Compère Lapin is Chef Nina Compton’s flagship restaurant inside The Old No. 77 Hotel in the Warehouse District. It blends the flavors of her native St. Lucia with French and Italian technique and Gulf Coast ingredients. Compton, a Top Chef finalist, won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2018, and diners still book tables for her cooking.
The name comes from a trickster rabbit of Caribbean folklore. The dining room sits inside a converted 19th-century warehouse, with exposed brick, high ceilings and a long bar that draws a steady cocktail crowd. The curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi is the dish regulars insist on, and OpenTable reviewers single it out alongside the creative cocktails. Conch croquettes are another longtime favorite, and seafood-forward plates rotate with the season. Service is polished but warm, which makes the room a strong choice for anniversaries and celebratory dinners.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Reserve ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday dinner and during Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras and major conventions. Booking is available through OpenTable. Weeknights and early seatings are calmer, and solo diners can often find seats at the bar.
Check the current menus before you go, since dishes change. You can also call 504.599.2119 to confirm hours.
The restaurant is a short walk from the French Quarter, Harrah’s and the National WWII Museum. Canal Street streetcars stop nearby.
