By Ryan Pearce I went to St. James at their Prytania location for the first time around 2009. Hidden in plain sight, it was a destination for my hopeless romanticism about cheese, as well as a good place to spend $60 on farmhouse cheese. When I heard they were opening a new location in the Warehouse District--an area booming with extensions of local favorites--I was elated.
The ten-dollar sandwich boom we’ve seen in the last several years is in full career here at St. James in the Warehouse District. The kitchen digs into new concepts and rotating recipes, creating appeal for those who like variety. Here are classics from their Prytania shop and many new sandwiches, soups, and salads. You get great food, a well-informed staff, aesthetically pleasing surroundings, and an opportunity to buy some of the rarest cheeses in the market.
Richard and Danielle Sutton opened their cheese shop in the year after Katrina, a time when all sorts of new ideas were blossoming Uptown. The goal was to bring the best farmhouse cheeses in the world to cheese-hungry New Orleans. The Suttons met while working together at Paxton & Whitfield, a 200-year old cheese shop in the London neighborhood of St. James.
The new restaurant is a modern, open room featuring a mixture of exposed brick and tiled walls and a granite floor. Upon entering you are greeted by the sight of antique lighting hanging above an island of cheese. The view of the cheese operation is yours no matter where you wind up sitting.
Go in with a friend or three after the lunch rush. Two in the afternoon is a great time to go as the lines have died down and seating is ample. Peruse the specials board before you grab a menu! They're always cooking up some new soup, salad, or sandwich. At this time I like to place an order, choose a table, and after placing my number down it’s time for a trip to cheese island. If you are at all interested in the finer side of the cheese world, experiment. Some Bellegarde bread and a nice sweet cream Camembert never hurt anyone too badly.
| Attitude | 3 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 1 |
| Hipness | 2 |
| Local Color | 1 |
| Service | 2 |
| Value | 1 |
| Wine | 1 |
