Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.


News for Restaurants in New Orleans
September 2013 Archive

Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Culinary Events / Wine dinners / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive

RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Although the French Quarter is home to a delicious collection of restaurants, there are surprisingly few dessert spots. Enter Sucre, the Garden District "dessert boutique," which is about to open a second location in the French Quarter. Known for its ornate pastel-colored, brass-and-iron interior, Sucre (meaning "sugar" in French) plans for the new location to have a similar ambiance, but on two levels. The first floor will reportedly be a retail space selling Sucre products, while the second level will serve not only desserts, but also appetizers and charcuterie. Some items will be prepared tableside. Construction has just begun, and no opening date has been announced.
 
Harrah's Casino has an 18,000-square-foot space that was not being fully utilized, so the owners decided to build a bowling alley. Not just your average bowling alley, it features 18 lanes and will also house two full-service bars and a restaurant. The latter, Fulton Alley, is set to debut later this fall, with chef Michael Nirenberg at the kitchen's helm. Although the company has been relatively hush-hush about the menu, what has been reported so far is that it will feature a "Southern-influenced" menu that includes homemade meat pies, chicken wings, deveiled eggs and a variety of sliders. There will also be full entrées, but the restaurant will stay at a low- to mid-range price point. Fulton Alley, 600 Fulton St., New Orleans, LA 70125, no phone.
 
One of the true flagship fine dining restaurants in the French Quarter, Broussard's, has reopened. Sold last year to the Ammari family, the restaurant has undergone an elegantly appointed interior re-do. The fabled Broussard's courtyard is intact, but has also been refreshed. Chef Guy Reinbolt, classically trained in France, has introduced a menu that enables front-of-the-house staff to prepare some dishes tableside, harkening to a more traditional fine dining experience. Entrées are as diverse as a traditional broiled redfish, to a more exotic ostrich filet. The new Empire Bar, located adjacent to the dining rooms, evokes Old World charm, but offers strictly up-to-date craft cocktails. Open for dinner only now, Broussard's will soon be open for Sunday brunch as well. Broussard's, 819 Conti St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-581-3866.
 
Sue Zemanick plans to open a new small plates restaurant in New Orleans called Ivy It has been a long time coming, but the proprietors of the uptown gem Gautreau's have announced plans to open two new dining spots. The first will be Ivy, located at 5515 Magazine St., a small plates establihment and wine bar with an upscale cocktail lounge. Gautreau's chef Sue Zemanick will oversee the operation, but Ivy will have its own chefs de cuisine, Chris Gecewich and Nick Lama. A fall opening is anticipated. The other new venture for Gautreau's is Marti's, a name familiar to many long-time New Orleanians. Marti's was an upscale restaurant with high-profile regular clientele, including Tennessee Williams. Gautreau's owner Patrick Singley plans to resurrect the concept in a building that is just a block away from the original Marti's. The building was the longtime home of another popular local restaurant, Peristyle. Drew Lockett has been named executive chef. No opening date has been announced. Gautreau's, 1728 Soniat St., New Orleans, LA 70115, 504-899-7397.
 

News Bytes

Cuban Restaurant Development Gains Approval to Build in French Quarter
After a year-long battle between owners and neighbors, Habana Outpost has gained approval from the city to build a Cuban restaurant similar to those it already operates in New York and Malibu. The proposed restaurant has been the subject of debate, largely because it will be developed on a corner of the French Quarter that for decades has been home to an abandoned gas station. Neighbors have been concerned about traffic and noise potentially generated by the new restaurant, which could seat up to 223 people, outdoors and indoors. Owner Sean Meenan, who now lives in New Orleans, has revised the architectural plans to satisfy the French Quarter residents. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this year, although an anticipated opening date has not yet been announced. The original location, which opened in Brooklyn in 2005, claims to be New York City's first solar-powered restaurant. Environmentally conscious Meenan plans for this location to be a LEED certified platinum building.
 

Chef Shuffle

In the late 1930s the Fountain Lounge at The Roosevelt New Orleans was the see-and-be-seen spot in downtown New Orleans. Known for its European ambiance and signature cocktails, the Fountain Lounge operated until the late 1960s. Now, the hotel is planning to reopen the room, this time with a full small plates menu and some of those same signature cocktails, such as the Sazerac and Pimms Cup. Chef Justin Ferguson, who most recently helmed the kitchen at Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar in Uptown New Orleans, will run the food operation, which will also include a raw bar and fresh, cold Gulf seafood. The lounge will also feature its own wine list and live entertainment on weekends. Fountain Lounge, The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel, 123 Baronne St., New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-648-1200.
 

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for New Orleans to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Dominique's, R.I.P.

Prime Grille, which took over the former space of Bywater Barbecue Restaurant in the heavily residential Bywater neighborhood, has shut its doors. Prime Grille offered hearty fare, including steaks, venison stew, baked salmon and a unique Gulf fish Wellington. Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70117, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook
? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in New Orleans

Current News View archived news: November 2019 | May 2019 | April 2019 | February 2019 | January 2019 | December 2018 | October 2018 | August 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | April 2018 | March 2018 | December 2017 | October 2017 | September 2017 | August 2017 | May 2017 | April 2017 | February 2017 | November 2016 | October 2016 | August 2016 | July 2016 | May 2016 | April 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | September 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | March 2015 | February 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | October 2014 | September 2014 | August 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | February 2014 | January 2014 | December 2013 | November 2013 | October 2013 | September 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | December 2012 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | December 2008 | November 2008 | October 2008 | September 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008



VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.