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Cafe Maspero
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
601 Decatur StNew Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-6250
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
144 reviews for Cafe Maspero
Review Highlights
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"I highly recommend their Red Beans and Rice (with ham and..." In 15 reviews -
"...food, you really can't beat this French Quarter landmark." In 25 reviews -
"Only downfall is it's cash only." In 18 reviews
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144 reviews in English
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Review from Devo S.
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok, I can only comment on the $3 and $1 strawberry daiquiris, because is all we ever came here for...it was great the first time ($3 for this huge drink, really? Cool!) Okay the second time (I know it's only $1, but can't we get something less kool-aid like?) Aggravated the third time (you won't wait in line for a decent meal, but you'll wait 15 minutes JUST because this drink is only $3...really?)
However, I cannot blame the establishment for who I happened to be hanging out with, so to be fair, I will give Cafe Maspero a 4-star rating for their plentiful, cheap, refreshing slightly-alcoholic strawberry drink. -
Review from Mande P.
4/13/2012
I ate here years ago and the food was cold, table was dirty and it's just an overall sub par experience here. It's definitely a tourist trap due to its location and the way they just don't give a crap. My experience was right after Katrina so at the time I chalked it up to that. Apparently they haven't changed. Technically I shouldn't review it if it's been that long but honestly if you haven't changed since then, don't trap the Fannypacks. Ya know?
Computer says "no"Listed in: WTF? Seriously?
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Review from Misty L.
Chicago, IL
4/11/2012
Count me in as a "love it!" vote.
Next to a dancing flame within a lantern there is a wooden sign that says "Cafe Maspero". As soon as you walk in, there is another sign for $1 Strawberry Daiquiris. MMMMMMM. You can sit at the bar, or a table. The interior is all brick, with huge windows that open up onto the French Quarter so you are never really removed from the hustle and bustle of the street.
You can enjoy all of this even if you are dead broke, as I was when I first came here nearly ten years ago. Red beans and rice, plus a $1 daiquiri will set you back about $5. If you aren't dead broke, you still won't spend a lot of money here as the menu is very cheap, right within the heart of a tourist filled FQ.
This place is filled with memories for me. I remember the first time I ate here during Mardi Gras I was walking in with friends when out of nowhere an older couple ran up to me to give me their coolest bead acquisition, along with a teddy bear and kid perfume set. How bizarre! And charming! Later that week a boy I met walked out on me after I bought him a daiquiri because he thought it was poisoned. Oh, Cafe Maspero, I'll never forget you.
Came back here last year, and nothing had changed. Just how I like it. Will be back in two weeks, it is now a staple of my New Orleans visits.
Tip: Come here to rest your feet and revel in the atmosphere with a daiquiri, as well as whatever fate might throw your way. Do not come here for a gourmet N'awlins meal. OH, and cash only. You've got $5 or $10 bucks, right? -
Review from Connie M.
New Orleans, LA
5/25/2012
I live here and I really love this place for a quick casual bite if I am out walking with friends at night and get hungry. I LOVE the French Onion soup and the roast beef sandwiches .I am not a fan of muffalettas so I can't say anything about those, and my friends are ok with the seafood. For me this is a great place for the above mentioned soup and sandwhich and I have never had bad service here, even in a hugely busy time.
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Review from Chris W.
New Orleans, LA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a big fan of Cafe Maspero. I can not comment on anything but the muffellettas. I know everyone says central grocery. But anytime I have friends coming into town I always take them here for what I consider to be the best. I always sit at the bar and the older lady bartender always remembers me and it just makes the place that better.
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Review from Rachel P.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't get the hype.
Our lunch was the essence of "ok". I ordered the fried shrimp sandwich. I was disappointed that it came on a sesame seed bun, as opposed to a hoagie roll. The shrimp were "fine". Nothing special. The sandwich came with steak fries. I don't really like steak fries, but again, I guess they were "fine". My husband got the seafood platter. He said it was pretty marginal...nothing special at all. We both agreed that we have had MUCH better seafood back in Dallas, which shouldn't be the case, for obvious reasons. Neither of us could understand the long line of people outside waiting for a table. The whole meal was just so underwhelming. Oh,wait, here's a positive: they do sell cute little strawberry daiquiris for a buck, so that's cool. But other than that...I can't really recommend this place.Listed in: Overrated
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Review from Shannon N.
Tahlequah, OK
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Gross. I wish I would have believed the bad reviews. Don't eat here, really. Most disappointing meal I had during my week in NOLA.
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Review from David R.
Omaha, NE
3/26/2012
Reading the reviews it's apparent this is either a love it or hate it place. Count me on the love it side of it.
I came here frequently back in 1985 when I was in town for 2 weeks and on a limited budget and loved it then. I went back about 10 years ago and loved it. And went back last week and loved it.
What you're getting is a TON of decent food at an incredibly reasonable price in a popular tourist area. The muffaleta isn't the best in the world but it probably has a pound of good meat on it for $8.50. The shrimp Po-Boy isn't cleverly seasoned but costs the same and has tons of tasty well cooked shrimp. The rice and beans were fine. You can get a liter of cheap wine for $5 in a place where it costs $6.75 for a Bud Lite Draft 3 blocks away. You're in the middle of the Decatur Street/Jackson Square crowd with bad jazz being played on the corner......Don't expect Brennan's level food! This is quality hangover medicine! Enjoy Maspero's strengths with a touch of reality.
I don't know about everyone else, but I was there on March 20 and paid with a credit card. French Quarter merchants HATE the banks, they organized a movement against them at some point, or so I was told. But I had no problem there (although I had to play cash at an art gallery for something). -
Review from Torey R.
Lincoln, CA
3/29/2012
I recieved terrible customer service when asking to split a bill. They refused, said that it was not in their job description to seperate bills, and the owners were too old fashion for that. REALLY??!?!?! They had two tables in the place would not have been a big deal, yet they refused, why give poor customer service when you have the option to do better? Long story short if you want/need your own bill sit on seperate chairs at the bar, maybe they can handle that. Also the food isn't that great, I would rather pay a little more for more accomodating staff.
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Review from Kate F.
Jersey City, NJ
4/22/2012
My friend and I were stopping by New Orleans for the day and wanted to try Jambalaya before we left. This place was in the heart of everything and had very reasonable prices, so we popped in. I had a strawberry daquiri and a plate of the Jambalaya. Now I should go on the record as saying that I don't really like very spicy food, but I was determined to eat my Jambalaya even if it burned my tongue off. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was only mildly spicy and I got quite a bit of it. Since the dish was only $8.50, I thought that it would be predominantly rice with a couple of shrimp scattered throughout, but I was surprised again. There were at least 15 shrimp on my plate with lots of sausage and different veggies. If I ever go back to NOLA, I'll definitely be stopping by this place again!
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Review from d. s.
San Diego, CA
4/13/2012
About as poor a meal asl you will get in a location known as Tourist Hell. Godawful food and even worse service by waitstaff who are only there to get you in and out as quickly as possible. There are plenty of good places to find, just stay away from this dump. The only reason I ended up here was because of being part of a group.
Don't try and split checks here, the staff are incapable of thinking out of the box.
this place is a disgrace. -
Review from Crystal H.
Houston, TX
12/20/2011
I should've listened to all of you who have said to stay away, I really should.
Yes, the price is fairly cheap compared to all the other restaurants in the area but you do get what you paid for. I ordered the Seafood Platter ($12.50) which consisted or calamari, shrimp, oysters, catfish, and even baby octopus, all fried. I got about four pieces of oyster, two of them were so buttery soft and good but the other two were just "WTF is that?". The calamari must've come from an anorexic squid as well. So bland and unseasoned. The plate came out warm, when really it should've been hot. I mean,deep-frying in a big vat oil should come out bubbly and almost burning, right? The waitress didn't seem to care whether or not you liked the food and never even bothered to pre-bus.
My boyfriend got the jambalaya he said it was good but I've never gotten jambalaya before so I cannot make a fair review.
If you don't have any cash with you and are afraid of the ATM or if you have a bunch of kids and don't mind getting food that will fill you, then please go right on ahead. -
Review from Steve H.
Springdale, AR
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Super casual but EXCELLENT food and service. Our waitress was a TRIP! PoBoys and Muffuletta's were VERY tasty!
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Review from Rob B.
Clinton, MS
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was ok. The server was nice. The "hostess", not so much. She was ok, I guess, towards us, but we were seated near the entrance and heard her being completely rude over and over again to potential patrons. Some of which LEFT before they could be seated. I guess the place can afford to run business off when they are lined up outside waiting to get in. We went to The Chartres House Cafe' the next night and it blew this place away!
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Review from Jasmine M.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2011
I just spent a week in New Orleans for the New Orleans Burlesque Festival. I go to Cafe Maspero everytime I'm there and it gets better and better every time. It's right in the French Quarter and you can have a nice view to people watch along the streets.
It was late afternoon on a Saturday and I was suprised it wasn't as packed as it has been when I've visited before.
I highly recommend their Red Beans and Rice (with ham and sausage!). The portion was huge and I had 3 meals from that one order. The only reason they loose a star is because I had to spicen up the red beans when I got home (I ordered carry out). This batch was a little blander than I remember which suprised me. But a sprinkle of some Tony Chachere's did the trick.
The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is casual. The cooks at the carry out window were courteous and engaged in small talk which made me feel right at home. -
Review from Bob W.
New Orleans, LA
8/27/2011
Maybe it was youthful naivete, but I used to enjoy Maspero. It was never anything worth raving over, but was ok as far as that part of the Quarter goes. Now it's just a tourist trap, and it's terrible even by that low standard.
Awful food. Chewy oysters on the oyster sandwich, and not nearly enough of them to balance out the ridiculously thick bun. Cabbage instead of lettuce is a nice touch. The french fries tasted like they were cooked in the same oil as the seafood. Burnt bun on the hot club. There is nothing nice to say about the service, so I'll say nothing at all. -
Review from Kim N.
9/20/2011
I love Cafe Maspero. Last time we ate there we were there for Halloween. It is right on Decatur and you can sit there and look out the windows, door or sit outside and take in the local flare.
The Jambalaya, Smoked Ham Sandwich, Red Beans and Rice, and the Veggie Muffaletta are all great. They are fast and friendly and keep the drinks filled, but you do pay for each one.
Prices are fair for New Orleans and there is plenty of room. If you go late at night expect a wait, but it is worth it.
We were there in full Halloween git ups as was about everyone. It is just a great atmosphere. -
Review from Skydiving N.
Milwaukee, WI
3/21/2012
WORST place in the French Quarter and BE ADVISED - They DON'T take credit cards. Instead they steer you to an ATM machine on premise - that I'm sure they get a cut of - to further gouge you for the over-priced, lousy-quality food they serve. We went there on a Monday evening and even though it wasn't busy at all the service was extremely slow. The wait staff seemed annoyed that we wanted to be seated and order food. All in all it was the worst experience of our New Orleans vacation.
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Review from Lisa W.
New Orleans, LA
3/20/2012
Just because there is a line doesn't mean it's worth the wait. The atmosphere was interesting and fun. The waitress was nice. That's about all I can say that was great. The sandwich and burger were just ok. The fries were not good. The hostess was rather rude. She had an argument with customers in line in front of us and kept talking about it to other customers long after they left. Completely unprofessional. The $1 Daquiri was good, but I didn't taste any liquor. There's a reason they are only $1. With all the great food in NOLA, I would never go back here to eat.
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Review from amanda p.
Versailles, KY
6/30/2011
The good: our waitress Arica was very friendly and immediately made us feel welcome, which is not something I can say about the rest of the staff.
Later, when I hated my sandwich, she seemed sincerely upset on my behalf and took it off the bill.
When my coworker grew full herself and declined the offer of a box to take home her leftovers, Arica asked if my friend would be willing to take out the remainder of her meal in a box and leave it for any of the city's numerous homeless people. Apparently it is routine for her to convince patrons who were going to otherwise waste their food to leave it in a take-out container on top of the newspaper machine out front so that the hungry can discreetly take what they need. My coworker agreed and gladly put her box atop others already waiting there. About an hour later when we passed nearby again, we saw a homeless man eating my friend's sandwich and we felt glad to be a part of the waitress Arica's crusade against hunger. What a heart of gold she has!
The bad: the food wasn't very good. It was cheap and there was a lot of it, but what does that matter when you don't want to eat it, right?
My friend had the veggie muffaletta and fries, with a salad to start. I had the traditional muffaletta and fries with a cup of red beans and rice to start. The red beans were not bad - I enjoyed the texture and the heartiness of them, even. They were a tad bland, though. They needed more spice, I think. Both of us enjoyed our french fries and devoured them, which is a sad commentary on the taste of the sandwiches, because a good sandwich should always be better than the side item accompanying it.
About those sandwiches, I can only repeat what I said before: quantity of food is meaningless if it tastes poor. Both sandwiches were enormous, but the bread was flavorless to the extreme and the overabundance of olives on each (mostly green olives) made the sandwiches too briney. I gagged down one bite only and I am a fat girl who loves to eat and can usually finish anything, if that means anything.
Also, we did take advantage of the $1 Daquiris and we were not impressed. I am pretty confident that there was no more than a thimble full of alcohol in them, making them very large strawberry flavored slushies. Now that I think about it, I don't recall any real strawberries in them, either - just the weird artificial flavor that comes from a bottle and not nature.
Also, they do not accept credit cards nor will they seperate the checks, making it impossible for you to turn in receipts for reimbursement to your employer, if that is of concern to you. -
Review from Eleazar C.
Chicago, IL
The jumbalaya here is simply amazing! The shrimp tastes fresh, and the rice had cheese on it I believe. The hospitality is southern and friendly. We sat immediately. Prices aren't too shabby either. If I ever return to Na Lens (New Orleans) I will definitely come back and eat here again.
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Review from Erin O.
Cleveland, OH
12/9/2011
Ugh. I wanted to like this place... I really did. My husband did NOT want to go, and I talked him into it. It was such a cute corner location and looked like a foodie secret. However, once we sat down and looked around (up close) we decided to have a drink in an effort to be polite and then bounce! It was filthy, smelled funny, and turned my stomach a bit. The waitress looked really sloppy, and we really couldn't bring ourselves to sample the food. Maybe its good... but I wasn't willing to risk food poisoning to find out.
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Review from Sabine F.
Converse, TX
OMG the portions are huge. Don't come here if you don't like fried food. Almost everything is fried.
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Review from Rich C.
Westfield, NJ
7/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great spot for a sandwich. They serve the classic muffaletta sandwich w fries, not fancy but just right. Local beer and soda (no free refills) .
Great french onion soup, fresh fish sandwiches like catfish were perfect for a quick lunch. Cant beat the location on Decatur, half block from Jackson Square.
Good food at a good price, quick service. A NOLA staple. -
Review from Richard S.
Las Vegas, NV
12/26/2011
I reallly enjoy this place. I lived in Louisiana for years. No trip to New Orleans would be complete without stopping here to eat a muffuletta. I love the French Quarter. I'm sure this old building has so many stories. The bar back is incredible. This may not be the best muffaletta in town, but it is my favorite. Good eats & good ambiance! The parking is not good though. Park across the street in the pay lot. The doors open up so that the patrons can enjoy the sights and smells of the French Quarter. I love it.
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Review from Kate T.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/29/2012
Don't waste your time. I hate to give a bad review when they didn't really do anything wrong but they really didn't do anything right either. With all the fabulous food in NOLA it's a shame to waste a meal here. I had the roast beef po boy, my bread was stale and the sandwich was flavorless, the only good thing I'll say is they did pack it with meat. Friends had the calamari-not bad but very basic, and the jambalaya-not bad, probably the better of the 3 items but still not as good as the other places we tried.
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Review from Matt C.
Arlington, VA
5/17/2011
While wandering around the French Quarter on Friday, the bartender at the Corner Oyster Bar told us the beers were cheap and the food was good here. We were puzzled that she'd recommend another bar over hers but I'm glad she did.
$2.50 Abitas. Had an Amber and (3) Goldens. Both ice cold and awesome.
The menu is cheap. Shockingly cheap for its location. I had a fried shrimp platter with fries and a side salad for $11.
The shrimp were great. Fried just right. I had eaten a bi po'boy at the airport earlier in the day so I only ate 12 or so shrimp. There were still at least 20 on my plate. I was all for going here everyday we were in town. Big portions friendly bartender, kinda weird manager lady who asked lots of questions.
CHEAP ABITA + GOOD FOOD CHEAP -
Review from Ray L.
4/19/2011
I'll admit, I don't really know how to rate these cajun/creole places. I had an expectation for the flavors and type of food without having had the real deal before. I kind of liked my imagined tastes better, but I'll do my best below.
The place was in a good area. Lots of shops and restaurants on Decatur street - nothing crazy like Bourbon street. The actual restaurant was a no frills setting, but it was nice and open with a bunch of open windows.
I ordered the Mufaletta. I'm not sure I'm spelling that right, but it was the first I've ever eaten. I was going between this and the jambalaya, and the waitress said the sandwich without hesitation. The combination of flavors was really good - ham, salami, pastrami and olives. The texture was a little off - everything was very soft; I would've like more crunch somewhere, some firmness elsewhere. But then again, I have nothing to compare this to. So I can't say if it was "authentic." It was an ok sandwich.
BF got jambalaya, which was also just ok. In fact, it tasted like a more bland version of the jambalaya I make - which is funny, because I had been making jambalaya without ever having tried anyone elses.
Place is cash only.
OKs across the board. -
Review from Ana L.
Renton, WA
1/20/2012
My family and I visited New Orleans mid-December of 2011. We literally walked for an hour in search of a Cajun/Creole restaurant that wasn't too pricey....and still opened for lunch at 3pm. Most of the other restaurants were either too expensive or closed. I found it odd that restaurants in the most touristy part of town, the French Quarter, were not opened all day. That was a bit frustrating when you and your family are famished, and you have senior parents who can't walk too far. We were so relieved to find Maspero just when we were about to give up on searching for a restaurant that serves local food.
There were 2 "hostesses" sitting at the entrance by the bar. They didn't try to coax us in when we were looking at the menu posted outside. We were only 3 feet away from them. My initial thought was that they were customers. They did finally approach us when we entered, and seated us.
The restroom was okay. I wasn't happy that there weren't any paper towels to dry your hands. It's so gross to shut off the faucet and open the door with your clean hands. Made me wonder if the cooks wear latex gloves prepping food. Ick.
We ordered a seafood platter, calamari, and jambalaya for 4 adults and 2 young kids. My gosh, I was so surprised on the generous portion! Thank goodness we didn't order more dishes! All the dishes came with a small plate of salad too! The deep-fried seafood platter came with calamari, catfish, oysters, and shrimps. My favorite was the oysters, but family members think otherwise. It all depends on which type of seafood is your favorite. :) The jambalaya had a lot of spice flavor, but too mushy for me. It was good, but I'm not a fan of Cajun/Creole food.
The best deal is the $3 strawberry daiquiri with liquor. The drink comes in a huge, tall glass. My husband and father loved it!
We returned to Maspero again on our final night in New Orleans. Like the first time, we went around looking for a good restaurant that was reasonably priced. Don't consider driving through the French Quarter on a Friday evening! Traffic was crazy and parking was impossible! Other weeknights were slow, so we were unprepared. We finally parked at a big parking lot across the street from Maspero, and what a huge mistake. It cost us $12 for 1.5 hours! We thought it was public parking. Boy, were we wrong! I recommend you take the street car/trolley. It's a lot more convenient and cheaper! Only $3 all-day pass, which we already paid for.
At any rate, Maspero has a nicer ambiance at night. They opened the windows wide open, so you feel that you're dining outside. I didn't like the toxic odor of smoking from the street though. I do notice that there are smokers everywhere in the South. You can't get clean air anywhere in Louisiana. Ick.
We ordered a bowl of chili, Ceasar salad, strip steak, and of course, the $3 strawberry daiquiri (for my hubby and dad). Chili wasn't good, but the steak made up for it. Generous portion for only $12! My order was cooked to perfection..medium rare. What a way to end our New Orleans trip!
If you want cheap souvenirs, there is a small children's toy shop north of Cafe du Monde on the same strip. Their mardi gras ornaments were only $1.99! I bought them for $3.99 at a gift shop north of Maspero. I bought 4, which I overpaid $8 total! What a rip-off. -
Review from Che P.
Ridgewood, Queens, NY
3/24/2011
Came here with the girls for dinner after a day of walking around and shopping for souvenirs. The service here that night wasn't that great and was kind of slow, even for a restaurant that didn't seem packed at all.. (It was St. Patrick's Day and everyone was basically outside watching the parade pass by on Decatur Street).
Our server wasn't very attentive since we found ourselves waiting around after our meal was over. She seemed to have forgotten about us because she was sitting in the corner counting her tips.. and at arrival of the bill, we were still charged extra for something we didn't order. Ugh.
Overall, decent food at cheap prices. A seafood platter with french fries and a salad for under $12? With leftovers? Not too bad. For some reason, there was just too much cheese on my salad. I love cheese, but this was overdoing it! Salad with cheese? More like an order of cheese with salad! =P
I also liked the feel of the open space in the restaurant- it was as if you were eating outdoors. We were able to see/hear the parade from our table which was pretty cool. Maybe I'd come back here again when I visit New Orleans. Probably wouldn't be the first place I head to, though. -
Review from Trevor L.
Cocoa Beach, FL
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome club sandwich. Decent beans and rice. Yummy jumbalaya. Hot Aussie waitress for the bonus.
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Review from Jay J.
Destin, FL
9/13/2011
Being a big fan of the muffaletta sandwich, we asked some locals where to go in the Quarter and were told, "Napoleon House" and "Cafe Maspero". Cafe Maspero definitely won the battle. We had the french onion soup (very good), and the muffaletta. This sandwich is very big. I cut it into quarters and shared with my wife, as she was not enjoying her chicken breast sandwich. One lesson I've learned travelling and sampling different restaurants is to go in with a plan. This place is known for their muffaletta, oyster, shrimp, etc sandwiches. Don't stumble up in here and order a steak (or chicken breast sandwich). Best muffaletta I've ever had. TONS of meat. Great homemade olive spread. Fresh baked bread as well. My wife wouldn't let me give it 5 stars. : (
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Review from Jennifer B.
North Little Rock, AR
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service was very good. If there are 2 of you and you both want sandwiches I suggest sharing. The portions are enormous and most likely can't be finished by one person. Drinks are super cheap! Only downfall is it's cash only.
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Review from Blair B.
10/25/2010
My family is from New Orleans so we know good cajun food! In the quarter you have to expect bad service and gritty suroundings. Cafe Maspero is a historic landmark - the building was where slaves were bid on back in the day. It also housed the New Orleans chamber of commerce and the Lafitte pirate brothers used it to house and sell stolen pirate goods. The location can't be beat.
If you come here for anything other than the Muffaletta, by all means go somewhere else! The red beans and rice are decent, but no idea why someone would order seafood here - that's not what they are known for.
Cafe Maspero is always our lunch stop in the quarter. History and tasty Muffalettas! If you're looking for a pristine environment or good service why are you in the French Quarter anyways? -
Review from Valerie N.
Atlanta, GA
2/17/2011
Let's start here: cash only (but there is an ATM inside).
This is the place to go for cheap cajun food in the FQ. Please note: It is not fancy. The waittresses look like they just rolled out of bed (in fact, think greasy tshirts). The tables and chairs have been knocked around a fair bit. The bathroom is scary.
HOWEVER.
The food is great! And isn't NOLA about the food anyway? I lthought my jambalaya was perfection and wished I had more of a stomach that day to try their muffaletta. Their french fries, calamari, and pickles were also good. The $1 daiquris are quite tasty and can be taken to go.
All in all, I loved this place! The only thing missing in my book? Hushpuppies. :) -
Review from rebecca t.
Durham, NC
3/12/2011
+ good prices for food and drink! $1 daiquiris! $2 abitas!
+/- service was slow but it was a busy night.
+/- atmosphere feels like a ship's galley. Lots of bustle and commotion and weird smells. It has the feel that we came out of a Pirates movie.
- food was meh but all the staples were there in large portions! It's a go to place if you have a large hard to please group, on a budget, wanting a taste of NOLA.
- cash only. but there's a walgreen's a few doors down so you can buy yourself a pack of gummy bears and get some cash back. -
Review from MD C.
Baton Rouge, LA
12/14/2011
It gets an extra star for being reasonably priced and for large portions. However, there are far superior restaurants in the French Quarter. The biggest issue with the food is the lack of seasoning--it might satiate the appetites of Yankees and those who need a "primer" on Louisiana cuisine but it is disappointing in flavor for the Louisiana native.
It also doesn't take credit cards, but they have an ATM, so bring cash or be prepared to pay some extra ATM fees with your meal. -
Review from Laura C.
9/21/2010
Booooooooooooooo.
Full of tourists. Crappy food. Expensive for what you get.
Just not even worth the attempt to find parking. -
Review from Patti D.
Fort Mitchell, KY
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my first visit to this restaurant and I don't know how quickly I will return. My husband and I stopped in for lunch and I ordered the chicken and sausage jumbalaya and it was HORRIBLE. In fact, it was pure mush, the rice having been cooked so long that it was practically paste. I am so sorry that I did not send it back and order something different, On the other hand, my husband ordered the muffaletta. It was large and delicious -- but not the best he had ever had., He could only eat half of the sandwich (thank goodness) so I finished it off. The iced tea was fabulous -- nice and strong like I prefer it. If I go back I will steer clear of the jumbalaya.
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Review from Amal A.
Livonia, MI
9/16/2010
Want a taste of that real southern, Cajun cooking? Not willing or able to spend a lot of money to do it, either? Then you might want to walk over to Cafe Maspero in the French Quarter to get your share. If you want a quick meal, and a lot of food--this is your place. If you are looking for atmosphere, or top-notch service, consider going elsewhere. You know that saying, 'you get what you pay for?'--that definitely applies here.
Walking in, you might think the place is a little on the gritty, not so clean side; lots of old wooden tables and chairs, with that old bathroom looking tile, but do not be deceived, my friends. Once you are greeted with a smile at the door, you will then be escorted to your table (if you aren't faced with a full house) and your server, who will most probably be wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts with a pair of Converse tennis shoes, will then proceed to ask you for your drink order. (Beware, they don't offer refills on drinks other than water for some strange reason--but if you're really nice to your server, they might 'do it for you'). However, there are all kinds of (cheap) drinks for everyone, big or small.
You may ask, "why would I want to go to a place that's gritty, or unclean to EAT?" Well, I'll tell you, I wasn't impressed my first time, but after trying their signature French Onion soup, (LOADED with melted gooey Swiss cheese) I was sold. If you order the fried seafood platter, you'll get enough food for two days (or two people.) Like I said, this place is low on price, and high on quantity. That can be good, considering sometimes we're paying $20 for a small piece of nothing, and we end up complaining. At Maspero, four bucks gets you the best French Onion soup in the Quarter and 11 bucks gets you more shrimp, oysters, and catfish than you could ever want. Nothing is over twenty dollars, and you will frequently see large parties dining together. (Whoever picks up that tab will be smiling).
That said, if you lower your expectations for four-star service, the most immaculate decor, or spotless floors, then you will definitely enjoy all that this place has to offer. The service may be slow at times, but the food speaks for itself. If you're really hungry and in a hurry, it's the place you should try. If you really don't like it; well, put it this way, you didn't really lose much money, did you? That's a good feeling to have these days.
