Many people visit New Orleans for its food. Traditional cuisine in New Orleans is rooted in French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Louisiana Creole cultures. So it should be no surprise that New Orleans cuisine is flavorful, dynamic, and unique. New Orleans has restaurants that have been serving locals and visitors alike for over 100 years. Historic New Orleans restaurants are fine dining, because dining out in New Orleans was traditionally an activity of the wealthy. Many historic restaurants in the Crescent City have dress codes. The menus feature gulf coast ingredients, and classic Louisiana Creole dishes. Visitors and residents alike have a hard time choosing where to eat in New Orleans because the food is so good! To help you, here is a list of Historic New Orleans Restaurants that have made important contributions to the culinary landscape of the city.
Antoine’s Restaurant
The oldest restaurant in New Orleans is Antoine’s Restaurant, so no list of historic New Orleans restaurants is complete without it. The restaurant was founded in 1840 and set the standard for fine dining in New Orleans. Antoine Alcetore’s descendants still own and operate the restaurant. Antoine’s has fourteen unique dining rooms, and a menu that reflects over 180 years of consistency. Servers at Antoine’s train first as apprentices. That means they must shadow a seasoned, experience server before moving up in the ranks. Some servers have been at Antoine’s for decades! Because of this, locals tend to have their favorite Antoine’s server, and will request them when making their reservation. A trip to Antoine’s is an experience you are not likely to forget. For this reason, it is one of New Orleans’ best. Enjoy this great video to learn more about the history, culture, and atmosphere of Antoine’s Restaurant.
Arnaud’s Restaurant
Arnaud “Count” Cazenave founded Arnaud’s Restaurant in 1918. Cazenave was a wine salesman who would become one of the most colorful New Orleans characters. He believed in pursuing the pleasures of the table. Accordingly, the history of Arnaud’s Restaurant is rich with stories of illegal booze flowing freely at Arnaud’s during prohibition. Today Arnaud’s Restaurant is owned and run by the Casbarian family. They have owned the restaurant for four decades, and are only the second family to own and operate Arnaud’s. Visitors to Arnaud’s will want to visit the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum. The museum is named for Count Arnaud’s daughter, Germaine. She reigned as queen of over twenty-two Mardi Gras balls during her lifetime, that is more than any other woman in New Orleans history. The museum is free and open to the public during restaurant hours, seven days a week.
Brennan’s Restaurant
In 1946 Owen Brennan opened Brennan’s Vieux Carre Restaurant on Bourbon Street. At the time Brennan was the proprietor of The Olde Absinthe House. One day Count Arnaud Cazenave, a regular there, teased Brennan. He told him all Irishmen could do in the kitchen was boil potatoes. Brennan was determined to prove his soon to be rival restauranteur wrong, and Brennan’s was born. Owen Brennan started Brennan’s Restaurant. His sister Ella made Brennan’s famous. She began two important New Orleans traditions, decadent breakfast and Banana’s Foster. Breakfast at Brennan’s began in response to the success of Antoine’s Restaurant, just around the corner. Dinner at Antoine’s was a best selling novel set at Antoine’s Restaurant. The success of the book was a huge success for the restaurant. Ella wanted to compete with her rival and neighbhor. She reportedly said, “They can have Dinner at Antoine’s. We’ll give them Breakfast at Brennan’s!”
Watch the video to learn how Ella Brennan and her head chef created the famous dessert, Banana’s Foster.
Commander’s Palace
Visitors to the Garden District will not want to miss the iconic Commander’s Palace. In 1974 Ella Brennan and her siblings took over the restaurant across from the historic Lafayette Cemetery No.1. They painted it a bright Carolina blue. The color would quickly be called Commander’s Blue, and a legend was born. Ella Brennan and famed chef Paul Prudhomme brought Cajun and Creole cuisines together for the first time. They transformed the definition of Louisiana cuisine. Commander’s Palace was the home of Blackened Redfish, Pecan Encrusted Gulf Fish, and Bread Pudding Souffle. Some of the original dishes are still served today. Commander’s Palace was also the first place to serve up Jazz Brunch! No trip to New Orleans is complete without dining to live sounds of brassy New Orleans Jazz. Ella and her siblings, along with Paul Prudhomme, brought Cajun and Creole food into the National consciousness.
Commander’s Palace has boasted and nurtured some amazing executive chefs: Paul Prudhomme, Emerile Lagasse, Jamie Shannon and Tory McPhail. Commander’s current, and first female, head chef is Meg Bickford. Bickford may be the first woman executive chef, but women have been the driving force behind Commander’s Palace since it’s earliest days. Enjoy this video and interview with owners Lally Brennan and Ti Martin and chef Meg Bickford.
Dooky Chase’s
Dooky Chase’s Restaurant is located in the historic Treme neighborhood. Originally a sandwich shop, the doors opened in 1939. It was founded by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr. Dooky Chase’s was a popular spot for African Americans in segregated New Orleans. At the restaurant, they openly discussed the issues of racial and economic inequality that affected their community in New Orleans and in the country as a whole. This tradition would continue. Equally important in the 1960’s, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant was a place where national and local civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Reverand A.L. Davis, and Oretha Castle Haley met to plan and strategize.
It is Dooky Chase, Jr.’s wife, Leah Chase, who is responsible for growing the sandwich shop into the fine dining Creole restaurant that it is today. Later, she would be known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, setting the standard for fine Creole cooking. She was also an advocate for black artists in New Orleans. Furthermore, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant remains a favored place for politicians, artists, musicians, and important literary figures. Visit Dooky Chase today and you might find yourself sitting next to a celebrity! Above all, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant is about community and spreading love through food. Get a little taste of Miss Leah, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, and the city of New Orleans by watching this video.
MORE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANTS
I also recommend trying Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard and Galatoire’s Restaurant, both in the French Quarter. Pascale’s Manale is originator of New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp.