Storyville Brings Big Easy to Huntington

Two experienced restaurateurs with a long-held dream have brought the distinctive taste of New Orleans to Huntington.

Co-owners Tom Curry, 54, and Brian Finn, 47, who is also the executive chef, have launched Storyville American Table at 43 Green St.

Storyville--named for an old section of New Orleans where various vices were corralled --has set up as the restaurant and food partner while Finley's of Greene Street remains as the bar and late-night club operation.

Curry and Finn both worked in a series of restaurant jobs, mostly in the Huntington area, all while keeping the idea of a New Orleans-style restaurant in mind. Both traveled to New Orleans numerous times to develop their plans.

Staying true to the city's diverse food choices, Storyville offers plenty of what diners think of as standard New Orleans food, such  as jambalaya, barbecue shrimp and veal grillades. But the menu goes further.

"The idea behind the menu is we have all the traditional New Orleans fare but what we found out about New Orleans  is it's a melting pot--Irish, German, Italian, African-American, West Indian, French and Canadian," Curry said.

"People are looking for an authentic product; they want to reminisce and are also looking for something different," he said.

"We're shaking it up, trying to stay true to the classics but mixing it up," Finn said. "The demographic is anybody interested in good food. And we're kid-friendly."

Diners are able to choose a po' boy, for example, or items from a more traditional tavern food from the restaurant's extensive menu. Entrees run from $7.95 to $24.

While diners have a choice of barbecue sauces, the restaurant owners hope to offer their own brand in the future. That's in keeping with their determination to keep their food fresh. They make their own pickles, grind the meat for meals.

The restaurant will be adding jazz brunches later this year.