Via Domino, written by Alex Redgrave:
When the crew behind Seaworthy, a new oyster bar in New Orleans, hosts a celebratory get-together, seafood is the star ingredient.
IN A CITY that’s equal parts Southern charm, French finesse, and scrappy eccentric, Seaworthy is a welcome newcomer. The cozy oyster bar, housed in an old town house that’s part of the new Ace Hotel New Orleans a few doors down, feels like a sea captain might return home at any moment. The mantel in the upstairs dining room is artfully covered with candle wax and leafy greenery, while the navy leather booths and emerald-hued marble café tables in the downstairs bar add a modern touch to the sailor’s clubhouse vibe.
The founding crew behind the space are worth their salt when it comes to entertaining. Brothers Alex and Miles Pincus grew up in New Orleans and learned to sail on Lake Ponchatrain as kids before moving to New York. In 2014, they launched Grand Banks, an oyster bar on a historic schooner docked on the Hudson River, along with their partner, Adrien Gallo.
To toast the recent Seaworthy opening, the trio assembled a group of their Big Easy–based friends and family. From a kitchen small enough to fit in a ship’s hull came seafood towers straight out of a still life; smoked blue fish pâté with buttery toasted ficelles; and perfectly crisped shrimp and mirliton dressing, a local favorite. Guests passed around a lemon- studded salad of winter greens as Gallo circled the table, topping up champagne coupes. Executive chef Kerry Heffernan, who came down from his post at Grand Banks for the party, swiftly added a steaming saffron-laced broth to the seafood fricassee sitting at the center of the table.
Designing the space to feel warm and layered took the expert eye of New York’s HOME STUDIOS—as well as a few final touches from Miles and Alex’s mom, Anne Pincus. She scoured her favorite antiques shops for oversize brass ice buckets and vintage nautical prints and paintings to round out the decor. All that was left was to shuck some oysters and pop the bubbly.