GW Fins — Restaurant in New Orleans

We came here in 2019 and were blown away with how wonderful the food was, and the service was equally excellent. We went on Christmas Eve at the first sitting (430 pm) with our 2 kids, ages 2 and 4. The food was still absolutely excellent, the setting was so beautiful, but the service was kinda lacking this time. It started well with great recommendations from the waitress. I told the waitress we would be happy if the food was served quickly since it can be hit or miss with kids, and she said she would do what she could. We had cocktails, appetizer (fish fin wings), dry aged blue fin, yellow fin, and chicken with fries that were to be shared between the kids. All of the food was excellent. We were again blown away with how good all the food was, and the recommendations were really appreciated. We also had the salted caramel dessert which was so good, another great recommendation from the waitress. Now the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. There was an excessive wait between the appetizer and the entrees, and not much explanation except that the food would come out soon. We were seated among the first in the restaurant and ordered everything at the very beginning, but multiple people around us got their entrees (after their appetizers) prior to us, some were seated after we ordered our food and still got their entrees before us. If we were just a couple ordering food, it probably wouldn't matter. However we had 2 kids that we wanted to be good throughout the meal, which they were until near the end, and there was a very long delay that was not related to normal timing at an expensive restaurant. In addition, we asked for 1 shared kids meal, but they brought extra fries which were not requested and then charged us $15 for a kids meal plus extra for the extra fries, which my kids did not eat because they are only 2 and 4. I probably should have asked why there was an extra set of fries but someone other than the waitress delivered it. Plus it took a long time for the waitress to come by the table after the dessert was finished, which was when we had to ask for the check, and then the check was incorrect. All in all, excellent food. We would definitely come again with or without kids, pending on the situation when we next visit New Orleans. Thank you for a...

I recently had the misfortune of attempting to dine at GW Fins, a supposedly upscale restaurant, to celebrate my birthday. My friend and I had done our research and were excited to try this highly-recommended establishment. As a VIP on Open Table, we thought we were in for a special treat. We made sure to dress the part, with me wearing a crisp button-down shirt, Khaki shorts, and a Rolex, while my friend opted for a stylish Burberry collarless polo.

However, upon arrival, we were taken aback when the staff denied us entry because my friend's shirt didn't have a collar. I was shocked and disappointed by this rigid adherence to a dress code that seemed to prioritize arbitrary rules over common sense and respect for their customers. The fact that my friend's Burberry shirt likely cost more than the average price of a meal at the restaurant only added to the absurdity of the situation.

To make matters worse, the staff had the audacity to offer to wear one of their polo shirts, implying that we were somehow not dressed nicely enough. This gesture came across as insulting and tone-deaf, especially given the obvious effort we had put into our attire. I was dressed in a button-down shirt and a Rolex, while my friend's Burberry shirt was clearly a high-end item. It was clear that we were not sloppily dressed, but rather, we had chosen to express our personal style in a way that was still respectful of the restaurant's upscale atmosphere.

I attempted to call the restaurant to speak with a manager about the incident, hoping to express my disappointment and frustration. Unfortunately, the person I spoke with was completely unapologetic and unhelpful, simply saying "sorry, can't help you" before hanging up the phone. This lack of customer service and basic human decency was the final straw, and it's the reason I'm writing this review.

My experience with GW Fins was a resounding disappointment, and I would caution others against wasting their time and money on a restaurant with such a rude, unapologetic, and nasty staff. The fact that they prioritized their dress code over providing good customer service and creating a welcoming atmosphere is a clear indication of their values, and it's not somewhere I would recommend to anyone celebrating a...

Just spent four nights in New Orleans, and we ate at GW Fins twice! Our first time, we had late reservations, so we only did appetizers. We absolutely loved it, so we showed up two nights later right when they opened, so we could get seated in the bar area.

Between the two visits, we ordered:

Lobster Dumplings - my son absolutely loved these. I thought they were very good but not my favorite thing. Tempura Fin Wings - OMG, we ordered these both times, and now I'm going to crave them until we go back to NOLA. Crispy Pork Belly - the compressed watermelon was quite interesting! Barbeque Shrimp - very good, but the bread with it needed to be different somehow. Maybe it was toasted too much? I think it could have been softer to soak up all that yummy sauce. Lobster Bisque - my son loves bisque, and he enjoyed them pouring it onto the lobster in the bowl. Firecracker Tuna Tacos - good but messy. Probably our least favorite appetizer but still good. Scalibut - they even split it for us! This was SO GOOD. I will be dreaming of this until we return to New Orleans. Creme brulee - a solid dessert. Salty Malty Ice Cream Pie - ordered this twice as well. YUM, YUM, YUM. Coconut on the Half Shell - ordered this the second time we were there based on our server's recommendation. Also, very good! I would order this again as long as I still got some salty malty! Biscuits - these are free, but my kid couldn't get enough of them. One of the guys working there even brought him a box to go and the recipe!

It's a great atmosphere, and they do have a dress code in the dining room. However, they have button-downs available as my son was wearing a plain shirt. In the bar area, it's not an issue.

The service was absolutely perfect - both nights. I can't remember our server's name the first night, but we had Jackie the next night, and she was awesome!! All of her food recommendations were spot on.

Needless to say, we WILL be back to New Orleans, and if my son has his way, we will be eating tempura fin wings, lobster dumplings, scalibut, biscuits, and salty malty ice cream pie every night we're there. With Jackie as...