Crawfish Boil Stunner Clesi’s Graduates to Full-Blown Restaurant

Once a “renegade guerilla” catering operation that gained its following with crawfish boils, Clesi’s has expanded to a full-blown restaurant at 4323 Bienville Street in Mid City. James Clesi runs the new restaurant and the catering arm with his siblings, Carlo Clesi and Sonya Clesi.

The expanded menu is all about “Southeast Louisiana tailgate” foods, according to Ian McNulty. In addition to boiled seafood, Clesi’s serves po-boys, fried seafood plates, jambalaya, barbecue shrimp, and more.

The restaurant’s vibe fits the tailgate theme with most of the seating on an outdoor patio.

Clesi’s will still operate a kitchen out of chic art and cocktail-centered Tulane Avenue bar Trèo. Trèo is currently on the market (but still open) and its future will be decided by the next owners.

The new eatery’s opening hours are 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Clesi’s at Trèo serves dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Katherine Kimball

Katherine Kimball

Katherine Kimball

Katherine Kimball

Katherine Kimball

Katherine Kimball

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• Clesi’s [official website]
• All New Orleans Expansion Coverage [ENOLA]
• All Mid City Restaurant Coverage [ENOLA]
• Clesi’s, a Boil Business Born on the Street, Opens its Own Mid-City Seafood Patio [ADVOCATE]