Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar has closed its location in White Star Market, as the Mid City food hall approaches its sixth month in operation.
Jolie Pearl owner Eric Carnegie says his restaurant had a good run in White Star and did a decent business but wants to concentrate on his downtown restaurant, which opened in 2014, and the potential for a second brick and mortar location elsewhere in the city.
“White Star is right for Baton Rouge but people come to us for the ambiance and experience and we like to create our own ambiance downtown,” Carnegie says. “It was hard to replicate that in White Star.”
Jolie Pearl’s space in the food hall will be absorbed by existing tenant Chow Yum Phat, whose owner, Vu Le, has taken on a new business partner, Jordan Ramirez, and plans to expand. In its new, larger space, Chow Yum Phat will be able to expand its menu and seat 13 diners at a ramen bar.
Le and Ramirez will continue to lease the original Chow Yum Phat space in White Star, where they plan to open a new cold bar concept restaurant, Yuzu, that will serve sushi, poké bowls and other cold dishes.
“Being able to create a concept like Yuzu for White Star Market is a great opportunity, and bringing a fresh fish aspect is something Mid City needs,” Ramirez says in a prepared statement.
Jolie Pearl is the second restaurant to depart the food hall. Michael Mangham’s Southern Plate closed shortly after opening last spring. It was replaced by two vendors, M J’s Café and Counterspace BR.
Carnegie says he has no immediate plans to open a second brick and mortar location but is looking at several potential spaces both in Mid City and elsewhere in the market.
