A shuttered Mid-City restaurant known for "Bible-belt cuisine" is fulfilling its promise for a rebirth and is opening in a new spot in the New Orleans metro.
Brown Butter co-owner Simon Beck said in May 2023 that the restaurant's landlord opted to convert the location at the corner of Bienville Street and Carrollton Avenue into a medical facility. Now, with a tweaked name, Beck said they plan to return in August, this time on the West Bank.
"So we changed the name a little bit from Brown Butter Southern Kitchen and Bar to Brown Butter Depot. That's to keep the familiarity there for the regulars who have been coming in. And also just to sort of keep with the whole train station theme, because there's, there's no running from that," Beck said.
The new iteration of Brown Butter will be taking over the space left by Gretna Depot Cafe and Spirits, 326 Huey P Long Ave. Both restaurants have "depot" in the name in reference to the train that passes near the building. Across the street from the restaurant is one of Gretna's historic train depots, which now houses the Gretna Farmers Market's office and a red caboose.
Pimento cheese burger and seasoned fries at Brown Butter Restaurant. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Beck said that he and partner Lauren Clayton opted for the Gretna location because they hoped for a spot where they could get the same neighborhood feel that they had in Mid-City.
"We really liked the idea of being a neighborhood spot again that wasn't going to depend so much on tourism," Beck said.
When Brown Butter reopens, fans can look forward to their favorite dishes like the brunch burger, crab mac and cheese, pimento cheeseburger, garlic fries, fried pickles and other items that feature their signature brown butter.
The menu and operating hours will likely evolve, however, as Beck and Clayton adapt to the new neighborhood.
