New Orleans Spotlight: Ruby Slipper

The Ruby Slipper Cafe, a beloved brunch spot “born in New Orleans,” is highly regarded for its Southern-inspired twists on breakfast classics and commitment to the local community.¹

What Makes it Unique

• Post-Katrina Origins & Community Focus: The cafe was founded in 2008 by Jennifer and Erich Weishaupt in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood as an effort to support and rebuild the community following Hurricane Katrina.² This spirit of “homecoming” is embodied in its name, inspired by The Wizard of Oz’s theme of “no place like home.”³

   

• Signature Biscuits and Creative Menu: They are famous for their made-from-scratch, fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits served with signature house-made cane-syrup butter.⁴ Their menu puts a New Orleans spin on classics, especially their Eggs Benedicts served on these biscuits.⁵

   

• All-Day Brunch and Cocktails: Ruby Slipper serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch all day, every day, and is known for its eye-opening cocktails, including multiple mimosa and award-winning Bloody Mary variations.⁶

   

History and Significant Events

• Founding: Opened in 2008 in Mid-City, New Orleans, as a neighborhood restaurant focused on revitalization after Hurricane Katrina.⁷

   

• Expansion: Following its initial success, the concept expanded quickly within New Orleans (Central Business District, French Quarter, Uptown, Marigny, etc.) and later became a regional chain known as Ruby Slipper Cafe and Ruby Sunshine.
• Community Involvement: The cafe has a consistent commitment to the community, including environmental sustainability programs (composting and recycling) and supporting local businesses and non-profits through partnerships and donations.⁸ A Mid-City location opening in 2018, for example, helped revitalize the Broad Street corridor.⁹

   

Highlight Menu Items

Ruby Slipper is especially known for its elevated brunch dishes with Creole influences:

• Eggs Benedicts (The Peacemaker): The ability to mix and match two different Benedicts on house-made biscuits is a favorite. Popular options include:
  • Eggs Cochon: Apple-braised pulled pork with hollandaise.¹⁰

     

  • Chicken St. Charles: Fried chicken with a pork tasso cream sauce.
• Bananas Foster French Toast (Pain Perdu): A New Orleans-style French toast with rum-flambéed bananas and raisins.¹¹

   

• Sweet Offerings: Seasonal items like Pumpkin Chai Beignets and staple items like White Chocolate Bread Pudding Pancakes showcase their inventive approach.¹²

   

• Drinks: Their five different mimosa offerings and multiple Bloody Marys (including a Bacon Bloody Mary with house-infused bacon vodka) are major draws.¹³

   

Customer Feedback

Ruby Slipper Cafe is consistently named one of the best New Orleans spots for breakfast and brunch, receiving praise from regulars and tourists alike.¹⁴

• Positive Feedback: Customers frequently describe the food as “amazing,” “delicious,” and “totally worth the wait.”¹⁵ The Benedicts, especially the Chicken St.¹⁶ Charles, and the Bananas Foster French Toast are often highlighted.

   

• Negative/Local Sentiment: As the cafe has expanded rapidly and become a regional chain, some long-time locals feel it has become “touristy” and often too packed to be worth the wait, though many still agree the food is “decent.”

Location, Contact, and Web Information

Ruby Slipper Cafe has multiple locations in New Orleans.¹⁷ Here are some of the most prominent:

Note: The main phone number is often consistent across New Orleans locations.

Website and Social Media:

• Website: https://rubybrunch.com/
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