Brennan's Restaurant
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For over 70 years, visitors and locals alike have considered Brennan’s Restaurant one of the French Quarter’s top-dining locations. In 1946, New Orleans native Owen Brennan founded the restaurant and since then, Brennan’s has specialized in fine Creole dining. Creole-style cooking originated in Louisiana, and is influenced by a mix of cultures such as French, Spanish, and Haitian.
Originally, Owen Brennan opened his establishment on Bourbon Street, directly across the Old Absinthe House. As business grew, in 1956 Brennan’s moved to its current location at 417 Royal Street. The pink Vieux Carré building, dating back to 1795, was the site of the Louisiana State Bank and former home of chess-master Paul Morphy. Morphy resided here until his death in 1884. In 1920 the building was given to Tulane University, who in 1954 leased the location to the Brennan family. The family then purchased the building in 1984.
Brennan’s is credited for the creation of many dishes, including the New Orleans classic flaming dessert, Bananas Foster. One night in 1951, Ella Brennan created the dish – bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, banana liqueur, and ice cream – in honor of New Orleans Crime Commission chairman Richard Foster. Brennan’s is also known for its popular “Breakfast at Brennan’s,” and has become a sought-after brunch location for tourists and locals.
The Bloody Bull cocktail, a relative to the popular Bloody Mary, originated at Brennan’s in the 1950s. The Bloody Bull puts a spin on the original cocktail by including beef broth in the recipe:
- 1-1/2 ounces vodka
- Dash of fresh orange juice
- 4 dashes of tobacco
- Dash of pepper
- 3 ounces beef broth
- 2 ounces tomato juice
- Garnish with orange peel
Aside from its culinary history, Brennan’s also has played a role in New Orleans political history as well. The restaurant is said to be the location where New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison and businessman Clay Shaw, the man he would later accuse of conspiring in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, first crossed paths. According to witnesses, both were dining at Brennan’s separately, when Garrison began to argue with his wife. After raising his voice at her, Clay Shaw stood up to stop the fight. Supposedly, Shaw approached the District Attorney and stated “Garrison, behave yourself.”
