History
It was built in 1880. It is located in the Garden District of Uptown New Orleans (1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, 70130), and is owned by the Brennan family. It has long been one of the best regarded upscale restaurants in the city. Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse are two of its most famous alumni who have worked in its kitchen through the years. Commander's Palace received a four-diamond rating by the American Automobile Association and has also been recognized as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. by Gayot, and was ranked the most famous restaurant in New Orleans.
In 1880, Emile Commander established a small saloon at the corner of Washington Avenue and Coliseum Street. Within a few years he turned it into a restaurant patronized by the distinguished neighborhood families of the Garden District. By 1900 Commander's Palace was attracting gourmets from all over the world.
In the 1920s, Frank G. Giarratano was the owner of the restaurant and lived above the restaurant with his wife, Rose and their two sons. There were rumors that there were private dining rooms upstairs rented to riverboat captains, visitors, etc. The upstairs rooms were the private residence of Mr. Giarratano and his family. while the downstairs with a separate entrance remained a family establishment. After, World War II, Mr. Giarratano fearing that the restaurant business would decline from what it had been during the war and in declining health sold the restaurant to Frank and Elinor Moran.
In 1944, Frank and Elinor Moran bought Commander's Palace, refurbished it and carried on its tradition of excellence with an expanded menu including many recipes still used.
30 years later, when the Brennans took over, they redesigned the interior to complement the outdoor setting. Large windows replaced walls, and custom trellises and paintings were commissioned.
The restaurant suffered extensive damage due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After a full renovation, the restaurant re-opened on October 1, 2006.
In 2001, a second Commander's Palace restaurant was opened in the Desert Passage mall adjacent to the Aladdin, Las Vegas casino (It subsequently closed a few years later). A new Commander's Palace restaurant in Destin, Florida opened July 9, 2008, and closed in 2010.
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