Eating & Drinking in New Orleans’ Bywater Neighborhood - Find. Eat. Drink.
Bartender Liam Deegan, Barman, New Orleans, Barrel Proof, Restaurateur Sean McCusker, Sylvain’s, Shot and Beer Bar, Dive, Whiskey, Where to drink in New Orleans, New Bars, Where bartenders Drink in New Orleans, Where Chefs Eat, Chefs Feed, New Orleans Travel Guide, Lower Garden District, Shops, Drinks, Bars, Restaurants, Local’s Guide to New Orleans, Favorite Drinking Spots, Insider Recommendations, Travel Guide, City Guides, F.E.D. City Guides, FED Guides, Travel Guide
September 30, 2014
“It’s a neighborhood bar” is how bartender and co-owner Liam Deegan describes Barrel Proof, the newly-opened sister spot from the Sylvain crew.
Stop into Barrel Proof to say hello to Liam and Sean, then explore New Orleans with their eating and drinking guide. Here are the places they like to hit in the Bywater.
“It’s a neighborhood bar” is how bartender and co-owner Liam Deegan describes Barrel Proof, the newly-opened sister spot from the Sylvain crew. To say he downplays it would be an understatement. “We drink a lot of whiskey and beer, so we wanted a bar that represented that. But, at the same time, we do craft cocktails with fresh juices and syrups and stuff like that.” It’s this laid-back attitude that makes this an appealing, casual destination. The menu however is not modest, boasting an impressive whiskey list with over 150 bottles, including some from Japan. “We have a unique selection of Japanese whiskey. We actually have everything that is available in the country right now, which isn’t that many.”
The menu also features nearly 60 beers with a $5 beer and shot special. “It’s a shorty ten ounce glass of Schlitz and a shot of Old Grand-Dad Bonded. It’s what you’d get in an old school bar.” The Schlitz on tap is a nod to co-owner Sean McCusker’s background. “He is from Milwaukee and his grandfather worked for Schlitz for 34 years. We have that on tap and the rest are a rotating list of Louisiana beers.”
Stop into Barrel Proof to say hello to Liam and Sean, then explore New Orleans with their eating and drinking guide. Here are the places they like to hit in the Bywater, but if you want to see the full guide, download the Find. Eat. Drink. iPhone app.
September 29, 2014
Eating & Drinking in New Orleans’ Bywater Neighborhood
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By the Barrel Proof Team of Liam Deegan & Sean McCusker
A wine and cheese bar in the front, food and music in the courtyard out back. They feature mostly Old World wines, signature cocktails, and a full lunch and dinner menu.
“It started off as a wine shop, hence the name, and they've now become a wine shop with a restaurant. They have a big courtyard with bands playing and a full bar upstairs. It’s a very local place and they have really awesome wine with some pretty rare stuff too.”
- Restaurateur Sean McCusker
“It used to be a local secret, but now it’s pretty well known. It’s a uniquely New Orleans type of place because it really couldn’t exist anywhere else. It’s kind of like hanging out at a house party or a barbecue in someone’s backyard. ”
- Bartender Liam Deegan
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600 Poland Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
T: 504.948.9111 | www.bacchanalwine.com
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Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
Photograph courtesy of Bacchanal
A cozy whiskey-focused restaurant in the Bywater that offers an array of top and bottom shelf whiskies as well as cocktails. The food by chef Jonathan Lestingi is designed to pair with the cocktails.
“A restaurant with cool food and a great cocktail program created by some Bar Tonique vets.”
- Bartender Liam Deegan
3162 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.
T: 504.267.4776 | oxalisbywater.com
Oxalis
Photograph courtesy of Oxalis
Barbecued baby back ribs, beef brisket, Cajun-style sausages and chicken.
“I know barbecue is like talking about music or movies or art, everyone has their favorite. But I cannot think of a place where I’ve had better ribs than here. It’s owned by this couple, Pete and Jenny Breen. Pete is a true barbecue geek in the best sense of the word. They started this little place in the Bywater neighborhood and then Katrina hit right away and they ended up serving a lot of the people in the neighborhood. They got really screwed and now they’ve moved to a bigger space.”
- Restaurateur Sean McCusker
701 Mazant Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
T: 504.949.3232 | alwayssmokin.com
Photograph courtesy of Barrel Proof
Brisket at The Joint
Photograph courtesy of The Joint
Independently owned record store featuring both new and used vinyl choices, as well as cds and an occasional cassette.
“It is a pretty amazing selection of New Orleans music. I have a turntable in my place and I can pop down here and walk out with a stack of amazing old New Orleans music.”
- Restaurateur Sean McCusker
3301 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
T: 504.947.4348 | www.euclidnola.com
Quality New York style pies and the option for inventive toppings make this a popular spot in a city where good pizza isn’t that easy to find.
“Worth the trip down to the Bywater for awesome pizza and pasta, especially in a city with pretty bleak pizza options.”
- Bartender Liam Deegan
617 Piety Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
T: 504.676.8482 | pizzadelicious.com
Pizza Delicious
Photograph courtesy of Pizza Delicous
Monday nights the house band King James and the Special Men has a regular gig. But occasionally, there will be a special guest like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame.
“You want to talk about a dive bar, if you look it up in the dictionary there's a picture of this place. Monday nights they have a band that plays here called King James and the Special Men, which is the best band in New Orleans. They’re outstanding. This is my big hang-out on Monday nights and the best party, not just in New Orleans, but the best party I think in the world, as far as I'm concerned.”
- Restaurateur Sean McCusker
4301 Burgundy Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
BJ’s Lounge in the late 1970s
Photograph courtesy of BJ’s Lounge
Euclid Records
Photograph courtesy of Euclid Records
Copyright ©2014 Find. Eat. Drink. LLC All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2014 Find. Eat. Drink. LLC All rights reserved.