is Mosca's worth a one hour drive?

I like to carry cash like the real Paul Allen.

Need to go with a decent sized group, minimum of six. Order family style and have a driver.

Glass, what's your typical order for group that size?

Chicken a la grande
Oysters mosca
Spaghetti and meatballs
Chicken cacciatore
Crabmeat salad
Filet for the table

That'll do for a group

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If you are in Baton Rouge I would say not worth the trip but within 10-15 miles it's worth it. Wine is OK but food is great.

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You have to drink the Chianti in the wicker basket bottle out of the water glasses. Best basic spaghetti and meatballs around.

And there are only three restaurants I order chicken - with the exception of a few for fried - Tujagues chicken bonne femme, Gautreau's roasted chicken and Moscas chicken a La Grande Whole to split with my wife. One hour and bottle and a half later it is ready.

I don't make a special trip but do find myself in the area for one reason or another about once a year and enjoy it. I normally get in early but past 6 or so I'd recommend a reservation.

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I've read Carlos Marcello was a regular at Mosca's.

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"they" held meetings at moscas.

IMHO, not worth an hour drive unless you've never been and really like old LA restaurants. Food-wise, it is what it is. Chicken grande & oysters mosca are solid, but not exactly revolutionary. There are ppl who adore the purported organized crime connection, others like the idea of schlepping out to just past Avondale as an adventure. I drive by the place 2x a day on my commute and I've been exactly once in 15 years. On a day when shrimpers less than 10 miles from the restaurant were practically giving away 16-20 count shrimp at ~$3/lb, I ordered shrimp Mosca (admittedly a tasty dish), paid $32, and got exactly 8 shrimp.

Now, I'm no fan of huge portions, and I know that fancy places have to pay for rent, linens, flowers, china, and fleets of fawning servers. But a joint like Mosca's--charging Gautreau's prices for a local product practically being given away quite nearby--just bugged the shite out of me. Ah, well....that just leaves more seats for the fans.

If you have never been there, yes, go. Scratch it off your bucket list. Start with the crabmeat salad, then the table can share shrimp Mosca, oysters Mosca and chicken grande. The food is delicious but the reason we don't go there more often is that we cook all these dishes at home.

I like Mosca's fine and I'm not bothered by cash only, but I'd rather drive an hour for damned good barbecue.