Delachaise
3405 St. Charles Ave. (Uptown on St. Charles Streetcar Line/Delachaise St.)
Open: 7 days a week 5 '-till
Reason: A charming night to spend with friends around fine alcohol and artisan cheeses.
Drink: $5 daily wines are always a great steal
Drank: French 75
Drunk: The liquor selection is immense; seek out a unique gin or scotch you’ve yet to try.
mindless musings:
If we’re friends, it’s likely we’ve shared a drink together at Delachaise. If we’re good friends, it’s likely we’ve shared a cheese plate as well. Our darling Delachaise gets it right time and time again. And let us add a disclaimer that this opinion of adoration lies completely independent from the on-again, off-again bartender love triangle x 5 which one LOCer happens to be involved in. Nor is it relevant that because of this love triangle that our drinks are frequently comp’ed. Nope, attractive bartenders and free drinks are just an added bonus.
At Delachaise we were lucky enough to form a list of people who easily became the biggest supporters of our drinking habits and of our pocket books. The list went a little something like this:
- friends of friends that think you’re cute
- bartenders that think you’re cute
- those whom you’re actually dating
- those whom that feel guilty that they stopped dating you
- your current roommate’s ex
- your current roommate’s ex that she is now currently dating
- your current roommate’s ex that is now also currently your roommate
- your current roommate’s ex that screwed her over yet once again
- chefs that have always had a thing for your current roommate
Sadly, over the last month or so, practically all these options ran out and we actually had an experience in which we were required to pay for our bill in its entirety (We were appalled. Even worse, we even had a female birthday in the group. And do you know how hard girls take it when they don’t get free drinks on their birthdays? Exactly, there was an episode.) Therefore, we refrained from visiting Delachaise for a month or so… and then one of our roommates and her ex started dating again…
But even if you aren’t lucky(?) enough to experience any of Delachaise’s delectable drama, you’re sure experience many other delectable qualities about this bar. I.e., we’ve still found countless reasons to visit the bar regardless of the status of the list listed above. In particular, our favorite time to visit Delachaise is at night and our favorite area to drink in the night is the outdoor patio. It’s amazing how a few strings of twinkling Christmas lights can bring a soft elegance to this otherwise underwhelming area (you practically forget that you’re sitting on rackety patio furniture with nothing but a neighboring gas station and a street car line for ambiance.) Maybe it’s all the wine we drink, the fabulous food we eat, or the great people that accompany us here - but there is a distinct feeling that overcomes us every time we’re enjoying ourselves on that patio. It’s as if we’re nestled away in a quaint, romantic spot of the city in which everyone around us is experiencing the same soft appreciation of life as we are.
Of course, as you venture inside, it is much more upbeat with the hustle and bustle of bartenders trying to wait on the impatient nightly crowd. The one downside to Delachaise is the long, oval shape of the bar that takes up much of the inside space, and the fact that you must order all food and drinks from this here bar. You can wait 20 minutes to place your order at 9pm on a Friday and this high activity level can last well until 1am - definitely detracting from the delicate appeal mentioned above. Yet, be patient and take pleasure in the fact that, just like you, many others have made their way out to appreciate this gem of a bar.
(But don’t be too patient…!
Speak up, order our drinks and hurry back to our table outside!
We’re sick of awkwardly not making eye contact with the awful saxophonist who we somewhat enjoy until he goes around asking for money!)
“Laissez les bon temps rouler”
- LOC Lovers of Love Triangles
Insider Tip:
(1) As mentioned, all food and drinks must be ordered at the bar and on a Friday and Saturday night you will begin to notice your soul painfully trying to escape from your body as you wait to order beer after beer. Thus, if you’re with a group, have one person go inside to order each round. Or else choose a strong drink that you can sip on over a long period (FYI a double vodka water with lime is not the way to achieve this. Bleh.)
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