Café Degas

After a long weekend of culinary indulgence in the city, we were looking for something on the lighter side.  Café Degas delivered!!  No worries though. They serve a wide array of dishes to satisfy even the pickiest of palates and the hungriest of appetites. Overlooking Esplanade Avenue and Fortier Park, the restaurant is nestled around a beautiful live Oak Tree, in an open-air setting, surrounded by lush greenery. It gives you the feel of dining on a beautiful island or a café in the countryside of France as you sip on a Mimosa surrounded by an eclectic group of patrons and staff.  Named after the French Impressionist, Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas, Café Degas is the longest running French restaurant in the city. If I’m not mistaken, I do believe the owner, Jacques Soulas, was dining with a group of friends at the table next to us.  I have to say, being a native New Orleanian, I’m embarrassed to admit that this was my first visit to this wonderful bistro.  I guarantee, it will not be my last!

Serving traditional cheese and pate boards, their signature swiss cheese French onion soup, quiche, omelets, salads and an array of other menu options, your taste buds will think they’ve died and gone to heaven.  The Prince Edward Island mussels (LES MOULES AU FENOUIL), prepared in a white wine fennel broth, are the most plump, tender, and tasteful mussels I’ve ever consumed! I paired those with the jumbo lump crabmeat salad (LE SALADE AU CRABE) for the perfect light lunch. Others at our table thoroughly enjoyed seared hanger steak (L’ONGLET DE BOEUF), Niçoise Salad, and grillades and grits (with a hefty portion of tender grillades). Oh, and the bread, we can’t forget the bread!!  What would a French meal be without a basket full of yummy bread and creamy butter??!!  A wine and cocktail list is also available. The service was a bit spotty at first, but once our server took our drink order, the meal progressed without delay.  I’ll give them a pass on this!! It was extremely busy due to Jazz Fest weekend, especially being within close proximity to the Fair Grounds. Visit the website for hours of operation, additional menu items, reservations and to learn a bit about the history of the restaurant. Highly recommend you pay a visit to this Mid-City bistro!