Arnaud’s Restaurant

Discussion in 'Restaurant Reviews' started by Bobby Cole, Oct 14, 2018.

  1. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Arnaud’s
    813 Bienville
    French Quarter, New Orleans, La.
    Est. 1918

    At one time Arnaud’s was the place to go in the French Quarter for fine food, a good coctail and a true sense of what self indulgence is supposed to feel like.
    With 620 ala Carte items on the menu and over 250 wines in the cellar, nearly 1,200 guests at one seating could enjoy the culinary concepts that only a Creole / Cajun / International cuisine restaurant could provide.
    Whether seated in the Richelieu, the Duberry, the Main Dining room or the Cafe’, the embiance coupled with the flair of seasoned captains, waiters and busboys lead by a proper Maitre’ D was something to behold and to top that, the food was no joke.
    From the Shrimp Arnaud appetizer to the ever popular Trout Meunière or whatever main course one may have chosen, it was a dining experience unlike any other in the U.S.
    Waiting lines surrounded the restaurant from 10 A.M to 10 P.M every day of the week and often at closing time, there were still people waiting half way around the block.

    Sadly, Germaine Casenave Wells, “Count” Arnaud’s daughter sold Arnauds due to age and health reasons and then the changes began.
    Note: With the passing of Germain Wells daughter, Arnaud, a few years prior to her own passing in 1989 there is no trace of the Arnaud family name left in New Orleans which might link itself to the once famous restaurant.

    To this person, when a restaurant depends upon a name alone without carrying on what that name meant, it will without a doubt lose the good reputation and excellence it once had.
    With a much shortened menu and less seasoned wait staff, Arnaud’s is only a fraction of what it used to be.
    The only saving grace is that the restaurant is located at the very beginning of the French Quarter and just a block away from Bourbon St. and tourists still find their way to the huge restaurant.
    It’s just too bad that they cannot experience what the name of Arnaud is really supposed to represent nor have a small feel of the days gone by and a tradition unlike any other.
     
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  2. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    Y a-t-il un bon restaurant près d'ici?

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Yes, and quite a few and do note, I’m not saying that Arnaud’s isn’t a good restaurant, just not a great restaurant like it used to be.
    Antoine’s, Galatoire’s, The court of two sisters, Brennan’s, Maspero’s (real treat) are all still up and running but the years have taken it’s toll on nearly all of them.
    I think the problems come from the lack of real honest to goodness professionals. People who have decided to make fine dining and the production of it a way of life.
    Food and Beverage is a life style first, and then a livelihood.
     
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