Excursion Spotlight: Living Up to the Legacy
Saxophonist J. White sits in with Porter’s house band; (right) drummer Steve Bailey.
photography by Ashlee Nobel
For music enthusiasts, the name Porter is synonymous with excellence. So when one hears of Porter’s Jazz Café, thoughts of enlivened melodies and toe-tapping, improvisational rhythm come to mind.
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Porter’s Jazz Café is located at 315 S. Main St., a 100-year old building that once housed the Gus Blass Department Store. Porter’s occupies 8,500 square feet of space, and since the doors opened Labor Day weekend, its owners have welcomed guests to dine in the restaurant and the lounge on the lower level while enjoying the smooth sounds of jazz and the pleasure of great conversations.
Marcell Dean, co-owner, Porter’s Jazz Café, said, “We wanted to be a part of this new energy, the revitalization. We have an ideal location — not far from the RiverMarket District — in an area that has great history. We want to be a part of the catalyst for the renewing of this part of Main Street.” He noted the recent remodel of The Rep. “There are great things going on here.”
Porter’s upper level is awash in natural light as windows stretch across its opening. The hostess station, just inside the door, sits adjacent to one of the jewels of the restaurant, Lena’s Corner, an
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area boasting banquet seating and an elegant chandelier, the “Rocco Chandelier,” that once belonged to the legendary songstress/actress Lena Horne.
The dining area offers booth, table and bar seating. Several of the tables surround an opening that allows those on the upper level to view the band below.
“When we started this project, the building was in disrepair. We had to gut it and start from scratch. The alcove, looking down into the lounge, was inspired by an actual hole that was in the floor; when we got down to the bare bones of the building, its potential was clear. It was easy to see how beautiful it once was,” Dean said. So they retained many of the original archways and brick walls.
Of course, the food and the music are what draw patrons inside. Porter’s restaurant serves what manager Nicholas Guy calls “upscale American cuisine with a New Orleans twist.”
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“Our entrees feature fresh ingredients, and as often as possible locally-grown produce. We often purchase from Carpenter’s Produce in the RiverMarket Farmers’ Market. Our chef Greg Loyd is adamant about using the best.”“Most jazz-themed restaurants feature New Orleans–style foods; after all, it’s the birthplace of this type of music,” Guy said. For the first month or so after opening, Porter’s served a limited menu; the full menu is now available.
We tried the house specialties: Porter’s chicken wings, which were nested on a bed of fresh greens with a sprinkling of scallions. The wings were crisp — unexpected as they were bathed in a sauce — and savory with just a bit of sweetness. We alsothoroughly enjoyed their chicken and waffles and blackened tilapia. The former isn’t a dish that moves mountains — however, I’ve been served a mediocre version and this was a far cry from it. The buttermilk, Belgian-style waffle is topped with a buttermilk-battered boneless chicken thigh and served with a fresh fruit compote.
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Our compote was made from peaches; however, Guy said patrons might also enjoy strawberry, pear or apple toppings, depending upon the season. The chicken and waffle were both delicious and the peaches prepared to the perfect consistency, their flavor a good contrast for the seasoning of the chicken. We were most pleased with the tilapia dish; the fish was pan roasted and served atop grit cakes (literally cakes fashioned of grits — very southern) and accented with a cilantro lime aioli. The menu promised a seasonal vegetable as an accompaniment. We were delighted to be served nicely-seasoned, sautéed okra.
To satisfy the sweet tooth, diners should partake of Porter’s beignets … they were ambrosial, served with a strawberry coulis and powdered sugar. Other desserts offered include Coca Cola cake and crème brulee.
In the interest of our readers, we must admit two things: the beignets are usually offered during Porter’s Sunday brunch, during which they also offer freshly-made omelets, various meats, fruits and
pastries, as well as herb roasted chicken, greens, mac-n-cheese and more; and two, we simply had to return to Porter’s lounge to enjoy some live music and a few Portinis, the café’s signature drink.
Porter’s serves up live music seven nights a week. The house band consists of a pianist, drummer, guitarist and bassist, who woo patrons with toe-tapping, finger-snapping, head-bopping tunes. Occasionally a lead vocalist steps in to accompany. Monday night is Amateur night; Tuesday, local artists are featured; Wednesday nights are deemed “Sounds of the City,” an open mic session for musicians and singers; Thursday, Friday and Saturday are reserved for the house band — which, by the way, is fantastic — or special guests.
Porter’s Jazz Café offers a VIP section, seating at the lower bar and at Porter’s Porch during the evenings; the space is available for birthday parties and other celebrations.
Porter’s Jazz Café
315 S. Main St., Little Rock, AR
501.324.1900 • portersjazzcafe.com
Mon through Thu., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday brunch,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., dinner, 4 p.m. to close.
Reader Comments:
JWhite is an amazing artist....living in New Orleans I am constantly exposed to great Sax players. While visiting Little Rock I stopped in Porters for a night of jazz and great sounds. I was not disappointed, Jwhite more than delivered....White possesses the cool composure of Miles Davis and the swagg sound of Grover Washington. Porters Cafe delivered and Art Porte's Legacy definitely deserves it.