Muriel's Jackson Square

I decided to suck it up and go to this place again, after many bad experiences there...and lo and behold...it's still awful. The food is bland, the service mediocre, and the management, almost non-existent. I dined there Friday night, at the request of my out-of-town guests (and after much protest), finally agreed to go along with them. First, it took over 15 minutes to seat only 4 of us, and then once we were seated...nothing. When we finally got our waiter's attention, it took over 10 minutes to get drinks (I believe they work in teams, the beverage server was nothing to write home about and was mostly absent the entire meal), then another 10 minutes to get our order taken (by the main waiter). Seriously? We finally got our food...the gumbo, eh, take it or leave it and the crepes...still good, but nothing to write home about. PLUS one of my tablemates decided to order a nice bottle of wine, but there was no one in the house to help us select, or so our waiter told us. One of our guests ordered the Escargots, she said it was "drowned" and totally tasteless, the other had the carpaccio...and he said it was clearly a dish that needed to be tended to by more experienced hands. Entrees were fine, the puppy drum was the same as it's always been, and the pork chop...blah. The other lady got the vegetarian plate, which you can see they tried to do impressively...and she said it was delicious, and her date got the filet, which was overcooked and tasteless. My date and I got the Table d'Hote (because it's so cheap...when will they realize they're literally giving food away?) so it was either bread pudding or creme brulee...both were fine, nothing special. The other couple had ordered off the "other" half of the menu...one dessert was some chocolate, supposed-to-be some sort of fancy cup-type thing...fine, well put together, nothing we haven't seen before. The lady ordered the sorbet, which had mostly melted once she had received it. No surprise. We paid the bill and left. Overall, just as I had expected, it was boring and nowhere near what other restaurants in the city are offering. They seem to rest on the fact that their location is perfect and their balcony overlooks the Square...they almost forget about the food and the service. I order the Table d'Hote because it's sooooo inexpensive (honestly, 3 courses for $30, tell your friends!)...but the people that don't...they must be terribly disappointed! I feel as if there is no "fine dining" flavor left to this place, other than the decorations (which are dusty) and the exterior and the location! I still cannot believe people choose to dine at this establishment. I blame the management and the ownership...the management for the waitstaff and the ownership for the food...both lacking, and both disgraceful to the city. Please, if you have such a fantastic location and such a beautiful building, please, please, do it justice. If not, you are simply succumbing to the waves of tourists and infantile drunks that decide to pop by for some grub to satisfy their cravings. Also...it took forever for us to get the bill, and our waiter (older, dark hair, slightly skinny)seemed most unconcerned the entire meal. Also, the hostess (and I hardly expect anything from them) was more interested in her magazine than us - when we entered, and when we left. Oh well, I guess I should not have expected anything more.

I know there are many other locals that agree with me...and yet, people still go there! I find it hard to believe. That restaurant, its location should be house to perfect, upscale cuisine and perfect, upscale service. Sad, really, that this place is still on the radar of so many people. I thought maybe I should write a review, since no one else seems to be disgusted of this place as I am. I will most definitely never go back, and I feel for the people that buy into their spiel of "contemporary Creole cuisine". Also - Chef Gus - you could do better.

cwlove in New Orleans