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Harry Bissett's New Orleans Cafe & Oyster Bar - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants Cajun/Creole Restaurants Seafood Southern, Cajun/Creole, Seafood [Edit]
279 E Broad StAthens, GA 30601
(706) 353-7065
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
10 reviews for Harry Bissett's New Orleans Cafe & Oyster Bar
10 reviews in English
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Review from Marilyn C.
Athens, GA
1/5/2010
I love the brunch here so much. The menu is one of the best brunch menus in Athens, in my opinion. How can you beat amazing New Orleans style Eggs Benedict and a ridiculous Bloody Mary with pickled okra and blue cheese stuffed olives? Awesome soups, sweet-ass French Toast, amazing raw oysters? Milk punch with fresh grated cinnamon and nutmeg?
The dinner menu is similar, but more expensive, and brings the rating down just a touch for me. No amazing egg dishes, and $20+? Just not as fun, to me. And I have had somewhat inconsistent service, though it's usually been quite good. -
Review from Greg W.
Athens, GA
1/18/2010
CLOSED
Both locations are currently closed and the owner is talking about selling them to back back taxes. See http://www.onlineathen...
Harry Bissett's was one of my favorite Athens restaurants. People either loved it or hated it, but I was one of those who loved it. I loved the food, the service and the location. It was expensive, but I was never dissapointed with my meal. -
Review from Christopher H.
San Diego, CA
8/29/2009 1 photo
I can't quite decide where I want to rate them. They're more a 3.5 than anything, and I'm not sure what side of that I want to rate them on. I think at the end of the day a 3 is about right.
I swung over here on a Tuesday night for dinner hoping for some good down home creole/cajun food. After starting off with my usual Manhattan, which was probably the highlight of the meal, I decided to try their three soup sampler. It came with a bisque (spicy and flavorful), a gumbo (nothing outstanding) and their soup of the day (which I honestly couldn't identify). I then moved on to the jambalaya. Their version frankly was just OK.
I dug the building and the atmosphere, and the service was friendly and very good. But the food really left me wanting more. -
Review from Javier O.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2008
During lunch time, I was walking around down town Athens, GA and I happened into this place. I had not had authentic New Orleans food in quite sometime and I thought, why not?
My day started out thinking I was going to have meetings from 6 am to 8 am then from 2 pm to 5 pm. When I got to the client's place, unbeknown to me, the schedule had now change to meetings from 6 am to 11 am then from 4 pm to 6pm. I was highly upset with the person who coordinated my day and swore that I would make up for it with a good dinner and a glass or two of wine.
Harry Bissetts delivered. The wine list was extensive. It included many of the wines, I recognized from previous tastings. The main attraction that drew me to this place, other than it being authentic New Orleans cuisine, was the fact that they are know for their oysters.
I started with Oysters Bienville (baked oysters topped with a rich cream sauce featuring mushrooms and shrimp). They were great! I really wanted the Oysters Rockefeller, but apparently they ran out. Later I discovered that the oysters are pre made during the day and they were not expecting to make any more. Thoroughly disappointing in two respects. One they are not freshly made and two miscellaneous pieces of shell were left within and I had to constantly picked them out. Although tasty, I was not impressed by the lack of freshness and the shell bits.
For my entre, I selected the Chicken fettuccine Maque Choux Fettuccine with sauteed chicken in a corn and andouille cream sauce. This dish was phenomenal. I almost wanted to lick the plate. Ample pieces of Chicken and andouille sausage with the right amount of heat.
The decor had split personality. When you walk in, it looks like a typical pub with highchairs and stools and it is dimly lit. As you walk towards the back, the lighting is brighter, the walls are exposed bricks and a winding staircase lit with Christmas lights.
So, my meal could have been better had I not had the oyster experience, otherwise this place could have received a five. -
Review from james e.
Roswell, GA
2/8/2009
Love this place. Great brunch, Great Bloody Mary's, Great everything.
One dish sums it all up for me, The Bluecheese Filled Steak. Holy crap. A little on the pricey side but worth every penny.
I would come here everyday if i could. -
Review from Kristin B.
Atlanta, GA
10/17/2008
Gosh, I really hope I experienced Harry Bissett's on an off night.
Some friends and I had a 5:30 reservation for a party of 6. Two of us got there a few minutes before 5:30, told the hostess that our group had a reservation, but we would just like to wait in the bar area. Two more of our group arrived right at 5:30, and we were immediately told that they would have to seat us because they had another group coming right after us. They whisked us through the main dining room on the lower level (completely empty) the dining area on the alcove (completely empty) down a hallway stacked with extra chairs and supplies, and to a table right next to the kitchen door in a dingy looking dining room that was (you guessed it) completely empty.
The last two members of our party arrived right after we were seated, and the waitress helped 5 rather clueless college kids and our guest select a good bottle of wine. Our service once we were seated was great, but unfortunately the rest of the experience was so bad I can't give any extra stars simply for good service.
Since Harry Bissett's is a "New Orleans Cafe," I figured I should go with a New Orleans dish: Seafood Jumbalaya. I am not a picky eater, but this dish was disgusting. The only redeeming quality was the brown rice in the middle of the plate. The two oysters tasted sour and spoiled, and the two shrimp were overcooked and flavorless. However, it's the two lumps of what I think was supposed to be fish that really made me unable to eat anymore of my meal. These two white logs in the jumbalaya had the texture of jello or pudding. The only way I can determine that I was probably eating fish was that the dish was called "Seafood Jumbalaya." Otherwise, I would have guessed it was spoiled tofu. The sauce had absolutely no flavor or heat and tasted just like canned tomatoes. Unfortunately, because we were on a time crunch and entertaining a distinguished guest, I didn't feel comfortable sending my meal back, but it still doesn't stop me from questioning how they could serve a dish like this.
I was a little shocked at the meals I saw around my table as well. Though no one complained, a friend's pasta dish was literally served in a soup bowl. It looked like it had enough food in it for four or five bites. Not what I expect for a $18 bowl of pasta.
But like I said, I didn't have time to complain, so I can't fault them too much because I didn't give them a chance to fix the problem. So, I will consider this one star review a place marker for now, and I will return to Harry Bissett's soon and update after that experience. Many people I know refer to this place as their favorite in Athens, so I will just hope it was indeed an off night. -
Review from Clay C.
Lawrenceville, GA
1/13/2009
A previous reviewer gave this restaurant one star just because everything didn't do her way. That's ridiculous. I have been coming here for over ten years and its the best Athens has to offer! Enough of that.
My favorites include the Fresh Catch Thibadeaux. Usually it is Mahi topped with crawfish etouffee. I wish they would bring back the Amberjack. It was even better with the Amberjack. Get it blackened!
Another favorite is the Soups 1-1-1. Three soups served in demitasse cups: Soup of the day, Sherry Crab Bisque, and Gumbo.
This is the first restaurant that served me bread pudding. I judge all bread pudding by this one! Awesome sauce and the best I ever had!
Every time I move away I keep thinking of how good Harry Bisset's is and how soon I will be returning to Athens. -
Review from Timber W.
Augusta, GA
8/8/2009
I went to Harry Bissett's with my mother, and we sat upstairs overlooking Broad Street. I loved the antique ceiling tiles and overall old-fashioned flair. I ordered the shrimp bisque, which was a little salty for my tastes, and I had a shrimp po' boy for my entree. The sandwich was overall too dry, so I was disappointed with the food. The service was impeccable, though, so I may return one day and try something else.
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Review from Nancy L.
Beaverton, OR
4/21/2007
The fanciest restaurant in Athens. Good food and excellent service!
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Review from Mike W.
Gainesville, FL
6/11/2007
My now-ex boyfriend and I went there for brunch while visiting Athens in July of 2006 and I was very very impressed with this place. For one thing, I ordered a mixed drink which was awesome (an eye-opener type milk punch common to New Orleans and Mobile yet hard to find elsewhere) and it was superb. The waitress was very sweet, and we had amazing food and all at a very fair price. It wasn't dressy but we felt that we were in one of the more lux places in the area nonetheless. We also returned for dinner the next day and totally loved it. The atmosphere there was also amazing and very appropriate for the scene . . . I would love to see more of these throughout college towns in the south like my own (and Athens' rival) of Gainesville.
