A Craft Cocktail Sports Bar Will Replace Metairie’s Storied Swamp Room

A new restaurant will open in Metairie this month, taking over the Veterans Boulevard address that housed storied watering hole the Swamp Room for more than 30 years. 5216 Table & Tap owners aim to bring something new to the area, offering craft drinks, pub games, and “classed-up bar food” in a freshly renovated space.

The Swamp Room lost its lease at the end of 2018, and shortly after the property was bought by local investment banker Ron Carazo. The neighborhood dive continued to operate on a month-by-month basis for a time, finally closing at the end of May and announcing plans to reopen in a new location.

After the Swamp Room served its last drink, Carazo set out on a ground-up renovation. He recruited a veteran of the New Orleans bar industry, Dave Jackson, to help lead the new project. Jackson has worked in New Orleans’s bar and brewery scene for 20 years, most recently as a bar manager at Besh restaurant Luke in the CBD. 5216 Table & Tap is Carazo’s first foray into the restaurant industry.

Jackson says the atmosphere they’re creating will be different for Metairie; think “craft cocktails in a sports bar setting.” The huge bar seats 42 out of the entire spot’s 120, which in addition to spirits will feature four wines on tap and eight craft beers. Intriguingly, he says a “local celebrity chef” is consulting on the bar’s menu, which will have “her” name attached to it.

5216 Table & Tap at 5216 Veterans Boulevard is expected to open the last weekend in July. Check back with Eater for hours and an opening menu.

Do you have a hot restaurant tip? Noticed a spot in your neighborhood opening or closing? Send an email.

Looking for restaurant recs or a place to chat about favorite restaurants? Join Eater NOLA’s Facebook group.

• Swamp Room on the move, check out plans, projected opening for a longtime Metairie bar’s new home [NOLA.COM]