Desi Vega’s Beefy Empire Now Extends to Metairie

Desi Vega, the restaurateur behind red meat sanctuaries like Mr. John’s Steakhouse, the CBD’s lauded Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, and Harahan’s Desi Vega’s Prime Burgers & Shakes, has extended his reach to Metairie with the opening of Desi Vega’s Seafood and Steaks at 111 Veterans Boulevard where Ralph Brennan’s Heritage Grill most recently operated.

Todd Price reports that the new eatery opened on August 28 with kitchen vet Robert Bruce running the kitchen. (Bruce has worked in 42 restaurants.)

Though Vega made his name with fancy beef, the Metairie restaurant makes seafood one of its prime focuses — so much that it’s mentioned before beef in the restaurant’s name.

The menu includes cold seafood appetizers like ceviche, lobster cocktail, and tuna tartare; hot appetizers like meatballs, escargot, and crab cakes; soups; salads; sandwiches such as a meatball po-boy and a lobster roll; and plenty of steak and seafood entrees.

Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday though Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with drink and snack specials, like $6 meatball sliders.

Vega is not entirely new to the Metairie restaurant market: He’s a partner in the Shipley Do-Nuts, which opened recently in Old Metairie.

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• Desi Vega’s Seafood and Steaks [official website]
• All New Orleans Restaurant Opening Coverage [ENOLA]
• Desi Vega To Bring Upscale/Casual Seafood and Steaks to Heritage Plaza in Metairie [ADVOCATE]
• Desi Vega’s Seafood and Prime Steaks Opens on Veterans Boulevard: Opening Alert [NOLA.COM]
• Desi Vega Is Expanding His Red Meat Empire to Metairie [ENOLA]