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American Sector
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
945 Magazine StNew Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 528-1940
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
143 reviews for American Sector
Review Highlights
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"I absolutely love the WWII Museum." In 19 reviews -
"You can't beat this place for John Besh inspired food." In 27 reviews -
"So I started with the rabbit pate' great move." In 9 reviews
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143 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa M.
Wilkes-Barre, PA
5/1/2012
I really love Chef John Besh and have wanted to try this new more casual restaurant located in the WWll Museum. Didn't think we were going to get there on our last trip but on our last day we stopped in to see if they could accommodate our group for lunch and they could!
The atmosphere is very low key, kind of reminds me an airport? The walls are adorned with pictures of old Hollywood movie starts and the staff is dressed in 1940's style garb. Our service was outstanding and this place was packed! The hostess took our drink order as our waiter was busy with other tables. The drinks came very quickly.
We had two children in our group so it was nice to see a children's menu for them with things like a corn dogs and fries.
While we were waiting for our food our waitress brought over some jars of homemade house pickles which were amazing! I would go back just for a beer and some of these pickles!
I had the garlic glazed chicken wings (mainly because I was really eager to try the watermelon pickles) and fries, my husband had the Sloppy Joe. One friend had the grilled ham and cheese, another the seafood po'boy. The food is presented in a unique manner. My husbands sloppy joe was on a huge butcher block. He didn't care for the sloppy joe really but everyone else enjoyed their meal. I am now addicted to watermelon pickles and want a jar of them!
An enjoyable experience, I would go back here for lunch as there are a few other things on the menu I'd like to try. -
Review from Jen R.
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been circling this place for a couple of years now, meaning to get there for lunch when work brought me within striking distance but never finding the time. Finally made it there in April though and now I'm thinking the best thing I could have done was go two years ago, before any expectations had been built, or just never gone at all.
Before you roll your eyes at me, I got the hot dog. It was a party of five, we didn't have much time, and I wasn't famished so ordering an entree seemed excessive. But I tried some other dishes so don't worry, I'm not basing my experience solely on a hot dog.
The fried oyster app was fine. Not amazing, but plump and a fair portion. The crawfish spaghetti special was none too special, though. And my hot dog, while astoundingly large (not just a foot long, but plump, too), was also the saltiest dog I may have ever had. And I am a lover of salt. Honestly. I've been known to salt pre-salted potato chips. I buy my dark chocolate with sea salt in it. This hot dog was disgustingly salty. The big winner at the table for my money was the co-worker who ordered the "perfect pig po boy," a great combination of different piggy parts.
I'm torn on how many stars to give it though. On the one hand, my one experience was 2 stars. On the other hand, compared to the other lunch options in the area, it's more like a 3 star place (Butcher being a 5). And compared to other museum's dining options? Probably closer to a 4 (the Getty in Malibu being a 5). -
Review from Rene D.
Updated - 5/13/2012
Decided to come here for a work celebration. I thought things would have improved, but sadly this was not the case. The sliders now just taste like loose meat cooked in Manwich without the pizazz and the meat pies were some strange, mayo-based Mexi-slop.
The cheeseburger sliders and crabmeat pie were tasty, but came too late to our table. The place was abuzz with patrons, and our waitstaff seemed flustered by the demand. Drinks came out slowly, and there was no consistency - sometimes too strong, other times watery from sitting too long before being brought to the table.Listed in: Big Booze, Small Wallet
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/24/2010
Happy Hour? Sure, I'm game!
So, I met up w/the crew for a tipple or two and bites at this restaurant… Read more »
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Review from Sonya Z.
5/3/2012
My friend works here so we got the hookup, but either this type of food doesn't appeal to me or it's just not very special, because I don't think I would come here much if my friend wasn't working. It gets hyped up a lot because it's a John Besh restaurant, but although the atmosphere WAS fantastic (modern open spaces, very comfortable yet sleek ambiance, the waitstaff are all wearing wartime clothes, etc.), the menu failed to impress me.
Unfortunately, since my friend did all the ordering for us (he took our menus away as soon as we sat down) and just sent items out, I can't give you exact names of some of the things. I will say that my friend raved about the pork sliders, thought the meat pies were OK, we both enjoyed our cocktails (there's a Lemonade flavored one that I enjoyed less), the outside dining area is fantastic, the blueberry smoothies are PHENOMENAL, our two favorite cupcakes were the Nutella (mine) and the bacon (his), and the other two cupcake flavors were meh. The banana split was OK. We had a couple PBRs each as well. I told you my friend gave us the hookup! We couldn't even stand up straight when we left because we were so f-ing full!
Honestly, this place doesn't strike me as anything too special, but if you like hearty traditional American "wartime" food, this might be your thing. I'm a pescatarian, so that automatically eliminated 95% of the menu for me.
Also, after 3 PM they offer free parking in the lot across the street! -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had high expectations but was unimpressed w/service when a group of 7 of us visited here for lunch on a Friday. Could have been a fluke, but would expect more out of a John Besh venue.
Service: 3-star
Cuisine: 3.5-star
Setting: 4 star
Service:
Service was hardly acceptable - 30-min. wait to receive entrees and essentially unattended by our server (may have been new?). Entrees were lukewarm by the time they came out. Staff apologized for our experience and comped a decent part of the bill.
Cuisine:
- Fried oysters: done to perfection - recommend. Great for sharing.
- Crabmeat pies: like a Southern empanada - creamy filling, perfectly hand-formed and deep-fried
- Onion rings: lightly fried, beautifully done
- Gracie's blue crab & sausage stew: light, flavorful and delicious
- Fried shrimp po-boy: delicious and well-constructed, sliced pickles added excellent zing and texture
- Crispy buster crabs: highlight of the mains, if a bit over-priced. Grits are delish.
Drinks:
- Melon soda: summer in a glass. must-order. So refreshing.
- Banana Foster shake: not a fan of banana typically, but the shake was very fresh and not too sweet.
Setting:
Really liked the airy, sun-lit layout, esp. the classy outdoor patio in the front. Whole vibe is retro '40s, including servers dressed in period, which is a fun touch. -
Review from Michelle M.
Houston, TX
4/26/2012
I really like The American Sector. It's at the National WWII Museum, which was a warehouse salvaged and redone after Katrina hit. It preserves that warehouse feel while integrating beautiful architecture (especially that PATIO) and architectural design!
The food here is pretty good and pretty inventive. I've always thought the staff was enormously helpful and friendly, and they're dressed in period-garb. Golly!
Gee whiz - the reason for the fourth star is for those who seat themselves at the bar. The countertop has these AWESOME fiber optic or similar beams bent into them, with concrete poured on top. Scoop your hand over them, and watch how they make the other points in the countertop light up or darken. I swear, it leaves you entertained long enough to wait for your friends to arrive! (Oh, even better if you grab a beer first.) -
Review from Doug P.
4/25/2012
I recently came here for dinner and thought that the food was fine, but nothing spectacular. The 1940s style was cute and the staff was really friendly which started off the the meal well. The drinks were great across the board- I had a singapore sling and the brandy milk punch and I recommend them both. I also tried some sips of the mint julep and moscow mule. Each with its own unique style and flavor, depending on what you like. The fried oysters and rabbit pate were every good and the fried chicken was average for appetizers. For an entire I had the Jumbo Shrimp Creole which was, again, good but nothing spectacular. The bite of meatloaf I had was a little bit better but I just considered meatloaf something to eat at home rather than pay $16 dollars for at a restaurant. The downfall was that they really over sold how good their pasta special was and we found it mediocre at best.
I think it is a fine place to go it you like straight forward american fare. For those with a desire to try something new and different, this might not be your first option -
Review from Daisy N.
Harvey, LA
4/14/2012 3 photos
I was really excited knowing I was about to dine at American Sector. The food selection was something out of the norm for me. The decor was cool but the tables were so small. We asked if we could combine tables.
So we started out with 3 appetizers; Fried Chicken Gizzards, Country fried onion rings, and Crab-meat pie. Fried Chicken Gizzards came with a mustard sauce. Its was really soft and tender. Country Fried Onion Ring was good. The batter was very light. Crab-meat pie was the BEST!!!. It had so much whole lump crab-meat!!! But 10 dollars was a little high for 4 crab-meat pie.
I had the Sloppy Joe while he got the meatloaf. Sloppy Joe is something that i would never tried again. it was sooooooo sweet and the sauce was not that great. My Date tried it and he didn't like it either. Surprisingly Sloppy Joe is his all time favorite food. But he was so disappointed in it. The Meatloaf was good but not enough mash potatoes. Later on the waiter gave us some house made pickles. I love pickles. i love vinegar. But these pickles were completely soak in ONLY vinegar when i tasted it.(major kick)
Over all i would come back here and try other things. I wanted to try the hotdog because they were huge. But when wanted to order it ran out:( -
Review from Harry T.
3/30/2012
A nice place for a quick meal that is accpetable. Portions are large and the service is very good. Seating is not all that great. Banquette seating is never nice and the chairs are not comfortable. The food is good for a quick lunch.
Place is great for people on the run and want something better than a fast food menu. The old pictures on the wall are worth a visit even if not hungry. -
Review from Mark P.
New Orleans, LA
4/5/2012
I was downtown today and I decided to try a downtown restaurant. I tend to view downtown restaurants with suspicion- partly because I know they are more targeted towards tourists and because I assume they'll be that much more expensive. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the American Sector.
While the outside gives it a look that may be far removed from being more of a neighborhood restaurant, I felt more welcome there than I thought I would. There was a party of LSU students gathering outside and a good mix of locals and tourists inside. It is a John Besh restaurant and therefore it is, technically, a local joint. Honestly, I'm not the type who knows much about chefs and/or cooking and what makes them special but I am keen enough to know he's a popular chef in the city now. Now I definitely want to try out his other restaurants.
While the inside is definitely meant to be one part of the WWII museum experience, I didn't mind it. I sat down at the bar. The TV sets there were videos of the end of WWII in America with all the soldiers coming back home to kiss their wives and girlfriends in front of the cameras and throughout the restaurants there were pictures of a very idealized America which was interesting.
I think I also decided to eat here at the right time. It was Happy Hour and they have draft beer for $2 and .75 cent "sliders" (little burgers with a lot of meat). I got three sliders and an Abita Amber. The sliders themselves were fantastic actually- pulled bar-be-que pork with a few small crispy onion rings which was a surprisingly good mix. It was also more than enough to fill me up and they were excellent.
The bartenders were very nice and friendly too, I should add. Overall, I'd say if you want to try out a more "gourmet" version of "American" food... make your way over here, especially for Happy Hour. -
Review from Catherine N.
Harvey, LA
3/22/2012 2 photos
I finally got the chance to visit this place after weeks of putting it off. It was 30minutes till closing time, so I thought the food wasn't going to be that great since people are dying to leave and go home... boy was I wrong. We we greeted by a nice waiter name Joel. He was very helpful to us since it was our first time. After a few minutes of browsing the menu I decided to go ahead with the mini burgers and my sister got the pork banh mi. The mini burgers was the best I ever had. Every bit was as good as the last and the portion size was just enough. However, I didn't like their fries at all. It was very salty and I had to shake each fry off before eating it and that didn't help much. We also order buffalo wings, but they weren't all that great either. It was bland even with the sauce on it. Still, since it's my first time I will go back in the near future and try other items.
The decor was lovely. It had a very modern feel to it. The workers there were all very nice and friendly. I didn't feel out of place with my t-shirt and jeans in a place that looks like you should only enter with a dress on. Great first impression of this place and I know I will return to this place more than once. -
Review from Justin S.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Beef Short Ribs with Mac n Cheese. Back to the hotel. Repeat.
Lamb ribs are great too. We will be back.
The drinks suck so stick with beer. -
Review from Angel I.
Gainesville, FL
5/19/2012
Ate here twice during our stay in New Orleans. First stopped in because of Chef John Besh's name-- love him. Then loved their happy hour-- 75 cents for a meat pie or pulled pork slider?! shut up. So good. Great drinks. Had their chicken and dumplings (very salty, but good), beef tongue sandwich (loved it), excellent nutella cupcakes (don't get their other flavors of cupcakes), and OK monty cristo. Definitely go between 3 and 5 for their happy hour!
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Review from Emily B.
3/11/2012
Mimics a 1940s vibe from decor to dress and is positioned right across from the WWII museum. Besh's menu is what you expect for this concept: American. Hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, fries, shakes.
I had a shrimp salad sandwich which was nothing more than a bunch of mayo with a piece or two of shrimp on grilled bread. My co-workers had the grilled chicken sandwich, each could serve a family of four. Another one had the homemade hot dog, which is probably the way to go (they are huge, fyi).
Served with housemade chips.
We also sprung for two orders of their duck fat fries. I've had better, but you can't complain about DFF, can you?
My biggest regret: wish I got a milk-shake. I did, however, order their devil's food nutella cupcake and it was probably THE BEST cupcake I've ever had. Do not miss it! -
Review from Susan W.
Looking for someplace for a nice yet informal lunch or a casual dinner? American Sector hits that sweet spot. American Sector serves up "American classics with a gourmet twist." I've visited at both lunch and dinner but I've only ever ordered sandwiches. I've enjoyed both the shrimp salad and the sloppy joe (which was a VERY generous portion). My friend flipped for the housemade bologna sandwich, which doesn't seem to be on the menu any longer. If you love pate, don't miss the rabbit pate, served in a cool (WWII inspired?) tin. I would prefer to eat the pate with bread instead of the cutely packaged crackers, but it's still really tasty. Cocktail lovers take note- they have a long list of refreshing classic cocktails. Someday I will make that happy hour with the .75 sliders. If you're in the Warehouse District near the WWII museum, check out the American Sector.
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Review from Eunice T.
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars, round up.
IDK who John Besh is. I'm not really into expensive fine dining. I've been driving through NOLA frequently this past month though, & I've gotten to know his name a little more.
I had suggested going to August on a recommendation from my BF who loved the pre-fixed lunch when he was in town. Then my cousin suggested American Sector. No, I did not know they were both John Besh establishments. I've come to realize, Besh is not budget friendly.
The food was good. I got the grilled cheese & tomato soup. Soup was served in a tin can--cute. I really liked the jalepeno cheese grits. Someone else ordered a banh mi knock-off sandwich that got raves around the table & was about the size of a chichuahua.
I liked how the food fit the WWII theme of the restaurant. The decor had an old airport feel to it. Would I come back here? Yes, but it wouldn't be my 1st pick. -
Review from Toni M.
3/16/2012
We had lunch here today. This is the restaurant connected to the WWII Museum. The chef is someone well known in New Orleans named John Besh. When we were here 7 years ago the museum was called the D Day Museum and it had a small coffee shop-type restaurant where the 4 of us ate muffulettas we'd brought in from Central Grocery. I don't remember eating any food from there; it's now called the Soda Shop and is also a John Besh project. The American Sector is in a new building across the street that houses the theatre and a gift shop. There's a large patio that faces onto Magazine street and an equally large air conditioned inside restaurant w/ bar. We found a table w/ umbrella outside and settled in.
Alan immediately noticed an open faced tongue sandwich and pointed it out to me, but it had mushroom gravy and I don't do gravy w/ tongue. When I asked if I could have it w/o the gravy the waitress explained that the simmered all day in the gravy, so it would be hard to separate the components. So it was back to studying the menu. Sherri decided on a crab salad w/ fried avocado on top. Ron got a French dip sandwich and Alan and I both ordered foot long all beef hot dogs. I think they were made inhouse. He also ordered onion rings to share after ascertaining that they were made fresh here. They arrived first, large, thick rings that were crisp and a tad greasy. They were nicely seasoned and had a dipping sauce. When the rest of the meal arrived we were astonished at the size of the hot dogs, which were the biggest either of us had ever seen. Not just long. Big. They overflowed the buns. It was a knife and fork hot dog. We could have shared one between us. Alan had grilled onions on his, I had raw onions on mine. Little bottles of catsup, mayonnaise and two kinds of mustard accompanied them, making it easy to add the condiments we wanted. They also came w/ a cone of house-made potato chips. Sherri's salad was small and delicate by comparison. Ron's French dip was hearty and delicious according to him and to Alan, who had a taste. I had iced tea, Sherri had a beer and Ron had a coke, while Alan had water. The food was all tasty and service was great. We ate the hot dogs but couldn't finish the buns or the chips. Like I said, we could have shared one.Listed in: NOLA
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Review from Wendie V.
New Orleans, LA
2/22/2012
I was a big fan of the American Sector until I took two friends tonight and had a horrible experience.
I'm pretty sure our waiter was still drunk from mardi gras or high on something. He had no personality and when we asked where our food was since every other table that was seated after us had their food he pretended he didn't understand what we were asking about. Lame.
I ordered Mac n cheese that they apparently changed the recipe for and when I asked to have it the old way the waiter said he'd check with the chef, then it came out the 'new' way. That was disappointing, the fries my friend ordered were burnt but the waiter randomly brought more that were 'extra'. How do you have extra fries?
Anyway the food was ok, we ordered dessert and were told a while later they ran out of ice cream so we could get shakes complimentary. When the bill came we were charged the price of the dessert that was not available. However it was explained that the price of the dessert was less than the two shakes. Hello....I only ordered the shake cuz it was free otherwise I would have come home and had ice cream for free.
The best part was when the split check comeback for signature the high waiter charged the wrong amounts on the cards then tried to tell us he was right. Too bad we wrote the totals on the check....
I will not be going back here again... Unless they miraculously restore the Mac n cheese recipe and the waiter goes to rehab. -
Review from Brittany A.
New York, NY
2/23/2012
Not only is the ambience at the American Sector delightful, but also the food here is unreal. The sandwiches are huge and are served on a cutting board. For around $12-$14 per sandwich you will get a taste of possibly one of the best sandwiches you have ever had. The salads are also tasty (I had the Cobb), but if I were to come back here I would definitely order a sandwich like my friends did. The Cobb salad is not as filling and cost almost the same as these gigantic delectable sandwiches.
For a side, my table ordered the mac and cheese which was pretty tasty but a little bit too salty for my liking. (It seems like every restaurant in New Orleans puts way too much salt on their food).
Since it was my friends birthday, they also delivered us a special Mardi Gras cupcake that was wonderful.
If you are in New Orleans, you NEED to come to this restaurant. You will be so happy that you did! -
Review from Ben G.
Mountain View, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fried shrimp po'boy: good quality shrimp and dressings, decent bread. Cupcakes for dessert were good enough to recommend.
The atmosphere, service, and food as a whole were good, but not to the extent of a 5. -
Review from Kim-Thao H.
Westwego, LA
Decided to write an update because of my awesome last experience! I came here for a friend's birthday, and everything I had was great! My suggestion would be to get a bunch of apps, because they are better than the entrees, with the exception of the meat load which is DA BOMB! Pretty much all the apps are delish including the cheeseburger sliders, shrimp in a cup, meat pies, and fried oysters. SO GOOD! The cheeseburger sliders are just amazing, and I really don't know why; they just are! The sauce with the shrimp in the cup is nice and tangy. The meat pies were fulfilling and the oysters satisfying. The meat loaf is HUGE! I don't know if anyone can actually finish it, but it's one of the best! Don't forget to get a strawberry or vanilla milkshake for an all American meal :)
Dessert wise, I hated the cupcakes. They were just so dry and really not that good. But I did enjoy the apple pie, though it's not the best I've ever had either.
I enjoy American Sector because of it's spacious and contemporary decor. Such a nice ambiance. The service is a bit inconsistent for me. Sometimes they're really good and sometimes they're inattentive, so it's a hit or miss.
So like other Besh restaurants, I also enjoy American Sector :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/16/2011
I really wanted to give this place a 3.5, but decided to round up because I love the atmosphere.… Read more »
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Review from Owen C.
New Orleans, LA
12/28/2011
I like the American Sector. I do find it a smidge overpriced, and the atmosphere is somewhat sterile, but the food has never disappointed and it really suits the World War II Museum. Essentially, the menu consists of gourmet American food -- including some foods that aren't ordinarily considered gourmet. Crap all you want about celebrity chefs, but John Besh knows how to make a menu and thus far he's decent at quality control.
Though also expensive, the drink menu is excellent. The bartenders are true mixologists. If you're in the CBD and looking for a good, hardy meal, you could do a great deal worse. -
Review from Shercole K.
New Orleans, LA
Updated - 12/11/2011 2 photos
I decided to have my Birthday Dinner here this year and I must say this is absolutely one of the most accommodating restaurants. Not only did they let me make a large number reservation to seat in the atrium, they even without any fuss allowed for separate billing. It was truly great pre-service. Soon as we arrived beyond friendly staff was helpful the whole time, answering questions and making sure my whole party was comfortable!
I decided to go with the Short Ribs, which I must say was beyond tender and delightful and tasty. That mixed with the mac n cheese definitely put me in a food coma. This is truly a great dish for the hungry!
Try out American Sector during Happy Hour or Saints Game Days( Happy Hour last the whole game) They have 75 cents meat pies and my favorite pork sliders that you just can't beat!
I love this restaurant and not just because I'm a Chef John Besh Groupie either.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2011
Being the John Besh groupie I am I can't help but continue to visit and love this place. First off… Read more »
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Review from kristin k.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/22/2012
Gumbo this trip was awful. Ordered the crab salad as well and was incredibly lackluster. My fiancee ordered the shrimp and sausage po'boy and that was a mess all around. The service is poor and it is unfortunate because the museum itself is amazing and gets better with every trip...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/10/2009 First to Review
Delicious GUMBO!! Tried the bibb lettuce salad (remember this lettuce is NOT crispy), also tried… Read more »
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Review from Jill S.
Massillon, OH
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very good food and cocktails in keeping of the 1940s character of the WWII museum, with which this restaurant is connected.
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Review from Rachel G.
San Jose, CA
1/7/2012
Came here after reading the enticing blurb in the New Orleans visitors guide.
At first glance the restaurant looks cute and welcoming. When I walked inside though it was freezing. I know its warm in New Orleans but no amount of heat especially at 7:00 pm at night called for the below freezing temp that greeted us as we walked in. The girl at the podium was friendly and even she joked about having to put on her sweater. My husband and I decided to eat outside as did everyone else apparently.
Our server was mediocre. Normal hi what can I get for you small talk but nothing special. Looking over the menu I was surprised to see the prices for the items being offered. $6 milkshake and an $8 " famous" hotdog thinking it has to be phenomenal for that price....next time I'll save my money and head for Costco. We also ordered the seasonal vegetables and can I say whew! Can I get some veggies with the garlic that they were smothered in. They were almost inedible.
I have to say that $45 later I expected a little more from the quality of food and service. My first visit to New Orleans was great but this was for sure at the bottom of my list. I should have headed back to acme oyster house. The staff made it well worth it! -
Review from huong t.
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to say my experience was near perfect besides for the soggy fries. I now finally understand why one of my online friends goes there soo often for happy hour. For some odd reason I thought this place would be small and cramped it's the exact opposite very spacious!
The patio outside looks soo nice and comfortable. It looked like I could sit outside for 3 hours with no problem.
The cheeseburger slider was awesome finally some place that uses 3 individual burgers with it's very own bun.
I went to Luke's for my birthday this year I should have come here instead. -
Review from Jennifer B.
New Orleans, LA
9/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Upon entering, we had to wait about 3 minutes before anyone came over to seat us. Not a great first impression, especially during lunch on a holiday when they weren't super busy. However, I've wanted to try American Sector for quite a while and FINALLY found time to go, so that wasn't about to deter me.
The waitress (Mya? Maybe..?) took our drink orders. She was extremely friendly. She gave us some extra time to look over the menu, then took the food order. The onion rings looked awesome in a Yelp photo, so we got an order of those to share. I ordered the Sloppy Joe sandwich, the fiance got the Corned Beef sandwich, and the munchkin got a kid's meal box with a Corndog.
Most items on the menu are quite simplistic, but done exceptionally well. That's kind of what they are going for. The portions are huge, too. Kids corndog meal? Served in an old style lunchbox, with a HUGE corndog, fries, gooey melty chocolate chip cookie, and a drink. Sloppy Joe? Again, huge, and definite emphasis on the sloppy (comes topped w/ lettuce and tomato). Comes with chips, but I got the fries. Corned Beef? I'm not a fan of sauerkraut, but that's why I didn't order it :) The fiance loved it. I tried a piece of the corned beef that wasn't covered in the other toppings, and it was pretty good.
Beware of the onion rings... they are extremely delicious, and big. There are 5 to an order (or at least, we got 5). So, unless you have 5 people in your party (or 1) you will be fighting over the last onion ring.
I hate when appetizers are served in a prime number.
Anyway, it was overall a great experience. Good for kids, good for adults. Hopefully I can find time to return during Happy Hour to take advantage of cheap eats and drinks. -
Review from Jessica F.
New Orleans, LA
9/27/2011
I might have mentioned this before, but I unquestioningly support JOHN BESH FOR DICTATOR!!! This is the third of his restaurants that I have tried, and like the others, it was fantastic. We visited after going to the WWII museum, it seemed like the appropriate way to tie together the whole experience. Lucky for us, we came during happy hour, which means $0.75 sliders and $4 mint juleps. I really love that John Besh offers these kinds of deals for happy hour and lunch (Domenica has a good happy hour deal for pizza, and August has a $20 prix fixe lunch) in order to make his dining experiences affordable enough for everyone to try.
The restaurant was really busy when we visited since it was Smithsonian's free museum day, and despite the crowd they managed to fit us in at the bar. We were brought the wrong thing a couple of times at the bar... so why am I giving in 5 stars? Because the bartender more than made up for it when she rushed our correct order and made extra sure that we weren't overcharged at the end of the meal. Really exceptional service and food, I expect nothing less of any Besh restaurant because I've never experienced anything less. -
Review from shawn d.
New Orleans, LA
3/17/2012
The restaurant looks beautiful. The seating and bar area balance modernity and retro. I wanted to like the food more, but my dinner guests and I found our meals underwhelming. The price, too high for the portions and quality, would make me think twice about eating here again.
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Review from Kellee K.
10/12/2011 2 photos
I really wanted to try August while in NOLA, but time constraints kept it from happening. I settled with a visit to American Sector before catching the WWII museum film "Beyond all Boundaries."
We ordered crabmeat pies and creole corned beef. The crabmeat pies were best with ground mustard. The mustard helped cut the richness. The corned beef was extremely sweet like it had been cooked in root beer or Coke. Neither dish was bad, but they didn't wow us either. The house made pickles to start were really tasty, though.Listed in: Travels... New Orleans
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Review from Jessica M.
Youngstown, OH
3/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The service and food were great. I had the braised ribs with mac and cheese followed by the chocolate hazelnut bananas split. Do avoid the apple honey soda
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Review from Melissa E.
New Orleans, LA
11/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Classic American Food with a twist....a Besh twist. This is the perfect place to dine before a night out in the warehouse district. I also love their bar menu. Great classic cocktails. Unfortunately, they typically make their Old Fashioned (my favorite cocktail) with soda water, which I can't stand. Now I know to ask for them w/o, and I'm happy.
Try the french fries....You'll be happy you did :) -
Review from Robert R.
New Orleans, LA
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
After the WWII Museum I had worked up a hunger. I saw they had a soda shop/cafe but I didn't want a 'Snazzy" sandwich or soup or a milkshake. (God if they had juicy cheeseburgers with sauteed onions and Belgian fries served in a cone that would have hit the spot.)
So I walked down the street to the American Sector. Classy. Airy. Modern decor mixed with old sepia toned photos and old music. Patio in front and back.
I sit at the bar. Decent selection of draft beers. I try Tin Roof out of Baton Rouge. Medium bodied American amber ale. Nice copper tone. Tasty.
I opt for the Shrimp Po Boy and coleslaw. All the sides are sold separately so the colesalw cost 3 bucks extra.
They do throw in a paucity of complimentary potato chips, which I think are home made, and served in a cone of paper stuffed in a can which I thought was cool. However the chips tasted stale. Don't ya just hate stale potato chips?
The Po Boy arrived atop a wooden cutting board wrapped in brown "American Sector" paper and cut in two with masking tape holding each end of the sandwich paper. Masking tape? Really? Were they out of the "American Sector" tape? To me that was tacky, pun intended. Scotch tape would have looked better. Shit, wrap it in duct tape and call it a torpedo.
The Po Boy was OK. I was expecting better for 12.50. I swear the shrimp were frozen. Tell me it ain't so. Either way they tasted funny. The tomatoes on the Po Boy were mushy. I like my tomatoes fresh and firm not soggy or looking beat up like the cooks were playing frisbee with them and they happened to land on a sandwich. I've worked in restaurants before and I would never use a crap tomato. For me it can make or break a sandwich, burger or salad. I've seen better tomatoes at Subway, (not often but I have seen 'em). But ya know what? I was hungry so I ate the whole damn thing.
I consider myself a colesaw connoisseur. I like it when the cabbage is shredded thinly. I like it creamy and sweet but not too sweet. This coleslaw had a reddish tint. Could have been cayenne or paprika. I don't know. It was the best part of the meal. But 3 bucks? Come on you son of a Besh! Make it complimentary with the freakin' sandwich!
I might go back try something different. They do have an eclectic menu:
http://www.nationalww2...
And Free parking is available to American Sector and Stage Door Canteen patrons after 3:00 pm in their Magazine Street parking lot, between Poeyfarre and Andrew Higgins. Prior to 3:00 pm, bring your parking stub inside to receive credit when you purchase $20 in food & beverage. -
Review from Logan J.
9/17/2011
We are here for lunch and Restaurant August for dinner. We enjoyed American Sector immensly. The food was awesome, the staff were all very friendly and efficient. The iced tea was delicious. The military reenacters milling around (presumably for a performance or something) added to the cool vibe. The shrimp dishes we got were super fresh and cooked perfectly. My potato-chip crusted trout dish was amazing. Her short-rib sloppy joe was HUGE and seasoned nicely. The homemade chips were very tasty and the grits super rich and delicious.
It was all so good that we decided to up the ante and check out August for dinner. We should have gone back to American Sector. -
Review from meg a.
8/28/2011
no vegetarian dishes - insanely strong cocktail = dont think its my kinda place
We went for happy hour and i tried their Paradise cocktail. OMG! I could barely drink any of it because it was like drinking rubbing alcohol. Not going to get that again!
I also had a chance to check out the menu and there wasnt a single vegetarian entree on the menu. Onion rings were good but super greasy. Im not going to go back. -
Review from Victoria T.
Metairie, LA
10/29/2011
Favorites: the burger sliders and meatpies!
I also tried the fried oysters and monte cristo.the monte cristo was okay it was a bit too sweet.
I love the layout and environment there. It felt like i was back in time yet the building is very modern like.
If the weather wasnt too hot that day i wouldve enjoyed eating outside. -
Review from JeAnne S.
New Orleans, LA
7/27/2011
I absolutely love the WWII Museum...no question. I had zero expectations of the restaurant as 1)I've never been to a John Besh restaurant and 2)it's a museum restaurant and as much as I love the museum, I was kinda thinking it was going to be overpriced and mediocre.
Well *it* is pricey, but worth it I think...I'm a fan! And while I may not make the special trip to the restaurant alone, I would definitely eat there when I visit the Museum or am in that neighborhood.
The atmosphere is lovely...sophisticated, minimal and warm at the same time which is hard to pull off. The patio area is lovely as well and pulled back from the sidewalk so you don't feel like you're in the middle of street traffic.
The food...sort of American comfort with a modern southern spin. The three of us ordered sliders and onion rings to start with. The sliders are amazeballs...perfect ratio of bun to meat dressed and with condiments of choice. Onion rings were GINORMOUS, battered. delicious goodness, and they came with this spicy ranch dipping sauce that I threatened to bite the waitress' hand off if she tried to take it away. I wanted that sauce on EVERYTHING and I'm not usually a fan of ranch...really good.
Hub got chicken friend steak that for some bizarro reason comes with rice so he subbed out mashers and gravy...oh yes.
Little soul sister got fried oyster poboy fully dressed with their house made chips, and I got the melt in your mouth pork poboy with very seasoned and perfectly skinny fried fries.
The poboys buns are small compared to say parkway or guys, but it was a substantial amount of food all the same. I had to take 1/2 home, and I'm quite sure that two of the sliders with some fries would have been plenty for me.
Cupcakes - 4 for $8...we got red velvet with cream cheese frosting (yum) and lemon filled with lemon curd and topped with candied lemon slice...oh yes please!!
The condiments are all house made I think...mustard was nice and spicy for a yellow, and they had a jar of pickles which were mouth puckering good.
Happy hour does discount cocktails and 75 cent sliders and other goodies. 75 cents for one of those mouth watering lil burgers is a TOTAL STEAL in my opinion.
Maybe I will go back just for happy hour :D -
Review from Jen L.
Updated - 6/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Oh dear. It's been over a year since I've gone to the American Sector and maybe that should have been an internal indication that I wasn't super happy the last time I went.
The service here has always been...unusual, sometimes eager but sloppy (water spilling onto your shoes), sometimes just incompetent (forgotten items). Today, my server was actually pretty good...except for having to ask for water/tea refills.
But the food, it's definitely gone downhill. The yummy trout with potato chip crust is gone. My go to shrimp salad sandwich was no longer on the yummy sourdough bread. You don't get the housemade pickles as an amuse bouche...or maybe that's just because I was there at lunch instead of dinner? The onion rings were still mighty tasty though and my companions thought their meals were fine (but neither had been there before). I also thought the sandwich plating was really sloppy, but then again I may be watching too much food TV.Listed in: My John Besh list
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/18/2010
Another dinner at the Am. Sector and another lovely cocktail. This time we snacked on the onion… Read more »
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Review from Eric E.
New Orleans, LA
12/28/2011
I strongly suspect they use the leftover meat from the short rib sloppy joe to make the meatloaf -- or vice versa. I had both dishes within a couple of months of each other and I noticed the identical flavors easily. They don't bind the "meatloaf" with bread crumbs, seasoning, or egg -- the literally take the sloppy joe meat, shape it into a loaf and bake it. (Mine was still soft in the middle.) And the sauce is *exactly* the same as the sloppy joe sauce.
That's some shameless corner cutting from our golden boy local chef. Nothing else is particularly good here, either.
