Dave Bailey announces new concept, L’Acadiane

Dave Bailey has tackled burgers, breakfast and a vegetarian whiskey bar, and now he’s adding a Cajun and Creole eatery to his restaurant portfolio.

As Sauce reported last month, the space that formerly housed Baileys’ Chocolate Bar at 1915 Park Ave., in Lafayette Square is undergoing some changes. The Chocolate Bar is being relocated to the second floor, and a new restaurant has been announced on the lower level: L’ Acadiane, a nod to the Acadiana region in southern Louisiana, which will feature Cajun and Creole fare.

“We’ve got the menu down, the drink menu down,” said Bailey. “We did a really big construction push over the past week. All those decisions are done and the place is at punch list time now. We’ll spend the next three weeks hiring and training and getting ready to open up.”

The rotating menu will feature approximately 15 items, all focused on the region. The initial menu will feature items like house boudin corn dogs with cucumber relish and remoulade, a trio of po’boys, and larger entrees like fried chicken and jambalaya. Cocktails will have a southern bent as well, including takes on regional favorites like the Sazerac and the Hurricane.

Bailey said he hopes to have the doors to L’ Acadiane open by Aug. 23 or Aug. 30. He said the Chocolate Bar should reopen at the end of July with revamped food and drink menus.

Matt Sorrell is staff writer at Sauce Magazine.