What makes a restaurant endure for more than a century?
In this episode of Retire Southern, we head down Bourbon Street to spend the day inside Arnaud’s Restaurant, one of the most storied dining institutions in New Orleans.
For more than 100 years, Arnaud’s has welcomed guests not by chasing trends, but by honoring history, maintaining standards, and protecting the feeling that keeps people coming back. From the chandeliers and leaded glass dining rooms to the French 75 Bar, classic Creole cuisine, and the preservation of Mardi Gras culture, this is a place built on balance.
We sit down with owner Archie Casbarian, head bartender Christoph Dornemann, Chef de Cuisine Tommy DiGiovanni, and Director of Sales Kaitlin Rodgers to explore what it takes to steward a historic restaurant while continuing to evolve. You’ll hear stories about generational guests, dishes remembered from childhood, the discipline behind soufflé potatoes, the role of private dining and gathering, and why making people feel at home is the greatest compliment a place like this can receive.
This is a story about food and cocktails, but it is really about people. About memory. About presence. About why some places still feel special.
Watch the full episode and read the complete written feature at
https://www.retiresouthern.com
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