NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Delacroix, the newest concept from BRG Hospitality, will officially open at the end of September in Spanish Plaza. Inspired by the food, culture and people of the historic fishing and hunting village sharing its name in St. Bernard Parish, owners share the restaurant offers a refined setting where diners are transported to the rustic cooking of South Louisiana.
Ahead of the debut, guests can experience “Catch of the Week,” a rotating showcase of signature dishes from its forthcoming menu, at one of Delacroix’s sister restaurants. Diners can taste a new “catch” each week as a limited-time special at Luke, Domenica, Willa Jean and Restaurant August starting Aug. 25.
“Delacroix is one of those places that sparked my love for our Louisiana foods,” said Chef John Besh, Delacroix co-founder and BRG Hospitality co-owner. “Growing up, I was either fishing, crabbing, shrimping or hunting in a duck blind in the marshy waters of coastal Louisiana, harvesting, cooking and eating whatever the water provided. That connection to place and tradition is exactly what we are bringing to our table at Delacroix. ‘Catch of the Week’ is our way of introducing our version with the same camaraderie and spirit as a day spent at the camp.”
“Catch of the Week” will feature chef-driven creations inspired by the Isleños community, who brought their lasting influence of flavor and tradition to ‘the end of the world’ over 200 years ago. By the time diners step into Delacroix, they’ll already feel familiar and connected with a few dishes they’ll want to enjoy again. Get an early opportunity to taste the flavors of the opening menu during the following dates.
- Aug. 25 – 29 at Luke: Crispy Snapper Collars with Spicy Creole Tomato Butter
- Sept. 1 – 5 at Domenica: Shrimp Stuffed Duroc Pork Chop and Heirloom Tomato Salad
- Sept. 8 – 12 at Willa Jean: Wiley’s Creole Style Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Pistolettes
- Sept. 19 at Restaurant August (Friday lunch only): Mai’s Seafood Salad with Crab, Royal Red Shrimp, Calamari & Jelly Fish
“I recently spent time cooking and learning alongside traditional Isleños cooks, and I’m eager to give New Orleans a preview before our doors officially open,” said Delacroix Chef Wiley Lewis. A proud Louisianian with roots in both North Louisiana and the southern bayous, Lewis traces her culinary passion to age four, when her grandfather taught her to make his famous pain perdu. “I believe food is storytelling,” said Lewis. “It connects us, grounds us and brings us home – the very experience we are creating at Delacroix.”
Lewis joined BRG Hospitality in 2012 at Restaurant Borgne, later honing her skills at Restaurant August, Domenica and during the opening of Willa Jean before gaining a new perspective as a fishmonger. Her vast industry experience, paired with a childhood spent on hunting trips with her father and weekends at fishing camps in Grand Chenier and Pelican Island, gives her an intimate understanding of how central the Mississippi River and surrounding waterways are to Louisiana’s story.
“The water is part of who we are – it has shaped our food, our families and our way of life. I can’t help but get a rush of nostalgia every time I walk through Delacroix’s doors,” Lewis stated. “From the vintage crab traps and fishing poles on display to a menu built on high-quality locally sourced ingredients and homegrown culinary techniques, Delacroix is where Louisiana’s coastal heritage lives while redefining riverfront dining in New Orleans.”
Guests can expect a full sensory experience – the aromas of familiar flavors like smoked duck gumbo, the sounds of off-bottom gulf oysters being shucked and the picturesque view of the water, all at New Orleans’ only standalone riverfront restaurant. It’s a place that encourages locals to slow down and savor the moment, while inviting visitors to connect with the river that has shaped the city for centuries.
Located at 1 Poydras St. SPC 1005, Delacroix will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday. The menu will feature local seafood and traditional dishes alongside innovative cocktails, a curated wine list and local craft beers. Delacroix will also offer private dining and venue rental options fit for any occasion.
Visit www.delacroixrestaurant.com for more information on “Catch of the Week,” and follow @delacroixrestaurant on Instagram and Facebook.
