's stick to food, after all that's what this board is all about. And, as I said, Coops' Fried Chicken rules! Sun Feb 24 13:42:03 -0800 2008 3429667 108790 luvbigeasy 1 3441094 just back from NOLA and arriving at MSY at 9p, decided Coops would be a good late dinner option. As a solo diner, i sat at the bar, and while the bartender didn't gush over me, he was friendly enough, and kept the drinks coming. i had blackened redfish with rice and beans and salad, and it was super tasty. a great first meal in NOLA. Wed Feb 27 14:07:31 -0800 2008 3395178 170069 stobin 2 3441141 That is exactly my routine. Following any late night arrival into MSY, dinner at the bar at Coop's is my first stop. Wed Feb 27 14:15:54 -0800 2008 3441094 10820 Blumie 3 3447315 We've eaten at Coop's several times--the first time on the recommendation of a local--and have never had problems with the service. It's always been insanely crowded, so it can be a bit slow, but it's always friendly. Actually, the guy who was our server the last time also made our coffees at Cafe d'Envie down the block, so he was kind of a familiar face. The food and the atmosphere both make it a must-go every time we're there--we're very slowly working on becoming regulars! I always get the pasta with shrimp and tasso--heavenly, and very spicy. Fri Feb 29 10:12:18 -0800 2008 3441141 133589 jettababs 3 3453983 Another good late night stop would be Mimis for tapas. Mon Mar 03 05:37:42 -0800 2008 3441141 118263 JazzyB 1 3453186 SO SAD! I've recoverd from being mad, and I'm just sad now. We wanted to try Coop's so bad this beautiful weekend in New Orleans, made special plans to be there after lunch hours, small line was there, but did not know that our children could not go in because of "gaming devices"! (The sign on the door was hidden by all the people. At least the lady in line next to us was kind enough to tell us of her experience there with her children not being allowed before we waited a long time!) I was looking forward to trying their fried chicken.... Anyway - in a town where the liquor flows freely and you can post nude pictures on your windows for all to see, I think it's a weird law to not allow children somewhere because of video poker machines. We then went to some overpriced place that wouldn't allow children on the balcony .... waaa! Thank God for Camellia Grill - it was a good finale for the day... Sun Mar 02 18:01:01 -0800 2008 3395178 64094 LBHamp 2 3453939 Sorry that yer sad LB, but say even you stated that.. "in a town where the liquor flows freely and you can post nude pictures on your windows for all to see" ..sooo you should understand that although NOLA is user friendly, it not really known for being a family oriented vacation destination. I do agree however that in THAT city, the last thing that they should be concerned with is a young person seeing someone play Blackjack. Mon Mar 03 04:54:46 -0800 2008 3453186 166849 funejack 3 3454243 I love NO and we enjoy taking the kids (and skipping Bourbon Street) - I just really really wanted some fried chicken - and since we had been covering their eyes when passing certain t-shirt stores, I never dreamed that a video poker machine would keep me from my chicken... :-) Mon Mar 03 07:20:37 -0800 2008 3453939 64094 LBHamp 4 3454428 Lots of places with video poker DO allow children in the joint...but they're required to have a separate space for the machines (usually a tiny, smoky, closet of a room stuffed with three machines, like my neighborhood Dot's Diner, or a flimsy partition with swinging half-doors). If the machines are out in the open, then it is technically a bar and isn't supposed to admit anyone under 21, no matter the hours. I know of a few places that do have machines out in the open yet still allow under 21 patrons, as long as it's during daylight hours, but this is indeed technically a violation of the law. Mon Mar 03 08:21:26 -0800 2008 3454243 12023 Hungry Celeste 3 3456834 New Orleans is a GREAT place for a family vacation. Bourbon Street, imho, is a terrible place for a vacation, family or no. I hate it's faux sleeze; I much prefer my sleeze to be real. : ) Mon Mar 03 18:17:29 -0800 2008 3453939 10820 Blumie 1 3487854 after reading so many good reviews (here and zagat), my friends and i were really expecting something phenomenal, but aside from the fried stuff (which was delicious - yay oysters and crawfish!), it was just okay. the special jambalaya tasted and felt very strongly of tomato paste and, as one of my compatriots worded it, "there was a Lot going on" - perhaps adding the seafood to it wasn't the best idea. like the jambalaya, the cajun pasta was super-busy and, though the crawfish in it was very good, after a bite or two, i wish i'd gotten a different dish. don't get me wrong, the fried stuff was awesome, but if you're looking for something other than that, you may want to look elsewhere. also, regarding earlier posts, the service was quite pleasant (: Thu Mar 13 00:29:16 -0700 2008 3395178 157579 epicuriosity_filled_the_kat 1 3520031 I literally just got back from New Orleans. I spent a week there, returning home late Friday. We (boyfriend, friend, and myself) had been referred to Coop's from a local dentist who lived in New Orleans. We stumbled in, hungover, at around 1 P.M. Let me mention, we probably could not have looked any more touristy with our digital cameras slung around our necks. We were treated very kindly by the waitress, and our food was incredible. We ordered fried shrimp, pasta, a hamburger, fried chicken, and red beans and rice. Our service was excellent, and the food was impeccable, and the portions were large. Can't imagine anything to complain about. When you are a tourist, don't expect to be treated like a local. Sun Mar 23 14:32:36 -0700 2008 3395178 106169 linz_e_moore 1 5159345 This has got to be one of the most awful places I have ever been to in my entire life. It's poorly run. The manager ADAM doesn't know how to do his JOB and doesn't know how to manage his employee's. I wouldn't spend one cent in this place when there are ten thousand places to eat in New Orleans that will give you great service without cussing at you and screaming in your face. My experience here was nothing short of verbal assault. However if you like employee's screaming at you and a manager that doesn't know what the hell he is doing. Feel free to waist your money here. Lord knows I didn't and just walked out. If I was the business owner of this place I would clean house. If they hate tourist so much move your business to a place that doesn't thrive off of tourism. Thu Nov 05 15:36:38 -0800 2009 3395178 1122085 BREAL76 2 5160024 tourist-local whatever. good attitude and friendly style always pay off. if people are rude to tourists anywhere they are idiots. everyone is a tourist when they leave where they live. hipsters need to get over themselves! coop's is a real slice of new orleans. the food is always good. they have great red beans and rice, wonderful gumbo, and great fried chicken. one of the best fried chicken breasts anywhere!!!!! pork chops, crab claws, pastas, special soups and special appetizers, panned chicken, blackened redfish. it is worth a try for anyone and they have food to please anyone's tastes. sorry you had a bad experience. that surprises me. i would imagine they get their share of tourists there and I have personally seen the staff go out of their way to give people advice and such. now, i am going there tomorrow for red beans and fried chicken! Thu Nov 05 21:15:58 -0800 2009 5159345 155305 mcegielski 3 5160398 I bet Breal76's experience was during the Halloween weekend. Tourists fail to realize the stress and pressure that running a restaurant during Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Halloween, etc can cause. From missing employees, drunk patrons and hungover everyone, it is so stressful it can make you cry. This is not an excuse or a reason for poor behavior, it's just a fact of life down here. You never get as good service during those peak times of year. Fri Nov 06 05:55:39 -0800 2009 5160024 276028 shanefink 4 5160729 um, *no* amount of stress, realized by a tourist or not, would justify an experience as described by Breal76. citing that tourists fail to appreciate the stress of running a restaurant is a moot point -- it isnt their job. their job is to be there and pay. the manager's job is to manage service in a pleasant way. thats it. now, having been raised in a restaurant i can say that being understanding of the stress is Pro, and can get you even better service. but i would not expect anyone to. i have never seen anything like that during any of our many special occasions, and it would not be tolerated. Fri Nov 06 08:00:19 -0800 2009 5160398 143137 kibbles 5 5162076 I have been to Coop's three times and had a good experience each time. Last March I had some of the best Redfish Menueire I had eaten anywhere. I always get at least one piece of chicken with whatever I get there. Yea, it is a little cramped and quirky, but I enjoy it. Bigray in Ok Fri Nov 06 14:56:47 -0800 2009 5160729 70795 Bigrayok 2 5163225 This must have been Halloween weekend. I love Coops, for its slightly surly, awesome jambalayaness and its bar cat - one of the only good reasons to venture into the Quarter. But I was there just after Halloween (Sunday eve) with in a group of five (three visitors, two locals). We waited a crazy long time - maybe an hour - and while standing around observed some pretty stressed-out table-waiting, finally finally finally got to sit (still with our good humor intact) only to be told we couldn't be served because my friend's son is 18. Gaming devices, I know, but mind you: the sign on the door says no minors *under 18* - we checked it ahead of time to be sure. You can imagine our dismay after that long wait with our mouths watering. Halloween weekend was not Coops at its finest... but I will be back again very soon! Sat Nov 07 08:39:13 -0800 2009 5159345 23833 mollymac 1 5162370 LOVE coop's. Sometimes it's friendly, sometimes not so friendly; I've sat 2 feet away from a barely coherent couple breaking up and making up at the bar for an hour, but the food is ALWAYS great. I would encourage anyone to go here for some of the best food in the city at incredible prices! Fri Nov 06 17:16:37 -0800 2009 3395178 198518 piglet3000 2 5164975 some of the best food in the city? really? an argument could be made for "best bar food", but surely not best food. Sun Nov 08 09:07:18 -0800 2009 5162370 131339 mortalcoil 1 5168068 Went to Coops when we landed last Friday bc it was one of the few places serving food at midnight. The food was very good and worth going to. The bar tenders were more aloof than rude but not enough to bother us. It was a decent way to start off our weekend. Mon Nov 09 14:06:20 -0800 2009 3395178 225271 west79chiro