Singley Doubles Up! Marti's Ready to Open, Ivy Delayed

Brett Anderson reports that Ivy's highly-anticipated opening Uptown has been set back a little by pesky equipment delays, but that Patrick Singley's other upcoming hush-hush venture, the resurrection of French Quarter icon Marti's, is oh so close to opening, perhaps even as soon as the end of September. Check the picture above, the exterior is looking pretty sexy these days.

Singley's partner in Marti's is the building owner Joe Jaeger, who Anderson reports "handled the build-out of Rebecca Singley's design." The chef on board is relatively unknown Drew Lockett? but an Eater tipster tells us he's a 'charcuterie genius'? who is also a Link Group and Ristorante del Porto alum. UPDATE 9/16: Patrick Singley tells Eater that "Drew Lockett is from the Honey Island Swamp area near Pearl River Co. He's a country boy. He was born in Slidell." He has worked for seven years as sous chef and chef de cuisine.

Marti's was beloved by regulars (including Tennessee Williams) in the 1970s, and popular award-winning restaurant Peristyle followed in the space in the 90s. After a few tepid years of Wolfe's in the space, the building has been vacant since 2009, but that's all about to change, Anderson reports:

If Marti's held some of the most desired New Orleans tables in the 1970s, the same was certainly true of Peristyle in the 1990s and early aughts, and Singley has every intention of carrying on that tradition.

No telling which restaurant will open first, Marti's or Ivy (which will feature Sue Zemanick doing small plates), but both are certain to heat things up this Fall.

· Gautreau's Patrick Singley set to Open Marti's and Ivy in New Orleans [NOLA.com]
· All Coming Attractions [-ENOLA-]