According to recent reporting, A5 Steakhouse will open its first location in New Orleans on the ground floor of The Garage Apartments mixed-use building at 840 Carondelet St. The non-traditional steakhouse takes a Japanese twist with a focus on seafood and is set to open in early 2024.
A5 Steakhouse’s name was directly inspired by the world-famous Wagyu beef from the Miyazaki prefecture of Japan. This beef is called “Miyazaki Gyu” and is rated “A5” by the Japanese beef grading system. As a top-graded beef, it’s one of the most expensive and luxurious cuts of beef on the market. Wagyu beef cuts are graded on factors like meat color, size and shape, and marbling. It’s easy to find prices starting at $100 per pound to import this precious meat. A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef is known for its buttery taste, delicate texture, and dense meat flavor.
Opened in 2021 in Denver, Colorado, A5 is helmed by chef Max Mackissock, who is also a partner of The Culinary Creative Group, one of the companies opening three Denver-based restaurants: A5 Steakhouse, Mister Oso, and Bohemia across New Orleans. What Now New Orleans reached out for comment from Mackissock about the opening, but the owner was unavailable for comment.
As a modern steakhouse, the restaurant will have a raw bar for customers to enjoy fresh oysters, crab legs, and other seafood dishes, as well as a bar with seasonal cocktails. The centerpiece of the menu will be meat including various cuts like tenderloin, bone-in NY strip, and tomahawk steaks, which are all sourced from U.S. ranches. Chef Mackissock has made a commitment to sourcing ingredients from local farmers and vendors.
A5 Steakhouse’s specialty steak meal is the “4 oz. Japanese A5 Striploin BMS 12 Miyazaki prefecture-raised certified Wagyu served with Veal Ponzu and Onion.” There are sauces one can choose from to top off their steak meals, like a sweet and sour sauce and Thai chili sauce that has fish sauce, lime, palm sugar, and cilantro. For a more traditional Japanese condiment, customers can choose Shishito Kanzuri with vinegar, peppers, and citrus. Aside from steak, there are other dishes on the menu like Korean Lettuce Wraps and Buttermilk Fried Chicken.
Designs for the new restaurant are set to resemble the Denver location, according to a report by The Times-Picayune. The original location is filled with retro-inspired design elements with bouts of modernism, wooden furniture, and bright pops of color throughout the restaurant.
