Nestled beneath the majestic oaks of Audubon Park, you’ll find Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co., 6975 Magazine Street. This charming restaurant invites you to experience a unique dining setting that’s open for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Shrimp and Grits. Photo courtesy of Audubon Clubhouse

In early 2023, Dickie Brennan & Co., renowned for its restaurants Palace Café, Acorn, The Commissary, and Pascal’s Manale, was invited to reimagine Audubon Clubhouse. This is a part of Dickie Brennan & Co.’s acquisition of catering and private event services for the Audubon Nature Institute, including Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium. Audubon Clubhouse, which underwent a complete transformation, with a refreshed menu and a new concept, was once a venue for weddings and golfers. It now stands as a seven-day-a-week fine dining destination.

The building includes a newly designed space with an independent private room available for rental, for showers and events, complete with murals. Outside is a wrap-around patio where diners can enjoy their meal under the shade of Audubon’s oak trees. One of the most exciting changes is relocating the Clubhouse’s pro shop, where visitors can watch games and enjoy a cocktail in a comfortable lounge.

Recently, Audubon Clubhouse embarked on an exciting collaboration with the Loyola College of Music Jazz Trio. Every Thursday, weather permitting, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., visitors can enjoy the vibrant tunes of Loyola faculty or students during happy hour, adding a delightful touch to their dining experience.

As the restaurant transitions, dinner is currently available Sunday through Thursday, while the Clubhouse works through the weddings and events that were scheduled when Dickie Brennan and Co. took over. The plan is to extend dinner hours to the weekends. The change should happen next summer, and weddings will become more of an exception than the rule. For details about weekends dinner, check Audubon Clubhouse’s website.

Tuna tartare topped with Zapp’s chips. Photo courtesy of Audubon Clubhouse

For brunch, menu highlights include Chicken and Waffle Salad with mixed greens, fried chicken thigh, waffle croutons, maple-Dijon vinaigrette, cherry tomato, and spiced pecans; Crabcake Benedict with blue crab lump and claw meat, poached egg, English muffin, hollandaise, and chives; the 1898 Club Sandwich comes with house-smoked turkey, ham, Dijon, house bacon, wheat toast, tomato, and bibb lettuce.

Lunch includes Shrimp and Grits with a tomato white wine sauce, basil, and seasonal vegetables; Seared Redfish comes with cauliflower purée, spinach, and Cajun Caesar beurée blanc; and the Deep-Fried Deviled Eggs is paired with candied andouille.

Photo courtesy of Audubon Clubhouse

For dinner, visitors can enjoy Tuna Tartare with avocado, radish, green goddess dressing, and potato chip crumb; Crab and Herb Pasta comes with lump crab, house-made pasta, lemon, tarragon, confit garlic, and Parmesan panko; Fried Oyster Sandwich comes with Crystal buffalo hot sauce, crumbled bleu cheese, apple and cabbage slaw, and potato chips; and the Bone-In Pork Chop is served with field peas, braised cabbage, and cauliflower purée.

For the holidays, Audubon Clubhouse will host Santa Brunch on December 14. The event will feature a breakfast buffet and pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Audubon Clubhouse, 6975 Magazine St., 504-558-1200. Open for lunch, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Dinner on Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For dinner on Friday and Saturday, check the website for dates. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Happy Hour is Monday though Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Thursday from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.