I admittedly lived in New Orleans before the modern generation of "celebrity chef" restaurants really got going. K-Paul's had just opened. So most of the best restaurants were all cut from a somewhat similar high creole cloth. But Antoine's was always right near the top of my favorites--though I haven't been there for years.

The way things worked back then was they tended to stick the tourists in the front room but if you knew one or more of the waiters by name they'd give you one of their tables in the back.

Same. I actually hadn't heard of it before going there on a business dinner. The food and service were great, but we were also given a tour of the restaurant afterwards and the size and richness of the history there is staggering. I think the restaurant takes up the entire city block on 2 floors, with about 9 different dining halls / rooms for large catered events, intimate occasions, etc. a massive underground cellar, etc. Very cool experience...