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Cowbell and Hi Hat

Posted on 7/31/11 at 10:44 am
Posted by VOR
Member since Apr 2009
67345 posts
Posted on 7/31/11 at 10:44 am
I don't have time for full scale reviews, but my wife and I ate at both places within the last five days.

Cowbell (Oak at River Road)

Small interior but with two large picnic tables covered outside if it's not too hot. Nice, funky decor. Very casual.

I had the burger, fries and a Boddington ale (or two). The burger was terrific, fresh hand pattied and cooked just right. Fries are fresh cut and freshly fried.

My wife had the crabcakes with a celery remoulade and fries. Excellent. She even drank a very decent rose'.

[b]Hi Hat (Freret, a block or so off of Napoleon)[/b]

Former bakery turned into restaurant. Nice interior that reminds me of a couple of Uptown, neighborhood restaurants (terrazo like floor, original wood, etc) of days gone by. Maybe like Allgood's but with better food.

Anyway, I had the catfish with fresh cut fries and mustard greens. The catfish was cooked just right with a nice batter that wasn't too heavy. The mustards were not overcooked (hard to find) but had a nice, almost vinergary flavor.

My wife had the watermelon and crabmeat salad combination and an order of fried okra. The watermelon and crabmeat was a great juxtaposition. Very nice dish. The fried okra was fine, not great, but acceptable.

glassman recommends the burger and I'll give it a try next time. Hi Hat will turn out to be a great addition to that part of Uptown. Open seven days a week and nothing like it nearby.


This post was edited on 7/31/11 at 10:46 am
Posted by Lakebound
Member since Nov 2004
3953 posts
Posted on 7/31/11 at 10:51 am to
The Times-Picayune liked Cowbell.

July 2011 review
Posted by VOR
Member since Apr 2009
67345 posts
Posted on 7/31/11 at 5:37 pm to
It's definitely a place to keep on the list.
Posted by Rohan2Reed
Member since Nov 2003
75674 posts
Posted on 7/31/11 at 5:57 pm to
quote:

glassman recommends the burger and I'll give it a try next time. Hi Hat will turn out to be a great addition to that part of Uptown. Open seven days a week and nothing like it nearby.


the burger w/ pimento cheese is legit
Posted by VOR
Member since Apr 2009
67345 posts
Posted on 7/31/11 at 7:16 pm to
quote:

the burger w/ pimento cheese is legit


glassman was drooling just describing it to me.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288161 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:06 pm to
went to High Hat Cafe today.


food was good.

prices are too high though.

$8 for a bowl of corn and crab bisque

I had the fried catfish. Very good. Like the batter. Reminded me of Piccadilly. Dont know if thats a good thing to some people, but it is to me

homemade fries were good as was the cole slaw

hush puppies were below average.



shoot, i dont consider myself a cheap arse(well i know i am not)....but it is just me or do a lot of these new places over priced? Its just coincidental that Cowbell is mentioned in this thread as well, because I feel their burgers are great, but shite, very expensive.


we ate today at high hat, 2 people, had the $8 C&B bisque, 2 catfish plates, and 2 drinks. $47!!! Most expensive meal for 2 ive ever had at a "cafe". lose the cafe mantra or drop the price, imo.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288161 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:11 pm to
btw i love the feel on the inside. tile floors, the old "high hat" sign. The old bar. The way you can see the kitchen through the back window. Cool little spot.
Posted by Winkface
Member since Jul 2010
34377 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:12 pm to
I'm with ya Lester but it seems as if the price of everything is going up. I wish it would stop.
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
6017 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:13 pm to
I dont think the cafe is intended to be read as strictly as you say. But prices are getting higher everywhere, add into it cost of rebuilding a space and prices need to be at a certain point.

But a per cover check average of $23.50 isnt outrageous.
Posted by Neauxla
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
33997 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:15 pm to
quote:


But a per cover check average of $23.50 isnt outrageous.


for lunch, that's high IMO
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
6017 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:19 pm to
2 drinks, adult drinks or kid drinks?
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288161 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

add into it cost of rebuilding a space and prices need to be at a certain point.


i guess, but I don't think that should reflect the pricing of the food.

should it? I dont think I should have to over pay so they can pay for renovations.

quote:

I dont think the cafe is intended to be read as strictly as you say.


on their own website they describe it as a " casual neighborhood spot". I mean you walk into the place, and it is totally what you would expect it to be, as far as appearance. And then you look at the prices on the menu and it doesn't really match up to me.

quote:

But a per cover check average of $23.50 isnt outrageous.



Im just a middle class dude. That is a lot to spend on dinner for me, much less a lunch.

I saw the prices before I went. I really wanted to try it. I came away with good food, but it simply didn't match up to the pricing in my eyes. I thought maybe the portions would make it worthwhile, but that really wasnt the case.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288161 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:22 pm to
quote:

2 drinks, adult drinks or kid drinks?



iced tea and diet coke
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
6017 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:28 pm to
A restaurant is a very strange beast.

Basically if they are doing it right, the food cost (meaning the cost to produce the dish) should be 30% or thereabouts on average. So a $10 plate of fried fish should cost them $3 to make. Then add in labor, rent, insurance, linens, electricity, etc...

We want in our heads for great food served in a nice environment to be inexpensive. Unfortunately it is very very difficult for a restaurant to do this. Especially any place that isnt just buying and reheating from Sysco.

This doesnt change that you thought it was expensive, just an alternative viewpoint as to why the prices are where they are.
Posted by glassman
Next to the beer taps at Finn's
Member since Oct 2008
117790 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:30 pm to
The first time I went I got the Hi-Hat burger aand 2 diet Cokes. The second was a re-fiil. It was like 13.00. It was great and well worth that. The second time I went I got the crab meat and watermelon salad and the whole fried catfishand two NOLA Blonde pints to drink.

The crab salad was 12.50, but worth it IMO. There wasn't a piece of crab smaller than my thumb nail and the dressing was perfect. The whole catfish was like 13.00. Worth it, the beers were expensive at 6.00 a pint. That is expensive compared to other places. I left satisfied and happy. That is all I care about.
This post was edited on 8/5/11 at 3:32 pm
Posted by Neauxla
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
33997 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:32 pm to
quote:


The crab salad was 12.50, but worth it IMO. There wasn't a piece of crab smaller than my thumb nail and the dressing was perfect. The whole catfish was like 13.00


Respectable prices
Posted by glassman
Next to the beer taps at Finn's
Member since Oct 2008
117790 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:33 pm to
quote:

Respectable prices


The salad was well worth the price. The crab meat was beautiful.
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
6017 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:34 pm to
Lester,

How was the soups? Sounds like what was the priciest complaint was the bowl of crab soup. Crabmeat is one expensive arse commodity.
Posted by kfizzle85
Member since Dec 2005
22022 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:40 pm to
Food is fine but I agree, the beer is pricey. Both times I went I ended up with $50-60 bills because I drank 3 beers. Not complaining, I knew what I was doing, just observing.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
288161 posts
Posted on 8/5/11 at 3:41 pm to
it was thick and creamy.... lacked salt, but it was tasty all together. Had 3-4 big pieces of lump crab in it.


and yeah that was prob the biggest complaint as far as the pricing. All the apps are in that price range, from $8-$12.
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