In 1952, Charles Louis Passauer set up a bar and restaurant at the corner of Third and Constance Streets in New Orleans’ Irish Channel neighborhood. He named it Parasol’s because he thought Passauer would be too difficult to pronounce. In the seven decades since, the bar has survived Hurricane Katrina, multiple ownership changes, a nearly fatal episode with unpaid taxes that almost cost it a liquor license, a pandemic, and a renovation that stripped out some of the original dive bar character in exchange for the sustainability that lets it keep serving po’ boys. Through all of it, the po’ boy kitchen in back has remained the reason people seek out the Irish Channel corner that most tourists never find. Parasol’s appeared in Season 5, Episode 4 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Places You Sent Me,” which aired December 1, 2008. Guy Fieri called the roast beef po’ boy “capital-T tender” and said the muffaletta was an absolute must-try. The restaurant has also appeared on Best Bars in America.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Parasol’s
City: New Orleans, Louisiana
Cuisine: Po’ Boys / Bar Food
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 4
Episode Title: Places You Sent Me
Original Air Date: December 1, 2008
Address: 2533 Constance St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-302-1543
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ParasolsNOLA/
Status: Open
About Parasol’s
Parasol’s operates as a classic neighborhood bar in front and a serious po’ boy kitchen in back, a layout that is common in New Orleans and perfected here. The Irish Channel neighborhood around it is a residential area one block off Magazine Street, which keeps the crowd mostly local and gives the bar the kind of authentic neighborhood energy that tourist-facing establishments work hard to simulate. The St. Patrick’s Day block party that Parasol’s throws every year has become a neighborhood institution unto itself, drawing crowds that spill well beyond the corner. Cash only policy applies.
What to Eat at Parasol’s
The Roast Beef Po’ Boy is the signature — slow-roasted beef debris piled on French bread, “capital-T tender” as Guy described it during filming, with gravy that soaks the bread just enough. The Firecracker Shrimp Po’ Boy is the house specialty that has developed its own following: shrimp coated in butter, hot sauce, and garlic, served dressed on French bread. The Muffaletta — the other New Orleans sandwich classic, with Italian meats, provolone, and olive salad on a sesame round — was specifically called a must-try by Guy. The Irish Sundae is the off-menu item worth knowing about: roast beef debris over potato salad.
Bring New Orleans po’ boy energy home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Hot Honey BBQ Sauce for your own roast beef preparations and Guy’s Carolina BBQ Sauce for the shrimp firecracker approach.
Plan Your Visit
Parasol’s is open Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Cash only. Find a New Orleans hotel on Booking.com and add Parasol’s to any Irish Channel or Garden District afternoon.
Address: 2533 Constance St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-302-1543
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ParasolsNOLA/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
New Orleans has one of the deepest Triple D catalogs of any city in America. Stream the Places You Sent Me episode on Amazon and plan your full New Orleans DDD tour with More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
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Parasol’s appeared in Season 5, Episode 4 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Places You Sent Me,” originally aired December 1, 2008. The bar has been on the corner of Third and Constance in the Irish Channel since 1952.