The French Quarter wine bar Effervescence was known for a world-class collection of sparkling wine, but corks weren’t the only things that popped here. The small kitchen produced a menu of elegant and creative dishes, especially around seafood.
Effervescence closed in August, but soon the chefs who ran its kitchen from the start will open a new upscale seafood restaurant in its place.
The Crustacean Club is now beginning to take shape at 1036 N. Rampart St., with a projected opening this spring.
Chefs Evan Ingram and Breena Sanders serve small plates at the new Champagne bar Effervescence.
Photo by Cheryl Gerber
At the helm are Brenna Sanders and Evan Ingram, the married couple who were Effervescence’s chefs since its opening in 2017.
Their aim is to showcase the variety and the potential of Gulf seafood, giving an elevated treatment to the local catch.
“There is so much wild caught, sustainable seafood that we have here,” Ingram said.
The gulf seafood plateau is presented with West Indies crab salad, snapper ceviche, royal red shrimp, Murder Point oysters, bowfin Cajun Caviar is served at Effervescence. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
“We’re excited to highlight the things that are 30 minutes away and how special that is, rather than seafood that has travels across the country or been flown here,” he said.
Oyster bar, private dining
In addition to the regular menu, the Crustacean Club will have a private dining room for about 20 people where the chefs will serve special tasting menus.
The main bar at Effervescence, a destination for Champagne in the French Quarter. (Staff photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com | The TImes-Picayune)
The general configuration of the restaurant will remain the same, with a prominent bar front and center. Now it will have an oyster bar, and also a chilled seafood display to let the feast begin with the eyes upon entrance.
Sanders, who is originally from Alabama, and Ingram, who is from California, met while cooking at Restaurant, August, and later worked at Michelin-rated restaurants in San Francisco, including Quince, Rich Table and Saison.
Chefs Brenna Sanders and Evan Ingram will open Crustacean Club on N. Rampart Street.
photo by Chris Granger / The Times-Picayune
Crystal Hinds developed Effervescence, pouring her love of all things sparkling wine into the concept. It debuted in a former Creole center hall house that had once been used as a studio for WWL-TV, headquartered next door. It was largely a blank slate when Hinds took over and began renovations.
Advocate staff photo by Ian McNulty – A streetcar on the new North Rampart Street line stops in front of the future home of Effervescence, a bar with a focus on Champagne and other sparkling wines.
As Effervescence it was a chic addition to a rising tide of new businesses bringing more life back to Rampart Street. When she announced Effervescence would close last summer, Hinds hinted that another restaurant would soon take its place.
Dessert is served at Effervescence in New Orleans, photographed in 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
The new restaurant will keep plenty of Champagne in rotation (it’s a great pairing with seafood, after all), alongside classic cocktails. And while the kitchen will focus on Gulf seafood, caviar from other waters will be on the menu too.
A red street car passes in front of Effervescence on North Rampart Street in New Orleans on Sunday, October 9, 2017. (Photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
CHRIS GRANGER
Ingram and Sanders inked the deal to open the Crustacean Club here just before Christmas, and they are excited for it to join the Rampart Street scene.
Just up the street, the soon-to-open Succotash (1041 Dumaine St.) is bringing back the historic restaurant space that was previously Marti’s and Peristyle, but was idle for a decade. Succotash is slated to open Dec. 31.
The Crustacean Club
1036 N. Rampart St., projected opening spring 2026
Dining and Cooking