Even as Hurricane Isaac menaced New Orleans on Wednesday, the city's historic French Quarter was refuge to a stready stream of tourists and locals.

With about 60 percent of the city darkened by downed power lines, people flocked to the few restaurants in the district with electricity.

The hearty crowd at Oceana Grill ventured out before the city-wide curfew at dusk for some cold drinks and southern food.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGE DUBAZ, NEW ORLEANS TOUR GUIDE, SAYING:

"Oceana was open so I came down and it was the only place open so I decided to come down and get a drink and a little something to eat."

Oceana's owner was hopeful that the city's new flood protection plans will stop the worst of the flooding.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOE BADER, OWNER OF OCEANA, SAYING:

"This is definitely a proof to us that the 11 billion dollars they spent to strengthen the levees was spent wisely."

Oceana has stayed open during all 19 hurricanes that have hit New Orleans since the restaurant's 1973 founding-- including the devestating 2005 Hurricane Katrina.