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Mother's Restaurant
Cajun and Creole Restaurant, Sandwich Spot, and Southern Food Restaurant$$$$
Central Business District, New Orleans
"Love the Debris, The Famous Ferdi Special & the Fried Shrimp."(38 Tips)
"Love the shrimp creole and the debris poboy!!!!!"(76 Tips)
"Get the Famous Ferdi Special, it's delicious."(9 Tips)
"My dads fave was the jambalaya and I loved the gumbo."(25 Tips)
471 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- po' boys
- debris
- Southern food
- seafood
- breakfast food
- (15 more)
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Vincent ScottoJuly 12, 2016Even when line is around the block, wait is less than 15 minutes to be served. The calamari po boy is the best I've ever had. Staff constantly participating in your quick stay without rushing you out
Upvoted Mar 25
RobertJune 2, 2014Ferdi Special is Great! JAMBALAYA is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Don't fear the line. Make it. Take the bad attitude from the cashiers. Order the Jambalaya and Hug "your mama!!!!" Trust me, I'm fat!Upvoted Mar 8
Dave SApril 8, 2012This is the Katz's Deli of New Orleans. The line moves fast. Order some ham, fried chicken, po boys, and pecan pie. Really solid Bloody Marys too.- Judith GonzalezSeptember 9, 2015This shiz was freakin relish. My dads fave was the jambalaya and I loved the gumbo. Everything was great. Really fresh ingredients for the po boys and the spices were right on.
Jessica PuglieseNovember 1, 2019Go early and get the early bird breakfast special. The black ham is LEGIT and the grits aren’t mushy. Make sure you get a biscuit and SMOTHER it in butter and jam. Find a seat with some strangers.
Kimmie OhhJune 5, 2022Come here for their po’ boys, particularly the Famous Ferdi Special which has ham, roast beef and the original debris with au jus. Don’t forget to order their potato salad and jambalaya!
Beth BondSeptember 17, 2018A tradition before Saints games. Étouffée Omelete or Creole Omelette gives you New Orleans and perfect breakfast balance. Blackberry jam delicious. For Southerner's skip the cheese grits. #failure
Nelson V. GuevaraMay 12, 2019If you are in the mood for a delicious po boy in tow don’t miss this restaurant. Friendly staff and great, savory food. Try the Fernie Special with debris
Eric GarrisonMay 26, 2017Ferdi special was a monstrous and delicious pork variety sandwich. Bring your appetite or plan to share. Everyone at our table seemed to be happy and full. Super-sweet ladies running the place, too!
Aaron DrewsMay 21, 2015The Mae's gumbo was delicious, and my boyfriend got the shrimp and oysters po' boy special - a little pricey ($18.00?) but delicious as well. Service was quick and wonderful.
Coletta RobertsJune 16, 2016Absolutely the best!! The food and the staff are totally awesome. We ate here twice during out stay in New Orleans. A must try, you won't be disappointed, the line is long but it goes very fast.
Andrew CJuly 6, 2018Get the ferdi sandwich (their signature)! Order at the counter then sit down, waitstaff will take your receipt and bring your food... gumbo wasn't hot and po'boy was dry, yet debris sauce was the best
Jake AycockMay 4, 2014This place is my jam! A must stop in New Orleans! Best jambalaya ever, and that debris tho...
Arlene SocorroMarch 26, 2014Everything about this place is great! Super chill location and the food is awesome! The Jambalaya, red beans & rice and the gumbo were were incredible. Don't forget to try the bread pudding!
Adolfo BonillaMarch 3, 2017I tried the Debris Poboy with Scrambled Eggs for breakfast, it wasn't "Off The Hook" as Guy would say, but good. There was a bit of a line, but things moved along pretty well, so go in no rush! ;-]#
PaddyDecember 6, 2014So. Much. Food. Delicious too! Shrimp Creole was awesome and the Ferdi Special is worth a try too. Expect about a 30 minute wait as this place is popular, but worth it!
Miguel VarelaSeptember 26, 2018A great restaurant! The service is very quick, don't be scared of the line. Loved the famous Po Boy and the seafood platter (Great to try many things)
Christy ZurkawiczMay 26, 2015Get the breakfast special from 7-9am for about $7. Scrambled eggs, grits, smoked sausage, coffee, and the best biscuit you'll ever eat anywhere with homemade jam.
Tarren BlakeJune 15, 2015Went here for breakfast. The crawfish étouffée omelette seemed the way to go. Served with grits and a biscuit. Delicious!
- Todd SAugust 28, 2021Everything that we ordered was good! Including the ham, grits, jambalaya, fried chicken, red beans and rice, greens, etc etc
KarenFebruary 17, 2019Absolutely delicious food. Can't miss when you're in NOLA. Try the breakfast platter or the meat biscuit.
Tobias ReiperApril 6, 2016The Famous Ferdi po' boy is worth the experience but it is busy in the morning.
Alisha AgueroDecember 3, 2015Feels like you're visiting your grandma's house in the south. Except they cook better than grandma. There's nothing you can order here that will disappoint you. If it does; keep eating at Red Robin.
Zarrin MDecember 23, 2013Delicious bread pudding, solid fried oysters, and their turnip greens are delicious.
Matthew SupertMarch 28, 2015The long line is to order your food, not to be seated so it moves fast. Order your food at the counter, take your ticket to an open seat and a waiter will take your ticket and deliver your food.
Glenn EbertJanuary 27, 2012Mother really does know best. Whether you order the gumbo, Étouffée, or any po' boy, this place can do no wrong. Wash it down with an Arnold Palmer and you got yourself one of the best meals in NOLA.
David HeiserJune 7, 2015Fried oyster po' boy was awesome, but $18 seems too pricey. Can get crowded in a hurry, but we got our food quickly.
Nathan LichtensteinFebruary 15, 2019I don’t know if it’s genuine because it’s gritty, or gritty because it’s genuine. Either way it’s worth stopping by.- Joey BerumenNovember 15, 2013I've had the french dip in L.A. (The one that was supposed to start them all) Well if they really did, they should have waited because Mother's puts it to shame. Great food. Can't wait to visit again.
Azeem AJuly 30, 2013Excellent service.. Ordered the red beans and rice, didn't know they cooked it with pork. Manager was the very nice, and kind enough to replace my order and give me free brownies
León RuizMay 3, 2016Oh God, what can I said about this place; everything is perfect: Ham + Biscuits + Po'Boys + Pecan Pie + Coffee 👅👌🏼
Kathleen VargasNovember 11, 2016One word HAM! The best I've ever tried and their biscuit omg it's really good with the raspberry jam. Yummy
Laine CasalloSeptember 23, 2013This place has the best homemade fried chicken potato salad and even french fries. ... staff could be friendlier but food makes up for that.
JanaDecember 14, 2018What a gem! We had the Seafood platter extra extra and what can I say: It was extra extra! Loved their bloody mary as well 🥰- Gabriel HayesSeptember 24, 2015Best po'boys in New Orleans. Love the Debris, The Famous Ferdi Special & the Fried Shrimp.
- Michael CassisFebruary 11, 2020Lovely traditional place! Sausage and the peace maker was great as well as the bloody mary!
- Miguel VarelaSeptember 26, 2018Po Boy, ham, seafood, jambalaya, red beans, rice, crawfish étouffée, famous Ferdi Special.
This place as been here for 30+ years, classic Cajun good, no frills but good food.
Eitan LidergotMarch 24, 2016The equivalent of Katz's Deli but with southern food and in New Orleans. Fun to try once. Try the Ferdi and the gumbo.
DeborahAugust 22, 2012Ferdi po' boy with extra debris is the way to go. The fried chicken is pretty good too but if you really want a good fried southern style chicken go to Willie Mae's
Daniel LillyOctober 26, 2018Try the jambalaya, skip the ham. I don't know what's going on with the tips here - strange vibes.
Susannah PhillipsMarch 20, 2011The bread pudding is simply amazing. The turnip greens are the best I've ever had. If you get any seafood poboy, get tartar sauce on the side--SO GOOD. Good potato salad! Long line, but WELL WORTH IT!
BostonMike LewisSeptember 16, 2014The ham is great and is a must! Also, the red beans and rice are probably the best in the city and worth the trip.
JakeJanuary 26, 2016Dear god. This place is amazing. The Ferdi Special was so delicious it broke my heart.
Lorraine MacDonaldOctober 5, 2011Make sure you read the menu before you get in line. First time, so I ordered the combo. AWESOME!! I found the staff to be very nice. Dot blockthe entrance to the food prep area while in line. GREAT!
Aubrey LittletonOctober 18, 2018Evidently they have a reputation for somewhat surly service, but that wasn't our experience. Known for their poboys—yum! Order at the counter & know what you want before you reach the register.
Matt SackleyOctober 12, 2014Seafood platter is a great option to split for two. You get to try a little bit of everything, the food here is amazing!
Michael ZickefooseApril 15, 2013Get The Ferdi, you can't go wrong here. So good. Everything you could possibly want in a sandwich!!!!
Brendan RastetterAugust 15, 2014The debris po' boy was excellent and so filling! Make sure that you get there early. The line just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Alice FerrisJune 15, 2013Try the Bloody Mary - This has some kick, both from the spice and the local well vodka!
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Mother's Restaurant
401 Poydras St (at Tchoupitoulas St)
New Orleans, LA 70130
United States
New Orleans, LA 70130
United States
Authentic N'Awlins home-style cooking since 1938. The Amato family welcomes you for a taste of tradition.
Home of award-winning Jambalaya, the famous Ferdi Special, and the original debris-laden roast beef.
Private room for parties, rehearsal dinners and special events:
http://ht.ly/9Xw4A
Open until 10:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 7:00 AM–10:00 PM
(504) 523-9656
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express)
Outdoor Seating
No
TouchTunes Jukebox
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Drinks
Beer
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