Sit down dinner for about 175 people in the French Quarter....

You might need a banquet room at a hotel.

Yeah I don't think that's possible outside of a banquet.

If you are doing Arnaud's, I may be able to help you out.

The second floor of the Palace Cafe might work.

Tujague's

Napoleon House also has an option where you could take over all or most of the restaurant.

I held an even for a little over a hundred people there a few years back (the management has since changed - it's now part of the Ralph Brennan group) and can attest that it works well for a group.

I was the director of catering for two different downtown hotels for fifteen years. Let me give you a small token of advise

if arnauds is willing to do it, and they have the space, that would be the only restaurant I would consider. Lisa sins is no longer there, and she was the best in the business, but they know what they are doing. Understand that what will be on your plate will be inferior to what you would get dining there normally, just the nature of serving that many people at the same time. Restaurants are geared towards staggered cooking, plating and serving.

alternatively, the Royal orleans, Royal sonesta, and the monteleone serve hundreds of people every day. They have the space (some rooms are very nice with balconies and such), you can do cocktails prior with private bars, and you will get a better meal. It will in most cases also be less expensive than arnauds, with more options

in a hotel you will have the undivided attention of dedicated wait staff and the banquet kitchen. In a restaurant unless you buy out the whole thing (VERY expensive) there is much more chance of stress and drama

Good luck

Thank you cgrand and others for the good advice. I should look into the Monteleone and Sonesta.

Brennan's could do it as well

If you want to persue Antoines call and ask for Matthew the GM or Derrick the banquet manager