Our Story

Chef Donald Link was raised hunting, fishing, and cooking along the waterways of Southwest Louisiana, where he learned to respect the flavors of the region. He brought together the cuisine of his home and the bounty of the rich, alluvial soil from the Mississippi delta to New Orleans, where it has been lauded as some of the country’s most authentic. Link’s newest restaurant, Chemin à la Mer, blends the elegance of a French brasserie with the Creole, Cajun and Gulf Coast character of New Orleans. The restaurant’s story begins with the river, the great crossroads that drew French, Spanish, African and other cultures to New Orleans, each bringing culinary traditions that continue to shape the city’s food today. Elegant yet vibrant, polished yet relaxed, the restaurant strikes a balance between old-world sophistication and the easygoing spirit of the city. The Louisiana and French menu includes a curated selection of classic New Orleans and seafood dishes through a French-Louisiana point of view and reflecting the flavors and styles of cooking Link finds through his travels around the world, while honoring his Louisiana heritage.

"Chemin is very personal to me, and I'm excited about what's ahead for locals and visitors alike. We want it to be the kind of place locals can call their own. A place where guests are greeted like old friends and want to come back again and again for everything from lunch to drinks to special celebrations." - Chef Donald Link