In its seventeen years, the Marigny Brasserie has evolved more than any other eatery in the trendy Marigny Triangle. In its first incarnations, it purveyed hip, gourmet Creole bistro-style cooking. But in 2008 owner Roland Adams started over from scratch, and shifted the style to that of a neighborhood cafe--albeit a modern one. This boosted volume tremendously, particularly among out-of-towners. However, it brought down the interest level of the food. (And the prices.) An old story.
Originally opened in much smaller quarters a block and a half away from the present spot, the Marigny Brasserie moved in 2002 to its present space. From the beginning some terrific chefs--many of whom left to open their own places--came through and kept the food interesting, although the changes over the years have thrown some of the regulars off balance.
At a commanding corner opposite Washington Square, the Marigny Brasserie is right in center of the Frenchmen Street strip of restaurants, bars, and music clubs. The dining room's clean, urbane lines and large windows contrast interestingly with the colorful parade of unique people on the sidewalk. A restaurant this cool always draws better-than-average servers, which they do indeed employ.
Weekends are the only time when parking might be a problem. Don't judge the restaurant by the crowd that might be in the bar, which can get loud. The wine list is better than you might imagine.
| Attitude | 2 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 1 |
| Hipness | 0 |
| Local Color | 2 |
| Service | 1 |
| Value | 1 |
| Wine | 1 |
