Why Drago's is a political hot spot for south Louisiana
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Sizzling chargrilled oysters at Drago's Restaurant. Video: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
From hosting then-President Biden to catering election night gatherings for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, there may not be any political party Drago's Seafood Restaurant hasn't found a way to feed.
Why it matters: "Republicans and Democrats all love oysters," says owner Tommy Cvitanovich.
The big picture: Cvitanovich, who's had a turn himself at advocacy work with the state and national restaurant associations, calls himself "very politically correct" and has no problem with Drago playing on both sides of the aisle.
- Plus, he says, he charges the same, very competitive catering rate regardless of affiliation for political events. He considers it an advertising cost.
- And it's been a remarkably good business decision.
- "It's odd for a week to go by without us doing at least one type of political event," Cvitanovich says.
Behind the scenes: Cvitanovich is a Republican, but says hosting Biden remains "the coolest thing I've ever gotten to do."
- That happened because another friend, former Rep. Cedric Richmond, called Cvitanovich the morning of Biden's August 2024 visit, saying: "I'm about to f— up your day,'" the restaurateur recalls.
- "I didn't waste a second. I said, 'Dude, if you wanna f— up my day, get in line.' And his response was, 'How about I bring the president for dinner?' And I told him, 'I'll move you up to the front of the line then.'"
- That night, Cvitanovich says, he met Biden. "I got to walk the president another 10 or 15 feet [to] my mother, who's an immigrant born in war-torn Yugoslavia … and I say, 'Mom, meet President Joe Biden.'"
Between the lines: Cvitanovich likes to think Louisiana "does a better job with politics" than most, and maybe that's because "we can break bread together."
- "We got our characters," he says. "People are going to go out of their way to make a point, but most of the time they do it with respect for the other side."