Mid City Lanes Rock 'n' Bowl

Description:

• Anything we just said about tourist traps and inauthentic experiences does not apply here. It does not get any more authentic than a club set in the middle of a bowling alley, which is itself set in the middle of a strip mall. Actually, as a bowling alley, Mid City bowling is nothing to write home about unless you like lanes that slope. But as a club, it's one of the finest and best experiences in New Orleans. Certainly it's the best place for zydeco, particularly on the nights devoted to Zydeco Wars, when the audience votes on whether, say, Geno Delafose or C. J. Chenier is the King of Zydeco. Mid City is not limited to just zydeco: It also features top New Orleans rock and R&B groups and some touring acts. Mid City reopened rather quickly after Katrina, and no one disagreed when the owner, gazing over a good-size crowd bopping to Kermit Ruffins, exclaimed, "It feels like New Orleans!" On good nights (though we do wonder if Mid City has any that aren't), the dance floor is crowded beyond belief, the noise level is ridiculous, the humidity level is 300%, and you won't want to leave. You might even bowl a few frames. (Expect to wait for a lane.) While the owner is quite committed to keeping his business open and in this location, the ground floors of the aforementioned strip mall flooded badly (though the Rock 'n' Bowl itself escaped without damage), and while the hope is that whatever the future of the compound is does not affect the club, you should probably call in advance to make sure the status quo remains.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

CitySearch

•  Live Music Venue 2006 – Audience Winner
•  Singles Scene 2005 – Audience Winner

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2009
•  Very Highly Recommended 2010

Other features:

Bars,Dance,Live Music,Sports Bar