Note: All
reviews are during Mardi Gras
Other times of year vary.
Take reviews for what they're worth.
Brought to the attention of four
of the contributors by a New Orleans
local, Lafitte's is slightly off the beaten Bourbon Street path,
but
worth the effort. Apparently the only building left standing in
the
French Quarter after a massive fire in 1788, Lafitte's looks like
a structure that has been around for 150 years. It is a small,
one-story
building that could have been a model for some of the models
found
on Pirates Of The Caribbean at Disneyland. Inside it is a dark,
comfortable place that is good for getting away from the tourist
crowd (especially during Mardi Gras) and having some drinks.
Drink
prices reflect the fact that it is not a tourist trap. There is a
piano
player at night who I think is the owner who apparently has been
there
for decades. The patrons are mostly locals, so go there during
the
day or before you go out for the night and have a relaxing, good
time.
[Webmaster's Note: Lafitte's is in the middle of the Gay part of
the
Quarter. It's a fun bar, but if you're straight, be sure to wear
your ass
chastity belt while getting there.]
BT - 3/3/97
- Downstairs - Upstairs (Fat Cats)The Cat's Meow is in the middle of
the French Quarter, on Bourbon
Street. You can enter for free from the front, but you'll be
confined
to the downstairs bar area. In the downstairs inside, you'll find
a
crowded bar watching Mardi Gras revelers on stage doing karaoke.
Not exactly my cup of tea. There is also a center, open-air
courtyard
with another bar that has a bit more room to move around. Plus,
you
don't have to hear people singing. However, my advice is to enter
on the side of the place (down St. Peter), where the "Fat
Cat's" sign
is displayed. Here, you pay $10 and you get a hand stamp to go
both downstairs AND upstairs. On the second floor is a less
crowded bar, as well as a balcony which overlooks Bourbon Street.
The $10 cover really weeds a lot of people. This makes the
upstairs
bar much easier to get a drink. The only problem is that the
upper
level has a bathroom that lets in one at a time, so it usually
has a
long line. Of course, with the hand stamp, you can just run down
and use the one below then come back up. The balcony is great to
check out Bourbon St., with all the advantages that comes with
it.
No need to describe the drinks, since it really doesn't matter.
MC - 2/13/97
This place rocks! Bottom line. And
one of the main reasons it does,
is because it doesn't even open until midnight, and will stay
open
until the last person leaves. Even though there is no State last
call,
many bars will close when the number of people gets thin. Not
here.
It'll stay open with one person in! The entrance is about 5 feet
wide,
between two buildings. You walk down this "alley,"
where it opens
up into the bar. It's 3 levels. The first is your basic dark bar
with the
bartender picking the music (All throughout, the main choice of
music
is industrial/gothic/heavy metal/punk). The lower level houses
the
restrooms. The second level is where it's at. There's a small bar
on
one side of the room, with dancing on the other. At the bar, you
can
look through a list of all the cd's they have, and pick what you
want
to hear, with the bartenders playing it. When I was there, the
bar was
staffed by a great bartender. She made wicked drinks, and was
very
friendly. The sound system is clean and loud. And, since you pick
your own music, it's like your own personal jukebox. Even though
this bar is pretty hardcore, I personally think it's one of the
best in
the Quarter (especially during Mardi Gras).
MC - 2/13/97
You may get the impression that
since Fat Harry's is not in the Quarter,
it may not be that great. Actually, it's really a lot of fun.
It's pretty close
to the universities (Tulane & Loyola), so it still gets
pretty crowded.
During Mardi Gras, I've always gone on the Saturday before Fat
Tuesday (or is that Phat Tuesday?!?). Since most of the large
parades
come down St. Charles Ave., this is a great place to drink and
check
out the parades. When you enter, you are in the main bar room. If
you
continue to the rear, you'll enter an eating area with a snack
bar, as well
as restrooms. There are booths in the main bar area, and if you
can
get those, you'll be set. The bar is cool because it's not just
long and
straight. It's breaks up into zig-zag angles. What that means is
more
bar, so more people can squeeze in to order drinks! Anyways, Fat
Harry's is great bar for the daytime afternoons, especially on
parade
days.
MC - 2/13/97
This is probably the most famous
bar in New Orleans. When most
people think of a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter, they think
of
Pat O'Brien's. The main entrance if on a side street, but Pat's
has
another entrance on Bourbon St., so it's not hard to find. Just
ask.
This bar has about 3 or 4 seperate bars. There are 2 indoor bars,
and
2 outdoor bars. There's a large patio which can get really
crowded.
There's a fountain with fire (!) in the center of the patio.
Although there
a lot of crowds, the waiters and waitresses make getting a drink
fairly
easy if you're not right next to a bar. Pat's is home to the New
Orleans
Hurricane. I'm not a big fan of it; to me it tastes like Kool-Aid
with
liquor. But, nonetheless, you find them everywhere. At the inside
bars,
the jukebox plays music from the early 90's. I couldn't find any
song
from the current year. And outside, the music is probably the
worst
in all of New Orleans. Of course, if your in New Orleans during
Mardi Gras, who really cares anyway?
MC - 2/3/97