Waiter melee at Antoine's (famous French Quarter restaurant)

[KamaAina]

Hell yeah! Now this is New Orleans news, the way I remember it!

http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/04/shooting_reported_at_antoines.html

Before they could serve the first order of oysters rockefeller, two "apprentice waiters" at Antoine's attacked one another in a melee that ended with a swinging glass bottle and a pool of blood, said the restaurant's owner, Rick Blount.

The melee interupted the table-setting routine and sent one waiter to the hospital and another to police custody -- all before dinner. The New Orleans Police Department initially dispatched officers to the restaurant in the 700 block of St. Louis Street for an alleged shooting, but that later proved false.

Shell-shocked employees in crisp starched shirts watched wide-eyed as medics attended to the bloody teen. Few passerby took note as medics lifted the injured waiter, strapped to a stretcher and wearing black work slacks and a white shirt stained crimson, into the ambulance....

Restaurant employees shortly later told a few inquisitive folks that a gas leak inside the restaurant caused the commotion. The doors were slated to open at 5:30 p.m., but Blount anticipated dinner would be pushed back a few minutes.

This, my friends, is the very essence of why the city is worth saving. It's hard news when dinner at Antoine's might be pushed back a few minutes!

Note: KaMakuahineOKamaAina (Mom) and I had brunch at Antoine's during our January visit. It's laden with atmosphere, and the "rich Louisiana gumbo" is all that!

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I have a menu from Antoine's from the early 1960s.

Also one from Brennan's. The prices are hilarious, and the food at both places is excellent.