Desire Oyster Bar

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1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   New York Area

   12 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on May 28, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Went here for lunch. Mum had a burger and I had fried shrimp. Very tasty and a nice size portion. Service was awesome! Would eat here again
   

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2. B

   Brandon

   Philadelphia

   10 reviews

   3.0

   10 reviews

   Dined on May 20, 2023

   overall3food4service5ambience3

   Good food but a bit overpriced. Service was good but the ambiance is just okay. It's a hotel restaurant so all of that is kind of expected. But a decent place for a meal overall.
   

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3. SB

   SusanB

   New England

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on May 6, 2023

   overall1food1service4ambience3

   Oysters were not served in their brine. Very disappointing.
   

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4. EB

   EllenB

   New York Area

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on May 4, 2023

   overall3food4service2ambience4

   The hostess initially was friendly when we met in person to change our seating time by 30 minutes. When we arrived she was rather curt and rude when brining us to our table. I have had better customer service at Olive Garden and expected more from an establishment that is connected the the Sonesta group. However, the waitress was pleasant and friendly.
   

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Las Vegas

   3 reviews

   1.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on May 1, 2023

   overall1food2service2ambience1

   Just… not good. Nothing about this place was impressive. Menus were sticky, food was overpriced and mediocre. Would not recommend.
   

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6. JW

   JeffreyW

   Denver

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on May 1, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The service was outstanding, and the food fresh and scrumptious. We had the Po' boys (one chicken and one oyster; outstanding bread) and the Creole trio--everything was good. Thanks and we'll be back on our next visit!
   

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7. MH

   MickealaH

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on April 30, 2023

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Folks please stay away, me and my fiancee, and another couple drove down from Baton Rouge to give this place a try . By the time we got our drinks and appetizers ,almost 45mins had passed. The quality was poor, the service was slow, there was plenty of staff, the building was maybe at 40% capacity. Nothing to really explain why the service was so poor. We ended up having to quickly find another restaurant to try. I never write reviews but, this had to be addressed
   

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8. E

   Eugene

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on April 27, 2023

   overall3food3service4ambience4

   The server was very sweet and attentive without overdoing it. Most of the raw oysters were delicious but a few were bland but I'm not sure how the restaurant could control that. The chargrilled oysters were disappointing.
   

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9. TB

   TimBeaufort

   Charleston

   6 reviews

   4.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on April 21, 2023

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   Great food and location. The roof is worth the wait.
   

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10. FY

    FatimaY

    Dallas

    9 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    The food was good, service could be more elevated.
    

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11. JB

    JBoy

    Atlanta Metro

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    My favorite oyster bar in New Orleans! Have been dropping by for many years while on business or vacation. Was pleased to see the ambience and food was better than ever this past week when my wife and I were in NOLA for 5 days. Interior has had an upgrade since last visit several years ago but retains the original flavor of when I first visited as a Tulane graduate student many years ago. Great New Orleans feel to the place and the service and food were outstanding as always.
    

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12. RG

    ReedG

    Portland

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We went to Desire for fresh oysters and classic New Orleans seafood and were absolutely not disappointed, Add in wonderful service and we had a tremendous evening, in fact we went back a few days later and had an equally great experience. Very moderately priced for the Quarter, we highly recommend!!
    

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13. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 16, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    It was ok . Food and ambience was good . Oysters were a hit !
    

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14. SN

    SamofNatchez

    New Orleans

    14 reviews

    2.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on April 15, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience1

    overall it was very slow service would’ve drank 3 x as much but the bartenders were Sooooo Slow, and the Oysters, were absolutely the smallest I have ever seen, they should be ashamed serving such small things. To many options down there to deal with this.
    

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Best oysters in NOLA! I have tried over a dozen or more places, and nobody beats their grilled oysters. I stop by up to twice a day while visiting just to grab them.
    

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always amazing! We come here every time we visit New Orleans! Consistently tasty food and excellent service.
    

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17. KA

    KAGacke

    Little Rock

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The shrimp and grits are amazing as well as the char grilled oysters and fried alligator. Quick turnaround on food and noise level permitted comfortable chatting amongst our group. Great location and people watching. Service was attentive. Wonderful French 75.
    

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18. CW

    ChrisW

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 8, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3

    Right on Bourbon Street, this place seemed like to place to be. The food was good, but not as good as some of the other places we dined in New Orleans. We liked the buffalo oysters, but the char grilled were not up to par. People watching was fun, but the windows were not very clean.
    

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19. LP

    LoriP

    Denver

    40 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    40 reviews

    Dined on April 8, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3

    This place was noisy. More like a diner. Server was wonderful. Food mediocre compared to other NOLA restaurants.
    

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20. SB

    ShirleenB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 4, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience2

    The wings were very good as an appetizer but our main courses were so salty several in our party could not eat them.
    

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Mississippi

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 21, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience2

    We don’t come to New Orleans much anymore, so I was really disappointed to come and get awful food. The gumbo was so salty and had no flavor otherwise, the jambalaya was dry and mushy, and the cocktails were not good. I was very sad about our dining experience.
    

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22. MC

    MichaelC

    Philadelphia

    24 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on March 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a great breakfast! Our service was sweet and very attentive! The food was just great!!
    

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23. TM

    TreciaM

    Atlanta Metro

    33 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Went on o this restaurant for my birthday. It he waiter was wonderful. We shared some barbecue oysters. Very good! Th sandwich came and again the food was very good and tasty. Our waiter was quick and kept checking with us. Surprised us with some bread pudding. I liked it. I would go back to this place again.
    

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 16, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    Tourist trap. Food was meh, service was slow. Don’t bother.
    

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25. JM

    JayMack

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    Reservations (almost) necessary from what we saw over a few days and the day of our reso. Overall very good, the charbroiled oysters weren’t overcooked, and the raw oysters were very fresh - no mignonette, and seemed to be prepared horseradish so not very strong, but those are personal preference things.
    

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26. G

    Grandee

    Chicago

    81 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    81 reviews

    Dined on March 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had just arrived to New Orleans the day we went to Desire. We had set up a reservation for dinner for just the 2 of us. When we arrived there was a wait, so like many restaurants on Bourbon St., there is often a wait here. The wait wasn't bad and we got the table we really wanted. Food was great, service was great....loved my shrimp & grits. Good welcome to NoLa
    

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27. TR

    TedR

    New Orleans

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 14, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience4

    Wonderful food and great oysters! Always a great experience
    

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28. J

    Jenb

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on March 13, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience3

    Oysters rockefeller and chicken wings were overcooked. Oysters raw were sitting open for a long time as they were served without any juice left in them. Was disappointed as this was supposed to be highly rated.
    

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Dallas

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience2

    Charged 14 since someone in party didn’t eat but they didn’t tell us that otherwise would have gotten something. Had a margarita it was awful.
    

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30. M

    Michele

    Memphis

    26 reviews

    4.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Food was above average. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was great. Shrimp and grits dish was average. Jambalaya was good. Chicken and waffles were good. Shrimp pasta Alfredo was average. Deserts were excellent!
    

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31. m

    mammodoc

    Phoenix

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on March 6, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    We really enjoyed our meal, crayfish etouffe, topped off with a huge piece of yummy bread pudding! Lots of people watching available!!
    

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32. PH

    PaigeH

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 5, 2023

    overall2food1service1ambience3

    Service was not good and food was nasty. Probably won’t be back :(
    

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33. SL

    SylvainL

    Ottawa

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall1food1service4ambience1

    Really! This place sucks! Overcooked shrimps, awful looking/tasting grilled oysters.. even the glass of water tasted bad.. Typical Bourbon street tourist trap.. stay away!
    

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34. J

    Jimbok64

    Las Vegas

    77 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    77 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    Kiki at the bar took care of me and did a wonderful job. My meal was served quick and hot. I'll definitely return in the future.
    

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35. J

    Jerseyjimmy90

    Jersey

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 24, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience4

    Start came after the main. Grits tasted like mush. Nothing special
    

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36. DA

    DaryllA

    New Orleans

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 22, 2023

    overall3food4service1ambience2

    Employees do not seem very enthusiastic about their jobs and sadly is forwarded onto the customers. Not even good service, ok service might even be pushing it. Definitely ruins the expectations of the experience.
    

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37. S

    Sherry

    New York Area

    50 reviews

    3.0

    50 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience5

    Decent food for the Quarter. Grilled oysters and po' boy were tasty.
    

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38. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience3

    I understand the chaos that Mardi Gras brings but food was served Luke warm at best.
    

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I’ve had chargrilled oysters all over town and Desire makes theirs very unique and it was awesomely delicious! I recommend coming here after trying other places so you can appreciate how they make theirs!
    

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40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Austin

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience3

    This place is chill and set up like a diner, so there is no need to dress up. I got the gumbo. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it wasn't terrible. For a rare chilly night, it hit the spot and was filling. Pictures I had seen online showed toasted bread cut on the bias, but I did not receive any with mine. My spouse got the boiled peel & eat shrimp and said they were "nothing special" and "weren't worth the effort". He also got the char grilled oysters and loved them. He said they were the best he could remember having in a long while, if ever. He mentioned them several times during our stay and wished he'd had a moment and appetite to go get more, but he never had the opportunity. I also ordered the Tito's Strawberry Lemonade. Unlike the other locations we'd been to in the FQ, this place gave a skinny little glass with mostly ice when other locations gave an adequate amount of spirits for the price. This is coming from a person who isn't a big drinker. I maybe had 1.5 drinks per night while in town, so that should tell you how underwhelming it was for me to bother mentioning it. We finished off by sharing the pecan pie and bread pudding. Both were just OK. Let me preface by saying we really set up high standards when it comes to these two deserts because they are some of our favorites. We didn't like the bread pudding at GW Fins either. If we went back, it would strictly be for my husband so he could get the oysters.
    

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