Angeli on Decatur
1141 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA
(504) 566-0077
With New Orleans’ well-deserved all-night party reputation, it’s easy to forget that most of the restaurants in town quit serving food at 10 p.m. Even former residents, like myself, can get caught up in the night and forget to get somewhere before close. However, that’s when being a former resident has its advantages. Rather than opting for the slop on Bourbon Street, I headed deep into the Quarter along Decatur and walked into Angeli on Decatur.
Now, let me be clear, this isn’t Commander’s Palace or Antoines, K-Paul’s or Emeril’s. However, Angeli represents a prevalent, if unseen (or at least, unrecognized), New Orleans’ subculture: the unique hybrid that makes up the Crescent City’s own hipster/slacker. Tatooed and pierced, yes, but also ironic, detached, and better than you. My wife (who worked down in the Quarter with many of them) always refers to them by their local name, “Quarter Rats.” You might see them bussing your tables, pulling your espresso, or listing the daily specials for you. One of our favorite New Orleans dining games is “What drug is our waiter on?” Try it. It’s fun!
Anyway, Angeli on Decatur is the restaurant version of the Quarter Rat. But don’t be scared off. It’s an experience. Minutes after seating myself (with no wait), I was enjoying a fine (and affordable) glass of house Cabernet, while soaking in the skanky ambiance. A bizarre BBC show called “Little Britain” was being projected backwards on the scuffed wall above the bar, while my blue-haired waiter with the Buddy Holly glasses and sock garters (with shorts and, uh, no socks - IRONIC!!) ran around like a madman as the only server on duty (I’m guessing just a lot of caffeine in this one, but coming out of one hangover and with another not far in his future).
Thanx Mr.Graves @ Flickr
The walls are hung with, you may have guessed it, paintings of angels. Most seem to be for sale, and, in an ode to one of the city’s newer residents, all of the angels by one artist bear the bee-stung lips and steal-your-man eyes of Angelina Jolie. Sexy and sardonic all rolled into one.
More wine.
The food: is good! A steaming bowl of rotelle pasta in a tasteful pool of spicy red pepper cream sauce came with sauteed chunks of portobello mushroom. Perched on the rim of the bowl on two sides were fresh, gooey slices of white pizza (their take on garlic bread) that nearly stole the show. The $2 side Caesar salad had plenty of cheese, croutons, and tangy dressing.
I was satiated, amused, and buzzed for $22.
Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, veg head grinds
Bryan Fryklund
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