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Categories: American (Traditional), Bars, Party & Event Planning [Edit]
500 Chartres St
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Napoleon House is our mandated first stop for on every trip to NOLA. It's become a tradition to start each trip with a relaxing Pimms Cup. We have spent many an hour relaxing with friends, enjoying Pimm's and beers and people watching. My favorite place to sit is a table near the windows in the bar area, especially on mild days when the doors/windows are open. We have also whiled away a few afternoons back in the courtyard as well. I love that they play classical music and you can actually sit and have a conversation and aren't shouting over loud music. It;s my favorite bar in the Quarter.
While I prefer a cold muffaletta, the warm one served here is delicious as well if you are looking for something different.
Its one of those "not be to missed places"
People thought this was:
Napoleon House definitely teeters between three and three and a half stars. The atmosphere in the courtyard felt warm and comfy on a cooler than expected night, and most importantly, we were very hungry and sat down without a wait.
Pimm's Cups and Sazeracs were tasty, though not the best I've ever had. I inhaled half of a giant muffaletta filled with toasty ham, gooey cheese and olives galore. The major downside was a very dry and unappealing jambalaya.
Service was fast and friendly, if somewhat awkward towards the end of the evening. Our waiter regaled us with a story about how a group of doctors did not leave him a tip as he brought our check - was this a hint? Was he just chatty? We were never clear on that.
Overall, satisfying though not without its flaws.
People thought this was:
The menu is pretty...basic. Po' boys and other sandwiches, salads, cold pastas, and red beans and rice are some of the items on the menu.
But the stand-out item on the menu is definitely the bruschetta, in my opinion. It's realllly delicious and I could've been satisfied with two orders of that dish and nothing else. But no, I just had to order the red beans and rice...no flavor but it's a pretty big portion. I had one bite of the caesar salad and that was plenty for me...the dressing was just plain weird and not something I was used to.
My sister ordered some sort of pasta dish and a Pimm's Cup...she said her food was decent but let's just say she reallly enjoyed the Pimm's Cup!
Okay so in conclusion, the food is nothing special. The main reason this place gets 4 stars is because of the decor and the service. The interior of the restaurant is just beautiful and takes me back a few centuries...i love it. Also the workers are sooo nice. They were funny and friendly...they were one of the highlights of my New Orleans trip!
The food is fine, but Napoleon House gets five stars for their lovely courtyard, their inexpensive dishes (Jambalaya for $6.95), and their great staff. You can't go wrong.
I can't remember our meal here too well. We split a muffaletta or however the hell you spell it, and it was huge, delicious, and well worth the price. The drinks were generously poured, and the service quaint. But the patio at dusk is well worth the visit: after shopping and walking and doing all that you do in New Orleans, it's pleasant to sit under the elephant ears and the bouganvilleas and rest, staring up at historical wrought iron, sipping at something, and listening to the cacophony of Bourbon start up ... again.
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Mercy! 85 reviews and counting! I'll try to keep this short.
I've dined at Napoleon House twice. On visit #1 the food was good, and our spot in the courtyard was precious, but service was just ok. Visit #2 was even better! I dined in the courtyard with two other lovely ladies and service was fantastic. Honestly, we're not even THAT good looking, but we had three waiters smiling at us and checking on us throughout the meal. Maybe one of us had a nip slip or something...
Anywho - There are three reasons I love this place:
#1 The decor is awesome. This place looks at least 1000 years old. The paint is cracked, antiques cover the walls, and the old fashioned bar is awesome. The courtyard has a nice fountain and is covered with plants - adorable.
#2 Napoleon House introduced me to the Pimm's Cup. For this, I will be forever grateful.
#3 The food is cheap, and very tasty. Sooooo many places are overpriced in the FQ. I love coming here for a bargain meal. *Try the muffuletta - it has celery in the tapenade which is odd for me, but it is one fantastic sammy.
So sometimes, your bargain meal comes at a cost, i.e. not so great service. Sometimes, you get lucky and you have a cheap, tasty meal with fantastic service. Either way, I'll keep coming back to Napoleon House. The place is just too cute to pass up and the prices can't be beat.
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Even with all the press, movie scenes, and tour guide bylines, this place has managed to avoid pandering to the masses and retains its old-timey feel. Maybe its the old, faded pictures of nobility adorning the rooms, or the peeling walls reflecting the dim flickering of sparse lamp lighting, but this place breathes authenticity.
And its cocktail list and bartenders might as well be taken right out of the prohibition era. Gin Fizz, Sazerac, old-fashioned are the front runners, but they can make pretty much anything you could think of (except a sugar coded headache in a yard glass).
If you are in the New Orleans are it is a must to visit the Napoleon House. Get off of Bourbon St. and make your way to this little gem in the French Quarter. Its a tad bit off the beaten path but well worth to give it a try. The bartenders all are funny and have a good sense of humor and if you are a history buff this is the place to go.
Originally built to house Napoleon Bonaparte, this is now a converted bar and cafe. The inside is a blast from the past with its decor and all original interior.
Definitely worth a visit if you make it to the New Orleans area. When I was there I didn't get a chance to try the food (only spirits) but will definitely the next time I am down there.
I love this place! The place was so interesting, the staff were great, and the food delicious (and for once, not terribly expensive!).
I had shrimp remoulade stuffed avocado and a quarter muffaletta. They both were excellent, but between the two I prefered the avocado. The muffelletta was served hot, which I liked better than the usual cold one. It came with a pickle, a sweet pickled pepper, and an olive.
The remoulade had plenty of sweet shrimp and the sauce had a nice flavor; the avocado was the perfect degree of ripeness for this dish (not too soft) and had a really good fresh flavor.
I had a poor boy here. On the table. Dripping with juices.
*ahem*
No, we are not in the San Fernando Valley, and this is not "Hot Babes & Farm Boys XII."
My poor boy was a decent poor boy. A pastrami poor boy, at that. And, yes, the menu listed it as a "poor boy" (i.e., it could, indeed, afford the "or" of the "poor").
Decent. But nothing special as far as I'm concerned, especially when combined with semi-surly, forgetful service.
That said, the ambiance is pretty nifty. Dark wood, Napoleon-related memorabilia and nick nacks lining the shelves and walls, and an honest-to-god historical plaque hung right outside the door.
I'd say there's no need to eat here, but coming in for a drink and to soak in the environment and history would be worth it.
People thought this was:
Ordered
Muffuletta-yummy where have you been all my life
pimm's cup-its different than a british pimms cup in that it doesn't use pimm's but its very refreshing i think it too weak though
sazerack-never had this but probably won't get it again
mint julep-they made it crap braught in the wrong type of glass crap burbon ice was done wrong
kitchy atmosphere must sit in the courtyard!
Service was A+
Once upon a time, there was an adventure game This adventure game was called "Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers," and Young Maura B. played this adventure game through something like six times. She was enthralled by the atmosphere, the characters, the complex storyline, and above all, the sense of place. This magical adventure game was set in pre-K New Orleans. So when Maura B. started taking trips there, she decided to visit as many of the game locations as she could. Gabriel Knight Bingo, she called it.
Napoleon House is the site of a puzzle in the first half of the game. Maura B. happened upon it in the middle of some of the hottest weather ever recorded in New Orleans, and though she'd planned ahead and worn a nice sundress, she was still more than ready for a Pimm's Cup. She entered Napoleon House in the early afternoon and was greeted kindly by a busman and shown to a little table in the corner, where she discovered just how refreshing those Pimm's Cups are. Since it was still sort of lunchtime, she ordered a quarter muffuletta and a green salad.
Maura B. had forgotten what she'd read, which was that Napoleon House is about the only place in town that serves muffulettas HOT. And darned if she didn't really like it that way, with the melty cheese intensifying that briny oily olive relish. Her salad was fresh and crisp too. When it was time to leave, the nice man who'd seated her sent her on her way with a smile and a handshake, and she promised to return for another Pimm's Cup.
Well, she didn't make it back before she had to go back to wherever she came from. Which means she'll just have to make another trip.
People thought this was:
This place is so wrong.
It's a bad influence on my body, as the Muffuletta sandwich is so good here. The amount of meat on the sandwich is just above enough, the bread is soft and the olive stuffing is just tangy and wonderful.
Eating the entire sandwich shouldn't be done, but bite after bite... one shouldn't stop until they can't eat anymore, why waste it.
If there's a line, deal with it and wait, your time will come to enjoy the southern service and good food.
People thought this was:
We met a couple and has some drinks with them one afternoon and they absolutely raved about the Pimm's Cup at Napoleon House and told us if we didnt get one before we left new orleans than we hadnt seen the true essence of the city.
Im so glad we obliged and followed their advice. We went and had a Pimm's Cup and stayed for a couple more. The blend of gin, lemonade, and 7up was refreshingly simple and flavorful. The cucumber slice in the drink was a nice touch as well.
I cant speak to the food but if you're ever in New Orleans and want a refreshing drink go ahead and stop by, you wont be disappointed.
We came here to quench our thirst for their famous Pimm's Cup and to soak up the ambience. We were lead to the room in the back where it was dimly lit and oozing history. Since we had just gotten our fix for a po-boy right before we came here, we were just interested in cooling off with a nice drink.
I think the waiter knew we weren't ordering food so he didn't take that much time to talk to us. Looking around at the other tables made me curious to try their muffuletta, but alas, the tummy was too stuffed.
Their Pimm's Drink was refreshing and cool, everything I hoped it would be. I was definitely glad I came.
I've never been a fan of their food or their surly service, but the experience of sipping a Pimm's Cup in Napoleon House on a hot, humid day is unmatched by anything anywhere else. I mean, check out the little Google Map next to this review -- Napoleon House has its own landmark icon in a neighborhood that's dripping with history. Whether out in the intimate courtyard or at one of the tables in the dimly lit interior, it's easy to pass a little time here in true New Orleans fashion.
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Prepare to wait around a lot, be ignored, feel hurried, and have your money snatched up as quickly as you place it on the table to pay the bill.
We walked into Napoleon House on a mild friday afternoon ready to have a few Pimm's Cups however we where ready to walk back out again after waiting at the host table for 15 minutes without so much as a glance from a single server!! Eventually however someone took pity on us, finally made eye contact and decided to seat us... in the courtyard... at a dirty table... in the corner right in front of the service door and underneath a loud air conditioning unit... grr!! About 10 minutes later our waiter finally made his presence known, took our order (a Pimm's Cup and a beer) and delivered our drinks back to us after another 10 minutes or so...
In fact come to think of it, the only thing the staff managed to do quickly was snatch up our credit card at the end... oh and a note to the servers.. its really not polite to open up the bill to check the tip while your customers are still seated at their table.
If you desperately want a Pimm's Cup and don't mind leaving infuriated by all means visit Napoleon House.
People thought this was:
Worst. Service. EVER.
We wanted to stop by Napoleon's for a few drinks to cool off and got just that. 2 rounds of refreshing Pimm's Cups and a kick back atmosphere in their courtyard. The glaring downside was the crappy service. Our server was a total brat, making snobby comments and was as neglecting as ever. When we paid at the end (of course w/ us having to ask a different server for our tab since he never came back again), our original server was overly persistent on taking the signed credit card receipt; wanting to see what we tipped him. Yeah right buddy. You get 1 penny. That's it.
Come here for a New Orleans signature Pimm's Cup, but don't expect to have Grade A service.
People thought this was:
We stumbled on to this place as we walked the French Quarter looking for a lunch spot. It was worth the stumble.
I had the Madrid sandwich and it was delicious. I loved the touch of black beans in the sandwich which gave it a spicy little kick. My friends ordered the Jambalaya, a generous portion too, and everyone was satisfied with it. The place itself is gothically gorgeous. We sat in the patio outside and enjoyed the afternoon with our delicious food.
People thought this was:
This is an interesting place. It's got an old, 'beat-down' vibe, in a solid old city type of way. The exposed brick walls and sagging wooden plank ceiling add to the feel. Service-wise, it suffered though. The staff was less than friendly, especially compared with everywhere else I went in New Orleans, and didn't seem very knowledgeable about their food or drinks. I ended up only having drinks here -- which seemed to be the case for most customers when I was there -- so I can't speak to the food at all, but the drinks were okay. People rave almost as much about the Napoleon House's Pimms Cup as they do it's history, but I didn't think there was anything special about theirs vs. anyone else's in the Quarter.
To me, I'd suggest dropping by for a quick drink for the history of the place and then moving on to the next joint.
People thought this was:
no complaints - well maybe the single draft choice of Micheleobs-something-dark. I tried it, i drank it.
Hubby and dad had a dixie. We didn't eat, just had a refreshment. The menu looked pretty good, good price good selection. Just needed more time in NO to get back over there.
The place has the best atmosphere of any old French Quarter spot pluss good food and service. Not a "NOLA" which is near but good local food.
The food here was great! It was in such a historical building, the decor was super authentic, the lights were dim, the weather was super humid... it smelled like ghosts...
but the service was shitty as fuc*! I'm talkin, the people who came into the restaurant after us got served first. That's just messed up on its own.
To make matters worse, we saw a scrumptious Louisiana cockroach roll right by my foot. The sight of that was so appetizing I almost yacked all the food I just ate back onto my plate.
I must admit though, the food was really good here and reasonably priced. I guess it's a "give and take" situation, huh?
Bring RAID the next time you come here.
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Pim's Cup was DELICIOUS. Atmosphere was very New Orleans - old, dark, moody, gothic.
Unfortunately the service, as noted in many reviews, was TERRIBLE. I was ready to walk out after not even been greeted by anyone for over 15 minutes (yes, I timed it) aside from a busser who gave us water. We stood at the host table for a few minutes with no acknowledgement by staff that did not seem terribly busy. It was a Friday night but nobody else was waiting and a couple of tables were empty. Staff would just stroll by and say nothing. Finally the older gentleman host seated us. We tried to get his attention after 15 minutes of sitting because we didn't know who our waiter was. He looked at us and looked away. The waiter working the room, who refused to look at our table or make any eye contact with us strolled up at his leisure and asked what we wanted to order. Service after that was slow. Nobody asked how our food was. Nobody brought drink refills.
The best part - at the end of the night as I was standing up and putting my coat on, the server came up to us, said "I need this", took my signed receipt out of the receipt book, looked at it. put it back down on the table and snatched the book away.
I don't need to be fawned over by any means. And maybe they hate women.. I noticed the single man sitting next to us had two people tripping over themselves to serve him. But this is literally the WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER RECEIVED. Yes, we should have left. My friend wouldn't let me as she wanted Pimm's Cup from here.
Of course I'll never go back and not recommend it. All they need are a few new servers who care about being in the service industry and it'll be a great dining destination.
People thought this was:
Great location, great decor, great name, one hell of a courtyard and a fantastic pimms cup! I went here twice on my recent trip to New Orleans and it's a bar that, if I lived here, I'd be a regular of.
Service the first time was a bit slow, but on our second trip was great--so sounds like service can be hit or miss.
Couldn't give it full 5 stars without having a proper meal here as well, but I did have a piece of a shared app of cheesy/tomato bread and a spoonful of a friend's red beans and rice--as Rachael Ray would say: YUM-O!
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Do you really want to know Nawlins?? Napoleon House is Nawlins, this 200 year old landmark captures the essence of the French Quarter. It's where the mayor at the time offered Napoleon himself refuge during his exile. He never made it but they renamed the building. One of the things that I found very cool was that they play Beethoven's Eroiqua, which he composed for Napoleon and other classical composers while you enjoy your meal and or beverage.
It is absolutely the best part courtyard in all of NOLA!!! And don't get me started on the perfect Pimm's Cup**. I can't say a lot about the food because I only had a Organic sandwich but it was dam good!! Our waiter was a bit rude and impatient but he was with everybody including the other staff so he must have been having a bad day. Regardless this is a must stop when you visit!!!!!
** http://en.wikipedia.or...
Theirs is a British Gin, lemonade, splash of lemon-lime soda & cucumber garnish mix.
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When our waiter dropped off our check he said "Meow."
We spent a majority of our meal talking about people who talk about cats. I mean, we don't talk about cats. But some people do. It's whatever.
We drank Pimm's Cups. We ate a cheese plate and sat in a dark corner. Nobody knew we were there except for our waiter whom we granted special access to in order to be waited on. This was the same for everybody around us. The food isn't special, but everything else is pretty much the most special thing in the world.
I'll never forget the way the waiter said "Meow" when he dropped our check. We don't talk about cats, but can you imagine how magical this would be if we did?
One of these days we're going to be at Napoleon House every day.
People thought this was:
Muffalettas are delicious. They don't have as much olive flavor as most and the bread is awesome. The Pimm's cup is a great summer drink. It's got Pimm's No. 1 (a gin-based drink), lemonade, lemon-lime soda, and cucumbers in it. It tastes like an awesome lemonade.
The seating area surprised me. they have a charming courtyard area to sit in. I'll definitely be coming back here.
This little gem was recommended to us, and we could not have been more delighted. If you get lucky, you can snag a spot on their back patio, lots of green plants, colorful flowers, cool breeze. If not, try next for one of the tables on the sidewalk. Next, take a peak at those menu prices! So inexpensive! Their Po'boys were huge and delicious. However, we did have room for some adult-beverages to go, thank you very much.
The building has a lot of character, the architecture along with all of the Napolean portraits on the walls.
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Po' Boys are the draw at this dark, romantic, and moody French Quarter bar and cafe. Portraits of Bonaparte line the walls in this old house that was supposedly made for the deposed French emperor to live in (he chose to go elsewhere for his exile). In addition to the wonderful po' boy sandwhiches, the bar makes excellent Pimm's Cup and Sazerac, two NOLA classics.
Time is a bit more vague in New Orleans and that is definitely reflected in the service. Still, there's nothing wrong with kicking back on the back patio and relaxing with a sandwich and a drink on a lazy afternoon.
Pimm's Cup: This is the place to get this and by far I think it's a good drink and I am certain I would get use to it if I lived closer to Napoleon House and could have it more often
Po Boy's: They didn't have the one I wanted (Roast Beef) so got the Italian one instead. Didn't like it. I need to stick to ones that are a little more traditional.
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Outstanding atmosphere, yummy cocktails and great snacks. But then again, I have a special affinity for Napoleon House.
In the 1930s there were apartments on the upper floors (the 1st floor was a grocery not a bar). My grandparents lived on the 3rd floor when they were 1st married. And if you give my mother a few sips of an adult beverage, she will giggle that she was conceived there. It's her only dirty joke.
People thought this was:
Sazerac was mediocre. Pimm's cup only slightly better. Muffaletta was made with dried out toasted bread and just did not taste that good, despite my being pretty darn hungry.
Come for the ambiance and shitty service, but whatever you do, don't expect to get good food and drink.
Another New Orleans must-do for me every time I go to the city. I love drinking a Pimm's Cup and eating a heated Muffuletta, seated at one of their rickety old chairs. Oh how I love the cool atmosphere here! Very dimly lit, very cool, daddy'o.
In LOVE with Napoleon House.
Excellent Sazeracs.
Try the Corsican salad to start. Or, do as G and friend did and get the Jambalaya plate. They were practically fighting to lick the plate. Muffalettas are fab. G and Friend split a whole one and I had a quarter which they prepared meat free. Mmmmm. Wish we had this place in San Diego.
Sat out in the courtyard and it was the most romantic, beautifully lit space. Realized we were slightly under cover when it started to drizzle and we didn't get wet.
Really, I can't get over how delicious and beautiful this place is yet so CHEAP!
Prices are extremely reasonable for the food you get and tastes very good. Value for the food you get and the balmy atmosphere is what gets the five stars.
You'll find better food in the French Quarter and you will pay for it elsewhere. The atmosphere makes it a Must visit. I always feel like I'm walking into another world that I don't want to leave.
If you want a taste of old New Orleans AT LEAST eat lunch here on a lazy afternoon! Dinner is nice also.
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Walking into Napoleon House on Halloween, with classical music filling the atmosphere and a table of pirates front and center - like, people in real costumes, not just a patch over an eye and a plastic hook arm, but with plumage and fancy flair - was remAAARRRRkable. Sitting in the courtyard sipping a Pimm's Cup, so fabulous French Quarter.
I was wearing false eyelashes with long feathers on them. I don't wear these every day, but it was Halloween.
"Are you wearing false eyelashes?" I was asked by another patron. No, my lashes are just naturally long green feathers. "There's a young woman in the restroom who desperately needs help." she said. OMG, eyelash emergency! I sprung into action.
She not only needed help with applying her lashes, but also with full makeup so she could look like a wenchy-witch to please her boss (er- pimp?) I was in the ladies' room for about 15 minutes as this little urchin had never before worn makeup and needed to be talked down from her escalating anxiety of having a stranger touch her eyelids.
I considered it my good deed for the day. The upside - the table service was so unbelievably slow and inattentive, that when I finally returned to the table, our muffelatta had arrived.
On this day we taste-tested muffelattas. Napoleon House vs. Central Grocery. Napoleon's was really quite good, but I decided I prefer the sandwich cold instead of warm as served here.
People thought this was:
Stopped in before dinner for a Pimm's Cup of course. Really cool interior and super friendly bartenders. He walked us through the different specialty drinks he was making other customers and gave us ideas on what to order next. I kinda felt like I was somewhere in old-school England or something. A must when in New Orleans!
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We stopped in for their house speciality, The Pimm's Cup & bread pudding; both did not disappoint! It's the best Pimm's Cup I've ever had and a must try when in NO. The bread pudding is just as fantastic and the history of the building itself is amazing. Definitely worth a stop in!
This is the place for a Pimm's Cup in NOLA but I can't say that I was overly impressed with the food. I actually hated their muffaleta - mostly because I hate celery and they actually use it in their olive salad. Yuck. I also had their charcuterie plate, which was decent, but they way they serve the bread kinda sucks for charcuterie - they need bigger/sturdier pieces.
I dug the character of the place and our service was fine, but I wouldn't come back to eat here - definitely more of a drinking spot in my book.
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New Orleans, LA
Category: Restaurants
New Orleans, LA
Category: Delis
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: Bars
New Orleans, LA
Category: American (New)
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