Five Places to Celebrate Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The name means fat Tuesday in French and, here in the states, the day is most widely celebrated in New Orleans. Although that city is roughly 1,300 miles to the south, there are plenty of places around town to channel the city's spirit. So, if you're looking for somewhere to get your purple, green, and gold on tonight, here are five New Orleans-inspired restaurants we really dig.

 

Food and drink writer St. John Frizell owns and operates Fort Defiance. He spent eight years in New Orleans and his time their shows up throughout the menu at this Red Hook favorite.

Fort Defiance | 365 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY | 347-453-6672 | www | map

Maison Premiere in Williamsburg is an oyster house and cocktail den styled around the staple establishments of New York, Paris, and New Orleans.

Maison Premiere | 298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY | 347-335-0446 | www | map

Simon Glenn's pop-up Tchoup Shop first appeared at d.b.a. in Williamsburg. That location closed for the season at the end of last year, but Glenn has since relocated to Bushwick, where he serves "New Orleans grub done right" at Heavy Woods on Wyckoff Street.

Tchoup Shop | 50 Wyckoff Street, Brooklyn, NY | 929-234-3500 | www | map

The 30-year-old, Creole-inspired Great Jones Cafe is kicking off their Fat Tuesday party tonight at 5pm. There will be beads, king cake, crawfish boil, Abita, a New Orleans jukebox, and plenty more.

Great Jones Cafe | 54 Great Jones St, New York,NY | 212-674-9304 | www | map

Paul Gerard opened this hideout with Billy Gilroy, a partner in Employees Only. Before arriving in New York, Gerard was cooking in New Orleans. His menu at Exchange Alley features Crescent City-inspired dishes like "big easy bbq shrimp" and "jambalaya balls." 

Exchange Alley | 424 E 9th St, New York, NY | 212-228-8525 | www | map