Café Maspero

Café Maspero at 601 Decatur Street in New Orleans' French Quarter has occupied its corner location since 1975, serving as one of the most consistently affordable and reliable lunch stops in one of the city's busiest tourist corridors. The restaurant takes its name from the historic Maspero's Exchange, an 18th-century slave market and coffeehouse that stood on the same block; the current establishment has no historical connection beyond the name and address proximity, but the building itself is a classic French Quarter commercial structure with exposed brick and high ceilings. The menu is centered on inexpensive versions of New Orleans staples: po'boys on French bread with shrimp, oyster, catfish, and roast beef; a muffuletta that competes with Central Grocery on price and quantity; red beans and rice with sausage; crawfish soup; and daily specials. Portions are large and prices remain among the lowest in the French Quarter for sit-down food. The dining room stretches back from the Decatur Street entrance, with a second floor that catches a river breeze and offers views of the street below. Service is fast and no-frills — the kitchen is designed for volume. Lines form quickly at peak lunch hours, particularly on weekends when the French Market and nearby Jackson Square fill with visitors. No reservations; walk-in only. Café Maspero is the answer to the common French Quarter problem of wanting a hot meal with beer without paying fine-dining prices.