Category: Food and Beverage

Restaurant Observations, Analysis, Corrections and Health Report

The Quarter Rat’s Restaurant Observations, Analysis, Corrections and Health Report lists the most recent East Safe Louisiana inspections at French Quarter dining establishments for the month of November 2024, and are taken from the Department of Health’s website. Inspections are conducted randomly and unannounced, and are a matter of public record. For more information on inspections conducted at New Orleans dining establishments, visit ldh.la.gov.

Nov. 1, 2024:
The Double Club – Bar
307 Chartres St.
Preliminary Inspection
11:50 AM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”
Non-Critical Violation:
“Ice that is used as cooling medium for foods or cooling coils is being used for consumer use.”

Nov. 4:
The Double Club – Bar
Opening Inspection
12 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected][Repeat]”

The Double Club – Restaurant
Opening Inspection
12:25 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 7:
Lebanon Grill – Restaurant
1122 Decatur St.
3:15 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

Nov. 13:
Corner Oyster House – Restaurant
500 St. Peter St.
2:10 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Fahy’s Irish Pub
540 Burgundy St.
2:15 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”
(Nov. 20 follow-up inspection: no violations)

Nov. 18:
Vacherie – Bar
827 1/2 Toulouse St.
1:20 PM
Critical Violations:
“Food consists in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance. [Corrected]”
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 20:
Hyatt French Quarter – Kitchen
800 Iberville St.
2:40 PM
Critical Violation:
“Rodents are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 21:
B Sweet Bistro – Restaurant
704 N. Rampart St.
3 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

B Sweet Bistro – Bakery
3:35 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Repeat]”

Nov. 22:
Fuego – Outside Bar
530 Bourbon St.
11:55 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

Bourbon House – Second Floor Bar
144 Bourbon St.
12 PM
Critical Violation:
“Rodents are present in the establishment. *DROPPINGS”
(Nov. 25 follow-up inspection: No violations)




Bourbon Street’s Clover Grill sold to new owner

The Clover Grill diner located at 900 Bourbon St. has been sold to a new owner, according to commercial real estate brokerage Elfin Realty.

The property was sold for an undisclosed amount to owner 900 Bourbon LLC. Clover Grill’s sale was listed in Elfin’s The Pulse NOLA website, described as a “weekly update on the commercial real estate landscape of New Orleans.”

Located on the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine streets, the Clover Grill diner is known for its cheeseburgers, all-day breakfasts and class diner decor.

The restaurant opened in 1939 and was featured in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” in which the main character, played by Brad Pitt, ages in reverse.

Picture courtesy of mrpolyonymous/CC Flickr

Baristas unionize at Chartres Street coffee shop

French Truck Coffee via Yelp.

Baristas voted to form a union at the French Truck Coffee shop on Chartres Street, joining a local Teamsters chapter in the process, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

NLRB records show the votes were cast on Sept. 20, forming the union that includes all full- and regular part-time baristas employed at the French Truck Coffee located at 217 Chartres St. The union joins Teamsters Local 270 in New Orleans.

Eight people participated in the election and the vote was unanimous, federal records show.

The election designated a collective bargaining representative, who negotiates with French Truck management on behalf of the baristas for better pay and working conditions.

Once the NLRB recognizes a workers union, the employer is required to bargain with the representative over terms and conditions of employment, and cannot interfere with the union or discriminate against workers for participating in union activities, among other requirements.

GW Fins owner gets ‘Distinguished Restaurants’ recognition

Photo by GW Fins | CC Flickr

GW Fins owner Gary Wollerman was recognized with an induction into the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Hall of Fame, the dining establishment announced last week.

Wollerman is the seventh New Orleans restaurateur to receive such recognition in the 30 years of Distinguished Restaurants of North America (abbreviated DiRoNA) existence.

Other local restaurateurs on the list include Leah Chase of Dooky Chase restaurant fame and Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Candidates for DiRoNA Hall of Fame qualify by having at least 25 years of dedicated service and “making significant contributions to the dining industry and their local community,” according to GW Fins.

Founded in 1993, DiRoNA states on its website that its primary focus is “to elevate the dining experience for restaurant-goers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean”

Additionally, DiRoNA states that its main objective “is to identify and honor exceptional fine dining establishments that provide an unforgettable culinary journey for their patrons,” according to its website.

GW Fins is located at 808 Bienville St.

B Mac’s challenges the best chefs in football cook-off series

Photo courtesy of B Mac’s via Facebook.

B Mac’s French Quarter Bar & Courtyard has brought its cook-off challenge back, but this time the contest spans the football season.

Instead of having only one cook-off challenge, B Macs announced last month that it will be having one cook-off challenge per month. The first challenge was a red beans cook-off on Sept. 18, but there’s three more you can still participate in.

The next event is is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 15 at 11:30 a.m. with a chili cook-off, followed by a gumbo cook-off on Sunday, Nov. 12 and a Christmas side dish cook-off on Dec. 21.

To participate, all contestants are required to sign up no later than seven days before each event. Winners are announced at halftime for each Saints game.

For more information, call 504-252-2026 or email miamatassa.bmacs@gmail.com.

B Macs is located at 819 St. Louis St. in the French Quarter.




Dishes will be judged 30 minutes before Cook-off (except for Christmas side dish) and winners will be announced at halftime.