The most consistent and best steak specialist in New Orleans, Mr. John's follows the time-honored New Orleans standards for its beef: all of top pedigree, served sizzling and aromatic in butter. Its menu is enhanced by a significant array of Italian food--a good match for steak.
John Santopadre, who passed away in 2007, was a classy operator of many restaurants around town over the years(i.e., Smilie's and Cafe Giovanni). He opened Mr. John's in 2003, with the help of Chef Duke Locicero from Cafe Giovanni. In 2006, the restaurant was sold to Santopadre's son-in-law Rodney Salvaggio (who ran Smilie's for most of its history), Desi Vega (an alumnus of Commander's Palace, Ruth's Chris, and Emeril's) and Paul Varisco (of The Milestones). The location was originally the Avenue Cafe, one of the first Uptown gourmet Creole bistros in the early 1980s. At the beginning of 2013, the trio opened a second, carbon-copy steakhouse called Desi Vega's in the former location of Mike's on the Avenue.
The dining room is a bit spare--but that's what a steakhouse looks like. Tiled floors and many windows looking onto St. Charles Avenue and its streetcars add charm.
Come with several people, order the larger steaks and split them. Work in a red-sauce Italian entree as a side dish. Reservations are absolutely essential for Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday dinner, when you will have no lock just waiting for a table.
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