Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published November 18, 2005 Click here for the current edition The Brennan Restaurants: Four Open, Six Not For Awhile Hurricane Katrina was not kind to the Brennans, whose ten New Orleans restaurants create a presence that's hard to ignore. Of those ten, however, only four have re-opened. That has cast a bit of a pall over the restaurant community. Here's the inventory at the moment, grouped by branches of the family: Pip, Ted, and Jimmy Brennan: Brennan's on Royal Street--closed. Some damage in the courtyard from a large fallen tree. No definite re-opening date, although my impression is that the first of the year would approximate it. Ti Martin and Lally Brennan: Commander's Palace--closed. A great deal of rainwater infiltrated the walls of the old Garden District mansion, and the reconstruction needed is extensive. After Mardi Gras has been mentioned as a hopeful re-opening date. Café Adelaide--closed. The probably date for re-opening is the first of December, but it may come sooner. Ralph Brennan: All of his restaurants--Bacco, Red Fish Grill, and Ralph's on the Park--are now open. The first two were among the first major French Quarter restaurants to return to activity. Ralph's on the Park opened just last week, after some rain and wind damage was cleaned up. Cindy Brennan: Mr. B's Bistro--closed. Mr. B's took a double whammy, experiencing floodwater in its basement and rainwater leakage through the roof. The repairs needed are extensive, and manager Randy Stein is talking about spring for a re-opening. Dickie Brennan: Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse--closed. It was the most heavily damaged of all the Brennan restaurants. Below street level (the only restaurant in New Orleans about which that is true), it had between three and four feet of water throughout. The entire restaurant--including the studs--had to be demolished. "It looks exactly like it did the day we began construction," says Dickie Brennan. Palace Cafe--closed. Some roof damage and leakage here and there. Expected to re-open in January, perhaps December. Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House is open, having escaped all but cosmetic damage. The large dining room wasn't open right away--missing employees was the drawback--but the kitchen was ready to go. With what Dickie calls "the dream team"--the executive chefs from all three of his restaurants, working together here--the Bourbon House opened with an edited but still quite comprehensive menu. © 2005 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com