B U S I N E S S
&
L E A D E R S H I P
P R O F I L E
Desi Vega
DESI VEGA’S STEAKHOUSE (NORTHSHORE) Desi Vega, co-owner and managing partner of his namesake New
Covington. “A lot of the guests who dine with us at the New Orleans locations
Orleans restaurants, will finally be bringing his upscale Southern hospitality to
are from the Northshore and have been begging Desi for a while to open a place
the Northshore by the end of 2020. Desi, an industry veteran, has been part
closer to home,” says Marketing Director Patrick Haggerty.
of the restaurant scene his entire life. He started out working at his parents’
Besides the excellent service and attention to detail that comes with the
restaurant and later went on to learn directly from industry greats Ella Brennan of
Vega name, Northshore guests will find menu items inspired by Chef Muggsy
Commander’s Palace, Ruth Fertel of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Emeril Lagasse.
Beals, the culinary mastermind behind Desi Vega’s Steakhouse. The menu will
Being trained by the biggest names in the New Orleans restaurant
feature many of the same popular items found at the original restaurant, such as
industry has tailored the way Desi manages each of his restaurants. It’s all about
Stuffed Crabmeat Wrapped in Bacon, WhoDat Shrimp, Andouille-Crawfish Mac &
hospitality and creating an environment where guests feel like they are dining in
Cheese and, of course, their famous USDA Prime, corn-fed beef steaks cooked in a
the comforts of their own home.
Montague broiler before served on a hot plate sizzling with melted butter.
Desi bought his first restaurant, Mr. John’s on St. Charles Avenue, and
Vega has also partnered with longtime friends Shawn Breaud and Shane
turned it into the number one steakhouse in New Orleans. Following the
Songy, owners of Après Lounge, as well as Kyle Roberts, member of the family
restaurant’s success, he went on to open Desi Vega’s Steakhouse in 2013 inside
owned venue, in order to bring a memorable nightlife scene to the Northshore.
the Lafayette Hotel to capture the overflow from the constantly booked Mr. John’s.
Shane and Shawn have been working together since 2004 when they opened
He has since opened another Steakhouse in Metairie and Desi Vega’s Prime
their first restaurant followed by three PJ’s Coffee franchises. In 2013, they set
Burgers and Shakes in Harahan.
out to open their first location of Après Lounge, an “Ultra Champagne Lounge,” in
His newest venture, however, is a big move for the restaurateur as he crosses Lake Pontchartrain for the first time to bring Desi Vega’s Steakhouse to 50
Inside Northside
the Warehouse district of New Orleans. Vega approached the duo in 2006 about opening a business together but the timing wasn’t right.