Restaurant Review: Cannons on St. Charles
Okay everybody, it is time for something I have not done in quite some time: a restaurant review.
Cannon’s on St. Charles Avenue is not normally the type of place I would chose to go, but Sunday was a bear of a day (no offense Bigezbear) and cooking was not on the agenda. Looking at what was open on Sunday a Cannon’s burger seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately it was not.
Disclosure: right after the storm I worked at Cannon’s for a few months. It was close to the house and constantly full because it was just about the only restaurant in the city open. Since everyone who was back before that first Post-K Halloween was dealing with some variety of undead refrigerator most people were eating out.
I knew that it was not an exceptional place, but I figured that almost non-one could mess up a burger. As my experience over the weekend proved Cannon’s can. The only valid reason for eating there is if you have no other options.
I called in an order for take out: eggplant sticks, coconut shrimp, a “Blue Roof” Burger and a regular burger with lettuce, bacon and swiss only. I was told over the phone that it would be ready in fifteen minutes. Not so. Not even close.
After an hour wait (keep in mind that this is an hour after I rode my bike the 5 blocks over) I still had not received my order. The bartender, Chris, was very professional and apologetic (the only hint of that found in this interaction), checking to see if the food was ready several times. Finally the order came up and I did the quick ride home.
Upon opening the to-go containers we discovered that I had wasted an hour for no good reason.
While I was waiting for my writing career to become self supporting I was a waiter for many years here in the city. I have worked through Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, Bayou Classic and more both on St Charles Ave and in the Vieux Carre. I do not get my panties in a bunch over small (or even medium) problems. This experience made me angry.
All of the food was ice cold. The fries were limp and obviously old, the burgers had no trace of heat to them and were undersized. The eggplant sticks had all of the warmth of a service station chip. Only the coconut shrimp were hot. In addition the burger order was wrong. Wrong on a order I had repeated no less than three times to the person taking it. Wrong when I stressed certain things be left off due to allergies.
Mistakes happen. Orders get made incorrectly, food sometimes sits too long and loses its warmth, wait times can telescope. All three of these things occurring at the same time, and during a period of the afternoon when there were only about three or four tables in the place is preposterous. If the food were generally of a quality higher than that of the average American chain restaurant I might consider giving them another chance, but its not.
Final Score: 5 Rotten Crawfish (Avoid at all costs)
-Loki, Founder HumidCity
March 10th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I loathe Cannon’s. The only time I made the mistake of dining in one (on the WB), I got violently ill afterwards from their Tilapia.
Awful, horrible. 5 rotten crawfish seems generous in my view.
March 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
It is my belief that anyone who has ever worked in the rest. service industry is very forgiving, we’re also great tippers, but this is unbelievable.
Why didn’t you take it back and rip them a new one?
Maybe, it wasn’t worth the effort.
I gotta say that eggplants sticks sound fantastic. I have been away from home way too long.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
In light of our wait at Coffea the other day (although admittedly the food was good once it showed up), that had to be terribly frustrating. Thanks for the heads up on Cannons- I have never gone there because I was under the impression it was a pricey fine-dining establishment, but now I know to avoid for other reasons.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I love Cannon’s and think that it is delicious. I have had only good experiences there. You seem like the type of person who loves to complain. Did you report this incident to a manager, because I’m sure that he or she would have fixed the situation. Also, why didn’t you check your order before you got on your little bike?
March 11th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Gee Robert, my “little bike’? A bit condescending, eh? To answer your points I left the restaurant feedback through their website, I did not speak with a manager because at that point I was already running extremely late and had a hungry wife waiting at home for dinner.
As I stated in my post one or even two errors is understandable, I worked as a waiter for almost two decades in this town while I waited for my writing to take off enough to live on the proceeds. I generally put up with far more crap in restaurants than most people because I can tell when someone is “in the weeds.” In this case it was complete lack of attention to the job at hand.
The restaurant was empty, only about three tables in the house. Even if the kitchen was down to one person on the line there is no real valid excuse.
So out of curiosity, are you in any way affiliated with the restaurant in question? Or do you simply take issue with a difference in taste?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
next time may i suggest Port of Call….
the burgers are simply delicious… and the bar speaks for itself.
=)
March 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Port of Call has THE BEST burgers in town! Unfortunately I was looking for something in a ten block radius of the house and am allergic to the tomatoes that infuse the Italian and Mexican offerings nearby.
I really wish August Moon was open on Sundays, Viet Namese food is always a good choice. Pho Tau Bay (the original) is responsible for the majority of my infrequent forays to the west bank.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
my biggest issue is not the food .. and it’s so bad. but the lack of customers. it’s creepy. the last 2 times i went it was deserted.
i say, bring back 4141~!!!
uh oh..now i’m showing my age..lol ;)
March 11th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Your age? I remember the 4141 Club (grew up in the neighborhood) AND I remember Stephen and Martin’s! I used to go there for dinner dates.
March 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hey Loki,
I’ve never been to Canon’s and now I surely won’t! What a shame! There’s NO excuse for bad food in this town.
Try Storyville (4400 block of Magazine) for burgers….might be a longer bike ride but so worth it! (our burgers took 20 min for med well, so you could time your ride depending on your preference!)
Burgers are $10 but very satisfying for this carnivore (fries are extra). They put lettuce and tomato on the side so ask them not to put it anywhere near yours! What an unfortunate allergy!
I had the “One eyed Jack” - a burger I ate in college late nights (called a “one eye back then) - it’s a 1/2 lb bacon cheeseburger with a soft fried egg on top…..the one at Storyville was just as amazing as the ones I had > 25 years ago! Mmmm….must go back soon!
Take care and say hi to Alexis!
March 12th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hey Dr. A! I appreciate the advice and will give it a try. Lex sends her love!
March 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Canon’s is horrible, always has been, and apparently always will be. Really good service might make up for the lackluster-to-inedible, overpriced food, but the service has always struck me as being no better than the food itself. In a city chock full of fabulous restaurants, I have no idea how that place has stayed open so long. I don’t know anyone other than that condescending ….. Roberta who posted above who likes the place. The fact it HAS stayed open so long, despite being damned close to just plain horrid, strikes me as suspicious.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Next time call me, if I can I will give you a ride to somewhere that serves edible food.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
@seide…
ahhh Coffea. i love that place but will NEVER order any of their specials. the one time i did the ticket got lost behind the counter & then i got yelled at by the owner for asking about it after waiting an hour. i’ve been afraid to go back there since then.
good coffee though.