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Calcasieu - Private Dining by Chef Donald Link logo logo
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Calcasieu - Private Dining by Chef Donald Link

New Orleans, Louisiana

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About

Calcasieu is James Beard Award-winning Chef Donald Link's private dining in addition to his family of restaurants in the Warehouse District. Conveniently located just two blocks from the Convention Center, its three private dining rooms combine a New Orleans warehouse feel with modern design, creating the perfect backdrop for any type of gathering.

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Reviews (52)

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5/5

52 customer reviews

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27 November 2019

Awesome customer service and excellent food.

Reviewed on Facebook

21 November 2019

Have a parade here 12/14 7pm

Reviewed on Google Maps

22 July 2019

I threw a surprise birthday party for my mom at Calcasieu in their smallest event room. There were about 38 people in attendance. Working with Maebh leading up to the day was very easy. I had to coordinate the party from out of town and she was very responsive by email and phone. Very pleasant personality. On the day of the event Marissa and her team were great to work with and very accommodating. I had a great experience and would use them and recommend them ava More...

Reviewed on Yelp

24 June 2019

I can't believe that I forgot to do my review from dinner with Tales of the Cocktail!  This was months ago ... maybe even last year! Nevertheless, I Enjoyed a wonderful dinner experience with Tales of the Cocktail! It was so interesting to meet folks in the cocktail industry from around the world while enjoying some of their own brands paired with the delicious foods by the chef at Calcasieu ! If you get  the chance to partake in any of these dinners the next go round for TOTC ... do it! The specialty cocktails are amazing and the food pairing are amazing! I'm looking forward to this year! Note that these dinners are available at various restaurants in the city! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

12 June 2019

Disclaimer: I have not eaten here personally; but, I did organize a private dining event for my company and our clients when they were in town for a trade show.  The staff was easy to communicate with via email and phone calls.  They were very responsive to our needs and slight changes.  They had a very simple method of choosing the right menu for our event.  I liked it because they offered authentic cajun food along with non-cajun selections.  I would recommend working with them for professional dining events. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

15 March 2019

We had our son's rehearsal dinner last night and it was amazing!!!  The staff was delightful to work with and the food was outstanding. We chose the Cajun tasting menu and it was perfect for our guests!  Loved it all!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

19 February 2019

This venue is outstanding! I've hosted two events here and the food was phenomenal. Highly recommend the prime rib, divine deviled eggs, sliders, boudin balls and the most sinfully delish pralines ever! !! Service is attentive and the space is spacious yet cozy. Can't recommend enough. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

4 February 2019

There were a bunch of us in town for a conference so this was the best spot we could find that would accommodate our big group for dinner! It was to the back in its own private room with four 10 ppl table tops.  We ordered the food beforehand and it was great!We had gumbo with white rice, collard greens, grits, jambalaya, mac n cheese and some bread pudding & a tart for dessert.  The food was good and I went back for seconds on the grits, greens and gumbo!They kept raising the minimum alcohol price on us for our group which is frustrating but the boozehounds we traveled with ;) ;) managed to meet that minimum with no problem!Definitely recommend for large groups! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

8 August 2018

Got married here in June 2010 & our wedding was perfect. We planned the entire wedding from NY & had never been here. Everything exceeded our expectations. The food was outstanding- we did the Cajun tasting menu- unconventional yet fantastic. Friends still talk about how wonderful our wedding was. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

Upscale, but cool and inviting! Gumbo was good--and while I'm not a fan of bread pudding, I actually liked the chocolate-chip bread pudding (yummy). Thanks for a great evening.

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

We had a food and wine tasting here yesterday and everything was amazing! The wine pairing selected by the chef really complemented the food nicely. We also loved all of the specialty cocktails the bartender made, especially the Sazerac. My favorite dishes were the shrimp and grits and the beef short ribs. I also have to mention that the bread pudding was one of the best I've ever had. We are really looking forward to having our wedding reception here in April 2016! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

We had my daughter Myra's welcome dinner for the wedding on Fri, October 2, 2015. The food was out of this world. We received rave reviews and our friends are still talking about it. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. The fried tomatoes were crisp and delicate and the duck was the best ever. The kale and sweet potatoes were cooked to perfection. Everything was amazing. The atmosphere was cozy and the service was friendly and professional. Loved every moment there. Our guests are still talking about it. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

Welcoming from the beginning. Impeccable service and attention by the serving staff. The courses were spot on and delicious. One in our party was allergic to shrimp and without asking, they brought out an alternate dish. Truly great place to dine and I’d highly recommend it to anyone. A hidden jem delivering culinary excellence. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

Our wedding was on February 20, 2016 and was WONDERFUL!! Everything about the process with the Calcasieu staff was easy and smooth. ...what anyone planning a wedding would want. The food was crazy out-of-this-world good and people are still talking about it. We felt very taken care of on the day of the wedding - Im not sure who the staff member with long blonde hair was but I wish I had gotten his name because he made me laugh, reminded me to eat something and made sure I wasn't stressed in the least. Brandy, Angela and JT were all incredibly friendly and helpful and we had the perfect day at Calcasieu. Thanks again! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

8 August 2018

The food was delicious and the service was awesome!! I will definitely be back!!

Reviewed on Facebook

22 July 2018

Fabulous! I had the opportunity to attend as part of a group and I was thrilled with the fixed menu and service!

Reviewed on Yelp

26 April 2018

Was lucky enough to go to Calcasieu for the Rehearsal Dinner for my nephew's wedding and I was impressed.  Located above Cochon is the private event center with some of the best food I have encountered at a catered meal.  We were in the smaller wine room which was beautifully setup. We started with appetizers that included the best fried oysters I have had, crisp on the outside, slightly salty and delicious on the inside.  We also had several other delicious apps. The plated dishes were also incredibly good, with the main course of sauteed gulf fish perfectly cooked and expertly seasoned.I do have to shout out the service, I am a Pescetarian and another person at the table had other dietary restrictions.  The servers and the kitchen handled these with special dishes as necessary and more smoothly then I have ever experienced.  This is a truly exceptional place to have a party or event, you get great food, expert service and a great venue.  A great pick. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

24 March 2018

On March 3rd, I attended a birthday brunch and was blown away!  The shrimp and grits, biscuits, strawberry tarts, quiche, sweet potato with roasted peppers and pastrami hash and gumbo all tasted great. Also, the room was perfectly sized for our intimate event. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

2 February 2018

Truly outstanding. We were here for a business dinner the other week and the entire meal stood out from appetizer to desert. The device was excellent and went out their way to help. A night earlier we entertained at a name restaurant in the French Quarter. I had the same dish (Drum) at Calcasieu and it was so superior that I would absolutely return here on every time I'm back in New Orleans. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

20 January 2018

I cannot give high enough praise for Calcasieu. Staff were professional and friendly. The food was off the hook. Everything we had, from the deviled eggs to the duck confit, was just delicious. Our guests were talking about the food days later. Always a good sign.We had to move our venue last minute due to a scheduling error at our previously arranged location. Brandy was able to quickly pull our party together and saved the day. Marissa managed the service that night and everything went off perfectly. We could not have been more pleased. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

6 January 2018

The food is outstanding here, I would highly recommend for any private event.

Reviewed on Yelp

22 October 2017

We had our wedding at Calcasieu last weekend and it was absolutely perfect! We worked with Brandy who was amazing from start to finish - her email replies were prompt, her phone meetings were efficient, and in person she is so warm and caring - we were in good hands. The food was outstanding! Everything tasted perfect and came out hot and delicious. We also asked their pastry chef to make our cakes - they were SO SO YUMMY and gorgeous, too! The venue was the right size for our ~45 guests and we had a fabulous time. We can not recommend Calcasieu enough! Everyone was helpful, laid back, and overall wonderful! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

25 May 2017

Went for a tasting, great passed apps and helpful staff

Reviewed on Google Maps

25 May 2017

Went to a wedding here, stunning space, and excellent food. Recommended.

Reviewed on Google Maps

25 May 2017

Great space and excellent food.

Reviewed on Google Maps

9 May 2017

Absolutely amazing! A+++ for private dining events. Planned a last minute event for my company and Brandy (event manager) was such a pleasure to work with. Extremely accommodating, super responsive and very helpful. Their private dining menu was beyond impressive. So hard to pick two choices when they all sounded amazing. We rented the wine room and I think it sat 16-18 tops and it was so beautiful and perfect. Got the brisket and a fish dish with salad and the chocolate chip bread pudding and it was heavenly and the bread pudding was to die for, so many compliments. All in all I honestly can't wait to plan my next NOLA event with these people as I highly recommend. You won't be disappointed. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

9 March 2017

I went for a rehearsal dinner to this amazing spot in New Orleans, and it was my most memorable meal while visiting....by far. This meal, included five courses: It started with a gumbo that I could have eaten several pots of, with huge, rich flavor, truly awesome; Second was a simple salad, with cheese bread that was excellent; Next we had an empanada that was also special, fresher than fresh; the main meal was a bone-in chicken thing and leg that was on top of a bed of rice, squash, and bacon, likely one of the best, most well-rounded chicken dishes I have had; and last, but certainly not least, was one of my most favored desserts ever, a bread pudding, that didn't look perfect, but did taste perfect; chocolate chips, huge flavor, but not too sweet. I don't talk about 3 or 4 star meals like this, for obvious reasons. This meal, ambiance, and night was one to remember, and this meal was a perfect beginning - a symphony of courses. Highly recommended for your events. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

17 October 2016

Definitely a five star experience.We went for a brunch wedding (cool idea, right?). Very cool space with exposed brick and lots of natural light. All of the staff members I encountered were friendly and accommodating and not visibly annoyed by our multiple trips for more mimosas!But the real deal is the food. Oh my goodness, the best grits..sweet potato casserole..chicken biscuits with honey..I would go back for more of those brunch items in a second.Overall, a cool place for a small wedding, holiday party, etc. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

5 October 2016

We recently hosted a Corporate Lunch / Roundtable in the Higgins Room. Gina and the team were outstanding and the food fantastic. We will definitely come to Calcasieu again for our next New Orleans event. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

25 September 2016

Outstanding service, venue and presentation. Friendly staff.The rolls they made fresh were so good.Shrimp and grits so fresh and creamy, respectively. The fish with lemon rice was by far my favorite.Well done! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

25 May 2016

Beautiful event space, organized & friendly event managers and staff, and the food, wow! Our guests are still talking about the food. Angela, JT and the rest of the event managers were easy to work with to plan our wedding ceremony and reception dinner. Huge thank you to our main event manager contact, Angela, who was always responsive, organized, knowledgeable, friendly, and so accommodating for the guests who had food allergies and special diets. They went above and beyond to make our day memorable, taking care of all the details, and letting us just enjoy the evening. The cost was very reasonable and they were flexible in working with our budget and special requests. We are beyond thankful we chose them for an easy, no-stress wedding experience! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

25 May 2016

Filet was worth the wait

Reviewed on Google Maps

16 May 2016

Nice but very noisy. Steak was perfect - couldn't fault it. But dessert was overcooked, dry and bland. Disappointed considering we were a large group (30) and had a very limited choice menu. The environment was awesome. Great style and classy. Would have been great to experience a greater variety of the menu. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

17 April 2016

Beautiful event space, organized & friendly event managers and staff, and the food - wow! Our guests are still talking about the food. Angela, JT and the rest of the event managers were easy to work with to plan our wedding ceremony and reception dinner. Huge thank you to our main event manager contact, Angela, who was always responsive, organized, knowledgeable, friendly, and so accommodating for the guests who had food allergies and special diets. They went above and beyond to make our day memorable, taking care of all the details, and letting us just enjoy the evening. The cost was very reasonable and they were flexible in working with our budget and special requests. We are beyond thankful we chose them for an easy, no-stress wedding experience! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

5 April 2016

This place is great for large events! The staff is super accommodating, there are different rooms for different size groups. The place is really chic and beautiful. The food is awesome! The event I was at had a set menu, no options, but they make exceptions for vegetarians, allergies, kosher needs, or other dietary restrictions. The meal started with a chicken and andouille gumbo which was a little spicy but great. The entree was a pan roasted 5oz petite filet mignon served medium with family style potatoes au gratin and creamed spinach. Meal was good, kind of greasy. But the dessert is heavenly. One of my favorite bread puddings in town. Chocolate chip bread pudding.There are many choices you can choose from when deciding the menu you want to set for your group. You could also do platters instead of having servers bring food to your table. If you do do a set menu, if the group is less than 40 people you can offer two different options to choose from for the second course. If over 40, only one option for the entree. The first and third courses are always only one option offered. Parking here is on the street, so you will have to pay to park on the street. But the location is not super busy. It's right above Cochon butcher. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

3 April 2016

we reserved this ball room for a big work related group dinner. The space is beautiful and intimate. The food, well the food was awesome. We had a buffet that included items like macaroni and cheese, grilled broccoli with garlic, Cesar salad, fried green tomato and lentils, catfish, and chocolate chip bread pudding amongst a few other things. Everything was SO so good. well prepared and fresh. The service left a little to want on our particular trip. One of the servers was not well versed in everything the place had to offer so that was a little disappointing. Price point wise it is pretty expensive but if you have a large party and can swing it, you should try it out. You have to set it up like a private party.We all walked/took cabs there so I am not sure about parking, it is hard to find because it is tucked into a corner but it is a great space and the food was awesome More...

Reviewed on Yelp

17 January 2016

We had our intimate destination wedding at Calcasieu and I cannot say enough good things about this venue. Brandy worked with my fiancé (now husband) and I from London to make sure that everything was perfect. The food was OUTRAGEOUSLY good (our guests keep telling me they've never had such good food at a wedding). My husband and I barely got a chance to eat but Brandy made a huge to-go bag with every single thing we had so that we could enjoy it after. It was so beautiful and just the right size. The list of vendors Brandy supplied for other services were so helpful. I could go on and on about how much I loved Calcasieu but let me end by saying, Calcasieu gave us the perfect wedding. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

16 November 2015

I just got married there on Saturday night and I would give it a thousand stars, if I could. The staff was amazing. Starting with Brandy who booked us and took care of all the details on the front end, continuing with Angela who managed the venue the night of our wedding and finishing with Sean who was our lead server. The two other servers and bartender were wonderful too. We had a 20 person destination wedding. I'd eaten at Cochon and Butcher before, so I had high expectations of the food, and still everything was better than we hoped. Brandy selected our appetizers for us, blue crab  beignets, chicken w white bbq sauce, pork belly on toast. I'm so glad I let her pick. Everything was hot, fresh and just kept coming! I had to stop eating to save room for the gumbo (rich and outta this world), the gulf fish courtbullion and brisket and the best bread pudding I've ever had. They also picked wines that paired well given what we told them about our tastes. The space is gorgeous. They provided our flowers on the table and a zillion votives. It does not need any more decoration than that. There are 2 other rooms in the venue, but because we started at 5 pm, we had the place to ourselves and could have a trio during the ceremony and cocktails. Normally, they play a nice musical selection that reflects the regional styles. So food was absolutely first rate, but just as importantly, the staff was too! My guests raved about it afterwards. Do book your party here! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

9 July 2015

Food: 5 starsServers: 5 starsOrganization brings the score down. Donald Link knows what he is doing, and the food was spot on. Servers frequently circled the room,refreshing drinks and serving appetizers. Dinner was served buffet style, and this is where the disorder began. The main meat entree, sides, and soup were all arranged before the table for plates and silverware. after the silverware table was dessert. People had to enter the room, cross to plate table, then loop back again to get food, creating a hectic environment as the line grew. also, the salad was hidden next to the dessert, so many missed it entirely. 100% recommend this place, hopefully this is something they have worked out as far as logistics/management of events More...

Reviewed on Yelp

3 June 2015

We just had a rehearsal dinner for 75. Planning was a breeze with the very experienced and accommodating staff. We requested an appetizer from Peche and it was no problem. We had the Cochon du lait from Cochon as the main course. People are still telling me how much they enjoyed it. The food and service were excellent for both the cocktail hour and the dinner. This was a sophisticated foodie crowd and they were impressed. Thank you Calcasieu staff for making out of town hosts look good! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

11 October 2014

The utmost wonderful experience!  From the sales staff, event manager, hostess, Brandy and waitstaff...exceptional five course dining EXPERIE NCE! !  The beef with mushroom skewers, amazing, along with the crab beniets.  Highly recommend this venue by Donald Link which combines all the outstanding aspects of his restaurants.  This is THE place to host your event.  All our guests from the Netherlands, Germany, Barcelona, Australia, UK and NY were in awe.  Thank you! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

18 September 2014

I participated in a Seafood Tasting Panel, at the Calcasieu Ball Room, along with a couple of friends and 47 other panelists.  The Calcasieu Ball Room is located on the 2nd floor above Chef Donald Link's restaurant and deli, Cochon and Cochon Butcherie, at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Andrew C. Higgins Boulevard.  The event was conducted by the Mississippi State University Marketing Division and our task was to rate three different species of fish, prepared four different ways.  The three fish species were Catfish, Grouper and Black Drum.  The four different methods of preparation were smoked, blackened, baked and courtboullion.  The smoked fish were prepared somewhat like Tuna Salad and the ingredients in the recipe heightened the difficulty in distinguishing between species.  The blackened fish were all too spicy and similarly , the seasoning overpowered the fishes' flavor.  The baked fish was served with a Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce on the side which best allowed for a taste comparison of the three fish species.  Lastly, the Courtboullion preparation included a very light tomato based sauce, which did not compromise the taste preferences of the three fish species. The focus of the marketing campaign was to receive input as to consumer preference for Delacata Catfish, a U.S. farm-raised fish, as compared to Grouper and Black Drum.  Panelists were asked to decide on the likelihood of purchasing either species based upon taste and cost.  The prices used were $17, $19 and $25.  The costs varied however for each species, such that one species was priced higher when prepared one way and then was priced lower when prepared another way.I applaud Chef Link for investing the effort in doing this research, but I was not able to render opinions based on costs but was more inclined to focus on actual taste considerations.  Oddly enough, each of the species of fish fared differently in each of the four test cases.  At times, one species seemed too fishy, another to bland and another more suitable.  Overall, it was quite an enjoyable event and my friends and I concluded the evening with sharing bacon flavored desserts... a slice of bacon flavored Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake and a Bacon Praline, and we were finally sufficiently satisfied. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

9 June 2014

I was excited when I found out a rehearsal dinner I was going to was at Cochon because I knew the food would be outstanding. The private Calcasieu room is located just upstairs from Cochon. There was a private bar ready for slinging drinks and the bartender was friendly and quick, never letting a line build up. At this particular dinner, it was set up buffet style. The buffet line was sectioned off from the dining area which was nice because it kept things organized and less chaotic. The big round tables  sat anywhere between 8-10 people. The staff at Cochon was excellent always clearing off tables keeping it nice and tidy the entire time. The food obviously was excellent as you would expect from Cochon. Based on this experience I would highly recommend this venue for your next private event. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

17 November 2013

I was very excited my alma mater decided to host our class reunion at Donald Link's restaurant, a James Beard Award-winning chef.  It was my first time at Calcasieu Ballroom and it was a memorable experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres and cocktail hour. The duck & pastrami sliders were very tasty and everyone loved the amazingly tender, jumbo shrimp wrapped with bacon. The charcuterie station was great and beautifully presented. I was not surprised as Cochon Butcher, another chef DL establishment is conveniently a few doors down from Calcasieu.The staff was very attentive and everything ran smoothly.  There was an open bar and they did not have champagne. I told the bartender that it was ok and I would have a different drink. He graciously stepped away and promptly came back with a bottle of champagne and poured me a glass of bubbly. I would highly recommend this place for a private event if you are looking for professional service and great food! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

14 October 2013

Uh - this place is awesome! Came here for a doctor-talk paid for by the peeps who own our hospital. Thank you very much! I probably wouldn't have a good reason to come here otherwise.After eating at Cochon a few times, my expectations for delicious food were quite high. The catering did not disappoint. The salads all came together, the entrees were served family style, and the dessert was warm and fresh. The bf (came for moral and co-dining support) made a passing comment about not eating gluten while apps were going around. BAM- they gave him gluten free dessert without even mentioning it to him or making a fuss. That's high quality service right there. The portion on the drinks were also quite lovely and generous. If I ever need to have a fancy event done right, I would highly consider going to Calcasieu. Hint: the door is literally next to Cochon's main door (other corner/not on same street that the Butcher is on). They basically own that little area of the CBD. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

9 October 2013

BY FAR the best wedding reception I've ever attended! The food was ridiculously good - blue crab beignets, fried alligator with chili garlic aioli, beef and mushroom skewers, shrimp on kettle chips as pass-arounds, and a cochon de lait buffet dinner. The setup of the bar, buffet, and seating made for easy access and served to highlight the dance floor perfectly. The lighting was gorgeous. The servers and bartenders were attentive, extremely friendly, and went above and beyond to make our evening spectacular. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

5 February 2013

Hosted a corporate function for 16 guests in the Wine Room at Calcasieu last night. I have extremely high standards, especially when entertaining clients. From the event coordinator, who always is available, flexible and engaged, to the servers, who carefully listened to and embraced my intended format and schedule, the customer service simply could not have been better. The room itself is warm and inviting, but also stunning in its simplistic beauty and charm. We offered our guests two choices in each of three courses, and I still marvel at the quality of the dishes, which arrived on cold or warmed plates, as appropriate. I would duplicate this menu again in a heartbeat.Soup or Salad: chicken and andoille gumbo or seasonal green salad with gruyere beignets and red wine vinaigrette (I ordered the latter and have rarely enjoyed a salad more. It was not overdressed, as frequently happens, and the sweet and tart julienne vegetables were a perfect counterpoint to the tangy vinaigrette.)Entree:black drum courtbouillon with Louisiana rice, tomatoes, peppers and basil or pan roasted filet mignon with brabant potatoes and creamed spinach(Although I'm not a huge fan of creole or cajun cuisine, I greatly enjoyed the black drum, which was the star of the plate rather than an overabundance of poorly seasoned rice that I've encountered elsewhere. Every bite of this dish was delicious.)Dessert:lemon buttermilk pie or chocolate chip bread pudding(I split my bread pudding with another guest who ordered the lemon buttermilk pie, so I tasted both offerings. The bread pudding was very good and enjoyed by all. The Lemon buttermilk pie is a lemon tart. The flavor was well balanced and the crust was light and flaky. Bottom line, everyone enjoyed the desserts.)As a side note, we offered guests the house red and white, plus local and domestic beers. I'm a bit of a wine snob, but enjoyed the red quite a lot. It was a little light and fruity for this cab lover, but very palatable all the same. For many reasons, I will return to Calcasieu for my next corporate event. Although I've hosted dinners at most of the highly rated restaurants in Baton Rouge and New Orleans when visiting Louisiana, and at a number of the plantations that offer dinner service, Calcasieu is by far the best I've found in terms of service, cuisine and ambiance. Kudos to all at this establishment. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

21 December 2012

This is long. Sorry. If you want to read about the food jump down to near the bottom...My daughter eloped in the fall of 2011 and my husband and I struggled with finding the perfect way to celebrate their marriage and make it special, without making it a "wedding reception,"  which they DID NOT want.  We don't live in New Orleans but we have ties there and visit often. Since so many relatives were going to have to travel to attend this event anyway, we went for it and sought out a venue in NOLA.  I did some asking around and reading on the web and found that it was a challenge to find something that was more than just a room off of a main restaurant with a limited menu.  Those options made it seem like going out to dinner, rather than an event.  Some places said our party was too small (50 guests) and others seemed to not be interested for whatever reason (my inquiry at the WW2 museum was never acknowledged.)    At the time, Calcasieu was fairly new and there wasn't much to read about it, except the online menus.  We had eaten at Cochon and Butcher several times, so I knew the food would be outstanding.Long story short (too late!) we talked to the event planner at Calcasieu and put down a deposit for Feb 2011.  Not even a week later we found out that the Navy had changed schedules and my submariner son-in-law wouldn't be available on that date.  The folks at Calcasieu didn't bat an eye.  They just said to let them know what the new date would be.  Turned out to not be possible until Nov 2012!  Again, not a problem for them.I mention all this because this was only the beginning of how awesome the staff was.  When it came time to (finally) plan the menu and details, we made several special requests, including a few vegetarian meals and a bride with food allergies, which they were happy to accommodate and also offered seriously valuable guidance throughout the process.  Any time I sent an email, it was answered within hours, usually minutes.  They were able to refer me to a great  florist (Fat Cat Flowers) and offered to help us find a band or DJ.  We didn't need that help because my amazing brother already found us a great jazz combo, but the point is they were all over whatver we needed.By the time the date of the party rolled around, I have to say that our expectations were probably ridiculously high and yet they managed to exceed them on every count.  The food, the servers, the gorgeous rooms - every single thing was impeccable.Speaking of food, we ordered a LOT of it.  Nobody goes home hungry from one our our parties, but even by that standard it was a lot of food.  We did an hour of  hors d'oeuveres/cocktails then dinnerPassed hors d'oeuvres -- Blue Crab Begniets (A crowd favorite)- Duck Pastrami Sliders (MY favorite!)- Tomato/goat cheese bruschetta (These went fast!)Platters -- Assorted artisanal cheeses (I thought I knew about cheese, but oh I learned much.)- Charcuterie (Sublime. Words escape me.)- Pimiento cheese with house made crackers (Sounds boring, but NOT)- Tiny pork belly and mint sandwiches from the Butcher menu (A special request from the bride.)Dinner -- Chicken and Andouille Gumbo- Salad- House made rolls- Grand Dad's Chicken and Dumplings- Braised Short Ribs with Chive Mashed Potatoes and Onion Jam (Oh my!)- Buttered Local Vegetables- Pancetta Mac and Cheese (Another special request, from the Butcher menu.)Carving Station -- Cochon de Lait  (This seemed over the top, and it was!  But no regrets.  How can you NOT order this?)Dessert -- Chocolate Doberge (The groom wanted this and he was not wrong!)- Red Velvet Cake (The bride wanted this and she was not wrong!  So many people mentioned how they loved this even though they don't even like Red Velvet!)- Lemon Buttermilk Pie- Seasonal Fruit Tarts (I could not even taste one of these or the lemon pie due to there being NO MORE ROOM IN MY BELLY, but I'm told they were good.)Oh, yeah, open bar.  Not much to say here except it was well done.I wish I had the words and the time to describe each dish in detail but I'm no food critic, though you may have noticed that we like to eat and have some experience in that area.  I can say that individually all the dishes were absolutely sublime.  All together, as an experience, the event was something that our family and friends will be talking about for a long time to come.  It just doesn't get any better.  Best. Party. Ever. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

24 May 2012

I visited the Calcasieu Room last night to attend a wine dinner with german food/Rudi Weist wines for NOWFE. I was very impressed with the decor and ambiance of the room. It is very clean, and the view is spectacular. We had around 25 people at the dinner, and we sat at one long table in the middle of the main room. The Good:The plates for the dishes were warmed/chilled according to the dish on them. A big plus. Food was fantastic, and needless to say, I'm very impressed with Link/Stryjewsky's German cuisine. The wines were impeccable (not that this is to the credit of Calcasieu), but the stemware was cleaned properly and paired properly. Hugely important for a wine dinner. The wine pouring and food expediting was proper as well, as the ladies were served first and from the right side. I also enjoyed getting to see the cooks through the gauzy veil that was pulled in front of the expo window. Very nice, quiet, precise service. The Bad:The seating for this dinner was a little tight, as I had my leg slammed up against another chair/table leg for the whole night. Had everyone attended, the seating would have been far too...erm..."intimate." Getting out and in for restroom breaks with this setup was difficult. Service was nice, but there were some servers with a small attitude. They might have had a bad day, or tired of our 3-hour dinner, but small, somewhat underhandedly snarky comments are not necessary. Overall, a very pleasant and enjoyable experience. This is the perfect venue for a rehearsal dinner or business dinner. I would say that the main room could comfortably seat about 60-70 at separate tables, and the small side room around 20. There is a private bar in the main room that is elegant, as well as a small side wine room that would seat about 16. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

22 March 2012

A vendor brought me here for a nice dinner while at a conference and I must say, i was impressed.Since it is a spot for larger parties, there is not much of a choice on the menu, but they make up for that with the quality of the food. I loved the Courtbuillion (?sp) fish that they cooked up for me and the gumbo was fantastic. Drink selection is a little lacking but you are not going there for the bar. If you want to impress a group of people at a dinner, this is the place to go. More...

Reviewed on Yelp