Willie Mae's Scotch House
Permanently Closed
Lauded since 1957 for legendary soul food & fried chicken
Lauded since 1957 for legendary soul food & fried chicken
"The original Treme restaurant at 2401 St Ann Street remains closed after an electrical fire in April 2023; owner Kerry Seaton-Stewart told the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate that repairs are ongoing and reopening remains at least a year off, and that the building suffered damage from an electrical fire and a sprinkler system triggered by the fire. The spot’s fried chicken has long been widely regarded as some of the best in America. Willie Mae Seaton first opened the business in Treme as a bar in 1957, where the house drink was a mix of Scotch and milk; after gaining a reputation for the food she cooked for bar patrons, she grew it into a restaurant and ran it for the next five decades. In 2005 the James Beard Foundation named it one of America’s Classics; later that year Hurricane Katrina destroyed the restaurant (and Seaton’s home), which was rebuilt and reopened in 2007 with Seaton’s great-granddaughter Kerry Seaton-Stewart leading operations. Seaton died in 2015 at the age of 99." - Clair Lorell
"Willie Mae’s Scotch House has been a bastion of batter-fried chicken close to the Treme since 1957. In 2005, owner Willie Mae Seaton was honored as an America’s Classic by the James Beard Foundation. Her great-granddaughter Kerry Seaton Stewart is now overseeing restaurant operations and expanded with a location in the Venice section of of L.A. in 2022. The original New Orleans restaurant is currently closed due to a fire in 2023, but owners are working to reopen it while simultaneously planning a new location downtown." - Beth D’Addono
"Beignets, oysters, and gumbo are all on the Mt. Rushmore of New Orleans’ greatest dishes, and the fourth spot is reserved for the fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch House. Located in the Treme, this place is vintage NOLA at its very best and feels more like you’re eating in someone’s house than an actual restaurant. It closes at 5pm daily and waits can be upwards of two hours during the lunch rush, so we recommend going for a late lunch around 3pm. They’re temporarily closed because of a fire, but you can order their chicken for nationwide shipping." - zella palmer, team infatuation
"Considered by many to be one of the best fried chicken offerings in the country, this Treme landmark’s Coke-based brine and wet-batter recipe sets it apart from nearly every other fried chicken in town — it results in a dark brown crust that coats peppery, juicy pieces of chicken. NOTE: Willie Mae’s is currently closed due to a fire, but in the meantime, stop by McHardy’s, Ll’ Dizzy’s, or Fiorella’s." - Clair Lorell, Eater Staff
"The wet-battered fried chicken at this Treme soul food institution (open since 1957) is the stuff of legend, which is why the line to get inside Willie Mae’s Scotch House usually wraps around the building. The best bet for getting in quickly is to come with a party of two. Do yourself a favor and get the mac and cheese and red beans too. NOTE: Willie Mae’s is currently closed due to a fire." - Stephanie Carter