A New Orleans restaurant legacy dating back to 1929 is beginning a new chapter in Mandeville as Acropolis of Mandeville rebrands as Compagno’s.
The transformation marks more than just a new name. Owner Michael Compagno is reviving a family restaurant tradition that began nearly a century ago, when his great-grandfather opened the original Compagno’s restaurant in New Orleans. Compagno’s is at 1600 W Causeway Approach.
“There was a Compagno’s restaurant in New Orleans,” Compagno told WhatNow Media Group. “It was opened by my great-grandfather in 1929, and it existed until 1998. My grandparents had it, and they retired in 1998.”
Compagno said the opportunity to continue the family name came after purchasing the Acropolis of Mandeville from its previous owners, a Greek couple who decided to retire. Before taking ownership, he had worked at the restaurant as a server from the day it first opened.
“I had been a waiter here from day one. They decided to retire and basically offered me the opportunity to buy the business turnkey,” he said.
While the restaurant has entered a new era, Compagno said longtime guests can expect a menu that honors his family’s culinary heritage alongside classic Italian favorites and dishes inspired by his own three decades in the restaurant industry.
Among the highlights are several of his grandmother’s original recipes, including her signature red sauce, soups, and meatballs, prepared the same way they were served at the family’s New Orleans restaurant. The menu also features Italian staples such as veal piccata, veal marsala, and fettuccine.
“I do have a couple of dishes of my grandmother’s red sauce and soups and meatballs that are cooked exactly the way she cooked them in her restaurant,” he said.
In addition to the new menu, guests will notice refreshed branding, updated décor, and a renewed dining experience as the transformation continues.
Compagno said his goal is to preserve the family’s restaurant legacy while creating new traditions for diners in Mandeville.
