Chapter IV makes a great cheeseburger
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A cheeseburger and fries for a quick lunch at Chapter IV. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
Everyone in New Orleans has a favorite cheeseburger, and the one at Chapter IV is a new contender for my top list.
Why it matters: The CBD restaurant opened in 2023 from chef Dook Chase, the fourth generation of the legendary family behind Dooky Chase's Restaurant.
State of play: Chapter IV is only open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, but it's in a perfect spot for it just across Duncan Plaza from City Hall.
- That makes it an easy choice for pregaming before the New Orleans Saints play, or dipping over between downtown meetings.
That's exactly how I ended up there on a recent afternoon just before Christmas, needing a quick bite as I ran from press conference to press conference.
The vibe: Chapter IV is gorgeous. Big windows bring in tons of light, showing off the white marble bar topped with brass cocktail shakers.
- And if you didn't already know this place was run by Leah Chase's descendants, the art would be a dead giveaway. The matriarch is said to have made Dooky Chase's the first gallery for Black artists in New Orleans, and the Chapter IV walls feel like they continue that tradition beautifully.
What I ordered: The 7oz. classic burger ($15). It was a thick patty topped with all the fixings and a perfectly melty slice of American cheese.
- Honestly? This felt like a better version of a backyard burger my dad would make. ... Just don't tell my dad.
