Before you book a plane ticket to New Orleans, save the trip and venture over to The Quarter Southern Coastal Grill. The restaurant, located at 48 South Main Street in Newtown, opened in February 2022.

Owner Vince Cappelletti and partner Sue Zagorski created this newest culinary experience to give patrons the flavor and feel of dining down south, where the cuisine is just as exciting as the nightlife.

“It’s definitely fun,” Cappelletti said of the menu. “What we are trying to focus on is food from New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama, with country barbecue and things like that.”

Many people may recognize The Quarter’s building, which previously housed Lucas Local Oyster Bar, which expanded and moved to 775 Main Street South in Southbury.

Both eateries are part of Lucas Hospitality Group, lucashospitalitygroup.com, a flourishing company owned by Cappelletti and Zagorski. The group is currently hiring people for its team.

The duo also runs Mission Salad in Southbury, right next to Lucas Local, and has another spot coming to Danbury.

“Our focus was not to replace Lucas Local with just another restaurant. It was really to redesign it to make it part of the theme,” Cappelletti said.

Inside the full-service restaurant, guests will enjoy socializing at the tables or large wooden bar.

“The décor was done to make it feel like home. Going to old restaurants in New Orleans and down south there’s a lot of comfort, so we tried to appoint the space to be as comfortable as possible and a place to have fun and let loose a little bit,” Cappelletti said.

The Quarter can seat 65 people inside and 24 in the patio area, weather permitting. Reservations can be made online through the website, thequartergrill.com.

For those who crave the food but are on the go, take-out is available.

The Quarter also does catering for small party private events.

Sample Of The Menu

Small Plates: There are about a dozen appetizers that are great for sharing with friends and family, including the Gumbo. At The Quarter, the popular Louisiana stew is made with chicken and andouille sausage, rice, and trinity garnished with smoked paprika and cayenne fried okra.

From the Back Garden: All of the food, including the salads, are made with locally sourced ingredients. Try the gluten-free Summertime Salad with baby kale, baby spinach, watermelon, blueberries, heirloom cherry tomatoes, toasted pepitas, crumbled goat cheese, and fassionola vinaigrette.

Large Plates: Diners cannot go wrong ordering the Cast Iron Ribeye. The 16-ounce hand-cut ribeye is cast iron seared and has lemon-garlic green beans as well as whipped garnet yams.

On A Bun: The Florida’s Famous sandwich has fried or blackened Florida grouper, pickled green tomato tartar, lettuce, red onion, and heirloom tomato. All sandwiches are served on brioche buns from Uncle Matt’s in Newtown with The Quarters’ signature hand cut fries. Gluten-free rolls are available upon request.

Sides: With more than half a dozen side dishes, such as cornbread and Alabama slaw, there is something for everyone.

Cocktails: This summer, wet your whistle with a Hurricane of white rum, aged rum, lemon, and fassionola syrup.

Mocktails: Order a mocktail for all the flavor without the alcohol. Drinks include the Kazoo, the Recorder, and the Xylophone.

Wine: There is an assortment of red, white, rose, and sparkling wine available.

Draft: Be sure to ask the server for the current list of draft beers from local breweries.

Desserts: Finish the night off with a sweet treat and ask for the Georgia Peach Cobbler. It has sweet Georgia peaches that are tossed in brown sugar and vanilla, baked in cast iron with a biscuit crumble, and served with Micalizzi’s vanilla bean ice cream.

Coming Soon: Guests can look forward to NOLA Social Happy Hour, as well as expanded hours for brunch, in the near future.

The Quarter Southern Coastal Grill, located at 48 South Main Street in Newtown, is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 pm, and Sunday 4 to 9 pm. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Call 203-491-2992 or e-mail lucashospitalitygroup@gmail.com. For more information, visit thequartergrill.com. Follow The Quarter at facebook.com/thequarterct and instagram.com/thequarterct.