Port Orleans Brewing Company opened its Uptown doors in 2017, and a little more than six years (and one pandemic) later, the local brewery is pivoting to more of a restaurant focus.
According to a permit filed with the city, the business will be shifting from mainly being a brewery to being a restaurant with a microbrewery and retail space. The shift in focus comes ahead of a large announcement coming in the next month or so, according to Chase Guillory, the brewery’s director of marketing and communications.
While some craft breweries chased the latest trends and offered modern styles of beer, Port Orleans was one brewery that focused on classic styles like pilsners and lagers. As a result, the brewery won over fans with its crushable beers, which often pair much better with food than modern styles with over-the-top flavor profiles.
The food at the brewery has also been a big hit with customers. When Port Orleans first opened, the pop-up restaurant operating inside was called Stokehold. It offered a beer and food pairing menu created by Jeremy Wolgamott, a former chef at the High Hat Cafe. While the restaurant received a lot of acclaim, it parted ways with the brewery after just two years in operation.
After Stokehold left, Port Orleans hosted a number of pop-up events, ostensibly to find a new tenant for the kitchen. In July 2020, the brewery brought in Avo Taco, after the Long Island-based taqueria had a successful weekend of pop-ups. Avo Taco partner David Hersh had lived in New Orleans for years, explaining the cross-country connection.
With the brewery set to shift to more of a restaurant concept, it appears that the food offering has largely been a success. That said, there’s been no word on whether Avo Taco will continue operating in its kitchen.
