From Chef Farrell Harrison and Brian Weisnicht, the partners who brought Plates Restaurant & Bar to 1051 Annunciation St., comes Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar—a spot located at 752 Tchoupitoulas St. serving up Gulf oysters and delicious cocktails.
Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar is a unique seafood-focused concept that celebrates the flavors of the Gulf. The restaurant’s name is a nod to the maritime tradition of naming boats after influential women, and is a tribute to Brian Weisnicht’s mother, Maria.
The menu features sustainably sourced raw and roasted oysters and crudos, and Harrison and Weisnicht have brought in Chef Christian Hurst to combine a classic oyster bar with Caribbean influences.
Chef Farrell Harrison, a Chalmette native, brings twenty-five years of experience to Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar. He met his partner, Brian Weisnicht, while serving as chef de cuisine at Public Service in the NOPSI Hotel; the pair revamped the restaurant’s food and beverage program. Harrison served as the chef de cuisine at Josephine Estelle at the Ace Hotel until he and Weisnicht opened Plates Restaurant & Bar in 2023.
Hurst was born in Houston and raised in Austin. He cultivated his culinary skills in Colorado, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and New York. He previously worked for the Link Restaurant Group, working his way up from line cook to chef de cuisine at Herbsaint and later to the corporate side of the industry.
With no set plans to open another restaurant, the team couldn’t resist the opportunity when the spot that used to house New Orleans Social House became available. The team transformed it into a welcoming space with 100 seats, a twenty-seat bar area, elegant marble tabletops, wicker bistro-style chairs, and charming rattan light fixtures.
Weisnicht explains, “We saw it as a premier location, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give the neighborhood something it needed. We wanted to bring a light, fun, fresh place for lunch and dinner that locals in the Warehouse District could enjoy.”
When putting together the menu, the team wanted to offer affordable options that locals could enjoy while highlighting Gulf oysters and wines from around the world.
“We want to be part of the neighborhood and the community,” Weisnicht says. “Maria’s is an everyday spot that’s priced fairly and approachable.”
Menu highlights include Pimento Cheese Croquettes, Oxtail Hand Pie, Spicy Gulf Fish Sandwich, Maria’s Shrimp, and Curried Pork Cheeks. The team wanted Gulf oysters that would complement beverage director Lindsay Dukes’ wine program; the oyster selection includes Little Moon and Bright Side oysters from Grand Isle and Murder Point oysters from Murder Point, Alabama.
Dukes’ beverage menu includes natural red, white, sparkling, and orange/rose wines and a selection of tiki-inspired cocktails such as Puttin’ on the Spritz, a bright, bubbly, and zesty citrus-forward sipper; Not Another Coffee Cocktail, an amaro and bourbon old-fashioned-style drink; Down the Bayou, a crab boil spiced hurricane; and Alberteaux, a martini-esque gin cocktail.
Maria’s also offers a daily happy hour from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., during which you can enjoy Wild Gulf Oysters for $1.50 each, glasses of wine for $8, wine flights, and a daiquiri of the week.
Next, Harrison and Weisnicht will open Le Moyne Bistro, a modern French restaurant at 746 Tchoupitoulas St. in the space that served as Tommy’s Cuisine for twenty years before closing late last year. Maria’s and Le Moyne will be connected, so you can enjoy wine at Maria’s before grabbing dinner at Le Moyne.
Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar is open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
