Maple Street Café — Restaurant in New Orleans

Went here with my husband to meet up with some of my coworkers for dinner, and it was the worst dining experience I've ever had. This isn't an exaggeration. We approached the hostess and mentioned we had a reservation under a coworker's name. Another server grabbed a menu and led us to an empty table. I explained that the rest of our party had already arrived, and we were the late ones. They asked for the name again, so I provided my coworker's first and last name and pointed to the back of the restaurant where I believed our group was seated.

To our shock, three servers literally lined up, shoulder to shoulder, to block us from entering the back area, insisting we were the first ones to arrive. They asked how many people were in our party, and I told them six. They assured us that we were the first to arrive, which I knew was unlikely, but we complied and sat down. I texted my coworker to let them know where we were. As we waited for a response, we ordered drinks.

While waiting, I noticed the unfriendly looks we were receiving from staff and other diners. Our waiter was conversing with a nearby table, and a customer was trying not to get caught pointing at us. The waiter glanced our way, turned his back to us and the customer clutched her necklace at whatever it is he said, making it obvious they were talking about us. My husband and I realized we were the only black people in the restaurant, and the atmosphere became increasingly uncomfortable, spooky and hostile.

Feeling unsafe, we decided to leave. We asked for the check, and it took the waiter about 15 minutes to bring it. Surprisingly, he didn't ask why we were leaving so soon. He instead took menus from our table and started giving them to other tables of people coming in, instead of securing the payments first from his existing customers (us).

As we got up to leave two young ladies, who appeared to be college aged, walked in, went to the hostess and were lead to the back of the restaurant to be seated. The same back of the restaurant my husband and I were baracaded from entering. Our exit was accompanied by one woman at a completely seperate table, grabbing her purse and a woman at another table audilbly gasp. There, I knew we made the right decision to leave.

Later, my coworker texted me back, saying they were all in the back area—the same area we were blocked from entering. I explained what had happened and why we were leaving.

My coworkers informed the server about our experience, and the server claimed we had given the wrong name. Even if that were the case, it's common practice for the hostess to ask if the reservation could be under a different name. It's also common practice that if a hostess can't find a name, then they'll have the party look around to see if the rest of the party is present. It was clear we were not welcomed because the same server stated she "didn't think we belonged to that group."

This experience was not only unpleasant but also deeply hurtful that treatment at a restaurant, in New Orleans by all means, was racially charged and discriminatory. I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone and urge others to avoid it.

1 out of 5 stars, would do a 0 out of 5 stars if could. Thank you for reading. I hope this helps...

Start off by saying the food can't be beat. I'll also mention that we went on a holiday (Easter). Those things stated, it was a horrible visit, and one that will prevent me from returning. We made a reservation but were still made to wait, standing in a cramped area for 30 minutes. Once we were seated we had to wait for another ten minutes before someone asked if we had been helped. After eventually being brought naokins and utensils we were asked if we'd like something to drink. We asked what was available and were brought a wine list. We ordered water and a beer. We then ordered an appetizer and two entrees. The entrees came with soup or salad. We ordered both. They came first, but no bread or crackers. We asked for bread. None came. Then our aooetizer arrived. An incredible fried oyster almandine that screamed "eat me with french bread." We asked again, but alas, none arrived. Finally after asking a third time, minutes before our entrees arrived our waiter brought us three tiny pieces and loudly announced "hot fresh bread". When the meal arrived she asked if we'd like more bread and my wife said yes. We didn't see her again until the end of the meal. Again, I thought the food was tremendous, but unless you've got a lot of time to kill, go...

Wish I could give a half star. Our service was terrible! We were first seated inside and we asked if we could move to the outside patio. The lady said you want to go outside?? And walked off to pick dishes off another table. So we took our menus went outside and seated ourselves as no one came back. The one waitress brought us a brown bag of bread and garlic butter but basically slammed it down on our table like she was mad. My boyfriend ordered tea and I asked for water. When she came back with our drinks she asked my boyfriend if he wanted sugar. He said yes. She never came back with it so I went and got it. Then we ordered Shrimp Penne and The Maple Street pasta. The waitress asked if we wanted Parmesan. We both said yes. She never came back with our Parmesan. After We were done eating she asked if we wanted desert or coffee. We said no. She left and never brought the bill to us we had to go ask for that also. When she finally brought us our bill and she walked away I said ….is she gonna bring the card back? 🙄 The food was mediocre and I had been wanting to go there for months! My dreams were crushed. Service was terrible, food was not...