Which chef founded the New Orleans restaurant Willie Mae’s Scotch House in 1957?

Willie Mae Seaton founded New Orleans’s Willie Mae’s Scotch House in 1957.

Willie Mae Seaton established the restaurant in the historic Tremé neighborhood in 1957. It became celebrated for fried chicken, which was known for its crisp coating and seasoned flavor. The restaurant’s name refers to Seaton and to the bar tradition associated with its early operation.

Seaton’s cooking gained wider attention long after the restaurant opened. Willie Mae’s Scotch House was recognized by food publications and became a destination for visitors seeking New Orleans soul food. The restaurant also survived severe damage from Hurricane Katrina and later continued under family and community stewardship.

The restaurant is sometimes confused with Dooky Chase’s, another famous New Orleans African American restaurant. Dooky Chase’s is associated with Leah Chase and Creole cuisine, while Willie Mae’s is especially identified with fried chicken. Both institutions are important to the city’s Black culinary history.