Galatoire's - Upstairs Ok?

[smilingal]

Have read so much about downstairs at Galatoire's is where you want to be, but we are 6 people who might be a little tired from our day of flying in. I just made a reservation for upstairs but I am concerned about what I might be missing in the total experience of dining there. Please advise!

[califkatie]

i have always eaten downstairs, though i have never tried to go with 6 people. someone must know how to do the" pay a person to stand in line bit". i walked upstairs to look around once but it looked boring.

[hazelhurst]

Apart from holiday parties, where those upstairs rooms are perfectly fine, I have only eaten up there once...and that was when downstairs was being re-done(the floor was literally dirt, the fans were gone, the wood sanded to the , well, wood). It is fine for parties and, for people like Bill Hunt who knkow the place and are perfectly happy to have a guaranteed table with a small party (or big). It does not have what we learn to call "the vibe" of the downstairs although the downstairs can be a quiet as a tomb.

I used to pay a waiter's son about $50 to stand in line for a holiday party but then I just decided to go down at about 7:30 myself. the street party of the regulars was as much fun as the stuff inside later on. But coming in from out of town I have no idea how you'd find someone. A lot depends on your arrival time. If you are there and ready to go all-dressed-up by 4:30, well, just walk on in. Six people is no problem at all.

[smilingal]

so it is definitely sounding like we want/need to eat downstairs! I made a 6:30 reservation - and it is a Sat. night. We are coming into town that day - much earlier - and are not tied to any time frame.
hazelhurst - what is your experience with Sat evening wait times?

[hazelhurst]

You never know...convention in town? Some sort of Event? Carnival parade? Saturday afternoons are usually busy but not loud...I'll go after a haircut about 3:00 sometimes. If you want to be certain for Saturday night just go about five o'clock.

[smilingal]

We nixed the reservation - and will be crossing our fingers that the wait won't be terribly long. Getting sooooo excited for our visit! And thankyou again to all for your patience and help!!

[hazelhurst]

You'll be fine...as I said, 5:00 should be good but you can go earlier if you are worried. Have an hour or more of cocktails and appetizers before you get down to serious eating.

[BayouTeche]

Heed hazelhurt's advice on arriving by 5:00. A few months ago, I arrived at 6:00 and snagged the second-to-last table in the joint.

[jinx]

We've made a reservation and been seated downstairs anyway. And this was during Jazzfest! And I've heard this happen to other folks too. So with a reservation its no guarantee where they will seat you--you might very well get lucky and get a table downstairs.

[hazelhurst]

IN cases such as that the reservation is a "fallback." All it means it that you WILL get a table upstairs but, if there is room downstairs you can switch..unless they are expecting Mr X to be at his usual table 12 or whatever....

[nomadchowwoman]

Hi Smilingal!
Well, I definitely prefer the ambience downstairs. I say "prefer," which probably isn't accurate since I've never actually eaten upstairs. But I'm not a regular; I haven't eaten there since Dec.'09. Hazelhurst is the expert on Galatoire's. Maybe he can advise you on what one should pay a placekeeper. (I've never stood for a long time or paid anyone to stand in line so I can't answer that question.) Are you planning to eat there on a Friday? Or a holiday weekend? I guess I didn't realize that the line would be a big issue other than MG or other "big" weekends.

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Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130

[hazelhurst]

There is nothing wrong with the upstairs..the kitchen is the same and you can get some of the good ole waiters there. You don;t see the spirit of the place up there unless you are part of it yourself.

[JazzyB]

Downstairs for the quintessential New Orleans experience. You will likely be disappointed upstairs.