Dooky Chase's Restaurant (New Orleans)

About

Dooky Chase's Restaurant, located in the historic Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, is a cultural icon that has been serving authentic Creole cuisine since 1941. Initially a sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet, it evolved into a thriving family restaurant under the vision of Leah Chase, who married Edgar "Dooky" Chase Jr. in 1946. Leah Chase transformed the restaurant into a fine dining destination, introducing African American art and Creole cooking to the community. The restaurant played a significant role in the civil rights movement, hosting strategy sessions for leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. It is renowned for its gumbo and other Creole classics, attracting famous patrons such as Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. After Hurricane Katrina, the restaurant reopened in 2007 and continues to be family-owned and operated, preserving its legacy as a cultural hub for music, art, and cuisine in New Orleans.