NOLADrinks Show – 5-24-18 – Longway Tavern and the Restaurant Business

On this edition of The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we pay a visit to the newly opened Longway Tavern located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. We chat with proprietors Liam Deegan and Robért LeBlanc about their new spot. Then, in our featured interview, we discuss the state of the restaurant business in New Orleans. Robért sticks with us for this chat and we are joined by the co-proprietor of Manolito, Nick Detrich.

Pictured above from left – Bryan Dias of NOLADrinks, Robért LeBlanc of LeBlanc+Smith, and Nick Detrich of Manolito.

NOLADrinks Show – 5-24-18 – Longway Tavern and the Restaurant Business

We start things off letting you know what’s happening on this week’s show and discuss some things happening around town.

Next up, we set up shop at the newly opened Longway Tavern located on Toulouse St. in the middle of the French Quarter. We chat with the spot’s co-proprietors Liam Deegan and Robért LeBlanc of LeBlanc+Smith Restaurant Group. We discuss this brand-new spot located in a renovated historic Creole Cottage located between Bourbon and Royal Streets.

Pictured at left from left – Bryan Dias of NOLADrinks, Robért LeBlanc and Liam Deegan of Longway Tavern.

We then move into our featured interview on the state of the restaurant business here in New Orleans, but the conversation certainly has relevance in parts beyond. As a regular guest on this topic, Robért sticks around. We’re also joined by friend of the show Nick Detrich formerly of Cane & Table and now the co-proprietor of the Cuban-inspired bar, Manolito.

The discussion covers various topics and dynamics related to the landscape in town with an emphasis on independent bars and restaurants. After a couple difficult years that suffered numerous closures, we talk about whether things have improved or if we are just desensitized to a “new normal” that has manifested in other parts of the country. We also talk about some of the challenges involved in owning and operating these types of locations, the effects of short-term rentals in particular neighborhoods, and much more. Some pretty interesting and insightful stuff here!

We close things out with some parting thoughts on the previous interview and the restaurant business. We also touch on a couple bits of beverage industry news.

Below the map that shows you the location of Longway Tavern and Manolito you can subscribe to, stream, and download The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias podcast…

Cheers, You All!

~ Bryan