Jimmie Lou’s, the New Orleans-inspired restaurant concept that helped launch chef Jeff Harris’ Cincinnati career, is coming back later this year. This time, the po’boys and gumbo are headed to Pendleton, with Harris aiming for a more casual neighborhood spot than his acclaimed Nolia.
Harris plans to reopen Jimmie Lou’s in the former Razzo space at 1201 Broadway Street, according to Cincinnati CityBeat. The restaurant was Harris’ first solo venture, opening in June 2021 inside Oakley Kitchen Food Hall before closing as the food hall rapidly declined after Nolia opened.
Jimmie Lou’s Will Bring Back New Orleans Comfort Food
When Jimmie Lou’s first opened, it served the Cincinnati crowd a focused lineup of New Orleans staples, including po’boys, gumbo and jambalaya. At the time, Fox19 reported that Harris wanted to bring “all the comfort foods of New Orleans” to Oakley.
The new location will be the more relaxed counterpart to Nolia, Harris’ Over-the-Rhine restaurant at 1405 Clay Street. Nolia’s official site describes the restaurant’s food as Southern cooking inspired by Harris’ upbringing in New Orleans, with the chef and owner’s hometown influence still at the center of his work.
A Restaurant Named for Harris’ Great-Grandmother
Jimmie Lou’s is named for Harris’ great-grandmother, Jimmie Lou Green, who helped spark his interest in cooking when he was 4 years old. An earlier CityBeat profile described the restaurant’s po’boys as a taste of home for the New Orleans native.
Harris plans to keep that homespun identity while applying the same standards that guide Nolia. The menu is expected to include roasted oysters, Louisiana-style fried chicken, Gulf-sourced seafood and bar-only specials, alongside returning favorites such as beignets, etouffee and po’boys, as Cincinnati CityBeat reported.
