BRG Hospitality’s Warbucks is Closing After Just Eight Months

Warbucks, the first restaurant to open under John Besh’s rebranded restaurant group (BRG Hospitality) will close next week after just eight months at its Magazine Street location, reports the Advocate.

The casual neighborhood spot was the product of a partnership between the group and Todd Pulsinelli, who left Besh flagship restaurant August to lead the kitchen at Warbucks. The restaurnt was named for Pulsinelli’s rap pseudonym, and its design intended to “harness the spirit of 90s rap, skateboarding, and hip-hop culture.” On the food side, the menu offered comfort food with an upscale spin — like a burger with red wine foie gras butter, oxtail-stuffed tater tots, and a wagyu frank with crab fat coleslaw.

In a statement to the Advocate, BRG partner Octavio Mantilla said the reason for the closing was that the restaurant “simply did not realize the traction it needed to succeed.” He added that all Warbucks employees have been offered jobs at other restaurants within the company.

Pulsinelli and BRG Hospitality opened the doors to Warbucks in mid-November of 2018, taking over the former location of pizza place Amici. It was the first restaurant the group opened following dozens of reports of sexual misconduct and a very public split from Alon Shaya. Following the sexual misconduct scandal, John Besh stepped down as CEO and the group he founded was rebranded, though he remains an owner alongside Mantilla.

Mantilla said BRG will develop a new restaurant at the 3218 Magazine Street address, with a projected opening in fall.

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• Uptown restaurant Warbucks, inspired by rap, skateboarding, to close next week [Advocate]
• Skate-Inspired Restaurant Warbucks Opens This Weekend With Foie Burger [ENOLA]
• Amici Ristorante & Bar Has Closed Its Doors [ENOLA]
• Tracking the John Besh Sexual Harassment Allegations [ENOLA]
• Tracking Alon Shaya’s Split From John Besh [ENOLA]
• Besh Restaurant Group Is Now Called BRG Hospitality [ENOLA]