NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Jazz Fest is preparing for a jam-packed crowd when The Rolling Stones perform on Thursday, May 2. If you can’t make it, the next best thing is heading to a new, local restaurant that pays homage to one of the band’s greatest albums.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the band would feel right at home at the new Lower Garden District restaurant, Beggars Banquet, named after one of the band’s greatest albums.
“We do have tickets to see the Stones, but we’ll be too busy to actually see them. So, we’d like them to come here and see the restaurant named after them,” said owner of Beggars Banquet Michael DIonno.
The owners decided to name it Beggars Banquet because 50 years ago, they owned a restaurant in New Jersey with the same name.
“My wife and kids thought 50 years later, we could redo it. So, here we are,” he said.
Here, you’ll find a tribute to the Stones in their bathroom.
“We did a bathroom with graffiti with words and names of Rolling Stones songs,” said DIonno.
The “Beggars Banquet” album cover initially caused controversy when record labels rejected it because of its bathroom theme.
“Our bathroom looks similar to the album cover that was banned back in the 1960s,” he said.
The album cover ended up changing.
“Our Beggars Banquet sign looks identical to the ‘Beggars Banquet’ album cover,” DIonno said.
In a jumping jack flash, WGNO heads to the bar, where you can always get what you want.
“This specialty cocktail is called ‘Under My Thumb,’ a Stones song,” said Beggars Banquet Bartender Jean Orleans.
She went on to say, “It is brandy, heavy cream and a candied pecan shot. It is a play on a brandy milk punch.”
Beggars Banquet will also give any Jazz Fest ticketholders who saw The Rolling Stones a free tequila shot.
Beggars Banquet is located at 1330 Prytania St.
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