Palace Cafe interior
Brennan’s Hospitality in New Orleans: Making Friends

Listen to Audio Restaurant groups offer lessons in setting standards for quality, culture and service Steve Petters According to the Brennan philosophy of world-class New Orleans restaurants, true hospitality begins with making friends. Culinary matriarch Miss Ella and her siblings Dorothy ("Dottie"), Dick and John Brennan understood this when they took over the Garden District landmark Commander's Palace in 1974. The stately museum-like space, once home to chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse, is still run by Brennan family members Claire "Lally" Brennan and Ti Adelaide Martin. In 1991, Dickie's son and sister founded the eponymous Dickie Brennan & Company, preserving this key element of hospitality. Now, the family is expanding on that vision with its fifth restaurant. We spoke with managing partner Steve Petters, who works with Dick and Lauren Brennan Blauer, about the distinctive approach to serving locals and visitors at Palace Cafe, Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House, Tableau, and now Pascal's Manale. Friendship Zone “Dick…