Galatoire's Friday Lunch
Going to be in New Orleans in February. Would love to have lunch at Galatoire's on Friday but have a couple of questions.
What time should we arrive (just 2 of us) to get a table downstairs? I'll have a jacket, should I wear a tie? What do the ladies wear?
jcar839
Oct 28, 2009 12:25PM
not the 12th, I hope, that's Friday Gras and the tables are auctioned.
any other Friday, get in line very early or go much later as a two top may turnover quicker. I walked in one Chirstmas Eve at 1pm and got seated as someone had just left.
I'd wear the tie, and yes the ladies do get all dolled up, it's festive, so dress accordingly.
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I would only add that I would insist on the tie and I agree about the lady dressing up some--sort of Sunday-ish. 2:30 ought to get a deuce without much trouble, barring Special Event. But you also get several Krewes having impromptu things there throughout the season. If someone wants to See What It Is LIke, I'd say stick your head in at noon but come back later in the afternoon to stay and eat.
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Thanks for the tips...no, we'll be there the 5th but wouldn't have thought about the Friday before.
Didn't realize that, when we made reservations last time, we'd land upstairs...in a hallway. Your hekp may aloow us to feel as if we're locals for a short while. It's our ambition.
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Get there at 9.
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I agree IF you want to get in at 11:30AM..but whothehell wants to?
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Well, then what's the recommended routine? Please speak to us tourists who want to be respectful of the fine traditions, and join the fun, but don't have the experience necessary to judge between, or even know, the various possibilities.
We'd like to try this coming April, but have always heard it's pretty much impossible for anyone other than regulars to get seated downstairs for Friday Lunch. So any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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For Friday you are on your own. It is not a matter of Regulars Only downstairs..if you are there in time then you'll get in...my point is why would you want to be there at noon or 1:00 or even 2:00? Friday has become such an Event---like the World Series which has plenty of people who don't care about baseball but care about An Event---that it is loud and obnoxious to an extreme...and I am used to the place being loud. If I go on Friday I go at 3:00 or later and still I try to avoid it. Dinner is usually better. If you want lunch, ANY other day will be fine, anytime from 11:30 onward (excpt Sunday when it is noon opening). Go at 3:00 if you feel like it.
Coat & tie etc. but you've heard that.
This is not to say that Friday cannot be fun but you are taking a risk.
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I won't go into extreme detail again but our Friday dinner experience was beyond chaotic and into the realm of extreme unpleasantness. We forgot our umbrella so we went back during lunch the next day to retrieve it and and it was a different story. Beautiful, relaxed and inviting. We were like 'damn, i wish we were eating her now!'
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It's just not worth it..too many Wanna Be Seen arrivistes...there are some real people, to be sure, but the stupid sex toy parties and people 60 years old behaving like frat boys...that is what Carnival floats are for.
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Sex toy parties? I must be in the wrong krewe.
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Inflatable dolls, toy pistols in a certain shape....it is all jejeune.
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So, if the Ancient and Honourable Institution of Friday Lunch has degenerated at Galatoires, who still upholds it?
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
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There is always the Rib Room and, while I like the place well enough and would nto wish them harm, I do wish the hereinabove referred-to people would go there--somewhere, anywhere else. It's always been a loud day, to be sure, but just not as much misbehaving as has gone on in recent years. And, because the place is open all day, it is perfect for having that long lunch, which is hard to find elsewhere. Just go afrter 3:00
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The last time I was in Galatoire's was about three weeks ago. We arrived around 1:00 on a Thursday and had a delicious, liesurely, wonderful lunch with great service. Not crowded, but not dead.
I typically don't like to eat lunch that late, but was caught up in a meeting until 12:30.
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Thursdays are almost always perfect...there were two men who ate on Thursday evening for forty years...always in the back, on the right-hand side.
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