Camellia Grill

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Camellia Grill is a famous, casual diner in the Carrollton area of Uptown New Orleans. It opened on December 19, 1946, and sits at 626 South Carrollton Avenue near St. Charles Avenue and the streetcar line. The dining room is mostly counter service with 29 stools, and there’s outdoor seating when available. The menu features hearty North American favorites like giant omelets, cheeseburgers, freezes (frozen drinks), and pecan pie heated on the grill. The restaurant is known for its friendly, talkative staff and long-time waiters; the most famous was Harry Tervalon, Sr., who started in 1946 and helped reopen after Hurricane Katrina in 2007.

In 2006, local restaurateur Hicham Khodr bought Camellia Grill. The restaurant closed after Katrina and reopened in April 2007 under Khodr. During the closure, locals left hundreds of notes on the door. Khodr faced legal disputes over the name, but by 2015 he was allowed to keep using the Camellia Grill name and logo. Khodr later opened two other branches (now closed) in the French Quarter and Destin, Florida. Today, Camellia Grill remains a beloved New Orleans landmark.