NY's Grand Banks Plans Oyster Bar For New Orleans Ace Hotel

The business partners behind New York's Grand Banks (an oyster bar aboard a 1940's schooner) will open an 'All-American oyster bar' in partnership with the Ace Hotel this May, Ian McNulty reports.   The still-unnamed restaurant will actually be located next door to the upcoming Ace in a three-story townhouse at 630 Carondelet and will feature former Eleven Madison Park chef Kerry Heffernan in the kitchen.

Two of the business partners involved, Miles and Alex Pincus, are New Orleans natives, whose father is chief operating officer of Hotel Monteleone. The Pincus bros developed Grand Banks with partner Adrien Gallo (of NY venues Double Happiness and Happy Ending), who is also on board with the New Orleans expansion.

As for the menu, Heffernan will focus on sustainable seafood and diverse local seafood in the form of small plates and some entrees. Potential dishes could include cobia and Spanish mackerel ceviche, fried frog legs and a lobster roll.  Here's a menu he did for Grand Banks last year. There will be oysters from around the country.

Another New York transplant, Milk & Honey alum Lauren Schell, will develop the bar program alongside the Ace's Lucinda Weed.  The restaurant design will be done by Brooklyn's hOmE Studios.

The oyster bar joins Josephine Estelle and Stumptown Coffee, already heading to the Ace this spring.

Expect a May opening.