My family and I ate here last night and EVERYONE got sick. Food was not good at all. Service wasn’t the best
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Chad Sutherland
Visited New Orleans, checked this place out. Cool chill place, cool vibes, good music, good food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Cody Smith
When Kindness Gets You Kicked Out: A Bourbon Street Story
Yesterday on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I was reminded how uncomfortable kindness can make people who profit from desperation. I’m part of LSU Food Connection, a nonprofit that helps feed homeless veterans and people who have been left behind by systems that were supposed to protect them. We do this quietly most days — not for applause, but because hunger and dehydration don’t wait for bureaucracy. That day, I was passing out free drinks of water and Powerade to homeless people along Bourbon Street. Some of them were veterans. Some were elderly. All of them were thirsty. Eventually, I walked into Oceana’s Hideout Bar & Grill. The manager, Rene, let me come inside to sing a song. It was one of those rare human moments — no tickets, no drinks, no pressure. Just a voice in a room. When I finished, I stepped back outside and gave three intoxicated women water. Not alcohol. Not something they had to pay for. Just water — because dehydration and alcohol is a dangerous mix, and because basic human decency still matters to me. That’s when Rene came back out and kicked me out of the bar. Not for being disruptive. Not for causing a scene. Not for stealing. But because I was giving people water instead of making them buy it. Let that sink in. On one of the hottest, most alcohol-saturated streets in America, someone was told they had to leave because they were giving thirsty people water for free. This is the part that hurts the most: The people I was helping weren’t causing problems. They weren’t loud. They weren’t aggressive. They were simply human beings who needed hydration — and some dignity. What happened wasn’t really about water. It was about control. It was about a system that sees poor people, homeless people, and even struggling tourists as revenue streams, not lives. It was about the idea that kindness has to be monetized — or punished. LSU Food Connection exists because this kind of thinking is everywhere. We feed homeless veterans because too many of them were brave enough to serve this country and somehow still ended up sleeping on concrete. We give out water and food because survival should never be a business model. I don’t hate Oceana’s Hideout. I don’t hate Rene. But I do hate the mindset that says: “If they don’t pay, they don’t deserve.” Because every time we choose profit over compassion, we lose a little more of what makes us human. If you’re reading this, here’s what you can do: Carry extra water. Feed someone who’s hungry. Look people in the eyes. And never let anyone convince you that kindness needs permission. — Cody S. LSU Food Connection
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heather Major
Great service, great drinks, always great live music!
Joe Welliver
Server tried to bully us into ordering more food and was rude the entire time. We just wanted a couple of the mixed drink and a starter (which is huge and amazing). Music and atmosphere was amazing
Eric Brown
The hurritang drink messed me up man. It was so good and so strong. 11:30am time of review and it was amazing. Had alligator bites and that slapped. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Elkhill
Caught them on a bad night (sunday) no live music. Indoor/ outdoor options. Multiple indoor bars.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Ana Duggan
Band was great. Blues, jazz, oldies and beach music the day we went. Great bar seating and service. We didn't eat, but menu looks good.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Misty Yates
Loved this place. Visited daily. Best staff EVER!!!! Rachelle is the best!!!!!
Make sure Rochelle is working, best bartender on bourbon street!!! And the live music was perfect!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roddri Amos
We were walking pass and heard this awesome Band with singer. Oh my goodness they were amazing. So we decided to stay for at least one cocktail. When we're in NOLA again we will definitely stop in. Thanks for this experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeff Braxton
We always have a great phenomenal time whenever we go to this place. The dj is the bomb. It doesn’t matter who is playing. We cutting up . To staff knows us and we love them . The bartenders are the best on Bourbon. There is never a dull moment when we are there. We don’t care it there are people there are not , we have fun .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hal Le
Their version of hurricane is hurri-tang and is good.
Atmosphere can't be beat. Live music and great vibes. Come early for a good spot.
We sat next to the band.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Kate McBride
Such a fun spot! I love that the restaurant is kid-friendly, which made it easy to relax and enjoy the night. The DJ kept the energy up and added to the lively atmosphere. The food was really good, and the people-watching was an added bonus! Overall, a great place to eat, hang out, and enjoy the vibe.
Just had a beer they have a take out food option
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
My family and I ate here last night and EVERYONE got sick. Food was not good at all. Service wasn’t the best
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Visited New Orleans, checked this place out. Cool chill place, cool vibes, good music, good food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
When Kindness Gets You Kicked Out: A Bourbon Street Story
Yesterday on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I was reminded how uncomfortable kindness can make people who profit from desperation.
I’m part of LSU Food Connection, a nonprofit that helps feed homeless veterans and people who have been left behind by systems that were supposed to protect them. We do this quietly most days — not for applause, but because hunger and dehydration don’t wait for bureaucracy.
That day, I was passing out free drinks of water and Powerade to homeless people along Bourbon Street. Some of them were veterans. Some were elderly. All of them were thirsty.
Eventually, I walked into Oceana’s Hideout Bar & Grill. The manager, Rene, let me come inside to sing a song. It was one of those rare human moments — no tickets, no drinks, no pressure. Just a voice in a room.
When I finished, I stepped back outside and gave three intoxicated women water. Not alcohol. Not something they had to pay for. Just water — because dehydration and alcohol is a dangerous mix, and because basic human decency still matters to me.
That’s when Rene came back out and kicked me out of the bar.
Not for being disruptive.
Not for causing a scene.
Not for stealing.
But because I was giving people water instead of making them buy it.
Let that sink in.
On one of the hottest, most alcohol-saturated streets in America, someone was told they had to leave because they were giving thirsty people water for free.
This is the part that hurts the most:
The people I was helping weren’t causing problems. They weren’t loud. They weren’t aggressive. They were simply human beings who needed hydration — and some dignity.
What happened wasn’t really about water.
It was about control.
It was about a system that sees poor people, homeless people, and even struggling tourists as revenue streams, not lives.
It was about the idea that kindness has to be monetized — or punished.
LSU Food Connection exists because this kind of thinking is everywhere. We feed homeless veterans because too many of them were brave enough to serve this country and somehow still ended up sleeping on concrete. We give out water and food because survival should never be a business model.
I don’t hate Oceana’s Hideout.
I don’t hate Rene.
But I do hate the mindset that says:
“If they don’t pay, they don’t deserve.”
Because every time we choose profit over compassion, we lose a little more of what makes us human.
If you’re reading this, here’s what you can do:
Carry extra water.
Feed someone who’s hungry.
Look people in the eyes.
And never let anyone convince you that kindness needs permission.
— Cody S.
LSU Food Connection
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service, great drinks, always great live music!
Server tried to bully us into ordering more food and was rude the entire time. We just wanted a couple of the mixed drink and a starter (which is huge and amazing). Music and atmosphere was amazing
The hurritang drink messed me up man. It was so good and so strong. 11:30am time of review and it was amazing. Had alligator bites and that slapped. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Caught them on a bad night (sunday) no live music. Indoor/ outdoor options. Multiple indoor bars.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Band was great. Blues, jazz, oldies and beach music the day we went. Great bar seating and service. We didn't eat, but menu looks good.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Loved this place. Visited daily. Best staff EVER!!!! Rachelle is the best!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Make sure Rochelle is working, best bartender on bourbon street!!! And the live music was perfect!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were walking pass and heard this awesome Band with singer. Oh my goodness they were amazing. So we decided to stay for at least one cocktail.
When we're in NOLA again we will definitely stop in.
Thanks for this experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We always have a great phenomenal time whenever we go to this place.
The dj is the bomb. It doesn’t matter who is playing. We cutting up . To staff knows us and we love them . The bartenders are the best on Bourbon. There is never a dull moment when we are there. We don’t care it there are people there are not , we have fun .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Their version of hurricane is hurri-tang and is good.
Atmosphere can't be beat. Live music and great vibes. Come early for a good spot.
We sat next to the band.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Such a fun spot! I love that the restaurant is kid-friendly, which made it easy to relax and enjoy the night. The DJ kept the energy up and added to the lively atmosphere. The food was really good, and the people-watching was an added bonus! Overall, a great place to eat, hang out, and enjoy the vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
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