The staff dressed in costume and the decor with a zany.
The idea came from Texas. David Wilson, a longtime manager at Brennan’s on Royal Street, visited a theme restaurant in the Lone Star state and decided that New Orleans needed its own wacky eatery. His bosses, Pip, Owen and Jimmy Brennan, agreed and bankrolled Anything Goes, which took over the old Playboy Club in 1978. Diners ate in igloos, teepees, swings and a pickup truck. The salad bar was set into an antique car. And the staff, dressed as Raggedy Ann, Prince Charming and Tarzan, delivered laughs along with the plates. Most remember Anything Goes fondly. The staff of the restaurant, which closed in the early 1980s, still keep in touch through a Facebook group. But not everyone was amused. Richard Collin, The States-Item critic, sniffed that Anything Goes « raises disturbing questions about the increasing tourist orientation of eating places in the French Quarter.” Our readers who went to Anything Goes shared these memories: « I used to go there all the time with my family when I was really young. Whenever I try to explain this restaurant to people they look at me with disbelief. » — Mykelle Nicole « It was my first job after my stint in the Air Force. What fun we had. Basically we sang, danced and cracked wise, all while serving delicious food. » — Jane Dumestre « Favorite place as a kid. I was scared of the gorilla in the cage at front door! » — Mariah R. Richard « My dad took me there for my birthday when I was a kid. I remember there was a bathtub table! » — Simone Reggie « I loved that place and went on a prom date there. » — Ann Tuennerman Share your photos and dining memories at Facebook.com/groups/wherenolaeats .
