Mardi Gras Zone

I was walking in the area and stopped in for a bottle of water. From the outside the place appears small but inside it is packed with food items, beverages and a huge collection of Mardi Gras and New Orleans memorabilia. The Lady in the store was very friendly and helpful. A nice spot to visit if you are in the neighborhood.

My partner and I are staying in an Inn up the block. We are vegan and wanted a snack when we landed but it was late so we thought maybe this little store may have some chips or something and were really surprised by the options they had there. We ended up getting some Mary’s Gone Crackers and Myokos vegan cheese, some cold brew with almond milk and a bunch of other stuff that we put in the minifridge for the trip. Staff are super nice. It’s a good store.

They stocked up the shelves, they're getting completely new inventory. Looks great! Must see! The grocery store has so many items I didn't even know existed! Specialty / International foods and a whole lot of vegan and vegetarian as well as kosher. If you eat that kind of food, they have lots. I have never seen so many different kinds of nut flour!! 😳 I literally had no idea this was a thing lol... oh, You've got to try the lasagna in the Deli.. don't forget to go upstairs and check out the Mardi Gras throws and costumes!! Awesome place!! Everything you need for Mardi Gras and more!

This is a great place! But what kind of place is it, really? It's listed as a supermarket, but it's much, much more. It’s a combination of places, a new-wave fusion kind of place. It's a grocery store/coffee shop/deli/pizza place/dry goods store/costume shop/artisan's center/tourist trap ... and also a major local landmark in a neighborhood of local landmarks. Favorites include: wood-fired pizza, large and with thin crusts, made until about 4 am. Deli case entries include lasagna, jambalaya, shepherd's pie, mac-and-cheese, beef stroganoff, vegetable curry… and lots of lovely dessert choices, too. There’s a lovely write-up online that tells the story: “What's in Store: Mardi Gras Zone” by Sarah Ravits (in The Advocate, Mar. 6, 2017)

This place is excellent, the varying amount of products they offer is like nothing I've ever seen. Great example, olive oil goes from generic 3 oz bottles to 32oz organic varieties. Great find and will return

I’M NOT READY TO HEAD HOME.

Interesting combo of low and high offerings. We picked a couple of unique items.

I thought about giving three because all of the stuff is overwhelming , but the employee did offer to help me find anything on my way in the door. This place also gets points for being “one of a kind” and, obviously a supported member of the neighborhood. I like having this as my store for the next few months, although i doubt I’ll really see EVERYTHING that they have stuffed into this space.

Mardi Gras Zone is probably my favorite place to buy food in the city They have beet kimchi!!! Anything that you're looking for as far as health food they have There's so much to choose from I discovered Pam's lemon shortbread gluten-free cookies at the store and I ate a whole box once I couldn't get enough of their chicken salad from the deli A box gluten-free crackers, the chicken salad, and a couple of those cookies with a glass of unsweetened tea is one of my favorite meals! I have not been upstairs yet, I have heard wonderful things Will update when I do! Little local gem

Seemingly Racist Establishment that will target people of color ..... During the first week of January, my lifelong friend visited Plush Appeal to purchase Mardi Gras decor for her out of state home. We are natives of New Orleans and were raised with the proper etiquette and respect for ourselves, others and community. We are proud graduates of an affluent Catholic high school and our class of women has made quite a positive impact in this world collectively. With that said, as my friend was shopping she interacted with one of the sales associates and had a lovely conversation. This particular sales associate then left the area. Within minutes two other sales associates approached my friend, accused her of stealing, and when my friend attempted to clear her name and prove her innocence, these women refused. They stated she was on camera and despite my friend asking multiple times for proof and to view the cameras, she was again refused her request. Apparently, two large men were then instructed to escort her out to which she stated she felt extremely uncomfortable. Several of her friends have reached out to the store. Ms. Vee was so nice! CeeCee though ... the manager... when I called to ask for clarification she became nasty and hung up. Long story short, nothing was stolen. If that were the case why not call the police or show the video? Most importantly to note are the differences in skin tones. My friend is an upper class African American female who was seemingly targeted for the color of her skin. Take your business elsewhere!

What an odd little place! I needed a feather boa for my Mardi Gras costume and my friends in the neighborhood said this was a spot I could get one. I assumed the inside would be much like Plush Appeal in Midcity, but surprise! Not even close. It apparently used to house a brick oven pizza joint that is still used though it was cold that evening. Various deli cases and freezers for grab and go foods, and in the back, a delapitated grocery area that according to my friend, rarely has staples, but instead odd and unusual variants of basic sundries. The Mardi Gras stuff was located upstairs...boas, wigs, masks, hats and a wild assortment of other items one might find in a rummage or antique store. The whole experience was strangely endearing. Will keep in mind the next time I need a quick costume accessory, slice of pizza or sugar in the raw.

I stood in line, some kid came up behind me, I asked the girls in front of me of they have ordered yet the did, the politely moved out of the way, I waited a bit, then I asked if I could get help with an order, he got someone, the kid and his friend stepped up and said he was next, they weren't in line, I told her that, she took their order,I left. I will never go back to this place. I gave a good review to a chick fil a in a different town. Not this one. Absurd.

Super convenient, and super strange store in a somewhat quiet area of Marigny/Bywater. They have almost everything here (except for liquor, which was the original reason we went in). The clerk was very nice and told us where we could find a liquor store..... and also cautioned us that the walk might not be safe (we are 2 women and it was after 10 pm). We made other purchases and were glad to have found this place!

It's unorganized chaos. Expired products. Poor customer service skills. Definitely won't be coming back

They have everything from throws, to clothing, jewelry & home decor. Three separate buildings that I did not discover on my first visit.

Always helpful. Always clean. The deli is so fresh. Produce neat and orderly. Meat department has the freshest cuts of meat.

One of the highlights of our trip. So helpful and friendly. We found exactly what we wanted thanks to the staff.

This place is so bizarre and so New Orleans. It's a mish-mosh of overpriced groceries, festival trinkets, a deli, a pizza shop, and - supposedly - a laundromat upstairs. It's open 24 hrs. For awhile after I moved to the neighborhood, I wrote this place off. But then I started trying the deli items. They're expensive. But... Some of the food and desserts are delicious. Now I've discovered the soups. I've tried a couple vegetarian soups and they are the BOMB! I did finally try the pizza (it's only available sometimes) and it was probably the third best pizza I've had in New Orleans. That's not saying much, but I'm a Chicago pizza snob and found this really good. The crust is made with cornmeal, which is a key win. Did I mention it's 24/7?

Expensive $4.50 for 2 Pepcid. HOT inside the store. Limited selection. Manager was okay though.

Never have the same items, expensive and food items out of date. Lady that works the register is annoying and always trying to tell you your horoscope.

Super cool to see behind the scenes of Mardi Gras props and floats! A lot of the information was super fascinating!

Almost all of their condiments & canned goods are a year beyond expiration & still sitting on the shelf. Completely disgusting. A place witbout the self respect to get rid of rotten product doesn't deserve time of day

I was staying nearby and needed groceries. I was so impressed by the giant selection of items here. I found my favorite musli and almond butter here. Nice lady who knew where everything was in the place.

Excellent pizza, homemade dough from Kevin who has made his mark in NOLA as a bread baker. If you like his bread you'll love his pizza. Try the "In the Zone" pizza. The thin crust is like they make in Naples! The pizza are made fresh to order The bakery where the pizza is made is inside a small grocery store and has a few tables if you want to enjoy your pizza on location.

They have good stuff and nobody yells at you. Also if you have on a nice shirt someone outside will tell you you have a nice shirt.

In route to the airport, had to grab some items and a "fish plate" to take back to a friend. This rating is for the two young ladies working this morning. Thank you ladies for your kind, courteous, caring service you provided. I hope you know your worth. Oh and the store was clean, food good, yadda yadda yadda.

This place is truly a "Diamond in the Rough"! Located in a cute little neighborhood in New Orleans Uptown and is definitely worth a stop in! They have everything from food (pizza, donuts, king cake, salads, sandwiches) to grow very items and of course MARDI GRAS NECESSITIES (beads, masks, boas, and more)!!!! I stopped by to have lunch and pick up a few things and I must say I am impressed with the levels of service and the quality of food! I definitely will be back!!!

WTF??!! Now even Mardi Gras Zone is not 24 hours anymore??!! How is a person who works nights in the service industry supposed to be able to shop for groceries? I'm not talking Gummy Worms, or Cool Ranch Doritos to go with your 7 dollar box of Rice Crispies and the (hopefully not outdated) hugely overpriced milk. I mean staples. Y'know, like fruit or onions or meats or the effing stuff you buy to COOK AT YOUR HOUSE. I didn't mind the weird prices or even the lack of a/c, when it first opened. It was an almost actual place to "make groceries", even if it was 3 am. Guess I'll be going to my local corner store to buy crap to eat. I'll throw in some whippits and maybe some rolling papers and really intense incense sticks, just to keep things real.

this place literally has it all! it's a must see! if you are in new orleans, you have got to come by, there is literally something for everyone! beads, costumes, masks, gorgeous hats, boas, make up, trinkets, knick knacks, house wares, a supermarket with everything imaginable... vegan, vegetarian, kosher, organic, amazing selection that blew me away!! like 10 different types of nut flour!! oh and let's not forget the hige selection on new orleans foods!!! bring the flavor home amazing selection of international foods as well.. a deli with fresh made ready to eat grab and go foods. i am just so impressed with this place the owner is a great guy, so nice .. and so willing to help. tale my advice, make this a stop on your itinerary!! you will thank me for it!!

I don't know what I was expecting after reading the reviews but what I got wasn't it. Granted I went on Fat Tuesday so that could have been part of the issue. So many have raved about this place; I was just underwhelmed. I'll be sure to give them another try ... it may have just been an off day. The one over the top positive I can say is that had awesome customer service. Again, given that it was Fat Tuesday and they were incredibly busy, the employees were all incredibly kind and patient (think mass amounts of intoxicated folks with the munchies)!

This place is an interesting mix. I mean it's basically an enlarged corner store with a pizzeria in front, with a party supply section thrown in. It's the perfect place if you're hungry, but too lazy to make food at home or go to a restaurant. It hooked me up twice on my recent trip to New Orleans: 1. My friends and I were craving pizza at around 2 AM. Domino's politely told us to go f our selves ("Yes, sorry, we're about to close"). Friend said he'd go search for some snacks at a local store. Came back with two huge ass pizzas. Night saved! Honestly, I expected the pizza to be akin to DC's Jumbo Slice (ie greasy shit you can only eat shitfaced), but it turned out to be pretty good. My stomach also did not regret it the next day- proof it was better than Jumbo Slice. 2. Similar circumstances a couple nights later, but not in the mood for pizza again. Got a pre-made muffaletta, which was HUGE and just under $10 if memory serves. Couldn't finish it in one sitting. Taste wasn't bad at all. Anyway, it also has all the snacks and drinks you could need. For actual groceries, I can't comment on the selection or quality. Overall a great place, definitely recommend.

I went there for a PINT of blue bell ice cream! They told me $6. What!!! I was expecting to pay at least $3. Lord, let's talk about the pizza. Me and my son tried the pizza, one bite the whole top layer came off. What a joke!!

The best place in New Orleans to get hand tossed pizza and fresh deli food. They also have beer and wine and are open 24/7. Highly recommended great staff and a family owned local grocery.

awesome place. I like shopping for all my organic gluten free needs. they have a vast selection of kosher and Kosher for passover items. I also shop for all my mardi Gras needs - ALL VERY QUICKLY, there is always a parking spot outside, I am in an out in a matter of minutes. The owner always as if everything was ok and I found everything I need, the cashier is super fast. simple, quick and there.

I have been coming here for two years. It is an Amazing place! Have the late night munchies no problem the store is 24/7 and pizza from the wood stove is fantastic. I mean a good slice of pizza the crust is dusted with special ingredients and the toppings are always better than your run of the mill late night pizza joints. This is not your typical grocery store either. They have eclectic selections influenced by the Mediterranean regions of the world. From Matza balls to flatbreads they have you covered. The drink selection is intense having well known smoothies to every natural flavor soda you can imagine. It requires a little time to see all the hidden gems spread thru the store but you will find some of the most unique and hard to find items. This is not a chain store but locally owned and operated so don't bring your Wal-Mart or Winn Dixie mindset. Rather be in Big Easy mindset and you will find this place delightful.

It seems like even the stores in NOLA are wearing masks - you think you're going to walk into just a liquor/party store and instead you get a place with FIVE different brands of kombucha. After 96 hours of food intake over-indulgence, this here woman needed a kombucha. During the day the store has a very "co-op" vibe to it - tons of organic and hippy dippy foods and beverages - vegan options - natural deodorant - you name it, you need it, they have it. My stop was a short one, but this is going down in my NOLA map of places to come back to year after year.

My deep cover research on Mardis Gras Zone is that it was designed by the surrealist painter Salvador Dali during the time in his life when he was manic but yet perhaps slightly more organized. He may have been on some kind of amphetamine stimulant which allowed him the semi-mental clarity to be semi-organized just enough to place many off brand semi-products on shelves into store aisles. But of course, ..he was still Salvador Dali after all so that explains the bizarre random order of the products on those shelves. Take the metal spiral staircase on your right side to the upstairs and you will find a bizarre collection of kitchen products. Ummmm..and some tools. Ummm...and some Coleman propane fuel canisters for stoves and lanterns. And also Coleman lanterns. And directly underneath those you will find some paperback Webster's Dictionaries should you need to learn new words if the power ever goes out during a hurricane. That's just the tip of the iceberg here folks. Upstairs on the other side is the rows and rows of Mardis Gras beads, hats, masks, feather boas and yes... "Elect Mitt Romney" straw cowboy hats in case you need those. I thought about grabbing the hat, a Mardis Gras mask and a pink feather boa to do some retro campaigning but in one of my better personal decisions I elected not to do so. I did seriously consider the Bozo the Clown Mardis Gras beads too but then I remembered that I hate clowns so I did not get them. You can get some Cool St. Patty's Day swag and beads here so load up if that's yo thang ! The fresh produce here looks decent and the pizza is a very popular item. These pizza slices are the size of an actual elephant ear so the portions are generous. They got snacks, cold beer, candy, po-boy sandwiches and just about anything else you could ever want ! In fact they also have quite a few more things that you don't want too but on any return trip you could always change your mind. The next time I drop in at the Mardis Gras Zone, I may decide to pick up a few young hipster chick bicyclists in their black shorts and black fishnet stockings. They seem simple enough to acquire in terms of availability although I am fairly certain that like many other types of "exotic pets" that they are quite difficult to maintain and keep in captivity. Be advised. But if you are in the neighborhood then I HIGHLY recommend that you should stop by for a visit to the Mardis Gras Zone. There is no telling what you might see or experience here. Kind of like the Twilight Zone. Except for Mardis Gras. Or somethin'. I am YOUR Yelpbuddy, Madman and you can ALWAYS trust my reviews! I do it all for the peepil! Just like YOU! Drop me a note sometime because I am always glad to hear from ya! Well,... at least many of you. Some other folks not so much.

MGZ opened in the aftermath of Katrina. It's not in Bywater (NOT "The" Bywater as post Katrina disaster tourists called our home, a stupid variation that has unfortunately stuck like dirty gum) it's in Marigny. A former Mardi Gras trinket warehouse the owner saw a chance to make money off of the disaster and rolled in coolers to sell $6 gallons of milk to the needy. For months it was the only place open. For a while after the storm recovery there were even outdoor movies shown behind the building. As people returned the MGZ started selling prepared food, eventually enlarging into an adjoining building to put in a pizza oven. The pizza is hit or miss, often cold, sometimes unexplainably gritty. Essentially MGZ is a typically overpriced bodega as found in any urban neighborhood with a middle eastern/Israeli take on groceries. Coolers go off and on so be careful of buying frozen foods. Staff is often indifferent, rarely friendly. The surrounding streets can be a tad dangerous in late nite/ early morning hours. Tourists from places like Indiana or Ohio find it charming because they live in casserole country. It's a shopping experience of last resort for the rest of us.

Fair warning: I was in starvation nation when I found myself here, so keep that in mind when you are reading this. OH MY GOD THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER EATEN!!!!!! Okay, now that I got that out of my system- we stopped into this neighborhood convenience store on the hunt for a snack. This place has a little bit of everything, like others have said. It's a spot where you can "make groceries", if you are in a pinch. They have a pretty good selection of fresh pizza and I decided to get the feta and spinach one, because it looked really good. You get a huge slice of pizza and mine was so big that I had to actually fold it and eat it sandwich style. It's not the very best pizza I have ever had, but it had been a long evening and I was thankful for it. It did have a lot of flavor and was really good, especially considering that this place is basically just a hole in the wall. Would I return? Sure, why not?

Don't punch me for saying, "Only in New Orleans." (You don't have to drink a shot or buy me a beer either). Once a Mardi Gras store/bead warehouse, it's now so much more. Like a grocery store, a health food store and food court too! Don't worry, you can still get your beads and the like on the upstairs mezzanine (I haven't made it up there yet, so I can't comment as to selection and prices). But now you can also get soy milk! And kitty litter! And Maca and Spirulina! (These are all things I did or will buy). There are also outside food vendors setting up shop because this place is that big. I doubt their hours are 24 like the rest of the store, but don't quote me on that. I came here because I had heard that the Superfood Bar had set up shop recently and I was jonesing for a maca smoothie or a cacao shake or an avocado smoothie. I think it felt akin to 'roid rage when I was told that Superfood had left the building. Thankfully, they left behind some of their products (the aforementioned jars of Spirulina and Maca) and the kind lady behind the counter pointed out they also sell goji berries, raw nuts and energy bars and the like. Oh and the Superfood products are 10% off for now, so I can't complain (I got my smoothie fix today when I went Uptown). I look forward to updating this review when I can make a list of more strange juxtapositions! The store is an oxymoron masterpiece waiting to happen...

What a very strange place. First of all, why would you name a grocery store Mardi Gras Zone? For the longest time, I thought this place was a bead warehouse or something. (Clearly, I wasn't paying attention.) Also, it's easy to get it mixed up with Mardi Gras World, which is not the same thing at all. It's in an interesting spot (and actually sort of convenient to where I live, which is cool), and from the outside all it says is "Market" on an awning above the door. Unless I missed something, which is fairly likely. In any event, it looks ghetto as all hell, but it's really not, and on the inside it's huuuuuge. Way bigger than I thought it was going to be. They have all kinds of stuff. We went in looking for a few last minute things to make tacos, and I ended up getting greek yogurt, Luna bars, Odwalla juice, and a bunch of other Whole Foods type stuff. Ran into some friends, and while we were chatting they mentioned that Mardi Gras Zone was really expensive, so I was surprised when my total was only about $33, because it seemed like I got a lot of stuff. In any event, I don't have any complaints so far, and I think because I didn't feel like it was super expensive I decided to go with four stars over three. That, and because it's kinda sorta in my 'hood. Oddly, I couldn't find the beer. They sell it, right? They must.

I've been hearing about the amazing MG Zone for years. And I finally stopped in last month. I can see why the neighborhood folks love it. This shop really does sell a little bit of everything. Fancy canned goods, basic dog food, prepared foods, veg-friendly stuff, it's all there. Yes I can see that some stuff may age out on the shelf, but really what grocery exists where you don't have to check the expiration dates. I enjoyed my perusal and I did feel like a tourist in a strange land... And then I headed back to my part of town which evidently hoards all the grocery stores so the rest of the city can't have any.

There's fancy pizza. And there's necessary pizza. We convene today to discuss the latter. Now, Mardi Gras Zone has a lot to offer. I lived nearby MGZ for a year and popped in regularly to pick up whatever I'd forgotten on my grocery run: cheese, cat food, la croix, coffee, condiments. Apparently, I only ever run out of groceries that start with "c." OH AND ALSO: MGZ gives away free red beans and rice on Mondays at about 6:30. Pretty sure it's vegan/vegetarian. But I digress. Pizza. The front third of this delightfully weird warehouse is a deli AND pizzeria. The pizzeria, unlike any other in the city, is open into the wee wee wee hours of the night. Is it open ALL night? Probably. I would not be surprised. There's usually a standard pizza available--pepperoni or cheese--and then there's a WEIRD pizza composed of...whatever they had leftover. Beef and kale? Sure. Every meat? Sure. Vegan? Sure. The pizza quality is uneven. You might have an excellent slice and then a sad mediocre choice (but that's partially your fault for choosing beef/kale.) But it's 1 am and what do you care! Pizza. Also, because it's 1 am, you will also probably have an amazing interaction with the cashier (whom you pay for the pizza) and the pizzaiolo, maker of the pizza, who might be wearing a huge plush Leprechaun hat as he describes the pizza offerings to you.

Love the fact that in this area there's a place you can walk in for pretty much anything you could need. They have selections of specialty item foods, liquor, healthcare, groceries, and prepared food (both hot and cold). The customer service is great! They're always sweet, and helpful. Definitely recommend stopping in here even if you don't want anything - they probably have something you just didn't yet know you needed to buy.

This place is so odd and not in a good way. What sort of store is this? We were not greeted, nothing. Everything was covered in a thin layer of dust. No rhyme or reason to any of it. I didn't see pizza, prepared foods, king cakes, etc. All I saw both a creepy and and odd place with random groceries that may or not be spoiled and safe to eat...

Are you kidding me? I give it 5 stars for just sitting and people watching. They definitely make a "good" pizza here.....not great but it was gooood. I had fun just watching the people stagger in this place.

Bonkers. I became immediately obsessed with this place from the first day on a recent vacation. We were staying in the St. Claude/Bywater area just north of St. Claude and needed a grocery store nearby that was open at 9:30pm. MGZ showed up on Yelp and I went there with my brother. First of all it's just a single door sized door on a huge building, no sliding double glass here! When you walk in there's a built-in pizzeria to your left and a deli counter to your right. Walk straight past both and the registers and the room opens up to a huge warehouse-like grocery store. There is a staircase to an open second mezzanine story that claims to have all the Mardi Gras supplies you'll ever need. To the right in the hallway of refrigeration with rows of reach-in deli coolers and open produce reach-ins going into the distance. We bought groceries, wine, hot pizza, small cigars (for my niece and her boyfriend) and other stuff. All was reasonable. I would go back just for the funky, righteous vibe. I went every day I was there and couldn't stop suggesting it to everyone.

One of the weirdest and coolest finds! Pizza is solid and it's got all of the groceries you could dream of in this unassuming store.

I love this place. I am a night owl and i love having healthy options. When everything else is closed i can go there and get what i need. They used to allow dogs but not anymore according to Yelp. They didn't have any dried rosemary last time i was there & i don't like the fake milk options. I am a fan of Coconut milk now instead of Almond milk or Soy milk. But i do like their selection of cleaning products & potato chips and other snacks. They even gave me a free gallon of water because i had bought 2 or 3. I like going there when i'm sick & need chicken soup or whatever. Their premade foods are great for those times. I love that they have all the kosher options even if i dont need them personally. They are more expensive than many other grocery stores. I prefer Trader Joes personally. But if i need them they are close by & always open and you cant beat that!

I must disclaim: I'm a New Yorker. I was visiting the Big Easy, and at some point ended up at a bar in Marigny. It was 1 am, and I was quite peckish. I asked one of the locals for a food place in the area, and she suggested Mardi Gras Zone. Definitely an awesome place, somewhere between a bodega and a supermarket. I believe it's open 24/7, and they have a deli that is apparently staffed round the clock. I got a catfish po' boy made-to-order, and it was absolutely delicious. And the guy behind the counter was absolutely charming. We talked about hot sauces for a good 15 minutes. The place is kind of hard to find. The entrance is nondescript, with no apparent marker, and no windows. (It was nighttime, maybe I just didn't see it). You just have to take it on faith that, yes, there is something awesome inside.

I read a few of the reviews and I am a bit annoyed. Let's start out with the name. Originally Margi Gras Zone WAS just a Mardi Gras supplier. Then hurricane Katrina came around. The owner, Benny, drove around the city (and as far as I can tell, the state) buying all the food and water he could find and was GIVING it away to the residents of the Marigny and Bywater. Honestly, if it weren't for Benny, many would not be alive today. After that, he kept food in stock. Let's talk prices. The prices are a bit expensive, BUT after doing some comparison shopping, many of the items he carries are only available at Whole Foods and specialty shops. When you find the same items elsewhere, the prices are comparable with a little mark up. But to be fair, I have a real fondness for Short bread, and they have ACTUAL british short bread. HOWEVER, with this specific location, you have many other options. If you want cheap, low quality food stuffs, there is a dollar general 5 blocks away. As for the pizza. It is tasty with good ingredients. But as with all pizzas, it's a matter of personal taste. Their crust is hearty, with a good weight to it. The sauce has tang to it. If you like a chicago deep dish or a california style pizza, then this is not for you. The Deli and Salad Bar that people have complained about. I have never had any issues with the deli... Every time I have eaten the deli food it has been hot and fresh (and I go at WEIRD hours, so it's not that I am there during the lunch rush). As for the salad bar, I am surprised that people complain about it... The french market is a 15 minute walk from this location and has fresh produce daily... buying a salad bar at a corner grocery is a bit like buying gas station sushi - in restrospect... it's never a good idea... They have an amazing cheese selection, they cold drink isle is... well... pretty much awesome (everything from real ginger beer, to coca-cola, to energy drinks to bigshot sodas), lots of organics... AND they will do requests... if you ask, they will order items for you. In closing - this shop is a gem. Wonderful atmosphere, a taste of new orleans, and an owner that really cares.

I wandered in here one night well after 2 AM. I was the designated driver / chauffeur for my friend's bachelorette party. I'd fulfilled my responsibility by dropping them off at Mimis but had several hours to kill while they did whatever women do at bachelorette parties. I walked around aimlessly and found a door cut into the side of a metal warehouse marked cryptically with only the word MARKET. The light was glowing from inside on an otherwise dark street. I had to go inside. I definitely wasn't expecting what I saw. This place is FILLED with quality groceries. Quality might be an understatement. They are high-end groceries. Fancy teas, organic crackers, Bob's Red Mill mixes, stevia, foreign sodas, seemingly every product from the Ginger People, & much more. Surprisingly, the merch seemed to be priced lower than Whole Foods. And the items aren't dusty! This place is one huge, delicious oddity. Mardi Gras Zone is now my go-to place to pick up a few items when throwing together an unplanned dinner. It won't ever replace my schlep to Rouses, but it fills a certain need very effectively. The grocery area is open 24 hours, but I'm not so sure about the deli area. Edit: They added a wood-burning pizza oven. In a grocery store. Awesome!

This place robs me and fellow Marigny/Bywater residents on a daily basis. For many of us, it is the only place to purchase fresh veggies and non-fast food. The prices are through the roof! $7.99 per pound for the 'salad bar' that contained 5 items. Insulting. The prices are almost double those of the Rouses on Carrolton. The also don't have booze. The new pizza oven got us all excited, but the pizza is pretty rubbery. The place is awesome, though. camping equipment boxed right next to mardi gras beads, and food from all over the world! It's just hard to make groceries unless I have unlimited funds.. MG Zone, I will still shop with you, but only because I have to.

Great convenience store for the neighborhood with prepared foods and fresh pizza. I've actually never made it much farther than the cold drinks cooler, but one day I will walk the aisles and check out everything else they have to offer.

This place confused the hell out of me. Why do you have an 18 pack of jumbo crayons but no scotch tape? Rows of coolers with funky tea drinks but no Gatorade. One woman asked me where the band-aids were, she couldn't find them anywhere, and I said I had no idea, but did she think they had any dry shampoo? Inexplicably, they also have pizza and a nice selection of those over-sized saint candles. It's like someone's kooky aunt Bea and her rambunctious nephew are in charge of the inventory. Convenient location and hours though, so I guess all in all it's sort of endearing.

I second Andrea B.'s assessment. They never have everything I need to make dinner. Oh sure, they have numerous flavors of chutney, but chicken is harder to find. Most importantly, though, is that the prices are beyond a bit high. They're absolutely insulting. For now, they're the only game in the neighborhood for groceries, so they can get away with it. It seems that no matter what small item I go in there for, I can expect one of two options: 1. They won't have it. 2. They will have it, but they'll charge twice what a normal store would. This place makes me wish I had a car. As it is, I have to get another job or talk to a loan officer soon because it's almost time to buy dog food. By contrast, I find their pizza to be very good and, surprisingly, reasonably priced. Call me a pessimist, but I'm sure they'll find a way to screw that up soon. For a store this size, it's incredible what they don't carry. Are you looking for ramen noodles or frozen peas? Never heard of them, but how about seven flavors of chutney instead? No thanks. I'll take the bus uptown. Honestly, I can't wait to see what changes take place when the food co-op opens a few blocks away. The anticipation is akin to that accompanying an upcoming election where the godawful incumbent is about to get voted out of office in a landslide. Ya just can't wait to yell "Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out!" while singing Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."

I would give them 4 or 5 stars because they're open 24/7 and they have a lot of organic produce and stuff, but they also have some problems that really irk me. Problems: 1. Mardi Gras Zone is often out of a lot of different things, like Lilly's Hummus, any type of Pita Bread, almond milk, and many other products. 2. They sell a lot of Sabra Hummus, which is co-owned by the Strauss Group, an Israeli food company that according to its Web site provides financial support to the Golani brigade, part of Israel's military force. Essentially, it's a Zionist product that many people, myself included, boycott. 3. They don't use energy efficient lightbulbs in many places throughout the store, like the bathroom, which is not just bad for the environment but it's a dumb long-term spending move because those things use 1/4th the energy and could save lot of overhead in the long term.