New Orleans Creole Cookery — Restaurant in New Orleans

Okay, so this place was really nice and some of the best authentic Cajun food we've had. My hubby is a New Orleans native and this was the first time we enjoyed red beans and rice as much or more than his own! We had the sampler and thought the other items included were wonderful too. Our wine selection was also really delicious. The waiter was so personable and we loved him. (In fact, in conversation with him we realized that he and my hubby both attended the same highschool--just many years apart!) I wish I remembered his name. The experience we had was on November 27 during Thanksgiving week. You may be wondering why I am just now writing this and it's because this is the first time we've been back to New Orleans since then and I'm thinking how disappointed I am that when I pointed out the huge rat that kept coming out, we weren't offered an alternative seat inside or a complimentary dessert or anything. They didn't even try to remove the rodent. The waiter got the manager for us who basically acknowledged that they are aware of the rats and often have the place treated. At first the rat just was hanging out near the closed outdoor bar. The later we were there with less people on the patio the less shy the rat got, getting closer to us. I was impressed that right at closing time, they allowed a decent size party to come and dine. Unfortunately though, once the people sat down and noticed the rat, they immediately got up and left. The more I got to thinking about this, the more I started thinking there should have been more done to compensate for the issue. Before writing a review, because I dislike the idea of having to call out a restaurant on health hazards publicly, I tried to reach out through the website contact option (leaving a detailed note) and left multiple voicemail messages requesting to speak to the general manager (who would have more authority than who I assume was the shift manager we spoke with). Maybe people in New Orleans are accustomed to having large rats walk around courtyards of white tablecloth restaurants because the people on shift seemed to be very nonchalant about it, but I am not. We've been visiting NOLA for many years, coming back often to see family and I haven't had this issue anywhere else. Despite the distasteful thought of encountering a rat again, I STILL would have likely considered trying this place out again (because the food really was delicious!) if someone had spoken to me, perhaps let me know what has been done to eliminate the problem and maybe offered a credit or something for...

So I have to give context (bare with me) - Before Dinner: As my husband and I strolled past, we were drawn to this space and the gentle man named Jeff with the inviting spirit. We all talked and laughed and vibed. Somewhere along the convo we shared that we were here with a group and 3 of us were celebrating our bdays. We were looking to have a nice dinner - especially since this would be our last night. Jeff was assuring that we should celebrate there. He gave us a card and said call to let him know. We called at around 4 and made 8pm reservations. Jeff said and I quote - you will be pleased. I'm gonna set you all up nicely. We are gonna take care of y'all. And then ask that I make sure to write a review. I said sure.

We get there: The place is nice. Low lights, ambiance on point. We are seated quickly, Jeff is gone for the day. I shoot him a text to let him know that we arrived (no response). Our waiter was Isaiah and he was cool.

Drinks - 2 of us got the gimlet and it was not good. We swapped for a mojito (just eh) and a rolling on the river (delicious). I added some of my rolling to her mojito to try to make it better. The Arnold palmer was the best I ever had.

Food - I had the shrimp, crab and crawfish salad. The seafood was Bland. Not seasoned AT ALL. not even cooked in seasoned broth. Just straight water. The shrimp had a weird texture. The dressing was also blad. I added the firecracker sauce from someone else's order to it to eat it. With that - the fire cracker shrimp was delicious, the spicy avocado, snow crabs, fried pickles, the fish platter and the gator sausages were great. My corn on the cob was not fresh corn - it was more like out the bag frozen corn with no flavor (I loooove corn but not like that). My husband's cat fish was good but the jambalaya was just OK. And the pasta was good. Someone's red beans and rice was very smokey. To the point she end up swapping with her mother who's red beans and rice was not as smoky.

We opted not to have dessert. My husband went to the bathroom and saw a huge rat. At this point it was time to go. He told me this as we were walking out and didn't want to gross out the others. Especially since we chose the restaurant.

The bill - we spent approx $430 and I'm still unclear on how after all of the above was we taken care of. I'm actually sad that this was my last night's...

If you've ever fantasized about dining in the Twilight Zone, may I humbly suggest the New Orleans Creole Cookery? My recent visit there was nothing short of a temporal anomaly, paired with culinary experiences that left my taste buds perplexed and longing for simplicity.

The evening began with what I can only describe as a time-warping wait. After spending 2 hours in a queue that felt suspiciously like a line for a theme park ride (sans the thrill), we were finally seated. The ambiance whispered hints of Creole charm, promising an adventure for the palate. Little did we know, the adventure would be more akin to a survival trial.

Our appetizer, the much-anticipated fried shrimp plate, arrived with a flair of disappointment. The shrimp, dressed in a coat of charcoal, could have been a relic from a bygone era, perhaps a testament to the Creole cookery's dedication to historical accuracy. The flavor, or lack thereof, was a culinary ghost, haunting the plate with the essence of what could have been. It was an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in batter.

The sauces, oh the sauces! They were a masterclass in nostalgia, transporting me directly to the golden arches of McDonald's. Each dip was a dive into a pool of existential pondering, questioning the very nature of Creole cuisine. Was this a covert collaboration, a fusion of fast food and Creole cooking? The mystery deepened with every taste.

As the sun set and the moon took its place, we found ourselves three hours post-order, still waiting for our main course. Time seemed to have lost all meaning within the walls of this establishment. Had we crossed into a parallel dimension where time moved at the pace of a leisurely stroll down Bourbon Street?

When our food finally graced the table, it was a moment of such profound relief that we nearly forgot our culinary grievances. Nearly. The experience was akin to finding water in a desert, only to realize it's a mirage.

In conclusion, the New Orleans Creole Cookery offers an unparalleled experience for those seeking culinary disappointment paired with a temporal anomaly. It's a place where time stands still, food defies expectations (by setting the bar on the floor), and sauces remind you of simpler times at the drive-thru. A truly unique dining adventure that I would recommend only to my fiercest...