The archetype of a common New Orleans institution: a bar with a superior hamburger. To this day--even as name chefs open hamburger joints all over town--most of the city's great hamburgers are still found in bars. The Port of Call set the standard and still does.
The Port of Call opened in 1963. I got there when I was a junior in high school and was blown away. Returning infrequently now, I'm always surprised by how little the place has changed over the years, in both decor and flavor. There are few similar time warps. Since Hurricane Katrina, the business here seems to have risen tremendously. Be prepared for a long wait to be seated.
The front room is unambiguously a bar, surrounded by tables. The ropes hung across the ceiling appear to be part of the original decor. I would not want to see this room in bright light. The main dining room is more like a restaurant. The service is not what you could call attentive, but they get the job done sooner or later.
Understand that the Port of Call's reputation as having the best hamburger in New Orleans may lift your expectations unreasonably high. Remember: a hamburger can only go so high up the ladder of culinary accomplishment.
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