The Elysian Bar — Restaurant in New Orleans

We were very excited to share a birthday dinner at The Elysian Bar. The first couple arrived early hoping to have a cocktail before being seated and were told they were not allowed in the bar. They were also not allowed to be seated at the table to have a cocktail (COVID) and were told they had to wait outside on the sidewalk in a not so nice neighborhood. The rest of the party arrived and we all waited until we could be seated. One of party had brought a small birthday cake and had asked for it to be delivered for dessert (more about that later). We were allowed to share one paper menu for the six us. It was very dark and hard to see the one menu. When asked for a second menu, we were told that they would see if there was another one around. A second menu was subsequently delivered. About the menu: It's very limited with very little explanation. After being seated, our hostess ran down the very complicated and lengthy rules regarding COVID. For example, if you have to use the restroom, wear a mask (of course, no problem), and then, the traffic in the restaurant is all one way. So, you had to EXIT the restaurant and walk around the building, back in the entrance to your table. We ordered drinks. There is no ginger beer or Mt. Gay rum. Fine. The cocktails were delivered without cocktail napkins. The drink condensation was dripping through the table and onto our legs. We were brought a single dinner napkin, which two of us shared. We ordered two appetizers (brussels sprouts and flatbread). They were good. Not great. We had many questions about the menu, one of which was the Gulf fish of the day. The waitress told us it was Sheepshead Trout. We told her that there is no such thing. There is Sheepshead and there is Trout. She was adamant and said she would get the chef to explain it to us. Really? She came back to tell us we were right. Two of us ordered the Sheepshead and enjoyed their meal. Three of us ordered chicken and one filet. The chicken was incredibly salty as was the filet. I wouldn't say that the waitress was attentive. By the time she came back to check on us, we had eaten half of the chicken. If we had waited to eat it, and gotten something else, we would have waited FOREVER for food. The chef came out to see what our compaint was and when we told him, he apologized and offered to get something else for us, but it was a half-hearted offer. One of us did take home the rest of the chicken to cut it into soup and hopefully dilute the salt. The waitress came to clear the table and as she left, she said, "I'll be right back with the birthday cake". So much for the surprise. She came back to the table with the cake still in the box. We had to open it, keep it in the box, put the candles on, light the candles, cut and serve the cake. I'm not sure what was going on. I think they are being SUPER cautious about COVID, which is fine, but is that why the service is mediocre? Crazy rules about one way traffic? Less than appetizing food? I won't be back and you should...

Let me tell yall something... the way I am still drooling weeks later having dreams about this restaurant... gotta be top 5 places I've ever eaten. I'm wasting no time, we're going straight into the food.

The Elysian Bar is on the InKind app and received a James Beard nomination, that was the main reason I wanted to go. That's how I knew generally it was goin to be good. I should have known from the definition of "elysian" before I went, cus truly I was in paradise. We started with the beef tartare and the focaccia. This set the tone of the entire meal. When I say ONE MILLION out of 10. I have never eaten something so profoundly flavorful. It was almost all-encompassing. We had a friend who couldn't make it and i felt so bad for them 💀 we gobbled that right down and moved to the salad. Again, I don't know what they put into that salad, but it had to be straight serotonin and MSG. 50 out of 10. At that point our cocktails came, all beautiful and I got to try each one. I don't remember the names but I do remember not being able to decide which one I enjoyed the most. They were all TOO good. Next came the shrimp, and if anything, the shrimp were the one thing I wouldn't need to eat again. They were good but not the start of the show for me. What I will say however is that shrimp BROTH 😭 OHHHH we ordered another focaccia just to sop up all that liquid. If you brought me a bowl of that broth it wouldn't even be PROBLEMMMMM. Soooooooooo flavorful. I think next came the chicken with the burbon aioli and glazed turnip. It looked simple but I promise you that was simply the best chicken I've ever eaten in my entire life. And the way it was so juicy..... diabolical. 50 out of 10. The gnocchi took me out. I was truly about to burst open at that point. The gnocchi was the winner for me. So rich and butter and creamy and deep in flavor, and with the lemon breadcrumbs on top???? HELLO??????? 100 out of 10. Ooof i needed something cold and citrusy by the time we were done with the food, and they had the perfect dessert. It was an ice cream sandwich with a lemony ice cream and lavender shortbread cookie buns. Truly the essence of elysian... I almost fell asleep right there.

This meal was so special to me. We ate in the "Parlor" section but they let us walk around and see the rest of the spectacular space that I later discovered is a HOTEL where you can stay and eat the food all day. I cried. 400 out of 10 meal. Maybe even 1 billion out of 10. Lord. I will be back. I interacted with so many people: Kyle, Emma, Han, Hope, Kendra, Adai. All super friendly and all deserve the biggest raise. So much queer energy. I felt right at home. This is the first place I will be going when I return...

Let me start by saying this review is not a reflection on the atmosphere and aesthetics (which are incredible), nor on the food itself which was equally wonderful. The reason this review is a one-star review is entirely based on the service.

I am a local, I live a few blocks away from the Elysian Bar and when my family came into town, I wanted to give them a nice high-end experience to end their trip with. Instead, we got some of the most pompous, rude, and careless service I've ever experienced. After our meal, I was completely embarrassed to have brought them there.

They were actually staying at the Peter & Paul Hotel, and as the hotel bar, I anticipated we would have been able to get drinks there. That was not the case. We tried two nights in a row to be seated anywhere: the bar, the patio, the conservatory... anywhere. No dice. So we literally downloaded the reservation app to make one to have drinks and small plates. The hostess was the same gal each time and she was incredibly dismissive, rude, and it came across as if we weren't the type of "clientele" that was wanted there. In fact, even with a reservation, we waited for twenty minutes by the staircase while folks WITHOUT reservations were seated before us.

We were eventually seated in the courtyard, where it took another 15 minutes before our server came to greet us. While he was friendly and nice to us at the table, it took 30 minutes to get two of our three drinks. Our food came before any of our drinks did. It took another 10 minutes to get the third drink in the party. After dropping it off, he disappeared for the rest of the meal. Never asked if we wanted refills, never asked if we needed more water, never asked about the food... we just didn't see him. After spending over $150 for three cocktails and two small plates of food, it was entirely evident that we were not a priority table.

Mind you, this night was not a busy night. There were maybe four other tables and a half-empty bar. Our server was incredibly attentive to the other tables in the courtyard, but never once came to check in on us. After talking about my experience with neighbors, it seems that this is not an unusual circumstance for locals. In fact, the staff and management go out of their way to keep an arms-length distance to the immediate neighbors, and with all the pomp and flash that this place has, it's brought down completely by the abysmal service that people receive.

I can't recommend the Elysian Bar whatsoever. There are restaurants and bars of higher quality with excellent service, and in New Orleans, there are many many other places to...