June's Art Walk

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Not to mention the people (like me) who avoid eating downtown that night because the crowds at the handful of awesome restaurants are always so huge, but who would be perfectly willing to spend the money downtown if there were more options.

I don't know if you realize, but those awesome places with lines out the door are also open the other 29 days of the month.  Don't let the crowd of 1 wednesday/month stop you from visiting those places on, say, a random wednesday night.   And typically if you go on an off night (not a typical busy restaurant time) then you will enjoy better service due the staff not even trying to turn tables quickly.  (I said typically, not always) 

[Jaxson]

My reasoning is that it's a win-win situation when I avoid those cluster-type establishments.  They are already making money hand over fist without me and I get to find a nice place where I don't have to worry about being stuck in a fire hazard (I don't know if I have claustrophobia or not)...

[Tacachale]

Not to mention the people (like me) who avoid eating downtown that night because the crowds at the handful of awesome restaurants are always so huge, but who would be perfectly willing to spend the money downtown if there were more options.

I don't know if you realize, but those awesome places with lines out the door are also open the other 29 days of the month.  Don't let the crowd of 1 wednesday/month stop you from visiting those places on, say, a random wednesday night.   And typically if you go on an off night (not a typical busy restaurant time) then you will enjoy better service due the staff not even trying to turn tables quickly.  (I said typically, not always) 

Oh, I definitely don't avoid them on nights that aren't Art Walk! I wouldn't be able to go an entire month without a BG fish burrito. What I'm saying is that there are plenty of people, myself included, who come downtown that particular night perfectly willing to spend the money to eat there, but who don't because the crowds are so big at the comparative handful of places. The demand is so high and the supply so low that they (we) are eating elsewhere that night. If there were more options they wouldn't have to.

[Jaxson]

Not to mention the people (like me) who avoid eating downtown that night because the crowds at the handful of awesome restaurants are always so huge, but who would be perfectly willing to spend the money downtown if there were more options.

I don't know if you realize, but those awesome places with lines out the door are also open the other 29 days of the month.  Don't let the crowd of 1 wednesday/month stop you from visiting those places on, say, a random wednesday night.   And typically if you go on an off night (not a typical busy restaurant time) then you will enjoy better service due the staff not even trying to turn tables quickly.  (I said typically, not always) 

Oh, I definitely don't avoid them on nights that aren't Art Walk! I wouldn't be able to go an entire month without a BG fish burrito. What I'm saying is that there are plenty of people, myself included, who come downtown that particular night perfectly willing to spend the money to eat there, but who don't because the crowds are so big at the comparative handful of places. The demand is so high and the supply so low that they (we) are eating elsewhere that night. If there were more options they wouldn't have to.

AMEN!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It still sounds like you're portraying it as a bad thing.... 

You've been there, done that - and really love it - that's a good thing.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, why don't you use that time, Art Walk, to venture out and try some of the other places?

Now, I'm not sure if they're even open during AW, but Casa Dora, Zodiaq, Da Real Ting, Nola, Chew, Northstar (the pizza is really good)....  I'm sure there are places that I'm not mentioning (magnificat, indochine, Moran's place), but these are the places that I typically eat on my Friday afternoon wanderings. 

I don't know if you've been to these places or if you even know about them, but they all have decent food, some better than others, and if they're open, I bet they would appreciate some more business during AW.

[Jaxson]

I love Casa Dora and the Zodiac.  I would have gone to one of those places if my friend was not so dead set on going to BG.  I personally am not a fan, but was willing to accommodate my pal for the sake of being a sport.  I have not been to NoLa, Chew or Da Real Ting yet, but will make a point of going during the summer!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Go to one of the other places that I mentioned and take your friend out to BGExpress at Jax Beach.  7th thru 10th StN.  I don't remember which, but it's just as good as the original without the liquor bar.

[Tacachale]

It still sounds like you're portraying it as a bad thing.... 

You've been there, done that - and really love it - that's a good thing.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, why don't you use that time, Art Walk, to venture out and try some of the other places?

Now, I'm not sure if they're even open during AW, but Casa Dora, Zodiaq, Da Real Ting, Nola, Chew, Northstar (the pizza is really good)....  I'm sure there are places that I'm not mentioning (magnificat, indochine, Moran's place), but these are the places that I typically eat on my Friday afternoon wanderings. 

I don't know if you've been to these places or if you even know about them, but they all have decent food, some better than others, and if they're open, I bet they would appreciate some more business during AW.

I don't intend it as a bad thing.  Good restaurants having a huge amount of business, especially downtown, is a great thing. More i'm just suggesting that I think there are enough interested patrons to support more dining options downtown. I've eaten at several of the places you mention (not always on artwalk) and I agree that many of them are great, and virtually all of them are worth stopping by. I don't think having more restaurants downtown would necessarily take business away from what's there. Of course we don't want it to be a one night only affair, where they bank that one night and just scrape by the rest of the month.

[tufsu1]

Zodiac, Chew, Northstar, and Casa Dora are all open during ArtWalk...and NOLA used to be (not sure if they still are)

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

That's why those other restaurants need people like yourself to woo you friend away from the easy choice.  Suggest Italian and head to Casa Dora for a little snack and then hit up Dos Gatos across the street.   I realize that BG seems to be the hub, but to make this work, we've got to get everyone else involved, also. 

I know your friend needs his/her BG fix, but they can get that anytime. , but as a friend you can get them to try something different - maybe even during AW. 

[letters and numbers]

The Magnificent cafe is also open for art walk now they make gooood food