Opened inside the stunning Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans in 2021, Chemin à la Mer (“pathway to the sea,” in French) sits perched high above and overlooking the Mississippi River, which serves as an inspiration for the space and its menu. Chef Donald Link, whose other restaurants include Cochon, Herbsaint, and Peche, pays homage to the French and sea-faring influences that meld together to create New Orleans’ distinctly rich heritage. Here, a long, curving oyster bar carves out one side of the dining room, while floor-to-ceiling windows framing the river make out the other side. In between, art from Southern naturalist painter John Alexander, including paintings and hand-worked prints, reflect the riverway’s flora and fauna, setting the tone for the rest of the dining room’s design—themes of water, grass, bright bursts of plumage, and natural tones warm the space. One of Alexander’s pieces, called “Purple Grackle,” is a tribute to the late Julia Reed, a good friend of his and Link’s, who also has a scotch-based old fashioned named for her on the beverage menu. (The bar area is named after the artwork.)
On the plate, Link looks to create a celebratory experience, with seafood and steak at the heart of the meal. While the menu changes regularly, there will always be a selection of oysters from around the country, as well as seafood highlights like steamed shell-on Louisiana shrimp, Donald’s seafood gumbo, and Ora King salmon. There’s also a selection of cuts of steak served a la carte, such as a wagyu skirt steak from Australia. A list of Old and New World wines complements the dinner menu. The restaurant also serves breakfast, with pastries, omelets, and boudin-stuffed beignets, and offers a daily “oyster hour” with oyster and drink specials from 3 to 6 p.m.
