Parran’s Po-Boys comes to its old-school vibe honestly. It’s been around for a long time, long enough to feel like family for some of its regulars. This week, the restaurant marks a major milestone with a good deal on po-boys in the mix too.
Parran’s is celebrating its 50th year in business with a three-day anniversary celebration at both the original Metairie location (3939 Veterans Memorial Blvd.) and its newer outpost in Kenner (2321 W. Esplanade Ave.).
From May 1 to May 3, the anniversary special brings two “po-boy combos” (a half po-boy with a side) and two Barq’s root beers for $19.75.
50 years of po-boys
That price is, of course, not coincidental. Parran’s was first opened in 1975 by Nick Impastato, who named it after the Louisiana-ified French term for godfather (“parrain” in French class is an easy jump to parran in local parlance).
It had a few successive owners, but it was still a small storefront restaurant when Al and Lorell Hornbrook bought it in 1990, just after their marriage. Al, then 25, had little restaurant experience at the time but was instilled with a homegrown appreciation for New Orleans flavors, especially from his grandmother.
The Metairie restaurant grew gradually, expanding from eight tables and a counter to a series of connecting dining rooms today. The family added the Kenner location in 2015. An Uptown location closed in 2023 after five years.
Parran’s menu has expanded over time too. Traditional dishes still endure here, like the shrimp Creole, red beans and rice and mirliton casserole. One signature is the seafood muffuletta (basically a seafood platter on a seeded round loaf) and there’s also pizza, including one with roast beef and (yes) gravy, like a pizza-po-boy mash up…