NEW ORLEANS – In 2026, Tujague’s will enter its 170th year of operation in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Founded in 1856, the restaurant is among the longest-running dining institutions in the United States, known not only for its longevity but for the way its Creole traditions have endured through consistency rather than reinvention.
For nearly two centuries, Tujague’s has endured wars, hurricanes, countless changes in and around the historic French Quarter, not to mention a recent relocation from its original home. The team shares its refusal to bend to time or trend and dedication to continuity are most visible on the menu, where preservation is evident in each bite, plate by plate. Meals still begin with Shrimp Remoulade, Chicken Bonne Femme, an “if you know you know” dish, which was passed down quietly by Madame Clemence Castet from the 19th century. Creole Cream Cheese Pie is from Madame Begue, who turned breakfast cheese into a signature dessert. The Butcher’s Breakfast, once prepared in the late 1800’s, has since evolved into the tradition we obsess over now known as brunch. And of course, the Grasshopper cocktail is still poured daily for locals and visitors from across the globe.
Rather than marking the anniversary with a single event, Tujague’s is using its 170th year as an opportunity to celebrate its culinary lineage: reviving historic dishes from its cookbook, recreating its original table d’hôte structure, and sharing the stories behind the food as a way of keeping Creole cooking traditions alive in the 21st century.
170th Anniversary Programming Highlights
1856 Brunch Special (Beginning Friday, Feb. 20)
To commemorate the restaurant’s founding year, Tujague’s will offer a special two-course brunch priced at $18.56, available Friday through Sunday during brunch service. Diners can expect dishes such as BBQ Shrimp & Grits, Roast Beef Debris Poboy, and a Muffaletta Chopped Salad.
$1.70 Demi Grasshoppers (Beginning Friday, Feb. 20)
Throughout the anniversary year, guests can enjoy demi-sized Grasshopper cocktails priced at $1.70, paying tribute to the signature cocktail created in 1918 by Tujague’s bartender Philip Guichet.
Legacy Dish Series (Beginning March 2026)
Starting in March, Tujague’s will spotlight one historic dish each month from its cookbook as an ongoing storytelling initiative that preserves culinary history while allowing guests to taste it.
• March: Chicken Bonne Femme
• April: Seafood Stuffed Mirliton with Creole Sauce
• May: Crawfish Bisque à la Bégué
(additional months/dishes forthcoming)
Original Taste of 1856 Table d’Hote
As part of the anniversary, Tujague’s will revive its original Table d’Hôte structure that was the only menu served at the restaurant from 1856 to 2013. Available nightly during dinner service, the five-course experience reflects the way meals were historically enjoyed at Tujague’s. Priced at $32 per person, plus the cost of the selected entrée (excluding tax and gratuity), full-table participation is required. Courses include:
• Demi Shrimp Remoulade
• Gumbo du Jour
• Traditional Brisket Appetizer
• Choice of Entrée
• Bread Pudding
Anniversary programming will run through the end of 2026.