Far from Tigerland, nestled on Kalurah Street, just off of Perkins Road, under the I-10 overpass, sits an unassuming bar.
This bar boasts a slew of late twenties to early seventies regulars and the obligatory college wanderers in search of drink specials and a place to socialize.
But Duvic’s is different from the other beer-swilling joints near campus.
“We’re not a traditional bar,” said Tammy Duvic, owner. “We’re more of a grown-up atmosphere.”
Duvic’s, however, is probably known more for its extensive martini menu.
Duvic said the bar started out as a martini bar, but also specializes in fine liquors, cocktails and affordable wine selection for people who want to enjoy wine on a budget.
But the hook of Duvic’s will always be the martinis. Both Duvic and bartender Erin Kelley said that the most popular drinks are dirty martinis and chocolate martinis.
“People come here for our martinis,” Kelley said.
Kelley also credits the popularity and the quality of the martinis at Duvic’s to the extensive training bartenders must go through.
Kelley said the bartenders train for three days so they all mix the martinis the same way.
“[The recipes] are followed,” Kelley said. “Consistency is why everyone comes back here.”
Duvic also said they have invented many martinis behind the bar. From the Cajun Martini with a shot of Tabasco to the French Kiss with Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, Duvic’s also sells plenty of their specialty martinis.
Duvic said they are constantly adding martinis to the menu.
She said when the bar first opened about eight years ago, they only had a few martinis on the menu. The regulars would know what was offered and would not need a menu.
But, as word got out and people started coming in based on the buzz, a comprehensive menu was needed.
Duvic said that with the addition of so many new and different kinds of martinis, they have become a lot like the Chimes is to beer.
In fact, some people are even doing an “Around the World” tour with all the different types of martinis. Kelley said the martinis ordered fluctuate with the seasons – unlike the bars in Tigerland, Duvic’s does not experience a steep drop in business between semesters, according to Duvic.
Kelley said in the summer, for example, people order more of the fruity martinis, such as the Lemon Drop, their sour, lemon flavored martini.
Kelley also said the Chocolate Martini is one of their most popular drinks, no matter what the season, and is preferred by women.
The idea of fruity and chocolatey martinis being “girly drinks” may be slowly but surely changing, however.
Duvic said a lot more men in the bar are ordering the so-called “girl drinks.”
“You would think guys wouldn’t be drinking the fruity or chocolate or French Kiss martinis … but I have a lot of guys who dig it.”
Duvic also said as of late, martini sales are even higher. She credits the jump in martini sales to the increase in New Orleans evacuees in Baton Rouge since the hurricanes.
Duvic said several martini bars have started in Baton Rouge, but Duvic’s is doing very well.
With martinis becoming more popular, all Duvic’s has had to do is keep doing what they were doing – providing quality, consistent martinis and a friendly bar atmosphere.
“We never tried to change to fit the crowd,” Duvic said.
Contact Zachary Broussard at [email protected]