Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, Claret Wine and Cocktail Bar opened on Friday (May 24) on Magazine Street, with more than 25 wines by the glass, 30 craft beers, 18 house-specialty cocktails and a menu of small plates as well as charcuterie and cheese boards.
The bar and restaurant is owned by Candace and Mark Latter of Latter Hospitality, who also own Tujague’s in the French Quarter and Bar Frances on Freret Street.
Diners are encouraged to choose a glass of beverage or two and then dig into a menu planned by executive chef Marcus Woodham. It features 12 2-ounce choices for build-your-own charcuterie boards, with items such as duck ham, chicken liver mousse and coppa; as well as 10 1-ounce portions for build-your-own cheese boards, with choices such as Rogue Creamery smokey blue, Reypenaer group and Dorthy’s Combeback cow. Each accompanied by pickles condiments and baquettes, according to a press release.
Small plates range from $7 to $15 and include items, such as tuna tartare, beet hummus and warm Castelvetrano olives.
Craig Seaman, bar director, and Lizzie Lenson, general manager, planned the drink menu, which also includes an extensive list of wines by the bottle.
The restaurant is in the Framework building at 1320 Magazine St., between Thalia and Melpomene Streets, which also soon will be home to a third Satsuma Café location. Claret features an outdoor patio and the owners plan to add a retractable roof so that space can be cooled or heated as the weather dictates, according to a press release.
The Latters took over the storied Tujague’s in 2013 after Steven Latter died. They opened Bar Frances over Memorial Day weekend in 2016.
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Opened: May 24
On the menu: Small plates include whipped feta with house pickles ($12), pimento cheese and saltines ($9) and smoked tuna dip with caper berries, fines herbs and yogurt ($14).
Need to know: The bar will host a happy hour every day with special prices on small plates and selected drinks and house wines. Happy Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. as well as Friday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 10 p.m., Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Claret Wine & Cocktail Bar: 1320 Magazine St., New Orleans, 504.766.9425
