Dooky Chase’s Restaurant opened its doors for business in 1941 in New Orleans. What was initially a sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet in 1939 blossomed into a thriving bar and later a respected family restaurant in the Treme neighborhood. Founded by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr., the restaurant soon became the meeting place for music and entertainment, civil rights, and culture in New Orleans. In 1946, Edgar Dooky Chase, Jr. married Leah Lange Chase. Later known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase would introduce one of the first African American fine dining restaurants to the country by transforming that sandwich shop into an elegant restaurant serving her signature Creole cuisine in rooms that were decorated with an ever-expanding collection of African American Art. Chef Chase passed away in 2019, and today Dooky Chase’s remains family owned and operated with Stella Chase Reese helping usher the iconic restaurant into its next chapter. This stopping place for locals and celebrities too, from Jay-Z to Jesse Jackson, consistently serves all with Creole classics such as gumbo, red beans and rice, and stuffed shrimp. Stella says that her mother believed a bowl of her gumbo would bring anyone good luck, but stepping through these doors for good food and great company is luck enough for many of us.
