Galatoire's
Encyclopedia
Galatoire's is a restaurant
at 209 Bourbon St. in the French Quarter
of New Orleans, Louisiana
, USA 29.95495°N 90.069004°W.
Galatoire's Restaurant was founded in 1897 by Jean Galatoire
, an immigrant from a small village near Pau, France
in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The restaurant is still run by his fourth generation descendants. Galatoire's moved to its current location in 1905, when Galatoire purchased Victor’s Restaurant, in business at the location since 1830. He renamed the restaurant and began cooking the dishes from his homeland. Galatoire’s specializes in French Creole
cooking. The main entrance, a French door, leads into the first floor dining room. The first floor dining room is a mix of high ceilings, slow moving paddle fans and mirrored opposing walls, maintaining much of the look of a mid-19th century restaurant. The second floor dining rooms, opened in 1999, comprise smaller rooms overlooking Bourbon Street. At lunch men may dress casually, although after 5pm, and all day on Sundays, men must wear a jacket.
Until 1999, the restaurant did not accept reservations, leaving patrons to stand in long lines on the Bourbon Street sidewalk. With the addition of the second floor dining rooms and bar, standing on Bourbon Street is only needed for first floor dining room seats, which are still always first-come-first-served. Exceptions to their first-come-first-served policy have never been allowed. According to the restaurant, "one Friday then-President Ronald Reagan
placed a call to then retired U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, who happened to be waiting in line for a table. After the President’s call had ended, Senator Johnston graciously returned to his position in line."
Most of the waiters are long-time employees who are professionals and local to southern Louisiana
.
In 2005 a second restaurant, Galatoire's Bistro, opened just off Interstate-10 on the southern fringe of Baton Rouge.
In December 2009, the descendants of founder Jean Galatoire, who had owned the restaurant for five generations, sold a controlling interest in the business to Destrehan
businessman Todd Trosclair; after a subsequent transaction, a majority of Trosclair's interest was sold to New Orleans businessman (and political candidate) John Georges
. As a result of this sale, Georges became the largest, though not majority, shareholder. Five members of the Galatoire family remain as minority owners.
was a regular customer, preferring to sit at a table by the front main window. He mentions the restaurant in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire
.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
at 209 Bourbon St. in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, USA 29.95495°N 90.069004°W.
Galatoire's Restaurant was founded in 1897 by Jean Galatoire
Jean Galatoire
Jean Galatoire was born in a small village near Pau, France. Galatoire immigrated to America in 1880 where he bought an inn and a restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1896 he moved to New Orleans and opened up a café....
, an immigrant from a small village near Pau, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The restaurant is still run by his fourth generation descendants. Galatoire's moved to its current location in 1905, when Galatoire purchased Victor’s Restaurant, in business at the location since 1830. He renamed the restaurant and began cooking the dishes from his homeland. Galatoire’s specializes in French Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
cooking. The main entrance, a French door, leads into the first floor dining room. The first floor dining room is a mix of high ceilings, slow moving paddle fans and mirrored opposing walls, maintaining much of the look of a mid-19th century restaurant. The second floor dining rooms, opened in 1999, comprise smaller rooms overlooking Bourbon Street. At lunch men may dress casually, although after 5pm, and all day on Sundays, men must wear a jacket.
Until 1999, the restaurant did not accept reservations, leaving patrons to stand in long lines on the Bourbon Street sidewalk. With the addition of the second floor dining rooms and bar, standing on Bourbon Street is only needed for first floor dining room seats, which are still always first-come-first-served. Exceptions to their first-come-first-served policy have never been allowed. According to the restaurant, "one Friday then-President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
placed a call to then retired U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, who happened to be waiting in line for a table. After the President’s call had ended, Senator Johnston graciously returned to his position in line."
Most of the waiters are long-time employees who are professionals and local to southern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
In 2005 a second restaurant, Galatoire's Bistro, opened just off Interstate-10 on the southern fringe of Baton Rouge.
In December 2009, the descendants of founder Jean Galatoire, who had owned the restaurant for five generations, sold a controlling interest in the business to Destrehan
Destrehan, Louisiana
Destrehan is a census-designated place in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N...
businessman Todd Trosclair; after a subsequent transaction, a majority of Trosclair's interest was sold to New Orleans businessman (and political candidate) John Georges
John Georges
John Georges is a New Orleans, Louisiana, businessman who formerly served on the Louisiana Board of Regents, the body which supervises higher education in his native state....
. As a result of this sale, Georges became the largest, though not majority, shareholder. Five members of the Galatoire family remain as minority owners.
Trivia
Author Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
was a regular customer, preferring to sit at a table by the front main window. He mentions the restaurant in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire (play)
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was...
.
External links
- Official Site
- My recent visit to Galatoire's with photos at Nola Cuisine