Antoine's
A
166-year tradition goes on despite losses.
Antoine's is the country's oldest family-run restaurant. Open since 1840, it is a living history, where families pass down reserved tables in their wills and timeless French cuisine is still served by waiters in full tuxedos. Colette and Michael Guste are the sixth-generation caretakers of a tradition dear, not only to their family, but to New Orleans and American culinary landscape. Michael is general manager and sister Colette runs public relations. Both lost their homes in the storm.
Antoine's Maitre D' Clifton Lachney -- a beloved figure at the restaurant for 43 years -- died when his home flooded.
Katrina ripped a hole in the fourth floor exterior wall of the restaurant, walls were bowed and ceilings were sagging, 22,000 bottles of wine were lost, silver was tarnished, the contents of the freezers and refrigerators were destroyed and reeking.
But Antoine's opened New Years Eve with 200 on the books and 2/3 of their staff. Including some fourth generation waiters. Michael Guste told food critic Tom Fitzmorris: "I was really scared that this machine, which has never been shut down this long in a 150 years, would be really hard to start again. But we’ve only had little problems. Like a Champagne cocktail the first customer ordered. The bartender reached up for a sugar cube and whoops! We didn’t remember to order sugar cubes. But the kitchen is keeping up. That’s a relief."
Colette told The Food Network: "We can't wait to be with our friends again. Come back to Antoine's. We are ready to serve you. Come home!"
713 Rue Saint Louis • New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 • (504) 581-4422
Link: Antoine's