The Mission Group recently announced the launch of Audette, a new French restaurant concept opening on Tuesday, February 25 in the former Chanterelle/Bouchard space, promising to blend traditional fine dining elegance with modern approachability.
The restaurant group, led by Anna Burnley, Tyler Burnley, Chad Hoffer, and Carmen Ratoi, acquired Chanterelle last year from the Bouchard family, who operated the acclaimed establishment for three decades.
“We have a wonderful relationship with the Bouchard family. They graciously came to us when they decided it was time to pass the baton and asked if we wanted to take over the restaurant,” Anna Burnley, co-owner of The Mission Group told What’sUpNewp.
Burnley continued, “Sara and Albert Bouchard built a legacy over the last 30 years in that space and we will continue to honor that legacy and are grateful it is staying in the hands of a local family.”
The new concept aims to preserve the space’s French dining heritage while making fine dining more accessible to younger generations. The restaurant will maintain its white tablecloth aesthetic but with a fresh perspective.
“We are all in our 40s and perhaps the traditional ‘fine dining’ white tablecloth aesthetic isn’t often embraced by people of our generation. We’d like to change that,” Burnley explains.
The menu has been completely revamped while maintaining French cuisine at its core, with subtle references to favorite dishes from the restaurant’s past incarnation.
Audette’s vision centers on reviving formal dining service in a more relaxed environment. “There is truly something to savor about the art of being served,” Burnley says. “Most restaurants have adopted a casual approach to service, we do at Thames Street Kitchen, and at Mission which work for both spots. But here at Audette, we are truly looking to highlight and revert back to the timeless art of service.”
The restaurant encourages guests to dress in their finest attire while emphasizing a comfortable atmosphere. “Not just a special occasion spot, rather a place where we embrace the conversation at the table, where the old is new once again,” Burnley notes.
The name Audette came to the team during a trip to Mexico City. “She came very last minute… No huge significance other than we loved the name, and felt it fit the new space,” Burnley shares.
The location has a distinguished history in Newport’s dining scene. Restaurant Bouchard, established in 1995, earned recognition as one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the United States five times. The Bouchard family rebranded it as Chanterelle in February 2023 before passing the torch to The Mission Group.
The Mission Group’s portfolio includes Mission, Thames Street Kitchen (TSK), and Utility, with Audette becoming the newest addition to their “little restaurant group.”
Reservations for Audette are available through RESY.com, with the restaurant set to welcome its first guests on Tuesday, February 25. According to its website, Audette will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Audette is located at 505 Thames Street in Newport and online at www.audettenewport.com.
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