Keeping Their COOL(inary)
There's one thing New Orleanians look forward to during the depths of the summer doldrums: the incredible special menus at some of the city's best restaurants.
- by Kim Ranjbar
Twenty restaurants throughout the French Quarter (and more in the Greater New Orleans area) are still stepping up to offer discounted, prix fixe menus for the 16th annual COOLinary celebration. Originally created to freshen up the dining scene during the city's notorious summer doldrums, it’s continuing this year despite fluctuating city and state COVID mandates.
While this year's participating restaurants number only half of those who took part in 2019, the effort is impressive and wholly welcome. In response to the pandemic, this year's event has been extended, running for six weeks from August 1 to September 13.
In addition, many of the participating restaurants are offering delivery, take-out and counter service options in the interest of keeping both employees and diners safe. Even with narrow profit margins and restricted capacity, these restaurants are committed to offering a delectable and discounted taste of normalcy.
We checked in with a several of our favorite FQ neighborhood establishments to see what dishes – and irresitable deals - they’re offering.
Note: the photos below are representative of a restaurant's offerings, but not necessarily COOLinary specials. Please check the COOLinary website for more details.
Though only offering dine-in, there's plenty of room to be found inside Brennan's iconic pink building on Royal Street. Both brunch and dinner COOLinary menus are being featured this year with dishes like chilled corn soup with pickled shrimp, red wine-braised short rib with collard greens and buttermilk bread pudding.
Brennan's has participated in this summer celebration every year, and they were determined to continue the tradition.
“New Orleans has a great restaurant community and we feel it is important that our restaurants take part to support the entire program,” says Charlee Williamson, Executive Vice President of Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group. “Especially this year, as it is coming at a critical time with many challenges facing the restaurant industry due to the pandemic.”
Not even a pandemic will stop the festivities at Broussard's Restaurant & Courtyard that are celebrating their centennial this year. For their anniversary, Broussard's has been offering a special, three-course prix-fixe for only $19.20 in honor of their opening year, the same menu being offered through COOLinary. Reveling in rice, the menu features dishes such as spinach salad with long grain rice crisps, Gulf shrimp étouffée and Creole Louisiana long grain rice calas served with roasted strawberry ice cream.
“Right now more than ever, we need to support the hospitality industry as a whole and especially our own staff. Operating at 50% means less staff, so we want to make sure we bring in customers to support them,” says Zeid Ammari, Chief Operating Officer of Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts. “COOLinary helps drive those customers to our dining room. It's a win-win.”
Broussard's is offering both dine-in and takeout, with the COOLinary menu available Thursday through Saturday.
Located on the corner of Decatur and Iberville, Coterie is a comparative newcomer to the Quarter, serving locals and visitors since 2014. Offering both dine-in and take-out, the oyster bar and restaurant's menu features both innovative and traditional dishes like Cajun egg rolls stuffed with crawfish and andouille, Gulf shrimp linguine in a creamy Alfredo, and chocolate peanut butter pie in a graham cracker crust.
Almost since they opened, Coterie NOLA has participated in COOLinary and they saw no reason to stop this year. General Manager Kyle Crochet knows that locals are the restaurant's best bet for this summertime special since “they are the ones familiar with the promotion and seek out restaurants they frequent along with restaurants they have in their 'must try' list.”
Coterie NOLA is promoting both a lunch and dinner menu for dine-in and takeout available daily.
Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St.
Galatoire's “33” Bar & Steak
215 Bourbon St.
One of the city's “grand dames,” Galatoire's 115-year-old fame precedes it with their famous (and sometimes infamous) extended Friday lunches in the first-floor dining room with Sazeracs, turtle soup and soufflé potatoes. Both Galatoire's and their adjacent steakhouse Galatoire's “33,” helmed by famed local chef Philip Lopez, are participating in COOLinary as they have in years past.
Both Bourbon Street restaurants are featuring both lunch and dinner menus touting their usual mouth-watering opulence with dishes like white asparagus vichyssoise, grilled honey fennel pork chop with Southern succotash and watermelon sorbet served with elderflower cucumbers and an Earl Grey tea sable (ie. shortbread cookie).
President Melvin Rodrigue believes that COOLinary is a wonderful way to showcase some of their best dishes to diners who may not have tried Galatoire's before. “We pride ourselves on showcasing a mix of our traditional dining options guests know and love with something new and exciting each year,” says Rodrigue. “This year is no different in terms of menu choice. There’s something for everyone.”
Both Galatoire's and Galatoire's “33” are offering dine-in only, Wednesday through Sunday.
Easily one of the best and most ingenious seafood restaurants in the city, GW Fins has been ahead of the COVID curve from the very beginning, offering dishes from their incredible menu for curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Owned by seasoned fine-dining executive Gary Wollerman and master chef Tenney Flynn, this almost 20-year-old restaurant has earned its reputation for being a foremost French Quarter eatery, especially when it comes to seafood.
Like clockwork, GW Fins has always been a participant in COOLinary and there are no signs they're stopping.
“Fortunately all the fantastic seafood from the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t know anything about Covid-19, so it is at its plentiful peak,” says co-owner Gary Wollerman. “GW Fins has been a draw for locals looking for wonderful seafood, but especially since mid-March, we have received tremendous support from our New Orleans neighbors. We can’t thank them enough for their support and we’re so grateful.”
As in past years, the restaurant COOLinary menu changes nightly depending upon what's the freshest available catch, but guests can expect the best with options such as Royal Red shrimp with Vietnamese glaze, jumbo lump crab cakes with pickled ginger slaw and a chocolate bombe drizzled with raspberry coulis. GW Fins offers their dinner menu for dine-in, takeout and delivery daily.
In its second year, Longway Tavern is located in a storied, 200+ year-old Creole cottage offering craft cocktails and creative cuisine that is far more elevated than your typical bar food. Opened by esteemed local restaurant group LeBlanc + Smith, this comfortable, laid-back eatery chose to participate in COOLinary this year with the intention of boosting sales and providing additional value to newcomers and their regular guests.
“We've shifted to all-day dining and takeout/delivery in response to COVID-19,” says founder and co-owner Robert LeBlanc. “We're hoping that the COOLinary menu attracts guests who are looking for a warm, welcoming and safe dining experience.”
With chef Cesar Nunez at the helm, Longway is offering soul-warming plates such as a spinach and artichoke hand pie made with their own corn tortillas, Creole tomato salad and either a glass of wine or dessert, both of which will change daily. Longway Tavern is offering dine-in, takeout and delivery Wednesday through Sunday.
Also by LeBlanc + Smith, Meauxbar is self-touted as a contemporary French restaurant located on the edge of the French Quarter. Featuring long banquettes and old hardwood floors, this intimate bistro is featuring a three-course menu with escargot in a sun dried tomato beurre blanc served with house made focaccia, jerk chicken with coconut rice and (keeping in theme) a coconut calas with blueberry coulis.
“We've put a lot of work into ensuring our venues are safe for our team and guests,” says co-owner Robert LeBlanc. “We believe COOLinary will bring in foodies who are looking to relax and have a good time knowing we are keeping their safety in mind.”
Meauxbar is open Wednesday through Sunday for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
Located across the street from The Presbytere on the corner of St. Ann and Chartres, Muriel's is an 1800's French Quarter mansion that was purchased and renovated to become the elegant restaurant it is today. With several dining rooms, a courtyard and bar, and a large balcony overlooking Jackson Square (as well as several ghosts), this Creole cuisine restaurant has become a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.
Muriel's is known for its Table d'Hote menu, so participating in COOLinary fits right into their wheelhouse.
“We like to offer a true dining experience based on delicious food, lavished with hospitality, in a beautiful, safe, and clean environment,” says co-owner Denise Gratia. “During this difficult time, we are excited to reconnect with our local and regional guests as well as return to providing a valuable service to our community.” Executive Chef Erik Veney has crafted a three-course dinner menu featuring items like seafood gumbo, a wood-grilled pork chop served with andouille potato hash and vanilla bean crème brûlée.
Muriel's Jackson Square is offering dinner daily for both dine-in and takeout.
Opened by Chef Richard Hughes and his wife Jeanne Stinnett in 1990, The Pelican Club is an intimate and exquisite little restaurant built inside a 19th-century townhouse. Tucked away in a pedestrian-only alley, this contemporary eatery has always participated in COOLinary.
“We wanted to be sure our guests receive the same great menu as we offer each year,” says Hughes.
The extensive menu features several options for each course, from tuna poke and baked oysters with apple wood-smoked bacon to Louisiana Cioppino, Thai curry Gulf shrimp and coconut cream pie. The Pelican Club is offering both dine-in and takeout daily.
A gastronomic gem in the heart of the French Quarter, Sylvain is one of the brightest stars in LeBlanc + Smith's restaurant collection. Located on Chartres Street in an 18th-century carriage house - just a hop away from Jackson Square - Sylvain oozes not only history, but an overwhelming sense of congeniality and comfort.
Their COOLinary menu offers a Brussel Salad with lemon-honey vinaigrette and a choice of confit chicken with chili glaze and chicken fat rice, or roasted eggplant tartine served with house-baked focaccia.
Sylvain's COOLinary menu is available for dine-in, takeout and delivery Wednesday through Sunday.
