Coop's Place

My family and I attempted to dine at Coop's Place tonight after reading such wonderful Citysearch reviews. Unfortunately the front of house was obnoxious and potentially even racist. She asked us to wait outside in 27 degree weather and was completely unwilling to accommodate us in these weather conditions politely. I understand that a restaurant might have a first come, first served policy. But it is unacceptable to either a) not allow people to wait at the bar for a table or b) provide a buzzer or take a telephone number so you can notify the party when a table is available. If New Orleans wants to really put its face on the culinary map, it'll need to change it's front of house service immediately. The food is great, but the service is sub-par. more

I'm not disappointed when I go to Coop's because I don't have high expectations. It's a hole in the wall. The food is good. The best BLT I've ever had. I love their seasoned french fries. The gumbo is super spicy and loaded with seafood. It's just good food. Don't expect great service. It's primarily a bar, so 21 and up only. Coop's is 100% a local hangout. They serve food til midnight. I reccomend it. more

look, a couple days ago 4 of us all got 2-piece fried chicken with rabbit jambalaya and 2 beers each for like $50. where the fuck is that gonna hap... more

Seven of us were in New Orleans this past four days for the French Quarter Festival. One of our group had never been to N.O. and had read about Coop's on the internet. When we arrived, we found a reasonable waiting line, but no one was taking names for seating. Actually, an altercation almost ensued because of this. Once inside, we ordered a round of drinks and placed our orders. Several ordered the "Taste Plate", as I did. After, what seemed to be a long time, salads and gumbo arrived. The gumbo was barely warm. Our meals began to arrive and my red beans and rice were warm, but the other items were cold. I called to the waiter and asked if he would warm up my plate in the microwave because of it being cold; he said they didn't have a microwave and it would be awhile. About 10 minutes later, the waiter returned.....the meal now looked really dried out, the waiter said he had placed it in the broiler and to be careful as the plate was very hot. The plate was hot, but nothing that had been cold before was any warmer. We didn't see the waiter again until he presented a bill for $161 which included a 20% gratuity. I called to him and told him I would only pay for the gumbo. He applied an $11 credit, recalculated his 20% and dropped the bill on the table. No apologies, no concern that we were less than pleased, no visit to our table during the course of the meal to ask if our meal was satisfactory or if we wanted another round of drinks, nothing! In my opinion Coop's failed the all of the basics, except for being able to apply an accurate 20% gratuity. Pros: None Cons: poor service and poorer food more

This tiny restaurant is about as basic as it gets. You stand around and hope a table will open up, and peruse the menu on the chalkboard while you wait. By the time you sit down you probably know what you're going to get. Service is sketchy - while our waitress was extremely nice, she was also extremely busy, and we had to wait a while before placing our drink order. Drinks were stiff, and food came quickly. The jambalaya took my breath away, and my friend's seafood gumbo was just as good. Fried chicken and red beans 'n rice also got raves. Definitely a place worth experiencing, but those who prefer fine dining of the white tablecloth and tuxedo'd wait staff variety will likely hate it. Pros: Food is to die for Cons: Long wait for table and service more

Some places are just restaurants/bars -- not "five-star" restaurants, not "haute cuisine" restaurants, but just "good food" restaurants. Coop's Place is one of these. The door hangs askew. The cobwebs hang plenty. Stella, the cat, hangs around. The food? Well, it "hangs ten"! Creole or Cajun, you can sample it here, tampered with just enough to make it unique and exceptional. The fried chicken and red beans/rice is awesome. The sampler platter is exceptional. The drinks are authentic and ample in alcohol. Don't come here for the repuatation, come here for the food. The dinginess will ameliorate the former, but nothing can diminish the latter. Pros: Varied menu, well prepared Cons: It's a dirty bar! So?! more

It's what the locals say and they mean it. It wasn't the cleanest place but the food was simmering with flavor. Make sure to ask what food is best what day of the week. Yes, New Orleans has a general menu they follow in all restaurants. This place was packed and for goood reason I went back three times that week. Red Beans and Rice, Gumbo and the Cajun Seafood Pasta were great. Cheap too. Definetly a do if your not a "clean snob". Pros: food quality and taste, prices, local favorite spot Cons: cleanliness, always packed more

This small restaurant packed a big surprise in our recent visit to New Orleans. It was recommended by the concierge at our hotel as having the bes... more

I visited Coop's tonight along with a couple of friends while here in New Orleans for work. I'm on a nationwide (and New Orleans) quest for the best jambalaya/ Coop's was recommended by another coworker who was a New Orleans local, so I was excited to try it. We even received great feedback from a another group who visited Coops earlier that same evening. Unfortunately, our experience at Coops wasn't as memorable. The atmostphere was fantastastic: hole in the wall, with two bar workers who look like they just got back from their own versions of "into the Wild". They were courteous enough. We sat at the bar and ordered jambalaya, jambalaya surpreme, and fried chicken. Both orders of jambalaya, though flavorful, were a bit dry and--here's the kicker--both had ice-cold spots, which is a sure sign they had been microwaved. My friend and I were very disappointed. I expect more authenticity from a place with such a good reputation. I'm afraid that Coops has fallen into the "exploit our reputation" trap that too many restuarants succumb to. Too bad. I really wanted to love this place and to recommend it to my visiting friends. Therefore, I give it a 3 star rating (though it probably deserves less) because the poor experience pulls down the flavor of the food. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Food was not fresh--especially for the price. more

Do yourself a favor and check this place out. We stumbled upon it by accident and I couldn't have been happier with the meal. Try the two piece fried chicken with rabbit & sausage jamabalaya and coleslaw. I will definitely be back. Pros: Real southern cooking, friendly service, delicious food, fair prices Cons: A bit grungy and dark more

I seated myself which is fine. The reluctant waiter came and gave me the menu. I was sitting at the bar, and since somebody left at a closeby table I wanted to be reseated. The cleaning of the table consisted of wiping with an unclean piece of cloth and throwing the trash on the floor. I ordered the Coop's sampler. The gumbo had some odd cold stuff in it, the rabbit jambalay was burnt had NO rabbit meat at all. The Shrimp creole was some tomatoes out of a can and two pcs of shrimp. THe fried chicken was soaked in salt before frying. One of the most horrible meals I have ever eaten and the rudest of waiter. I visited on 26th of October, 2008 around 8pm more

OK Cajun fare. Trying really, really hard to be gritty and crappy. Weird odors, dirty. Website states they are open til 2am, but they close by midnight. Service went beyond rude. I would classify it as angry, even vicious. I hate this place more than anyplace I have ever dined. Dumb, obesse, greasy waiter was borderline criminal. No idea why this place is still in business. I mean, by the standards of other cities its food is OK, but there are 50 places better than this in the Quarter alone. Pros: edible Cons: worst service ever more

There is nothing to say about this place that hasn't already been said. It's the best food you'll find in the quarter for the price. Prices are very reasonable. I live in the quarter and frequent this place at least every other week and have yet to be disappointed once. It's just a hole in the wall restaurant, but everything I've ever had on the menu is excellent. more

Dear viewer's , as an ex employee of COOP'S I still know all the secretes to these absolute masterpieces of culinary genius work of art plates! let me tell ya, its not hard! With the right teacher ( JEFF COOP ) anything is possible. He made my taste buds come alive. The food here is extraordinary! Duck quesadilla's, taste plate, fett alfedo, any of the apps. RED FISH MENUIRE & don't forget the friday night specials (PLEASE DON'T MISS OUT ON THESE) . A local favorite hang out because of atmosphere, workers, & food. These 3 combined & you have the best experience of a life time, enough to keep you comming back everytime you visit!!! Voted Best Bartender 2001 in the French quarter FAYE SANCHEZ ask for her. She'll make you the best bloodymary you've ever had, BLIND FOLDED & with one hand tied behind her back . I was on food tv back when they did a special about eating local in New Orleans. I was making Gumbo, & they wanted to record it, Back when David Roe was tending bar . Fresh ingredients make this wonderful place what it is & stands for today! I wish there was a hole in the wall like COOP'S in AUSTIN , TX . Who knows maybe i'll open one someday......... & call It........ RICK'S . I miss you all at COOP'S.... even you regulars!!!:) more

Boyfriend and I went there on Friday evening, after walking to the St. Louis #1 cemetery. We'd walked quite a while and were so glad to get into the nice, cool, rather dark Coop's. The menu was written on the wall on a chalkboard, and the waiter brought us menus as well -- I like this as I can be sure of what they have, and it's easy to read! I ordered the creole sampler, and Boyfriend ordered jumbalaya supreme. The sampler came with shrimp creole, jumbalaya, and red beans and rice; I switched out the gumbo that came with it for a salad. The jumbalaya supreme had sausage and rabbit as well as shrimp and ham. We both had salads. They make their own dressing which was REALLY good. The lettuce was nice and fresh, and was actually spring mix, not ice berg. The jumbalaya was the highlight of the meal, by faaaaaar. I would consider moving to New Orleans JUST to get this jumbalaya on a regular basis. No exaggeration. Pros: Open late, good service, AWESOME JUMBALAYA Cons: not in Philadelphia! more

Since moving to NOLA, I eat here on a pretty regular basis, and it's quickly become one of my favorite restaurants. The smoked duck quesadilla is incredible, as are the red beans and rice and the cajun pasta. Plus, the prices are more than reasonable, so you get a lot for your money. It can get a little crowded on weekends, but it's definitely worth the wait! Pros: Great food, great prices more

The food here is delicious. The rabbit jambalaya is done perfectly, and the duck quesadilla is otherworldly. It comes with this sauce that makes your heart jump a beat. Awesome. Also, the mint julep and mojito were the best I've ever had in my life. Highly highly recommended!! Pros: Food, Mint Julep, Mojito Cons: Only ate there once! more

I have not spent much time just drinking at Coop's, but the food is consistently outstanding. The waiters are no-nonsense -- if you come in wearing beads, you will be ridiculed. If you're a stupid tourist, you will be ridiculed. If you ask silly questions like "What's the difference between the two-piece and the three-piece chicken dinner?" you will be told "One piece". All that good-natured snarkiness aside, you cannot beat the food. I can only hope the smoking ban is enforced here, because it can be a bit smoky at times. Pros: Outstanding quality of food, and selection of choices. Cons: Smokey, but recent ban may change this. more

Was in NOLA in July and our driver suggested Coops to us. He said its just a little hole in the wall but alot of locals eat there and they have the best food. He was SOOOO right. In October we had to return to NOLA and all we could think about was having that first dinner at Coops. My husband tried at other places to get his pork chops to taste like Coops. He finally had to go back to Coops and get them. We so hate to go home. No place like Coops in the Pacific Northwest. Excellent place. Pros: good food, good service, local atmosphere Cons: local owned, operated and frequented by. GREAT place for GREAT food more

I was there 6 months after the storm and I could not leave this place for long. I kept having cravings for the crawfish and tasso. After eating this several times in a row during the first few weeks of finding this place I decided to try new items. No matter what I tried there I was never dissapointed. Not to say that I liked it all because that would be impposible. For instance Fae the bartender told me to try the duck quesadillas and I told her that I was not to crazy about the orange sauce but tried it and I thought it was great exept for the orange but the flavor was great and cooked just right. If you want to eat and drink like the locals this is the place. Pros: food, great prices, local people Cons: gets crowded more