Portico owners renovate Southdowns restaurant, close Coursey location

Portico, a Louisiana bar and grill that originated in Monroe, has closed one of its two locations in the Capital City. The restaurant’s Coursey Boulevard location, which opened in June 2012, closed last Sunday. Co-owner Stephen Walker says the decision was made to consolidate efforts on the Southdowns location at 4205 Perkins Road, which opened in January.

“It was becoming an issue of consistency between the two locations,” Walker says. “We wanted to focus on making the best Portico brand we could, and we felt like the Southdowns location had more potential in the future.”

The Perkins Road restaurant has been renovated, with a new patio with room for 40 patrons. The interior is now one “big wide open space,” Walker says, with booths and tables and the dining room flowing into the bar area. Executive chef Josh Hebert was also brought in, focusing on a menu that was revamped with the help of local food writer Jay Ducote.

“We narrowed the scope of the menu,” Walker says, mentioning how the menu went from 60 to 30 items. “We took the most popular items and revamped them and made them more creative.”

Among some of the items to expect is the Fiery Fin sandwich with Caribbean jerk grilled Mahi Mahi, fresh cilantro aioli and mango red pepper jalapeńo salsa on a brioche bun. The menu, which should be made available within the next two weeks, also features big plates such as the pan-fried redfish with corn maque choux and asiago cheese grits, starters, soups, salads, sides and desserts.

Portico will also start a brunch service in early September, serving dishes every Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The brunch will also feature a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosa specials.

For more information on Portico, porticoetc.com click here or call 930-4777.