Dooky Chase Restaurant

"Food world icon Leah Chase (who died at 96 in 2019), also known as the “Queen of Creole cuisine,” turned Dooky Chase’s into the legendary fine dining establishment it is now, and luckily the new generation is innovating while upholding her rich legacy. The warm Treme institution continues to nourish bodies and souls with dishes like gumbo z’herbes (gumbo with a variety of greens), shrimp Clemenceau (a dish of shrimp, potatoes, mushrooms, and peas), and fried chicken in the tradition of Miss Chase." - Clair Lorell

"There are many New Orleans restaurants with storied histories, but none quite like Dooky Chase’s, which was a central meeting point during the Civil Rights Movement and fed its famous fried chicken to A.P. Tureaud and Thurgood Marshall. Get a plate of that chicken for yourself while you admire the art on the walls from Black artists. On Holy Thursday (the last Thursday before Easter Sunday), they do gumbo z’herbes, a traditional preparation of the local dish made with nearly a dozen greens and plenty of meat or without if you’re vegan." - megan braden perry

"The late chef Leah Chase earned two James Beard Awards for her restaurant Dooky Chase: Lifetime Achievement (2016) and Who’s Who in F&B (2010). With roots in Treme back to 1939, the restaurant resonates as deeply with New Orleans culture and civil rights history as it does with family recipes of gumbo, red beans, and shrimp creole. Her grandson chef Dook Chase and his wife, Gretchen opened Chapter IV in 2023, in homage to his grandmother’s fierce spirit." - Beth D'Addono

"The buffet at this Treme landmark is legendary and one of the best ways to experience the late Leah Chase’s iconic restaurant. Try it all at once — gumbo, fried chicken, fried catfish, greens, lima beans — or order from the menu, which also includes salads, po’ boys, shrimp Clemenceau, and stuffed shrimp." - Eater Staff

"There are many New Orleans restaurants with storied histories, but none quite like Dooky Chase’s, which was a central meeting point during the Civil Rights Movement and fed its famous fried chicken to A.P. Tureaud and Thurgood Marshall. Get a plate of that chicken for yourself while you admire the art on the walls from Black artists. On Holy Thursday (the last Thursday before Easter Sunday), they do gumbo z’herbes, a traditional preparation of the local dish made with nearly a dozen greens and plenty of meat or without if you prefer it vegan." - chelsea brasted, zella palmer, carlo mantuano, megan braden perry