Our Take: Sometimes famous restaurants rest on their laurels and merely go through the motions. That’s certainly not the case with Dooky Chase’s – one of New Orleans most acclaimed Creole restaurants. If anything, Chase’s has achieved a new level of hospitality and attention to detail under the current generation of owners. Since its founding in 1941 and eventual transformation into a sit-down restaurant under the guidance of national treasure Leah Chase, Chase’s rose to national prominence. Hurricane Katrina, which closed the restaurant for two years, and Ms. Chase’s passing in 2019, presented formidable challenges to the restaurant…. But under this next generation of family members, Chase’s is at the top of its game. The Creole Gumbo, for example, ranks among the city’s best. A thinner consistency than some other versions, this gumbo is a perfect marriage of seafood, sausage, and chicken. Creole entrees such as Shrimp Clemenceau, Stewed Chicken, and Chicken Creole pay homage to generations of Creole chefs and home cooks who created masterpieces out of humble ingredients. The lunch menu offers poboys that leave the kitchen looking like something from a photo shoot, meticulously assembled with the care they deserve. Chase’s’ prices are another reason to appreciate Chase’s as they are among the most reasonable in the city! Finally, the hours of operations could be one of the reasons the restaurant maintains such high standards – they are only open for lunch on Tuesday to Friday, and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Unlike some competitors that serve thousands through the week, seatings at Chase’s are in short supply – so book early!

For more information about the history of Dooky’s and Ms. Chase, see this recent article in National Geographic.