re: Mosca's Nola - Thoughts?

Mosca's is one of the most overrated places I've ever been to. I heard it hyped for years and when I finally went it was a huge letdown. 90% of the allure has to be for nostalgia reasons.

there is a way to eat at moscas and if you don't eat that way you won't like it

1) 4 ppl minimum, 6 is better
2) order for the table...four entrees and two apps/pastas will be plenty
3) required items are roasted chicken, oysters mosca, crab salad and Italian sausage. Get a pasta bordelaise and a pasta red sauce

either load the table with food and pass it around or go somewhere else. It's not fine dining for two

Calvin Trillin on Mosca's

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It is true that Mosca’s devotion to garlic has remained unchanged since the days when Provino Mosca was at the stove, and almost the same can be said of the menu; it’s not the sort of place that surprises you with its daily specials. I could give my order before I get out of the car. I should say “our order,” since the family-style portions served at Mosca’s make it not the place to go for that contemplative dinner alone. We’ve always wanted Italian Crab Salad, Oysters Mosca, Spaghetti Bordelaise, Chicken a la Grande, Shrimp Mosca, and Mosca’s Sausage. At times, we have ordered the Chicken Cacciatore as well as the Chicken a la Grande. I consider that a permissible variation. We have never ordered Chicken Cacciatore instead of Chicken a la Grande. I do not consider that a permissible variation.

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Factoid of the day:

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The Moscas pronounce it with a long “o,” as in “Joe,” while everyone in New Orleans has always pronounced the first syllable to rhyme with “ma” or “pa.”

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I don't know of any restaurant that has been more consistent over as long a period of time as Mosca's. Except for the prices, eating there today is essentially the same excellent experience as it was 40 years ago. Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, I'll write off an old favorite in a heartbeat if I get crappy food (Mandina's).

I love the place,I don't care if the wait staff is old and grumpy, I prefer that to some chippy college kid who say "HI, MY NAME IS BROOK, I'LL BE YOUR SERVER TODAY". I don't care if the mixed drinks are mediocre, I don't go there for the martinis.

Mosca's is not for everyone, that's a good thing.