Emeril's

Emeril's is a fine-dining restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded by chef Emeril Lagasse and opened in March 1990. The restaurant became one of the best-known establishments associated with Lagasse's culinary career and helped establish his reputation in contemporary American and Creole-influenced cooking. Its early recognition included being named Restaurant of the Year by Esquire in 1990, followed by Lagasse's 1991 James Beard Award for Best Chef South/Southeast. The restaurant is positioned around an elevated, chef-led dining experience that draws on the culinary traditions of New Orleans while incorporating modern American technique and high-end hospitality. Wine is a major part of the proposition: Emeril's has held the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1999 and maintains a cellar reported to contain more than 30,000 bottles, including rare selections. The wine program and the restaurant's tasting and à la carte experiences have contributed to its identity as a destination restaurant rather than a mass-market food brand. Emeril's entered a new phase of leadership in 2022 when E.J. Lagasse, Emeril Lagasse's son, became chef and co-owner. E.J. Lagasse oversaw a renovation that was completed in October 2023. The project added The Wine Bar at Emeril's next door. The Wine Bar has its own kitchen and à la carte menu while sharing the principal restaurant's wine list, extending the brand's hospitality offering without simply replicating the main dining room. The restaurant's culinary leadership and international recognition were further reinforced in November 2025, when it was awarded two Michelin stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South. According to the cited reference, this made Emeril's the only restaurant in that inaugural regional guide to receive two stars. E.J. Lagasse was also described as the youngest chef in history to receive two Michelin stars. Emeril's therefore operates primarily as a singular destination restaurant whose brand equity is built on chef reputation, New Orleans culinary identity, wine expertise, awards, and continuity across generations of the Lagasse family.

Emeril's opened in New Orleans in March 1990 under the leadership of chef Emeril Lagasse. From the beginning, the restaurant was designed as a high-end expression of Lagasse's cooking and of New Orleans's distinctive culinary culture. Its early critical reception was strong: Esquire named it Restaurant of the Year in 1990, the same year it opened. In 1991, Lagasse received the James Beard Award for Best Chef South/Southeast, helping establish the restaurant and its chef as important figures in American regional dining. Over time, Emeril's developed a reputation that extended beyond food into wine and hospitality. The restaurant has held the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1999. Its cellar is reported to contain more than 30,000 bottles, including rare wines, making the beverage program a central part of the restaurant's identity and destination appeal. This long-running recognition positioned Emeril's among the prominent fine-dining restaurants associated with New Orleans. A significant leadership transition took place in 2022, when E.J. Lagasse became chef and co-owner. The change preserved the family connection while placing day-to-day culinary leadership with a younger generation. E.J. Lagasse subsequently oversaw a substantial renovation, completed in October 2023. The work included the opening of The Wine Bar at Emeril's next door. The Wine Bar operates with an à la carte menu and its own kitchen, while sharing the wine list with the main restaurant. This expanded the brand's hospitality footprint and created a more informal companion venue without replacing the flagship dining experience. The restaurant reached another notable point of recognition in November 2025, when it received two Michelin stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South. The cited reference identifies Emeril's as the only restaurant in that inaugural guide to receive two stars. It also describes E.J. Lagasse as the youngest chef in history to be awarded two Michelin stars. Emeril's history is consequently defined by four linked elements: its New Orleans origin, Emeril Lagasse's founding influence, a durable wine and awards program, and a recent generational transition led by E.J. Lagasse.

• 2025

  Emeril's received two Michelin stars

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  In November, Emeril's received two Michelin stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South.

• 2023

  Renovation and Wine Bar opening

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  A renovation overseen by E.J. Lagasse was completed in October, including the opening of The Wine Bar at Emeril's next door.

• 2022

  E.J. Lagasse became chef and co-owner

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  E.J. Lagasse assumed culinary leadership and co-ownership, beginning a generational transition at the restaurant.

• 1999

  Emeril's began its Wine Spectator Grand Award tenure

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  The restaurant has held the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1999.

• 1991

  Emeril Lagasse received a James Beard Award

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  Lagasse won the James Beard Award for Best Chef South/Southeast, adding major professional recognition soon after the restaurant's opening.

• 1990

  Emeril's opened in New Orleans

  [1]Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org

  Chef Emeril Lagasse opened Emeril's in March 1990. Esquire named the restaurant Restaurant of the Year during its opening year.

An acclaimed New Orleans destination restaurant combining contemporary fine dining, regional culinary influence, an extensive wine program, and multigenerational chef leadership.

• Fine dining restaurant · 1990

  Emeril's flagship restaurant

  The original New Orleans restaurant founded by Emeril Lagasse in 1990. It offers an upscale chef-led dining experience rooted in New Orleans culinary culture, supported by a highly regarded wine program and an extensive cellar reported to contain more than 30,000 bottles.

• Wine bar and restaurant · 2023

  The Wine Bar at Emeril's

  A companion venue opened next door after the renovation completed in 2023. It has its own kitchen and an à la carte menu, while sharing the main restaurant's wine list.

• 2023

  Expansion through The Wine Bar at Emeril'sOther

  Background

  The restaurant's renovation created an opportunity to broaden its wine and dining offer while preserving the flagship restaurant's separate identity.

  Action taken

  Emeril's opened The Wine Bar next door with a separate kitchen and à la carte menu, sharing the main restaurant's wine list.

  Aftermath

  The brand gained a neighboring, less formal format connected to its established wine program.

  Source

• 2022

  Generational leadership transitionStrategy

  Background

  Emeril's needed to maintain its culinary identity while moving operational and kitchen leadership into the next generation of the founding family.

  Action taken

  E.J. Lagasse became chef and co-owner and subsequently led the restaurant's renovation and culinary direction.

  Aftermath

  The transition was followed by a renovation, the launch of The Wine Bar at Emeril's, and two Michelin stars in 2025.

  Source

1. 1Emeril'sen.wikipedia.org