A New Classic Cuisine at Omni Royal Orleans' Rib Room
In a city like New Orleans, there are nearly endless options for venues to enjoy the local cuisine, cocktails, and a bit of history. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the Omni Royal Orleans—a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2010—is home to all three.
Originally known as the City Exchange, known for its auctions of all types of properties, the hotel was later expanded into the Saint Louis Exchange Hotel. It is said that gumbo, the proverbial "free lunch," and the American "cocktail" were all created at the Exchange. The hotel would later be expanded, devastated by fire, used as a military hospital during the Civil War, and eventually abandoned around the turn of the century. After being reduced to rubble by a hurricane in 1915, it was eventually rebuilt and opened as the Royal Orleans in 1960 (now the Omni Royal Orleans).
While the hotel is still known as "the place to see and be seen," the Rib Room was a highly contested addition to the hotel. The argument was simple: why bring a prime rib restaurant to a city filled with its own famous cuisine? Despite its detractors, the Rib Room has been a beloved restaurant since it opened its doors in 1961.
The Rib Room offers a street level fine dining experience that is nothing short of wonderful for a weary traveler or for anyone seeking a bit of air conditioning and people-watching in the Quarter. If you have the extra money to spend, reserve one of the four private dining rooms, just 15 steps below the Rib Room. It was in the Pipkin Room that the ideas for the Superdome and the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival were developed.
photo by: Historic Hotels of America
The Rib Room is perfect for street level fine dining.
The Rib Room features four private dining rooms.
Location: 621 Saint Louis Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Don’t Miss: Sunday jazz brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
You’re Having: In addition to their expansive wine collection, the Rib Room touts the Ultimate Martini—based on the original martini created in the 1860s—as one of their most popular cocktails. It makes a wonderful companion to both the gumbo and the house specialty, the prime rib.
Best Yelp Review: “Everything we ate here was excellent! The bartender, Melissa, was great and very friendly.”
