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Yes, Jesus, yes -- if I could make love to a bar, marry a bar and raise a family with a bar, it would be Parasol's. (I'm sure a bevy of neo-cons will later use this point as an argument against gay marriage, but that's a different thing altogether).
I'm a Texas girl, born and bred, but in late '05, I was living in Houston and ended up meeting a fantastic woman named Alice, who was an evacuee from Katrina. She was in a much better position than thousands of others, in that her now ex-husband and she were, shall we say, quite comfortable financially speaking. Her 'evacuation' was basically her deciding to move from their home in the Garden District of NOLA to their house in the Houston suburbs. Not to downplay the undeniable pain she felt at seeing her city ravaged, but it wasn't long after I realized that she had a perfectly positioned (and humongous) house that I suggested we needed to go to Mardi Gras.
That was three years ago now, and with each passing year, Parasol's plays a bigger role in our festivities.
Parasol's was her dive for quite a while when she lived there, and she was only too happy to introduce it to me. I will never be able to thank her enough.
Drinks: cheap, strong, quick to arrive.
Bartenders: salt of the earth, unless you leave shit for a tip or start some trouble.
Atmosphere: smoky and sketchy, which is where all the best drinking occurs
Condoms: Plentiful, in a giant bowl by the door
Bathrooms: truck stop quality, which comes with the territory.
This list is far from exhaustive, but you've already sat too long. You need to get up, get in your car and make the drive to NOLA. Immediately exit your car, hit the adjoining restaurant and get a double order of boudin balls. By the time you're done with your first vodka seven and are feeling that slow crawl of warmth work its way through your system, the boudin will be in your face, piping hot and ready to be devoured. Remember to use the cheap plastic fork they give you -- don't want to burn yourself.
After taking a walking tour of the Garden District in the middle of the afternoon in August, we were hungry and ready for a cold beverage. Remembering that Parasol's was only a few blocks away, we headed over there for some poboys and beer.
We ordered our poboys (roastbeef and shrimp) at the window and then ventured down to the bar portion to get our drinks. Ordered a few drinks (including a Barqs in the glass bottle) and started talking to the bartender. Great, friendly guy -- turns out he used to live down the street from my husband!
Around the time we finished chatting up the bartender our food was ready and was brought out to us. The poboys were GREAT and the people there so friendly that we didn't want to leave.
A hidden gem with all of the real New Orleans nostalgia. If you are looking for a place that has not lost it's charm to commercializm this is it. Have a drink and try a po-boy. delicious!
A great place to stop for great food and drinks with friends. The bar offers friendly service, and that always helps. It tends to get a little crowded though -- we had to wait 45 minutes or longer for our food to arrive.
Had the BEST half 'n half po-boy (that would be shrimp and oysters) ever, there this past weekend. I'm jonesing for another one. Other than the food (I love the buffalo wings too), I go for the insults (from the bartenders and patrons)...and I get to deejay with my iPhone!
So what happens when you take an old house in the Irish Channel section of the Garden District and… Read more »
Hole in the wall? Yes.
Dive? Yes.
A bit sketchy? Yes.
Best RB sandwich I've ever had? Yes.
So I like this place for their po-boys. I don't end up there for beers, and I haven't been for St. Pat's. The roast beef po-boy is really good though I'm not really sure why. The roast beef itself is kinda dry. But the bread and the gravy must make it because it is good really good.'
During lunch hour it isn't fast. not fast at all. Plan on having some beers or bringing a book or something because it isn't designed to be a quick lunch.
Parasol's is one of the great New Orleans places that seems like it is frozen it time. A lot of people know it for its St. Patrick's Day party where the green beer is flowing and the crowds are huge.
I like going there to grab a roast beef po-boy and some fried pickles. I hadn't been there in a while but it was still great although they were out of fried pickles so I had to settle for cheese fries. It is a little off the beaten path but worth seeking out. If you go for the fries, I suggest a side of gravy for dipping. Some people like the gravy on top but then the fries start floating.
Came for the St. Patty's Day block party! What a fun place to come and wear green and party down with everyone else who is irish (or pretending to be)
Oh yeah, and the po-boys - are really that great. The roast beef is amazing. It's like the best thing you could ever put in your mouth.
If in the NOLA area, you need, that is right need to come check this place out - you won't ever see a po-boy the same after this.
Trust me.
Also, the staff is amazing and friendly. They were closed the day before St. Patty's day to get ready for the block party, and I really really really needed to get a couple of their t-shirts as gifts. They were more than happy to stop their making of a bajillion trillion jello shots and help a girl out.
Way cool!
This is a little hole in the wall joint. I stopped by here during Mardi Gras week on the way to a party Up Town. The charm in this place is that its shitty. I usually don't go for that as that only reason to like a place. if you like a place that is a dive, fine, but just to like it for being a dive is silly.
The bartender messed up our beer choice and then gave my change to someone else. I had to alert her to this. I live in Chicago and my hometown is full of small bars like this. I guess its one redeeming quality is that its in the Irish Channel?
I wasn't impressed, but I'd give it a second chance.
Save yourself the trouble and just get that the roast beef po' boy and an Abita. Heaven!
Classy and Trashy at the same time.So drink your PBRs with you pinky up. Po-boys were quite good… Read more »
Excellent, divey, toasty bread
If I lived nearby, you'd have a hard time dragging me out of this shabby joint. Small, crowded bar on one side, step up a couple stairs and turn past the bathrooms to an eating area with video games (with separate/private side entrance). Place your order for a roast beef poboy and prepare for a huge steaming pile of tender brown goodness plopped on top of delicious bread sent from heaven. Get it dressed you fool! And reflect on the wisdom of Homer Simpson's "eight glasses of gravy a day" diet as you admire the big buckets of brown gravy back in the kitchen.
Really, whether you're after cold beer and classic rock, or hot beef and video games, this place is special, and not to be missed.
When you see this place from the outside you really start to wonder if you should bother as it is a serious hole in the wall kinda place. But going inside you automatically feel welcome and are promptly served an ice cold beer and are offered a menu. We ate at the bar and enjoyed the entire experience. Had a shrimp po boy and a roast beef to share. The shrimp po boy was buttery, crispy and wonderful. The roast beef was odd but really very tasty if not extremely messy.
I simply loved it! The super dive bar, the hosts, the people attending and the incredibly yummy Po-boys. Especially the beef ones. Let alone the Bloody Mary...OMG and how about the chhese fries with gravy? So many calories but while on vacations who cares? It was a pleasure for my senses!
We went there because a friend knew it otherwise we would have probably stayed in the touristy French Quarter area. I so glad we found it.
I'd recommend it to anyone going to NOLA to get a real taste of the city!
Ok, I went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.........you fill in the blanks here, pictures may be in appropriate at this time.
Actually I'm part of a Mardi Gras Krewe called Mondo Kayo, though I live in Mission Viejo, Ca. A friend of mine from college who have moved to the Crescent City invited me to join. Mondo Kayo's theme is that "New Orleans is the nothern most Banana Republic" The members all dress up in tropical, bright ass, trippy outfits. They jimmy some high amp music machine that belt outs thundering dance music, such as soka, calypso, world dance yummies. We march around the city and party on......fear and loathing in New Orleans aside we found time to eat.
The Krewe sets up the floats at Magazine and 3rd, After two nights of partying and no sleep, my buddiy had suggested that this place Parasols is pretty good. I said Parasols? He said yeah, why? I saw that on Food Network....Food Network he says, that little hole in the wall made it to the Food Network. I said yeah, let's go.
He had suggested we definately had to start out with a Bloody Mary and he kept on raving about the fried pickles and fried jalapenos and any of the Po-Boys is good. Being quite a local place that gets reaaly busy, he says it the often run out of stuff.
So fair enough off we go about 200 yards ftom our set up spot and we ventured in. This place from the outside looks like and old beat up building, which couldn't pass inspection in anywhere but NOLA. Bar was full at 1:00pm on Lundi Gras. We proceded up stairs where the restaurant was. Wow, this place is tiny. One pinball machine acts as a small divider when you get up. There is literally a hole in a wall where you place you order. The menu on the side is made up those old school place the letter menu that you see at the golf snack shops. The menu was very simple, consisting of mostly Po Boys...all sorts of po boys, even interesting ones like ersters, swimps, sausage, etc. My buddy keeps on raving about fried pickles and fried jalapenos, but as I eyeball the menu I don't see either item on there. I ask him are you sure? He says oh yeah, it's not on the menu and they often run out. Hell you even gotta have a password for the fried jalapenos. Huh are you kidding me, I've got to see this. So we proceed with our orders, I get the catfish, one buddy gets a roast beef, and the other gets and erster. Kitchen dude says would that be all for you and my buddy says can you give us an order of fried pickles. Kitchen dude says we're all out. Buddy says how about some fried jalapenos, kitchen dude starts laughing...Until my buddy leans over reminiscing of some kind of old Southern secret hand shake, almost KKKish in nature and he whispers some kind of password and kitchen dude says one or two orders? Wow this shit is for real...Kitchen dude says what's the name on that order? My buddy says "Grant", kitchen dude says damn, wouldn't you know you in the South at a tiny local joint and there are two freaking Grants here, what has this world come to he says. How about another name, so we gave them my name. Kitchen dude says that will be about 45 minutes, I suggest you guys get some drinks.
So we headed down at the bar and fout three stools and we ordered the famous Bloody Marys. They were pretty good, so after three rounds of bloody marys it really did not matter if the food ever came down, but as you would know in 45 minutes of anticipation they call out.."AAAlvin..your food is ready" Kitchen dude brings down the food to us at the bar and there it is the legendary Fried Jalapenos. Of course we all dig in the jalapenos first and take a bite....Oh my they are to die for. Crunch, salty, but not spicy goodness and with some kind of ranch dipping sauce...heaven. I finally made it to my po boy, and as I took the first bite I already knew this was the best one I've ever had. The bread was nice and crunchy on the outside and the inside had a fluffy, not a dough center and the catfish was crunch and perfectly fried. This was the shit.
Parasols is a must destination when head down to Nawlins, run down hole in the wall but great bloody marys and fantastic Po Boys. As to the secret fried Jalapeno pass word, I can not help you with it like the long lost confederate gold that is hidden somewhere. Oh, about Mardi Gras and Mondo Kayo that will be another story.
Hadn't been to Parasol's in a while, but it's as good as ever. We had a tasty, really fresh shrimp poboy & our friends got the roast beef and declared it super tasty. Plus delish fries. Plus some of the staff still had green hair from St. Patty's day.
The po-boys at Parasol's were really great! I recommend the oyster po-boy and bloody mary. The oyster po-boy was significantly better than their shrimp po-boy. There's ample space to sit at or around the bar. It is definitely very smokey, so if that bothers you, then stay away. Although it took a really long time to get your food (50 minutes), the waitress is very nice and if you're not too hungry then it is worth the wait.
I am just so glad to see that Parasol's is still here! I won't specifically comment on the food these days (it's been awhile since I dropped in) but this is the kind of place that, once visited, you tend to seek out again and again. Food is aces, and of course there's a bar.
Typical N.O....
It's three in the afternoon on a Sunday. The bar has about thirty people inside and spilling out onto the sidewalk who are all yelling "where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?... YEEAAHH!!!
There was a Japanese guy wearing a bath robe and a big gold dollar sign($) around his neck. He was drunk and dancing like James Brown. I'll get back to him later.
The restaurant is upstairs. You can either go through the bar or use the separate restaurant entrance. I order a half and half(shrimp/oyster) and would have gotten fries but they were out. So I got fried pickles... freaking disgusting! I'm sitting there with my sister when the cook comes out and says "the shrimp is frozen and will take about twenty minutes."
Drunk Jap Dude comes up looking for the restroom. The robe is gone, but the $GOLD CHAIN$ is still swingin. He starts saying... well, this is what he said "I am Japanese, I just move to New Orleans. I want to be crack dealer and shoot people." He throws his hand up in the air, walks back downstairs yelling "I am Japanese crack King!"
The po'boy wasn't bad and I actually like this little shit-hole.
There I said it.
Only for the brave or true foodies to eat-in. When we were waiting for our take out I was reading the reviews on the wall and one said something like it was kind of skeezy by New Orleans standards.
Get the roast beef po-boy and a fried oyster po-boy. I've never gotten anything else, okay a friend shrimp. If you don't see them on the menu, look closer they are listed as shwimps and ersters. Har de har har.
Obviously I gave it 5 stars because the food is outta sight.
best shrimp po'boy, best bartenders, best dive bar ever! just make sure you get here before 10pm if you want to eat.
It doesn't get much divier than this my friends. Parasol's is definitely a locals joint, with a supporting cast of characters from the neighborhood and service industry folks. The people watching is pretty ace as there is always an interesting mix of characters in various states of sobriety, or lack thereof. The bartenders are really friendly and there is a good selection of booze and beer. Food is served but not all night so I'd get there before 10:30 to be on the safe side. The last time I was here I had the fried shrimp poboy which was damn good for dive bar food. The bread was generously buttered which was a nice finishing touch. IAll in all a genuine NOLA experience and f you can stomach the bathrooms (or just don't go in) you'll enjoy yourself here.
I wonder how many other native new orleanians have reviewed this?
Anyway, I grew up on this place, but I have never tried anything but a roast beef poboy, dressed with no pickles.
If you are in New Orleans briefly and stop by, please get the roast beef, because that will live up to my review.
One time (out of several thousand times) the bread was a little too stale and the meat a little too dry... but I have yet to see the guy who made that in the kitchen since.
Good drinks. Good food. Semi-snarky bartender.
Only four stars because it seemed like we waited forever for our to-go order of food.
The best place to watch a Saints game, have a drink and enjoy the day.
My favorite place for a bloody mary too.
How about a shrimp po boy or a roast beef po boy!
YUMMM!
My first and last stop in New Orleans each visit!
Merci, SD
Definitely a locals spot, that seems to be hidden in the neighborhood. People seem friendly.
Dive bar feel is nice, but the bar area is abit small.
If you are getting take out, there is a different number to call, and you have to go to the area upstairs to get your stuff, and pay downstairs.
No big deal b/c the shrimp po boys are awesome. And the houses in the area on 3rd, Charles, Magazine, are quite a sight to see.
They are famous for their beef Po-boys and rightfully so. We tried to duplicate at home, but unfortunatly ours were not as good. We had a great time here before the St. Pat's Day parade. The staff was and other patrons were very friendly to us tourists.
Its all about the shrimp po-boys, the roastbeef po-boys, potato salad, and the meat pies... and playing pin ball while waiting to carry it all home.
Uptowners love this place, and the food is right on. Good prices and friendly service, this is the epitome of a neighborhood hotspot. Sometimes they host block parties that are totally worth checking out if you catch one.
I eat a lot of roast beef poboys, and Parasol's has one of the best. It's also a good spot if you want to get drunk and watch Cubs games at 2 pm.
Dive bars the wide world wide, eat your freakin' hearts out; this is the high dive. Here's the best place in The Big Sleazy to stay a few hours and get obliterated. Any hour of the the day, there is diverse (and sometimes downright freaky) clientelle. Sometimes the tenders are grumpy/sometimes jolly, but they are always pouring generous helping of the spirits. Say hi to Frankie and Kim for me. Frankie's the evening bartender. Kim's a regular (well, so am I for that matter, so say hi to me). Boys and girls, here's the lowdown: It's as local as it gets, just a great neighborhood joint with swell company, a choice jukebox, and quite tasty bar food. Uber-highly recommended!
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New Orleans, LA
Complimentary Bottle of Wine
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
Category: Pubs
New Orleans, LA
Category: Restaurants
New Orleans, LA
Category: American (Traditional)
New Orleans, LA
Category: Local Flavor
New Orleans, LA
Category: Nightlife
One of the oldest prepared foods, dating back to…
