Summer is a great time to head to the beach. But even if you don’t feel like driving all the way Biloxi or Destin or some other sandy destination, you can still get your beach on at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant. Lucy’s is like a little surfers’ oasis in the heart of New Orleans’ Warehouse District. Everything from the décor to the menu is beach-themed, so with a little imagination, you can go coastal without even leaving town.
Lucy’s originally opened in New York City, and has since moved to its current digs in New Orleans. The name Lucy is supposedly derived from the name of the Polynesian goddess of surfing. The restaurant was founded by surfing enthusiasts who travelled the world eating, drinking, and surfing… and came home with a fine tan and a collection of recipes from various killer surf spots around the globe. Dishes on the menu are influenced by such wave-friendly locations as California, the South Pacific, Mexico, the Greek Isles, and the surfing-wonder-that-is-Down Under. A few surf-inspired dishes to try are the gnarly Cabo Shrimp & Grits, the bodacious Surfrider Flaming Fajitas and the bitchin’ Cali Burger.
Even the drinks are tropical and sea-centric, and some even come with the cocktail equivalent of a beach toy. There’s the “Da’ Killer Blue Whale” cocktail with blueberry vodka, coconut rum and lemonade and garnished with a giant plastic whale. Or Lucy’s famous “Shark Attack”, which is made with a bunch of liquor, some sour mix, the “blood of a few innocent victims”, and a big toy shark.
Try one of Lucy’s cocktails and you’ll feel yourself transported to a world of salt air and blue water. But beware, these drinks are strong! Have another cocktail and you’re sure to start feeling the motion of the ocean even on dry land. After too many of them, you just might feel a little seasick the next morning, with the sensation of waves constantly pounding the shore right there in your head.
Lucy’s allows dogs, and even hosts a special doggy Yappy Hour. So bring the pup along… it’s the next best thing to bringing him to the beach and letting him frolic in the waves. They have a Happy Hour for humans, too, every Monday thru Friday from 4 till 7 p.m., with drink specials and free chips and salsa.
Lucy’s went on a brief surfers’ retreat at the beginning of the year, when the restaurant changed ownership and temporarily became 701 Bar & Restaurant. But after only a month away, Lucy’s came back better than ever. In fact, they are currently undergoing renovations to make some improvements, like expanding the bar and fancying up the bathrooms. According to a rep for Kirkendoll Management, the current owners and operating company, the goal is to “ensure that Lucy’s is stepping up in its role as a local hangout, late-night hot spot and Saints’ tailgate.” Though the renovations will continue until August 9, Lucy's is now open to the public again.
So come on by. At Lucy’s, the food is good, the drinks are cold, and the surf’s up, Dude.
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, 701 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-523-8995, lucysretiredsurfers.com
