Heard Dat Kitchen, operating as Audrey Mae’s Catering DBA Heard Dat Kitchen, is a family-owned and operated establishment in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on serving fresh Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Uniqueness and Vision
The restaurant’s concept is described as serving “gourmet food to go,” blending home cooking with elements of fine dining. Chef Jeff, a French Quarter native, curates New Orleans dishes with a variety of “palate pleasing twists,” and is dedicated to creating culinary classics with a “Heard Dat” twist. The establishment’s mission is to serve quality meals with poised and professional service, aiming to exceed guests’ expectations and create lasting memories.
History
- Opening: Chef Jeff and his family opened Heard Dat Kitchen on March 2, 2015.
- Inspiration: Chef Jeff’s passion for food developed in adolescence while watching his mother, Audrey Heard, prepare meals for the family. He is the second son of six boys.
- Culinary Background: Before opening his own restaurant, Chef Jeff worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years, holding various front-of-house positions, including waiter, operations manager, and banquet captain, at places like Restaurant August and the Crowne Plaza/W Hotel/Le Méridien. He attributes learning the importance of appetizing food presentation to his time at Restaurant August.
- Red Beans and Rice: The restaurant’s red beans and rice recipe initially came from his wife, who had cooked it for him at home. Chef Jeff now has a very precise, slow-cooking process for his red beans, preferring to use Camellia Red Kidney Beans, the kind his mother always used.
Customer Feedback and Recognition
Heard Dat Kitchen has been recognized in several local and national publications, including the Times Picayune, Food and Wine Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, NY Times, and San Francisco Chronicle.
- Awards: It was named “best fried chicken” by Yelp in 2020 and has been rated “best of the best” in NOLA, fueled by customer reviews on Google, Yelp, and Trip Advisor.
- Atmosphere: The establishment has a casual dining atmosphere with outdoor seating.
- Customer Quotes: One customer stated, “I came up on the restaurant leery and unimpressed then walked out trying to find the right superlatives to describe my dining experience. I feel like stating it was the best meal I ever had was just not good enough.”
Highlight Menu Items
The menu features New Orleans-style plates and unique signature creations, often utilizing their special “Crawdat” and “Skeesh” sauces.
- Signature Dishes (Most Popular):
- Bourbon Street Love: Southern-style fried chicken served over macaroni and cheese, topped with shredded cheddar cheese, their signature Crawdat cream sauce, and green onions, served with potato salad. (Often listed as the #1 most liked/ordered item).
- Superdome: Blackened fish topped with mashed potatoes with a lobster cream sauce, corn, and crispy onion rings.
- Mardi Gras Mambo: Fried fish served over macaroni and cheese topped with shredded cheddar cheese and their signature Crawdat cream sauce and green onions, served with sweet peas and potato salad.
- Heard Dat Pasta: Crawfish pasta topped with fried shrimp and green onions, served with potato salad and French bread.
- Benson Boogie: Blackened fish served over grits, with Crawdat cream sauce, fried shrimp, and garnished with green onions.
- Other Popular Items:
- Gumbo Combo: Chef Jeff’s filé gumbo served with a grilled cheese sandwich and potato salad.
- Dat Red Bean Plate: New Orleans style red beans and rice served with a salad, bread, and your choice of fish or chicken (fried/blackened).
- Seafood Extravaganza: Fish and shrimp (fried or blackened) served with Crawdat fries and angel sauce on the side.
- Bread Pudding: Audrey Mae’s bread pudding served with home-made caramel sauce, shortbread cookie crumbles, pecan pieces, and powdered sugar.
Significant Events
- COVID-19 Pandemic Response (2020): When the pandemic negatively impacted the business, Heard Dat Kitchen transitioned to selling Grab & Go meals. They also partnered with community organizations to feed those in need, working with the Krewe of Red Beans’ Feed the Frontlines program and World Central Kitchen in June 2020. These partnerships helped the business continue operating.
- Hit-and-Run Crash (September 2023): The restaurant was forced to close temporarily after a car, attempting to do a donut, crashed into the building, causing significant damage. Owner Tia Dorest (Chef Heard’s daughter) and her father planned to quickly reopen, stating they would “bounce back, bigger and better.”
Business Information
- Name: Audrey Mae’s Catering DBA Heard Dat Kitchen
- Address: 2520 Felicity St. New Orleans, LA 70113
- Phone: (504) 510-4248
- Website: www.hearddatkitchen.com
- Cuisine Type: Creole & Cajun
- Dining Style: Counter Takeout with Patio/Outdoor Dining
- Other Services: BYOB, Catering Services, Family-Friendly, Takeout Service.
