Two hospitality veterans from Lake Charles are preparing to open a new café in the city that will serve up classic diner and Cajun comfort food, with a side of down-the-bayou personality.
Em J’s Cafe is a partnership between long-time hospitality workers Emmeline Richard and John Tullis. Richard recently told What Now New Orleans that the timing was right to launch a concept of their own. It is slated to open in early August.
“We decided that we were ready to do it for ourselves,” Richard said. “There was am opportunity in this building, and it seemed like everything kind of worked out, so we went for it.”
The 38-seat restaurant aims to provide a homey atmosphere that reflects the lighthearted nature of its owners and staff, which consists entirely of family members. That personality translates into a menu focused on Southern comfort. Em J’s will serve breakfast all day, featuring staples like pancakes, omelets, biscuits and gravy. The lunch menu will include burgers, fresh salads, and a rotating selection of plate lunch specials.
Standout dishes include Bayous Boats, two pistolettes stuffed with cheese and shrimp etouffee, and a boudin dip seved with club crackers.
“We tried to make the menu kind of match our personality,” Richard said. “We’re sarcastic, we’re fun, we love to cut up. That’s just kind of who we are.”
