Outdoor seating
Live entertainment
From New Attraction Profiles 1966:
All of the color, atmosphere and excitement of New Orleans' old French Market and a cosmopolitan European dining establishment will be combined in this, the largest restaurant in New Orleans Square. A domed skylight will illuminate walls of old brick, accents of ochre and green, black iron furnishings and a quarry-tile floor. Surrounding the skylight will be a unique pressed-tin ceiling, popular in New Orleans during the 1850's. Punctuating the walls will be memorabilia of French kitchens, including polished pots and pans,cleavers, weights, duck presses, grinders and baskets, which are now bring sought by the Disney staff. Seating 300 guests at one time, the French Market Restaurant will serve buffet style in two serving lines, a technique which has proved highly successful in the recently opened Plaza Inn Restaurant on Disneyland's Main Street Plaza. Diners will select from a pageant of salads, sandwiches, a number of main courses and desserts all taken from old New Orleans recipes.
From WED Disneyland Dictionary 1968:
Provides for buffet style dining with a background of Dixieland music on the terrace inspired by New Orleans famous French Market.
1969 Menu specialty: Creole food. Capacity: 320
From Disney University Food Showmanship Disney Style 1973:
The French Market, where Louisiana cooking may be enjoyed beside live entertainment. The food display and serving area features a quarry-tile floor and a unique "pressed-tin" ceiling, typical of the 1850's. A "domed skylight" illuminates the two ceramic tile murals depicting historical scenes of ceremonies at the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Punctuating the walls surrounding the murals are memorabilia of French kitchens, including polished pots and pans, cleaners, weights, duck presses, grinders and baskets, which were sought by the Disney staff over a period of years especially for New Orleans Square.
From Cast Member Orientation 1981:
French Market Prices:
Hot Corned beef on Rye Bread with Cole Slaw and Pickle Spear: $2.50 ($7.71 in 2021 dollars)
Hot Turkey on White Bread Served Open Face with Cranberry Sauce and Whipped Potatoes: $2.50 ($7.71 in 2021 dollars)
New Orleans Square Fried Chicken French Fries, Vegetable, Dinner Roll & Butter: $3.10 ($9.56 in 2021 dollars)
Childs Plate: $2.35 ($7.25 in 2021 dollars)
Fried Shrimp Dinner with French Fries, Vegetable, Dinner Roll & Butter: $4.15 ($12.80 in 2021 dollars)
Child's Plate: $2.45 ($7.55 in 2021 dollars)
Oven Baked Ribs in Barbeque Sauce Baked Beans, French Fries, Dinner Roll & Butter: $4.30 ($13.26 in 2021 dollars)
Child's Plate: $2.45 ($7.55 in 2021 dollars)
Seafood Jambalaya Rice Pilaf, Dinner Roll & Butter: $2.80 ($8.63 in 2021 dollars)
Creole Stuffed Bell Pepper, Rice Pilaf, Vegetable, Dinner Roll & Butter: $3.40 ($10.48 in 2021 dollars)
Spaghetti With Meat Balls, Dinner Roll & Butter: $2.90 ($8.94 in 2021 dollars)
Child's Plate: $2.15 ($6.63 in 2021 dollars)
Chef's Salad $3.25 ($10.02 in 2021 dollars)
California Fruit Salad: $2.95 ($9.10 in 2021 dollars)
Seafood Salad: $3.50 ($10.79 in 2021 dollars)
Cheesecake: $.75 ($2.31 in 2021 dollars)
Carrot Cake: $.85
Assorted Pies & Cakes: $.65
Coffee: $.35
Milk: $.40
Iced Tea: $.50 ($1.54 in 2021 dollars)
Hot Tea: $.35
Hot Chocolate: $.40
Soft Drinks: $.40 & $.50
Fritters (julep bar only): $.40
Mint Julep (julep bar only): $ .50 ($1.54 in 2021 dollars)
Lemonade (julep bar only): $ .50 ($1.54 in 2021 dollars)
From Steve Birnbaum brings you the best of Disneyland 1982:
Far more than New Orleans Square's largest food facility, this Esplanade Street buffeteria, adjoining the Frontierland depot of the Disneyland Railroad, is a destination in its own right: On sunny days, it's relaxing just to sit on the open-air terrace and lunch on fried shrimp and chicken, pork spare ribs, creole jambalaya, spaghetti and meat balls, or stuffed bell peppers. There's Dixieland music played on stage periodically throughout the day and into the evening, when, in summer, trumpeter Teddy Buckner holds forth with such spirit that you could listen for toe-tapping hours and get your money's worth and more. If all you want is a snack, stop at the adjacent Mint Julep Bar and pick up a fritter (a large, hollow, spherical doughnut affair) and some hot chocolate and take it to one of the small round tables on the French Market's terrace. You may think you've died and gone to heaven. Serves Lunch, Dinner, Snacks.
