Mother's Restaurant — Restaurant in New Orleans

We went for breakfast before we got back on the road as one last family meal in New Orleans. First the wait was about 45 minutes and you have to get your name on the list and once they have have a table they call your name. Just like if it was any restaurant that has a wait. We were next to be seated and several parties of two, that signed their name on the list after us, were seated before us. Once we were called to be seated, the table was not ready. So, as we stood in the middle of the restaurant, the manager came out who just happens to be white. Now, I don't see color because my family is a beautiful mix of a lot of different races and I love each and every one of them. The manger  began to talk down to this young lady who seats the customers and she just happens to be African American. As she was working her magic to get us a spot because all 14 of us were still standing in the middle of the restaurant near everyone that were trying to eat their meals, the manager yelled at her and didn't give her a chance to speak because he wanted a party of six seated before us. Each time she tried to explain that she already had a spot for the party of six because she just told us one area was already set up for the next table of six, he said "No no no no, I don't want to hear it. Do Not sit these people, go get the party of six now and seat them! Do Not skip over the list!" The party of six was next to be called, and yes they were white. This was the worst feeling of racial descrimination that I have ever experienced. He talked so bad to her and made her feel awful. We all felt bad for her. So there we were left standing in the middle of the restaurant while the party of six were seated. The service was already horrible because of the embarrassing incident that we just experienced, then the servers were arguing amongst one another. We did not get to sit all together which is the main reason we were there instead of driving through a drive thru restaurant. They sat us in 3 different sections and one of our sections was all the way across the restaurant. Now to the food. The waitress brought out a biscuit, a hunk of butter and homemade preserves. The biscuit was alright but it left a funny taste in my mouth like they used to much baking powder. I ordered a simple ham and cheese omelet and it comes with a side of grits. I eat mine with butter and sugar. She forgot my butter so there was no flavor in my grits at all. One family member ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of scrambled eggs, and it also came with sausage smoked or spicy. The server brought him no biscuits, no gravy, but brought Grits Etouffee which was alright he still ate it. His eggs were so runny,  even the server said "Let me tell them to cook your eggs some more they are runny." She never brought the eggs back at all. She told us that they make their sausage in house which is pretty cool. The sausage has good flavor but it was greasy. My nephew ordered a Breakfast Po Boy sandwich and it was soggy. So we did not have a good experience here. Then to top it off we got food poisoning. I was almost too weak to write this review which is 2 days later, but I do not want anyone else to experience what I went through. I do not recommend this...

Let me say this! There was NO WAY I could be in Downtown New Orleans without trying Mother’s Restaurant. No matter what search engine utilized, anytime I searched for food, Mother’s Restaurant came up. Based on the reviews on Yelp and the images, I decided I had to try it.

Here we go.

We had an extended lunch break so my colleagues and I walked over. Once we got there the line was down the sidewalk, I was immediately like “heck no,” however, my homegirl said that the reviews stated that the line moves quickly. Oh boy… However, to my surprise, I must admit, the line moves super fast. I will guesstimate it took us about 13 minutes to get to the front and boom, we were inside.

Once inside, the door person provides you with a menu and you get in line. As you are in line, you have the pleasure of seeing all the food that is setup on the food line and OhMyGoshhhhhhhhhhh. Why would they do this to me???? I promise you, my eyes wanted one of EVERYTHING. Everything looks amazing. As you progress through the line, you get to the cashier and that’s where you place your order. Upon placing your order, you get your receipt, pick up your drink (drink sold separately, it is not part of the plate) and head to your seat. Once at your seat, one of the staffers comes around to get your receipt as they may retrieve your order. Once your order is picked up, they drop it off to you along with your receipt… Sidenote, I love this concept. It’s smooth and efficient.

Once my food was in front of me, I swear I felt my eyes smile. Everything on my plate looked AMAZING!!!! Now… Let’s talk about the taste!!!

Order: ¼ Chicken Plate - Dark Fried Thigh Fried Drumstick (2) Sides Cabbage Red Beans & Rice

Babeeeeeeeeeee… You can keep it all. Oh my gosh! I am so upset and feel like I’ve been bamboozled. Now, don’t get me wrong! Nothing was Nasty. However, Nothing was mind blowing either. Ugh!!!

The cabbage was bland and had no seasoning. Based on the chunks of ham, I assume the idea was for the ham to add flavor to the cabbage… Welp, it didn’t. Rating: 4/10

The Red Beans and Rice tasted like the microwaveable packs. Though I know it wasn’t, the flavor profile was so simple that it was too simple. The dish tasted like Red Beans and Rice… No added spices. No kick. No flair. Just Bland. Tuh!!!!! Can you say it over it??? After 2 bites, I left the bowl there. It was a no for me. Rating: 2/10

The Chicken: The chicken was super crunchy just how I like it. The meat was moist. The seasoning was present but not over seasoned. The chicken arrived fresh and piping hot… Of my 3 items, the chicken would def steal the show.

Though I didn’t have the great experience I hoped for, I enjoyed the chance to experience Mother’s Restaurant.

**P. S. They don’t have Sweet Tea.. I should...

I hardly ever make a review but, I will today.

I visited 01/18/24 around 8pm.

The woman who received us walking in the door was very nice including the security guard who acknowledged us as well.

Once we decided what to order we walked up to the register where the woman with glasses didn't say a word to me. Not a hello or how can I help you or what would you like to order. Nothing. Just stared at me with this face of really hating her job. I had to engage her to get this going. Every question we asked her seemed to make her even more irritated. Bad first look.

We went to sit down and the went towards the back which is directly next to the open kitchen which wasn't a problem yet. Our food arrives which I'll get to in a bit and me and my girlfriend begin to eat. I feel someone staring at me and turn around the the kitchen staff are standing there staring at us leaning up against the back wall, leg up, just staring at my gf eat. One after another they kept going and coming and just standing there staring at my gf inappropriately, whispering and giggling. At one point there was 4 (all Hispanic) just standing there watching us eat. Since when is this a thing in a busy restaurant? I've never had restaurant staff just stand and watch me eat from 5 feet away. You guys clearly have way too many guys back there and not enough work if they have the time to sit there and perve over people dining.

The Food:

I've ordered jambalaya a few times at other places but the one I got here was smothered in tomato sauce. It was wet rice. We left the entire Large plate untouched after we each tried it. I just assumed it was dry and browner like the other versions I had but now I know to ask when ordering it elsewhere.

I ordered a Large bowl of Seafood gumbo which didn't seem large to me. Medium at best as far as the serving size. It was just ok. I'm not an expert in gumbo but compared to let's say Criole House up the street it just wasn't there for me personally. I realize Mother's has great ratings and reviews of the food are good too but maybe it was just an off night for cooks.

My GF had the Ham and didn't finish it. She said there wasn't anything special to it separating it from ham at other places.

I won't be going back there's way too many other establishments to have to deal with a nasty register employee, kitchen staff acting unprofessional and food that...