I would not recommend The Will and the Way for hosting a large party, and I would especially advise…read moreagainst placing a catering order here.
I worked with Amanda and Fiona on a catered order for 16 people. Before finalizing the order, I specifically asked whether we had too much food or not enough, and I was told the order looked great. Unfortunately, we ended up with well over twice the amount of food we actually needed, resulting in a significantly higher bill than necessary. When you're relying on a restaurant's staff for guidance on an order of this size, you expect honest, knowledgeable recommendations, not reassurance that everything looks great when the quantity is clearly excessive.
What made the situation even more frustrating was that we were visiting from out of town. We were asked if we wanted to take the leftover food with us, but realistically, that wasn't a practical option for us. Watching that much food go to waste was incredibly disappointing, especially when a simple, honest conversation about portion sizes beforehand could have prevented it.
The food itself was mediocre at best. In fact, one person in our party described it as "funeral food," which honestly captures the lack of excitement we felt about the meal. Nothing stood out as particularly memorable or worth the amount we spent.
The atmosphere and seating arrangements didn't help. Our group was reserved a spot in a courtyard that felt dark and uninviting, hardly the kind of setting you'd hope for when gathering a large group for dinner in New Orleans. There was an indoor area, but the seating consisted of a bar-height counter against a wall, leaving us with little more to look at than the wall itself. Neither option felt particularly welcoming or appropriate for a group of our size. The restaurant was also unusually lifeless, with very little ambiance.
Beyond the food and setting, the biggest disappointment was the lack of hospitality. We were a group of 16 people spending a considerable amount of money, not only on the catering but also on our bar tab. You would think there would be some enthusiasm about having a large group of customers spending that kind of money. Instead, there was very little warmth, friendliness, or effort to make us feel welcome. We never really felt appreciated as customers. Honestly, even a smile or a little genuine enthusiasm would have gone a long way.
This wasn't simply a case of a meal that didn't suit everyone's taste. We asked for guidance and received poor recommendations, paid for far more food than we needed, watched a tremendous amount go to waste, and spent the evening in an atmosphere that felt dark, awkward, and unwelcoming. The overall experience fell well short of what we expected.
The Will and the Way might be fine for a casual dinner or drinks, but based on our experience, I would not recommend it for hosting a large gathering. As for catering, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere. We were visiting New Orleans, spending a significant amount of money with a local establishment, and hoped for a good meal and a welcoming experience. Instead, we left disappointed on nearly every front. There are plenty of places that understand hospitality means more than just serving food and adding up the bill.