NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) - No city does food like New Orleans. It's famous around the world. And now, you can read all about it all at the New Orleans Public Library, downtown, in the basement under the basement. "We have records from every city agency," said organizer and overseer Chrystina Bryant. You can read menus from restaurants, coffee shops, and food trucks in the city archives. New Orleans teen told he’d never walk, never talk, now, he scores "I think these menus are a reflection of that. They date back to the 1880s. Food culture is such a big part of New Orleans," said Bryant. WGNO Good Morning New Orleans features reporter Bill Wood checks out what you can check out. It's a maze of a museum, with everything from Mardi Gras memories to the city census from 1791. "It is important to keep these things as part of our historic record," said Bryant. All of the menus were donated by people who loved the library. King Cake Hub opens for Carnival Season 2025 "This one is even fun because the person who donated also gave us their check," said Bryant. You can dish about the dishes and the prices paid through the years. It's a one of a kind, kind of meal deal that begins with appetizers and delivers down to the last course. Just know, you'll need to make an appointment to look at the menus in person at the library's main branch downtown. Like Shakespeare and Steinbeck, it's literature. And it's rich New Orleans history. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Benefit concerts held in New Orleans to support Bourbon Street attack victims Check out what you can now check out at NOLA Public Library All 5 living presidents, political dignitaries attend Jimmy Carter's funeral Houma man faces additional charges in child sex crimes case Biden eulogizes ‘great American’ Jimmy Carter