In a first time visit to NYC a walk through Times Square or a view from the Empire State Building is obligatory. So to is stopping at the Cafe Du Monde, while in New Orleans, for a Cafe Au Lait and Beignets.

Brief History

The Cafe Du Monde was first established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. It now stands on the outskirts of the market just off Jackson Square. For those who have not been to New Orleans, the square is a park where many artists can be found in the early morning and increasing in great numbers as the sun rises higher in the sky.

Paint, pastel, and pencil artists, mimes, fortune tellers, musicians, and many other entertainers, most who are very good, are out hawking their wares and services. It is a lively place where horse and carriage rides embark and disembark for tours of the French Quarter. Directly across from the cafe are some fine and interesting little shops.

The Cafe Du Monde started with a very basic menu of its signature coffee, beignets, white and chocolate milk, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Todays menu now offers more, but not much more. I'll get to the current selections in a bit.

Cafe Du Monde is open everyday 24/7 except for Christmas. They also post that they do close "...on the day an occasional hurricane passes too close to New Orleans"

The cafe is under new management, that is new management for the last sixty years, so be assured you will get the same experience of the product each time you go.

The DINING AREA

The cafe is divided into the outside area that is under a green and white awning that has a two and a half foot fence containing the dining area. The inside has a high roof line with fans dangling down from the vaulted ceiling. The cement structure has high beige coloured, stucco-like arches that help divide the room and give it some charm. It's simple and has nothing fancy in decor.

Small round tables with marble like tops are set throughout the inside and outside areas. These are accompanied by chrome chairs with green backing and cushions reminiscent of chrome-mica kitchen sets from the fifties. On each table is a napkin holder that gets much action because of the powdered sugar that seems to get into and onto everything. On the napkin holder you'll find the menu printed on a decal. Beside the napkin holder is a glass container with sugar. That's it! Nothing else is needed. You are prepared to indulge.

We happen to like the outdoor section. There is a significant amount of people watching to do from this vantage point and the occasional breezes from the waterfront are refreshing. With the awning above, you are protected from the suns bright rays and heat.

THE SERVICE

We were served quite quickly. As the day goes on this place gets to be VERY popular. That means big crowds. The earlier relaxed surroundings tends to morph into a busy place with hordes of people waiting to get in. The earlier you are there, the less the wait and, in my mind, a much more pleasant atmosphere.

The staff wears white shirts with a black bow tie and white aprons. The white helps conceal the white powdered sugar that manages to get everywhere. The servers also wear what I think of as a soda fountain hat. If anyone knows the name of this kind of hat, please leave a comment. The hats have the Cafe Du Monde logo on it.

In having a limited menu time with the server doesn't take long. In fact they do tend to try and get your order quickly. At the same time they are not terse nor do they rush you once you have your cups and plates in front of you. The staff was somewhat friendly and very business like.

THE MENU

The two top items are the coffee and beignets. The coffee is sold in two sizes as is the white or chocolate milk. The fresh squeezed orange juice is served in one 8oz size for about a dollar and a half.

Now on the menu is Iced Coffee, regular or decaf, Frozen Cafe Au Lait at about three dollars and hot chocolate that comes small or large.

Bottled spring water and a few Coca Cola name brand soft drinks are now available.

It's also good to know that all items are available for take out. This is good if you want to just stroll the park or water front with a cup-a or perhaps take it back to your room if nearby. Our hotel was about a block and a half away. We stayed at a Wyndham property, the Bourbon Orleans. We enjoyed our stay there as we did a cup of the Cafe Au Lait while sitting around their outdoor, tropically set, pool.

CAFE AU LAIT

The coffee from Cafe Du Monde is different from most. Due to a shortage of coffee, during one war or another, the usual dark roasted coffee was enhanced with chicory, the root of the endive plant. This helped give a slight chocolate taste while at the same time cutting the bitterness of the dark roast coffee. This mixture of coffee and chicory is mixed fifty-fifty with hot milk to give you Cafe Au Lait.

This is served to you in a cup and saucer. Like any other coffees it is suggested you try it in different ways to get the taste that suits you. No milk, more milk, sugar added or not, I'm sure most everyone finds a mix that is "just right". I happen to enjoy mine straight coffee and sugar while my wife goes for the traditional Cafe Au Lait fifty-fifty mix, no sugar.

Cafe Au Lait is also available in decaf.

BEIGNETS

A beignet is a French donut. These are shaped in squares, deep fried in cotton seed oil to a crisp outside and soft warm inside. They have a slight sweet taste that is overloaded with more sweetness by way of powdered sugar that is generously added to the tops of them.

The beignets are served in batches of three on a plate for a reasonable price. It was about $1.25 when we were there.

These things are sinfully good. I enjoy that dark coffee with the sweet beignets while sitting back talking with my wife and watching the world go by. Nothing like it!

Just a reminder here that you can purchase Cafe Du Monde Mugs and other gift items like recipe books and tote bags at the cafe or on line. More important, and what we have done, is ordered the Cafe Au Lait and beignet mix to be sent home.


LAST THOUGHTS

Though you may get a bit of the scent of the beignets from the outside dining area where most everyone is dressed very casually and are enjoying there servings, you will get the best view and aromas when you go to the kitchen area. If you happen to need the restrooms which I suggest using, because of the sugar, after eating, check out the kitchen. It's right nearby. You can see first hand the "Birth of a Beignet".

I hope your visit to Cafe Du Monde is as relaxed and as tasteful as ours was.


More local reviews by popsrocks

New Orleans
French Quarter
The Garden District A must visit when in Nawlin's.
Preservation Hall A must see and hear!
Wyndham Bourbon Orleans Hotel In the French Quarter.




Recommended: Yes