Antoine's: Dining in the Presence of History

Menu

Some places become such important institutions that they take on a life of their own.  Antoine's is certainly one of those places.  The oldest family owned restaurant in the United States, almost anyone who is anyone has dined at Antoine's including Pope John Paul II, several presidents, and fictional magazine personality Alfred E. Neuman. 

One of the "krewe rooms"

Located in the hustle and bustle of the city's French Quarter, Antoine's features dining rooms themed after several of the city's most prominent Mardi Gras parade krewes.  The rooms feature memorabilia from their respective krewe and ornate chandeliers.       

Depiction of Rex Parade floats

One of the restaurant's best kept secrets is its lunch special.  You get three courses for around $20.  We weren't able to find this menu online.  Possibly, they don't advertise it.  The best part of the lunch special is the cocktail deal.  You can get a featured cocktail for 25 cents each (limit three).  Make sure to ask which cocktail is the featured cocktail, because they will not stop you if you order the wrong cocktail.  We ran up a bill doing this.  The novelty of getting three cocktails that cheap makes it worth the cost of admission.    

Oyster sampler. Oysters
Rockefeller in the top center

Softshell Crab

Ramos Gin Fizz

Antoine's is the birthplace of the legendary Oysters Rockefeller.  Named after Rockefeller because its so rich, the dish's green color represents the color of money. Oysters Rockefeller has been a mainstay of Antoine's menu since its creation.  Our waiter allowed us to get a sampler of Antoine's oyster dishes as an appetizers.  It was a great way to introduce ourselves to the menu.  Not only did I order oysters as an appetizer, I also got oysters as the first course of my 3 course meal deal.  I had the charbroiled oysters, soft shell crab, and ice cream sunday.  

Delicious

Our dinning room

Enjoying the finer things

Corridors with history

Wine cellar

Early Times...good choice

After eating we checked out the restaurant's different rooms.  The place is sort of a quasi-museum and features amazing photos of the restaurant's famous patrons.  Antoine's also has a legendary wine seller with a window facing out onto Royal Street.  As amazing as the food was, getting to look around the restaurant cemented Antoine's position in the pantheon of the city's best restaurants.  

Make sure to reserve your table at Antoine's during your next trip to the Crescent City. 

Dapper like the Harry S. Truman, Mad Magazine's own
Alfred E. Neuman