The Delachaise

4/4/2008 8:37:27 AM, friday, april 04, 2008
Delachaise is just around the corner from The Bulldog, making my long walk to this neighborhood worthwhile. Delachaise looks like it is in an old drive-thru restaurant, but like a lot of businesses I’ve been to in New Orleans, looks like it’s on its 8th or 9th incarnation of commerce. It’s bright in here, with a lot of glass. The beer-list was practically identical to what could be found at The Bulldog and d.b.a., and maybe it was because I visited this place last, but I thought it was the least interesting. There was a selection of wine, cognac, whiskey, and scotch. My fatigue with beers available in this city reached a new low here – I didn’t even get a beer here, opting for some high-end bourbon instead. Delachaise had some light food on the menu, and appeared to cater to the wine & cheese crowd more than the beer-geek crowd (right down to a bartender who sounded French). If you are one of those beer aficionado’s who dabble in those other libations as well, then this might be a good fit for you. Flyer and I split a cheese plate which was frankly overpriced for the quantities you were given. Drinks were more expensive than other places I’ve cited as well. If you’re visiting with a non-beer person (wife, girlfriend, etc), then Delachaise might be a good compromise, but if you’re looking for a great beer experience, you would be better served elsewhere.

4/3/2008 9:35:46 PM, thursday, april 03, 2008
Much more of a wine and cheese bar (that happens to have a decent craft beer line-up) than a craft beer bar. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) The atmosphere is very nice, with a kind of casual sophistication, and although the beer menu was very similar to that of d.b.a. and the Bulldog, it was obvious the bartender knew nothing about beer. From the looks of the clientele (sorry for any stereotyping) I’d have to guess the same. Zero beer culture so much so that Beerbelcher ordered a whiskey. Still, for what it is, it’s a very good place, but there is a clear air of pretension, and for a beer-oriented experience, you’re much better off at the nearby Bulldog, and even better off taking the short trip to d.b.a.