September is almost the month when restaurants can stop worrying about hurricanes and slow summer business. Almost — but not quite. This month, there are a few significant closings, from the sad demise of an Uptown restaurant after its owner’s death to a rent hike closing a chef’s original Bywater cafe, the sobering list continues.
Momo Young has been cooking versions of her native Japanese cuisine for more than three decades, originally running her own restaurant, Ninja, in the Carrollton neighborhood, where Boucherie is now located. She opened Ajun Cajun on Oak Street in 2019, catering to fans of her yakiniku garlicky ribeye po’ boy served at festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Her mash-up between Japanese and Cajun dishes also included savory rice bowls and ramen. While the restaurant is closed, Young’s daughter Angel plans to keep her chef mama’s specialties on the menu at festivals starting with Japan Fest in City Park on October 11.
Keith Andrews was the heart and soul of his restaurant Apolline Uptown on Magazine, a gracious host who knew customers by name and made everyone feel welcome. When he died on July 5, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, the restaurant was gutted. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Apolline Restaurant,” his sister Sharon Andrews announced on Instagram. “The loss of our founder has left a hole that we were unable to fill.” The family expressed gratitude to Apolline chef Billy Prats and to the staff and patrons through the years, “who truly made Apolline his happy place.”…