Mulate's | The Original Cajun Restaurant — Restaurant in New Orleans

I come from a family with a rich history of regularly scheduled annual family reunions. The reunions are always held in a city where at least one family member resides. This makes planning easy. Unfortunately, we had been on hiatus since COVID. I live in Baton Rouge but had always wanted to hold the annual reunion in New Orleans. This was going to be the first reunion in several years AND I didn't live locally to check out the venue, so very risky. However, when I finally decided on a hotel (the Hilton Riverside), I panned around on Google Maps to see what was close. When my eyes stumbled upon the word Mulate's, I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew Mulate's was a established winner among seafood restaurants with a long, rich history of excellent cuisine. This turned out to be the case! I had anticipated the fish, shrimp, and seafood gumbo for months! The quality of the food is no surprise and frankly not the point of this review, as that has been covered and is established. The kicker was Chantelle. She is the point person who handles groups. Chantelle responded, encouraged, uplifted, and explained with the patience of a saint. Booking a venue for such a large group is risky, and Chantelle knocked it out the park. Then when I arrived? My heart filled. I walked into our room, and as I marvelled at the setup I must have said some version of "I'm so happy" and "This makes me so happy" 7 or 8 times because the room was beautiful, absolutely perfect, and frankly more than I could have imagined (for example, I had not thought of decorations, or staging tables!). The bartender and the server were also phenomenal, and I hope they are both available the next time I hold my family reunion in New Orleans. If Chantelle ever retires and decides to become a wedding planner, you'd better seek her out because you might be competing with top celebrities. Chantelle was the chef's kiss of this entire...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Malates in New Orleans with my husband, and I must say, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks in large part to the exceptional service provided by Will.

As first-time visitors to New Orleans, my husband and I were eager to immerse ourselves in the city's renowned culinary scene, and Will played an integral role in making our dining experience unforgettable. Not only did he provide great service, but he also took the time to recommend dishes that perfectly encapsulated the flavors of the city.

From the moment we walked in, Will greeted us warmly, setting the tone for a delightful evening ahead. Throughout the meal, he was attentive, ensuring that everything was to our liking and offering insightful suggestions to enhance our dining experience.

The food itself at Malates was nothing short of spectacular. Each dish was expertly prepared, showcasing the rich and diverse flavors of New Orleans cuisine. From traditional favorites to innovative creations, every bite was a culinary delight.

What truly set this dining experience apart, however, was the engaging conversation my husband and I shared with Will. His passion for food and hospitality was evident, and he went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and at ease.

Thanks to Will's impeccable service, my husband and I have no hesitation in recommending Malates to anyone visiting New Orleans. And rest assured, we will certainly be returning, eager to explore more of the menu and enjoy another evening of great food, great conversation, and exceptional service. If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of New Orleans, look no further than Malates, and be sure to ask for Will. He truly goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest leaves with a smile on their face and a...

I was recommended to try here by a friend but it really was the worst food of our entire weekend in New Orleans. We only got apps we didn’t even eat all of and this food hurt our stomach.

We were there too early for the music so there wasn’t any ambience except a bunch of young girls from some cheer competition at the convention center across the street running around the dance floor, screaming yelling, dancing, carrying on being loud.

Our server was attentive and polite, and helped us with some suggestions on the menu.

We ordered the Mardi Gras dippin’ shrimp. They do not come with the sauce on them. You have to dip them in the sauce so they aren’t tossed it. The breading on the shrimp was really light and crispy, but the shrimp were overcooked and the grease almost tasted old.

We got the trio of red beans, crawfish, étouffée, and the gumbo. The red beans were thick and had a smokiness to them, but were very salty and just OK just nothing special. The étouffée was very light in color and really not very good. The gumbo was the best of the three things . I really enjoyed the okra in it. The okra part of it was delicious. The rice that was served with all three of those had absolutely no salt at all whatsoever and it needed salt.

The food did come out of the kitchen very quickly, just as other reviewers have noted.

The sweet tea is extra extra extra sweet tea, so be warned although it was very good. It will give...