Choosing which Abita brew to drink is hard enough for bar-goers, and the decision will get even harder when Pelican House brings nearly 300 beer choices to Baton Rouge.
Pelican House is a new restaurant and bar located on Citiplace Court. Its tentative opening date is set for April 5.
In addition to 286 different beers, the bar will also offer 170 different whiskeys and have a more upscale version of a bar menu with offerings such as a twist on Boofries, frog legs, and other food pairings with a Louisiana flair.
Pelican House’s masterminds Chris Juge and Garrett Morgan worked together for years in various bars, and the idea to open their own was planted over late-night conversations after work. They have had a taste for exotic spirits and drinks since the beginning, so opening a bar together seemed like the next logical step.
Almost every person involved in Pelican House has attended the University for at least some time during their college careers.
“This is a bar for bartenders, created by bartenders,” Juge said. “We’ve all worked in numerous bars for many years. We know what works and what doesn’t work, and have combined all of these things into Pelican House.”
A draw of Pelican House will be the 2,800-square-foot courtyard. It will seat 85 people with six shaded trees, two fountains and a fireplace.
“We wanted this bar to be a transformer. We can use it to accommodate for everyone’s needs,” explained Juge. “We can turn into a music venue, a sports bar — it is extremely versatile.”
The Pelican House interior is reminiscent of the historical districts of Southern Louisiana. There is an emphasis on staying true to Southern culture and décor, but they strived to keep an emphasis on Louisiana. There is also a 50-year-old Louisiana pine adorning the interior of Pelican House.
“I’m really excited about a new bar coming into town,” said finance senior Brennan Baldridge. “It’ll be nice to get away from Tigerland and I can’t wait to try a lot of the beers on tap. I really see this bar becoming a destination spot.”
“We wanted this bar to be a transformer. We can use it to accommodate for everyone’s needs. It can turn into a music venue, a sports bar, it is very versatile.”
