In a city full of food and tradition, there are two days of the year that stand out at one spot for celebrating in true local style. Those who’ve experienced a Friday lunch at Galatoire’s the week before Christmas Day and the week before Mardi Gras Day have been smiled upon by the spirits of New Orleans.
For 120 years, Galatoire’s has been a French Quarter staple, and pre-pandemic, people would line up outside hours before the restaurant opened for a lunch table in the historic dining room. A typical Friday lunch at the esteemed restaurant welcomes judges, congressmen, socialites, movie stars and muscians .
Melvin Rodrigue has been a part of the Galatoire’s team since 1997 and today – as managing partner – serves as the company’s president and CEO. In addition, Rodrigue is the head of the Galatoire Foundation, which he and the team began in 2005. As the foundation nears its 20th anniversary, it is responsible for putting over four million dollars back into the community.
“[the mission of the foundation] is to give back to the generations of New Orleanians that have given so much to us,” said Rodrigue. “It’s one thing to succeed inside your own four walls, but if you really want to be integral, you have to give back to the industry and the city that makes you who you are.”
One of the driving forces of the success of the foundation and its mission is two auctions the organization hosts each year for tables at the coveted Friday lunches the weeks before Christmas and Mardi Gras day.
“The importance of every Friday lunch goes back to the same theme, people are here creating memories with their family and friends,” said Rodrigue. “And when they come for Friday lunch, they usually have no intention of going back to work. We place, as New Orleanians, such an importance on enjoying life and so this is sort of like the start to the weekend.”
There are only about 154 seats in the restaurant’s main dining room and when those were first come first serve, the value on each table went up significantly. And, Rodrigue shared, the holidays made that value skyrocket even more.
“In the early 2000s, for Christmas and Mardi Gras, people were paid to be in line as early as Tuesday for a table on Friday,” said Rodrigue. “When Hurricane Katrina hit, a lot of things changed, but a lot of things stayed the same. To us, we saw this as an opportunity and the first Mardi Gras auction was in 2006.”
On a Monday evening, three weeks before these Friday lunches, guests are invited to the restaurant to purchase a paddle and participate in a live auction with Ruthie Winston as auctioneer. The auction block is comprised essentially of the schematic of the dining room. When you bid, you know which table in which location and for exactly how many seats you’re bidding.
Three weeks later you’re in the most sought-after spot for a festive Friday lunch.
Today, Dec. 19, is the restaurant’s Friday Christmas lunch. On Dec. 1, auction attendees bid to secure their tables raising a record-breaking $187,500. The night’s top bid was for $24,000 for an eight-top table.
While Christmas is now off the “block,” those interested in raising money for good causes, while having an unparalleled New Orleans experience, can mark their calendars for Jan. 12, 2026 – the auction night for tables the Friday before Mardi Gras Day.
While both the auction and the lunch are fun and games, the point is to raise significant funds for the year’s chosen charitable organizations.
“Submissions for organizations are due by Sept. 15,” said Rodrigue. “At a point in October, the board meets to look over the submissions. This year we had 35, and we picked two to be our auction table partners plus micro grant recipients.”
Table partners are encouraged to invite people to the auctions, which then become a mix of customers, supporters and those categorized as both. At the end of both auctions, and following both Fridays, 20 percent of the proceeds goes to each table partner, 10 percent goes to micro grant recipients and the other 50 percent stays with the foundation, which is then used throughout the year for various grants and contributions.
This year, the money raised benefits Galatoire Foundation and eight other local non-profits — including the two table partners – Kid smART and The 18th Ward – and six micro grant recipients – Ronald McDonald House of South Louisiana, Café Hope, Youth Empowerment Project, Society of St. Vincent de Paul New Orleans, Court Watch NOLA and Rooted Ones.
With the record numbers from the Christmas auction, there’s only hope and excitement for the success of Mardi Gras auction.
Rodrigue credits the impact of the restaurant on the city to the idea of generational tradition. Customers have been walking through the doors of the Bourbon Street icon for decades.
“We want them to know that they’re important to us, special,” said Rodrigue. “When they walk in, it’s like there’s a red carpet rolled out for them, and they’re hooked for the next generation. The importance we put on something even like a college formal in the restaurant has allowed us to go this many years, it’s what’s kept us as strong as we’ve ever been and is the fact that we’ll keep transcending generations.”
Those interested in participating in the Mardi Gras auction can find more information on the website here.
