What's the name of that restaurant?

In conversation with the dental hygienist yesterday, the topic of New Orleans restaurants proceeded through Antoine’s, Brennan’s, Copeland’s, Cafe du Monde, and several others. But when I mentioned one to the girl – a New Orleans native – she was stumped.

Maybe it’s from long ago. Maybe it’s not even in New Orleans. Maybe it’s more of a bar or lounge and not even a restaurant. Maybe I’m fusing something altogether unrelated to food and drink with something else.

I tried a search on New Orleans places to eat and didn’t see anything it might be.

I have no idea how it’s spelled but my best stab at such would be something along the lines of:

T. Pateri’s
Tipotterrie
Tee-Po-Terr-ee

Any idea(s) at all of what I’m trying to remember?

Help!

Tipitina’s.

I think you’re looking for this one

Is it Tujague’s ? edit I should add it is pronounced two-jacks

Thanks to you and Snooooopy both for this idea. That’s what the hygienist and her buddy suggested, too. They’re both going to NOLA for a convention and are talking up what to do and where to go.

The last time I was in NOLA was in 1986, and we went to Lafayette back in the late 90’s to see some Cajun friends, and it just may be that something in Lafayette is what I’m trying to think of.

The similarity with Tipitina’s suggests my memory is flawed but I think I remember the -terry sound over the -teena sound.

I’m prepared to admit my memory sucks, but before I do I hope somebody can convince me I’m not just dreaming such a place up.

Any Louisiana types have a clue what I must be trying to think of?

No, but I did slow down when I read that off the restaurant list. Nice try. It could be that far off – as long as the T and the P and the “terry” are there.

I don’t remember ever seeing this in print so sound is all I have to offer. And the way some things are pronounced in Louisiana may have little to do with the stab at a phonetic spelling I tried above.

By the way, before somebody gets the idea to have a little fun with this, it’s not Tea Pottery!

I can accept that it might be some person’s name with the T. being an initial, but, if so, that person ought to be fairly well known in Louisiana entertainment circles (including places to eat or drink).

This is about to drive me nuts – or nuttier.

As I continue searching for sound-alikes and possible spellings, I ran across

Tchoupitoulas

which sounds something like chop-a-tool-us.

After due consideration, I’m ruling that one out, even though the number of syllables is close, and if somebody didn’t know the correct (or local) pronunciation they might insert a -terr in there. I just don’t think this is it.

Also, I found some hits on “tipoteri” but couldn’t even get an Italian-English translation.

Onward…

Tipitina’s was also featured in the 80’s movie The Big Easy with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin, so that may be why it sounds more familiar to you.

You’re beginning to be persuasive, but I just can’t shake that -terry thing in my head.

It’s almost like somebody I know (or knew) said something like, “Let’s go down to T. Pateri’s for some good food.”

Thanks for staying with this, though. I’ve even looked for restaurants in Mobile, Memphis, Baton Rouge, with no luck so far.

I just wish I could pin down who might have said this sort of thing.

Ever get something like this stuck in your head?

Tipitina’s is a place I would go to for good music and drinks, not for good food. In 1986 there was an Irish bar/ Italian resturant on top of Jax Brewery. It was called something like Birraperettie’s. Not sure on the spelling.

I am pretty sure (after much searching) that this place may no longer exist by this name. It may have been a sponsor for an Easy Listening music program emanating from WWL (NOLA) back in the 50’s or 60’s. Exactly how it was spelled, and exactly what type of establishment it was, is part of the mystery.

But I’m 90% sure it predates Tipitina’s.

There was a restaurant called T. Pittari’s that I believe is no longer operating. I will ask my sister who visits New Orleans often.

Looks like you can still own a piece of it: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Glass-T-Pittaris-Restaurant-New-Orleans_W0QQitemZ260086660940QQihZ016QQcategoryZ850QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You’re a life saver! Thanks so much. That’s gotta be the place.

“Shenanigans?”