New Orleans French Quarter: Shrimp Boil Dinner & Live Music

Summary

French Quarter shrimp boil flavors live jazz laughter locals

You’ll join Mister Gregory for a true New Orleans shrimp boil dinner party in the French Quarter—think wild-caught Gulf shrimp, blue crab appetizers, live jazz drifting through the room, and stories swapped over king cake dessert. It’s messy, warm, full of local flavor—and you might just leave feeling like you’ve made new friends.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the food — it was that smell, kind of peppery and briny, sneaking out from the kitchen before we even sat down. We’d just ducked off a noisy street in the French Quarter, following the sound of someone tuning up a trumpet. Inside felt like someone’s living room, not a restaurant. Mister Gregory waved us in with this big smile and a “y’all hungry?” which made me laugh because honestly, I already was.

He started by passing around blue crab gratin that was still bubbling at the edges. I burned my tongue (worth it), and then he told us about his family’s shrimping days on the Gulf — something about waking up before dawn and how you can tell good shrimp by their snap. There was alligator sausage too (I was skeptical but Li said try it), and then suddenly there were bowls of wild-caught Gulf shrimp piled high with sausage and corn. The Cajun seasoning hit my nose before my mouth; spicy but not too much. My hands got messy fast — they brought hot towels later, which felt like a small mercy.

Somewhere between bites and wiping my fingers on napkins, a band squeezed into the corner and started playing old jazz standards. Not loud — more like background to our laughter and Mister Gregory’s stories about New Orleans food politics (he’s serious about wild-caught shrimp). At one point he tried to teach us how to say “maque choux” properly; Li laughed when I butchered it in front of everyone. Dessert was king cake — purple sugar everywhere — with chicory café au lait poured thick into chipped mugs.

I didn’t expect to feel so at home with strangers. Maybe it was the music or just how everyone leaned in for seconds without fussing over manners. I still think about that taste of shrimp mixed with smoky sausage, or maybe just how easy it felt to be there for an evening in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Hard to explain exactly why — but if you’re after a real shrimp boil dinner party with live music, this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — French Quarter Shrimp Boil and Dinner

• Arrive at Shrimp Boil Cabaret
• Taste fresh fish or blue crab appetizer
• Try smoked alligator sausage
• Enjoy Macque Choux stew
• Learn about wild-caught Gulf shrimp
• Eat shrimp boil with local sausage
• Use hot towels to clean up
• Have King Cake dessert
• Taste New Orleans chicory cafe au lait
• Listen to live local music
• Socialize with group and Mister Gregory

Top questions

Is this French Quarter shrimp boil wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Does the dinner include live music?

Yes, live local music is included during your meal.

Are drinks included with the meal?

The experience includes New Orleans style chicory café au lait; other drinks aren’t specified.

What dishes are served at the shrimp boil dinner?

You’ll have blue crab gratin, smoked alligator sausage, maque choux stew, wild-caught Gulf shrimp with sausage, king cake dessert, and café au lait.

Is transportation provided to the venue?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; public transportation options are available nearby.

Can infants attend this French Quarter dinner party?

Yes; infants are welcome but must sit on an adult’s lap.

How big is the group for this experience?

The event is described as intimate and small-group—exact numbers aren’t listed.

Who prepares the meal at this New Orleans shrimp boil?

Mister Gregory himself cooks your meal and shares stories throughout dinner.

What’s included

Your evening includes all food—blue crab gratin, alligator sausage tasting, maque choux stew, wild-caught Gulf shrimp boil with local sausage, king cake dessert—and plenty of live local music plus storytelling from Mister Gregory himself; hot towels are provided after your meal for cleanup before coffee arrives at your table.