One of Southlake's finest Cajun-Creole restaurants is back: Copeland's of New Orleans is re-opening its location in the Hilton Dallas/ Southlake Town Square Hotel at 1400 Plaza Pl. on September 20.

The restaurant closed temporarily due to the pandemic in April 2020. This reopening represents a triumphant return and is accompanied by a renovation of the space as well as some new dishes by new chef Carl Chamberlain. The dining room is now open for breakfast from 7-11 am, and for dinner from 4-10 pm.

Renovations began in May 2021, in partnership with parent company Copeland's of New Orleans and ownership group Driftwood Capital.

Additions include photos of New Orleans by Heather Green of Briole Photography; new New Orleans-style lighting fixtures; and a glass chandelier at the entrance.

There's also a new wrought iron gate and hand-laid bricks with Copeland's logo painted by Sean Starr of Starr Studios for a charming old New Orleans energy. There's a double-sided bar and seating at two refreshed outdoor patios.

Food
Fans can find New Orleans classics such as crawfish, jambalaya pasta, and red beans & rice with Andouille sausage.

The menu features shareable appetizers, chicken and pasta entrees, seafood specialties, as well as some steakhouse-style options such as:

• Artichoke & Spinach Dip - topped with Monterey Jack cheese served with fried bow tie pasta
• Brie, Strawberry & Almond Salad - with almond crusted wedges, spring mix, arugula, sliced strawberries, shaved onions, toasted almonds, crisp bacon and balsamic vinaigrette
• Crab Cakes & Shrimp Alfredo – with fried crab cakes, gulf shrimp, angel hair pasta and shrimp Alfredo sauce
• Creole Style Cheesecake – an original creamy cheesecake with a buttery pecan crust

So don't go thinking they're just a Cajun place, OK.

New menu items include:

• Crab & Avocado Stack - Jumbo lump crab meat, Roma tomato, avocado, red onion, cilantro, honey lemon vinaigrette
• Bronzed Grouper - Florida Grouper in garlic butter sauce over sautéed squash, asparagus, mushrooms
• Herb Crusted Salmon - Salmon seared with herbs and seasoning, topped with lump crab meat garlic bordelaise, served with rosemary roasted potatoes

Their bar program is robust with signature cocktails including, of course, a Hurricane with Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane mix, light rum, and dark rum. They also have a designated menu of martinis such as the Margaritatini with Sauza Hornitos, Grand Marnier, and sweet & sour; and the Cucumber Martini with cucumber and lime juices, intense ginger liqueur, simple syrup, and vodka.

Copeland's of New Orleans was founded in 1983 by New Orleans native Al Copeland, Chairman of Al Copeland Investments, and serves New Orleans and Creole dishes with an upscale sensibility, made from scratch. There are 12 locations across Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and Florida.

"The Copeland Family has been proud to be part of the Dallas community since 1986 when we first opened a Copeland’s of New Orleans Restaurant here and more recently in 2008 as the restaurant of choice in the Hilton Southlake Town Square," Copeland says in a statement. "We are looking forward to reopening to bring a little piece of our family and New Orleans to Southlake and the surrounding communities for years to come!"