large group..casual atmosphere...loud...need help

[samtron608]

coming in April for a bachelor party. group of 12-14 guys...looking for something in or walking distance of the french quarter

looking for good food...but we dont want to dress up too much (so commanders palace, etc are out)...

need a dinner spot for friday and a lunch spot for sat.

we need a place not to quiet...a group of 14 guys tends to get loud.

wondering if K Pauls, Mr B bistro, Couchon, august are good choices...any other suggestions?

Any help would be appreciated.

[samtron608]

how about Herbsaint? we are willing to dress up a little (not the full on jacket, etc).

[samtron608]

Guys. We leaning on trying August. Would you say August is regional nola food? Buddy wants to make sure we eat nOla food per se. Not something we can get in los angeles

Thanks

[JazzyB]

August is fine dining using locally sourced ingredients. More local flavor: Brigtsens (order an all appetizer meal, they are his best), Cochon(all app here as well), Commanders', Emeril's, possibly Herbsaint, Dick and Jenny's, Upperline. Sweet Olive opened this month in the Saint Hotel on Canal...offering "fresh takes" on Southern fare.

[texasredtop]

No, August is not what you are looking for. It is NOT loud at all. It is the opposite atmosphere of what you asked for. The food isn't regional either. I had a filet and husband had elk. I think Galatoire's is right up your alley but don't remember (and don't want to re-read all the posts) if you were considering it or not. You would have a grand time there.

Edited to add: I see that you don't want to "dress" and to go to Gal's, you would have to comply with their dress code. I stand on Acme Oyster House and Port of Call. Both have good food and a heaping dose of hoopla. Port of Call doesn't have regional fare that I'm aware of. Mostly MEAT. We had burgers that were delicious. It's definitely all about the meat and it was excellent. Acme has a lot of seafood dishes. Both places get full early.

[kukubura]

What you want is Galatoire's. Dress up and do it right. You will be so glad you did.

[texasredtop]

+1

[JazzyB]

Maybe not. Galatoire's is not for everyone. Those that "get" it , love it. Those that don't, leave disappointed in the classic cuisine (which of course is secondary to the overall experience).

[hazelhurst]

And it is not "casual" thank God.

[N.O.Food]

Cochon is good for that. Loud as hell at dinner. It's a masonry box.

[samtron608]

thanks everyone!

any thoughts on Mr. B's for a large group? K-Pauls?

I hear Antoines has a bunch of rooms..how is the food there??

[edible complex]

Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse has a kewl room overlooking Iberville Street. you can get as rowdy as you want and watch the action pass by.

for a table of that size, Mr. B's might stick you in the back in the dark.

skip Antoine's.

[JazzyB]

If you are a steak lover, Dickie Brennan's doesn't make the cut. Texasredtop is correct . Cochon has THE most uncomfortable chairs. In addition, the menu reads better than the food tastes. Stick with the apps should you go.

[texasredtop]

Cochon is not a loud place at all. Not good for a party. Mr B's is noisy but I wouldn't say loud. Acme Oyster House is pretty boisterous. Or Port of Call would be fun.

[uptownlibrarian]

We've had different experiences at Cochon it seems. It's been very loud when I've been there for dinner. Nary a soft, sound-absorbent surface in the place. I think it would be fine for a party and in fact I've been to four or five parties of that size at Cochon.

[montuori]

I seem to have had uptownlibrarian's experience at Cochon as well ... the place has always been lively when I've been there for dinner. The staff there know how to manage large groups well.

The PoC is a good choice but will almost certainly involve a longish wait for a party of 12 at lunchtime. An alternative that's worked for me with a group is the Napoleon House though that can get busy too. If you don't mind a little schlepping out to the Bywater you might consider Elizabeth's--their lunch is great and not usually quite as packed as places in the FQ.

[texasredtop]

I was there during lunch and it was quiet as a mouse. It was early, about 11:30 and the place was not full but 3/4 full maybe. I didn't think their setup would be something some young boisterous men would enjoy either. The seats were terribly hard and I couldn't wait to finish and get my behind back in my soft seat in the car for the ride home :-)

[Bill Hunt]

You are correct. In many cases, it is not the restaurant, that is loud, but the patrons that night. A good example, for us, was MiLa, which would not normally be a "loud" restaurant, but considering the six diners, just around the corner from us, who were screaming and stomping, like a Drew Brees last second drive, at the Superdome, it was way, way over the top - at least that night. So, it just depends.

Hunt

[GDPhalp]

If Commanders Palace is overly formal, so to is Restaurant August. Mr. B's would be a fine place for lunch - it is not a quiet place & has a couple of cant miss items on the menu. The food at K-Pauls, while fine, is definately a pass for me. For that price point, there is def. better to be had. NOLA in the fq is the loudest of the Emeril's establishments. The food is pretty good, and you wouldnt feel out of place being boisterous. Enjoy your time in the city!

[JazzyB]

Emeril's for dinner. Port of Call for lunch if you want burgers or Domenica for casual Italian.
http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/pdf...

[nolanola]

Check out Jax Bistro Bar at jaxnola.com. The second floor turns into a nightclub at night so its a little more of a relaxed atmosphere.