The Pelican Club
How Do You Say “Wow” in Creole French? Pelican Club.
There are approximately 700,000 restaurants in the United States. After just one spoonful of gumbo, you’ll understand why Conde Naste Traveler named the Pelican Club in the New Orleans French Quarter one of “America’s Top 250 Restaurants.” Celebrities like Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift have dined here. You should, too. If you're coming this month for the Super Bowl, you better make that reservation fast!
Unlike chefs or groups who own many restaurants, Chef Richard Hughes and his architect/business manager wife Jeanne have poured their hearts into this one restaurant, located in a 250-year-old building on charming Exchange Place. Like all French Quarter buildings, the Pelican Club is reputed to be haunted. Chances are, you’ll be too busy admiring the local artwork on the walls to worry about ghosts.
The Hughes’ dedication to making their restaurant a French Quarter stand-out shows. Chef Hughes was born and raised in South Louisiana, but trained both here and in New York. If you only have only so many nights in New Orleans, you’ll want to spend one of them with Chef Hughes. Park your car at the Monteleone – the restaurant validates – and prepare to be impressed.
There are so many great choices on the menu – where do you start? With a drink, of course. The Pelican Club offers an imaginative and reasonably priced wine list and a fun assortment of hand-crafted cocktails. The Espresso Martini does not disappoint.
Like we said, if you’re a connoisseur of gumbo, ordering a cup of the Shrimp, Chicken & Andouille Gumbo here should be your next move. The flavor is magnificently rich and there’s no skimping on the good stuff either.
The appetizer offerings are all so enticing you’ll just want to throw up your hands and ask the waiter to choose for you. The Pelican Club Baked Oysters and the Seafood Ravigote are both amazing, but you can’t go wrong with the New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp either.
The entrée list, too, will make you want to close your eyes and just randomly point to a winner. The Panéed Gulf Fish with Crabmeat is truly sumptuous as are the Whole Crispy Fish and the Half Roast Duck. When asked which entrees are ordered the most, our waiter was at a loss. “I wish I could narrow it down for you, but honestly they are all so popular,” he said.
And when it comes to dessert, don’t order one and share. Oh, the servings are big enough for more than one person but it would be cruel to have to choose between Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding and the Grand Marnier Crème Brûlée so order both and share. You can work it off with a stroll through the Quarter afterwards.
Make Restaurant Reservations HereView our Best of Guides