Sassagoula Floatworks
Port Orleans French Quarter
Lunch
Date of Visit: 3/25/2007
Time of Visit: 14:40
Adults in Party: 2
Children in Party: 1
Total Cost: $24.87
Average Price Per Adult: $10.44
Ten Point Scale
Food: 9.5
Value: 9.0
Service: 9.0
Environment: 9.5
Overall Rating: 9.3
The main food court of Port Orleans French Quarter, the Sassaoula Floatworks food court is themed to look like a warehouse for Mardi Gras props. In this, it does an effective job. My wife asked if we could lower the score on "environment" in this review due to the "scary masks everywhere." While I told her the answer was no, the truth remains that the floats and faces above your heads are a bit creepy after a while. This food court is, at least during the daytime, quite empty. As a result, you'll enjoy very fast service and find ample seating. The reality is not the same at night, when the parks close, and definitely not true for breakfast, when this dining area is in fact too small.

The menu changes slightly from breakfast to lunch, and then again from lunch to dinner. Some food items (like pot roast) are only available for dinner. For lunch, we had the turkey sub ($7), which was entirely serviceable. It comes hot or cold, and uses real turkey meat sliced very thin. Taken with provolone cheese, and whatever toppings you want (it's almost like a chain sub restaurant in this regard), it didn't even need dressing. That's good, because it didn't come with dressing ... a potential downside for those who crave the moisture no matter what.

But the turkey sandwich was bland in comparison with the muffaletta sandwich ($8), a large semi-circle of a sandwich that is pretty authentic to New Orleans. The bread was soft and springy and the flavors burst upon the tongue like Mardi Gras fireworks. You will taste, in this order, salami, olives, garlic, cheese, ham, and bread. But mere words don't do justice to the olive paste that's smeared liberally on this sandwich. It's rich and delicious - you'll just have to try it. In fact, as an indication of how good this sandwich is, we got another one after we'd finished our first food (we'd skipped breakfast, but that's only half the reason we were delighted to eat more of this wonderfood). 

The kid's meal of a PB&J ($4) was the usual Uncrustables brand in a circle. Entirely serviceable, but also pretty forgettable. Kids with any sort of adventurous buds on their tongues would do better to split the muffaletta with you. Wait: make sure they split the second muffaletta with you. You'll want that first one for yourself.