Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published January 16, 2006 Click here for the current edition Broussard's and Bistro Return This Week This Friday is going to be a good one for New Orleans diners, as the last of the four grand traditional Creole restaurants, Broussard's, reopens for dinner. Chef Gunter Preuss, who owns and runs the 81-year-old restaurant with his wife Evelyn and son Marc, says that you won't recognize the place when you go back again. I find that hard to believe, no matter how much new carpeting, furniture, and paint has been brought in (and it was a lot). The dining rooms, flanking the big courtyard, is highly distinctive. Also, it is rumored (but from a good source) that the Bistro at the Maison de Ville will be back in business this Friday. This is a little later than the first news I heard, which had it opening earlier in the week. The Maison de Ville Hotel itself is not open, but apparently the restaurant is in good enough shape to go. Even more important, Chef Greg Picolo and dining room manager Patrick von Hoorebeck are both here and ready to go. The restaurant is so small and so hands-on that the place could probably run successfully with just the two of them, a busboy and a dishwasher. © 2006 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com