Curious

Just last year the DeFelices collaborated with Poppy Tooker on a (pretty interesting as these things go) nostalgia-heavy cook book.  No idea why they're selling the restaurant now.  They must have their reasons.

The DeFelice family, the fourth-generation owners of the Uptown institution, have sold Pascal’s Manale to Jessica and Ray Brandt, long-time proprietor Sandy DeFelice confirmed today.

Ray Brandt is a New Orleans native who has built a large local network of car dealerships, Ray Brandt Auto Group, representing a dozen auto brands.

“What we’re feeling is a bag of mixed emotions,” DeFelice said, shortly after the sale was completed Tuesday. “You hate to see it go, but it really was the right time to turn the page in our lives and start a new chapter.”

So that's weird. It doesn't say exactly why Ray Brandt wants to own a restaurant. (Tom Benson no longer available to buy?)  But it does say his nephew already has a history with Pascal's and will be the new manager there. So it's kinda sorta still in the family.  Anyway, this is one of those New Orleans museumstaurants that would be a real shame to lose.  Let's hope they don't plan on changing too much.

Also they have the world's most sublime fried mozzarella

As classic New Orleans neighborhood restaurants go, Pascal's Manale is certainly "worth it."

I've been enjoying this Blackened Out series reviewing the classics, but this article in particular agrees precisely with my experience of the place. Everything at Pascal's is great except the barbecue shrimp for which they are most famous. Order the giant cheese logs instead.

Meanwhile, I guess we'll never learn whether Pancho's was "worth it." I hadn't been since I was a kid. For some reason I thought there'd always be enough time to get back.