Galatoire’s recognized as 2025 Wine Spectator Restaurant Award Winner

NEW ORLEANS – (July 1, 2025) – Galatoire’s Restaurant has been named a Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Award Winner once again earning the “Best of Award of Excellence” for their renowned 9,900-bottle wine selection.

The Galatoire’s wine list — featuring an extensive by-the-glass collection, acclaimed vintages and rare labels — is a carefully curated journey through some of the world’s most distinguished vineyards. Encompassing options across a broad range of price points, every bottle is hand selected to complement the restaurant’s cuisine.

“At Galatoire’s, we approach wine selection as an art of discernment,” said Galatoire’s wine director Sarah Arceneaux. “Each bottle is meticulously chosen to harmonize with our menu offerings, giving guests an elevated dining experience that leaves a lasting impression.” 

The “Best of Award of Excellence” winners are chosen for wine lists that display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Known as destinations for serious wine lovers, winners in this category show a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team. These restaurants also provide extensive training and educational resources for staff so that they can help customers make well-informed wine selections.

This year’s awards program recognized 3,811 dining destinations from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide. Since 1981, the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards have had three distinct levels: “Award of Excellence,” “Best of Award of Excellence” and “Grand Award.” Galatoire’s has earned the “Award of Excellence” every year from 2007 to 2010. From 2011 to 2020, 2023 and 2025, the restaurant achieved the “Best of Award of Excellence.”

Galatoire’s will be featured in the August 31, 2025, issue of Wine Spectator, available on newsstands July 15.

NEW ORLEANS – Feb. 6, 2025 – Galatoire’s Restaurant and Galatoire Foundation raised more than $284,000 at its annual Mardi Gras Table Auction, held Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Galatoire’s historic first floor main dining room. The event featured a festive evening of competitive bidding, signature Galatoire’s hors d’oeuvres and complimentary champagne. The highest bid of the night was $22,000 for a table for 8. In total, 154 seats were auctioned for the Friday before Mardi Gras.

To close out the evening, a private in-home dinner for 10 prepared by Executive Chef Phillip Lopez, including five courses with wine pairings, garnered a winning bid of $16,000.

Combined with the Christmas Auction held in December, a record-breaking $440,000 was raised for this year’s beneficiaries. To date, the table auctions have raised more than $4.3 million for local charities.

“We are continually amazed by the incredible generosity of our loyal patrons,” said Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire Foundation president. “It is truly inspiring how their unwavering support allows us to leverage the Friday lunches before Christmas and Mardi Gras year after year to give back to organizations that are making New Orleans a better place to live and work every day.”

Annually, Galatoire Foundation holds Christmas and Mardi Gras table auctions to assist in supporting local nonprofit organizations. Money raised during the year’s table auctions benefit Galatoire Foundation and eight other local non-profits, including two table partners: STEM NOLA and Volunteers of America of Southeast Louisiana and six micro grant recipients: Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, Ignatian Volunteer Corps New Orleans, NOCHI, Son of a Saint, The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and The Bright School.

Since 2006, auction proceeds have benefitted dozens of New Orleans-area charitable organizations, from neighborhood rebuilding projects and crime prevention to youth programs and entrepreneurship efforts. Past recipients include NAMI New Orleans, Bayou District Foundation, Covenant House, Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré, Dress for Success, Audubon Nature Institute, Liberty’s Kitchen, The Idea Village, The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, The Roots of Music, Kingsley House and more.

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About Galatoire Foundation
Galatoire Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to giving back to the New Orleans community and region that has patronized Galatoire’s for generations, allowing us to secure generations to come and remain a cornerstone in representing Louisiana and its authentic culture. Galatoire Foundation’s community involvement extends across south Louisiana, working through Galatoire’s, Galatoire’s “33” and Galerie de Galatoire. More information can be found here.

NEW ORLEANS – Dec. 3, 2024 – Galatoire Foundation raised a record $156,200 at its annual Christmas Table Auction, held Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Galatoire’s famed first floor main dining room. The event featured a lively evening of competitive bidding for the chance to win a table for the Friday lunch before Christmas on Dec. 20. The highest bid of the night was $18,000 for an 8-person table.

“We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of our loyal patrons and the outpouring of support for this year’s auction beneficiaries,” said Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire Foundation president. “We are so grateful that we can continue to leverage our patrons’ love of Galatoire’s to give back to the community year after year through our table auctions.”

Money raised during this year’s auctions benefit Galatoire Foundation and eight other local non-profits — including two table partners: STEM NOLA and Volunteers of America of Southeast Louisiana and six micro grant recipients: Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, Ignatian Volunteer Corps, New Orleans, NOCHI, Son of a Saint, The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and The Bright School.

Since 2006, Galatoire Foundation has organized annual Christmas and Mardi Gras table auctions to assist in aiding local nonprofit organizations. The auctions have now successfully generated over $4 million for various charitable causes in the New Orleans area. The funds have made a positive impact on numerous initiatives, ranging from neighborhood rebuilding and crime prevention to supporting youth programs and fostering entrepreneurship efforts. Past recipients include Bayou District Foundation, NAMI New Orleans, Covenant House, Patio Planters of the Vieux Carré, Kingsley House, Dress for Success, Audubon Nature Institute, Liberty’s Kitchen, The Idea Village, The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation and more.

Galatoire Foundation’s community involvement extends across south Louisiana, working through Galatoire’s, Galatoire’s “33” and Galerie de Galatoire.

The Mardi Gras table auction will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

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About Galatoire Foundation
Galatoire Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to giving back to the New Orleans community and region that has patronized Galatoire’s for generations, allowing us to secure generations to come and remain a cornerstone in representing Louisiana and its authentic culture. More information can be found here.

Tickets for the Dec. 2 Christmas Table Auction available now

November 13, 2024 – Galatoire’s Restaurant and Galatoire Foundation announced today the beneficiaries for their annual Christmas and Mardi Gras Table Auctions to be held at Galatoire’s Restaurant. The Christmas Table Auction will take place on Monday, December 2, 2024. The Mardi Gras Table Auction will be held in January.

This year’s table auctions will benefit Galatoire Foundation and eight other local non-profits, including two table partners and six micro grant recipients. The table partners are STEM NOLA and Volunteers of America of Southeast Louisiana. The micro grant recipients are Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, Ignatian Volunteer Corps New Orleans, NOCHI, Son of a Saint, The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and The Bright School.

“Seeing the support and enthusiasm for our annual table auctions grow over the past two decades is truly inspiring. We are fortunate to have such loyal patrons who are so passionate about giving back to our community,” said Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire Foundation president. “We are grateful for these organizations who are working tirelessly to make New Orleans a better place for the people who call it home.”

Each year, Galatoire Foundation holds Christmas and Mardi Gras table auctions to raise funds in support of local nonprofit organizations. The Christmas Table Auction will start with a cocktail hour in Bar 33 followed by an evening filled with spirited competitive bidding for the chance to claim a coveted table on Galatoire’s famed first floor on the Friday before Christmas, one of the most sought-after days to have lunch at the restaurant.

Since the auctions’ inception in 2006, all proceeds have benefited numerous New Orleans-area charitable organizations, from neighborhood rebuilding projects and crime prevention to youth programs and entrepreneurship efforts. Past recipients have included NAMI New Orleans, Bayou District Foundation, Covenant House, Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre, Dress for Success, Audubon Nature Institute, Liberty’s Kitchen, The Idea Village, The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, The Roots of Music, Kingsley House and more. Galatoire Foundation is dedicated to giving back to its local and regional communities and the generations of people who have made dining at Galatoire’s a beloved New Orleans tradition for nearly 120 years. To date, the annual table auctions have raised more than $3.8 million for local charities.

Galatoire Foundation’s community involvement extends across south Louisiana, working through Galatoire’s, Galatoire’s “33” and Galerie de Galatoire.

Christmas Auction paddles and tickets can be purchased here.

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About Galatoire Foundation
Galatoire Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to giving back to the New Orleans community and region that has patronized Galatoire’s for generations, allowing us to secure generations to come and remain a cornerstone in representing Louisiana and its authentic culture. More information can be found here.