After covering food and drinks for many years in media, partners Leslie Pariseau and Tony Biancosino made the leap into selling wine at the recently-opened Patron Saint shop at 1152 Magazine St., and the couple is set to repeat the feat with food when their “red sauce joint” called St. Pizza opens in early 2024.
Located in the suite next door to Patron Saint, St. Pizza will be the classic Italian-American dual-concept restaurant. Pariseau recently told What Now New Orleans that the front of the restaurant will be a traditional pizzeria; offering salads, sandwiches, and pizzas via counter service. In the back, it’ll have a tavern feel and a bigger menu that will include classic “red sauce” dishes. It will also have a full bar offering a tight beverage menu. The tavern will keep limited hours compared to the pizzeria.
Pariseau comes to St. Pizza as a three-time James Beard Award nominee for her coverage of food-related topics. She co-founded the drinks website Punch and has written about food for The New York Times. So, does being a full-time, award-nominated food writer prepare you for opening a restaurant?
When asked that question by What Now New Orleans, she deadpanned: “It’s been all of the expected, and unexpected things, that come along with opening a restaurant.”
