The people behind wine hub Bacchanal have some major news, with their cafe the Elysian Bar now open in new Marigny hotel Peter and Paul.
NOLA.com brought the opening news forward just before the weekend — open day and night, the Elysian Bar centers partly around French technique, but with more than a few Southern touches.
The kitchen here will be headed up by chef Alex Harrell, known as the opening chef at Sylvain in the French Quarter, and from his own restaurant, the now-closed (but critically-approved) Angeline. Martha Wiggins, also formerly of Sylvain, is serving as sous-chef.
And the two will be cooking in quite the stunning environment — the Elysian Bar is housed in a former Catholic church, taking what used to be the rectory, while there’s a coffee bar on site too, in a former side chapel.
The Elysian Bar is sticking to smaller plates with plenty of vegetables and seafood — some initial offerings include a classic French-style rolled omelet with duck eggs, mussels escabeche, red grits with braised mushrooms, and chicken liver with toast.
On the bar side, cocktails lean classic (Old Fashioneds, Negronis), with appetite-whetting aperitivos too. Unsurprisingly, given Bacchanal’s James Beard Award nomination for its wine program this year, the wine list should be another highlight, with Bacchanal wine director Joe Briand focusing on American options.
The Elysian Bar is open in Hotel Peter & Paul (2317 Burgundy St) from 7 a.m. to midnight daily; coffee hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the kitchen is open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (midnight Friday and Saturday), with the bar closing an hour later.
