Madam’s Modern Kitchen + Bar: The Red Light Means Go!
New Orleans' old red-light district may be history, but there’s a sultry new Madam in town – Madam’s Modern Kitchen + Bar in the B on Canal New Orleans. The eatery, a modern salute to Storyville, is breathing new life into the 1300 block of the Great Wide Way (Canal Street).
Madam’s décor celebrates the surrounding neighborhood’s past. The glowing red bar is made of walnut and Carrara marble, materials used in Lulu White’s famous Mahogany Hall. You’ll also find tufted leather seating, a tin-accented tray ceiling, antiqued brick walls, and fishnet curtains.
From 1897 to 1917, Storyville was an incubator for jazz. In the weeks ahead, Madam’s will be offering live entertainment, too, but, for now, the jazz is all in the cocktail offerings and in Executive Chef Drew Mills’ inventive menu. Mills, a New Orleans native, is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute. Before Madam’s, he served as chef de cuisine at the Hyatt Regency and banquet chef at The Ritz-Carlton.
Madam’s cocktail menu includes the Red Light Negroni (a whimsical concoction that actually glows red). We recommend Madam’s Tonic Lemonade which features Atelier Vie Barrel Aged Gin, black cherry and rosemary. It’s right up there with New Orleans’ best summer time cocktails. If you’re “cocktail-curious,” Madam’s happy hour features “red light specials.” Saints fans will love the Feel the Brees.
For appetizers, we highly recommend the Roasted Beets with Pumpkin Seeds and Australian Feta served with Garlic Crotinis. If you weren’t a beet fan before, you will be now. We also can’t say enough about the Roasted Cauliflower with sweet onions, almonds, coconut rice and cabbage. Love chargrilled oysters? You’ll enjoy Chef Mill’s take with Crystal Hot Sauce and garlic parmesan butter.
The entrée was a difficult choice (they all looked good) but we went for the Adobe Braised Pork Shank with coconut rice and tobacco onions. (They bring you a knife but you won’t need it.)
For dessert, you can’t go wrong with either the Strawberry Basil Ice Box Pie or the Manjari Chocolate Cake with Nutella and Vanilla Ice Cream. When they ask you if you’d like a cappuccino, tell them to bring it on. View the current menu here.
For a decadent meal that comes with a side of history, make reservations at Madam’s Modern Kitchen + Bar. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and brunch on the weekends. Having a party? The Champagne Room upstairs is available for special events. Learn more at madamsmodernkitchen.com.
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