Old Metairie’s newest restaurant will be built upon old experiences passed down for generations. TANA is the latest concept from award-winning Executive Chef Michael Gulotta, who already oversees Mopho and Maypop in the New Orleans area. Gulotta is teaming up with longtime friend and business partner Jeff Bybee to introduce a dining experience on Metairie Road akin to something one may find in bustling major cities.
“TANA will fill a void here,” Gulotta says. “This concept is something we’ve wanted to try for a long time.”
TANA will encompass more than 5,000 square feet and feature an upscale Italian restaurant, vibrant lounge with a 16-seat bar, a premium level of service and delectable Sicilian dishes drawn from recipes Gulotta’s great-grandmother, Gaetana (nicknamed Tana), made family-famous years ago.
“Her dishes were amazing,” Gulotta says. “When a passion for food mixes with generations-old Sicilian recipes, the result is an experience you will tell your friends about.”
Gulotta, who has appeared several times on NBC’s Today show, has been named one of Top 30 Chefs to Watch in the nation by Plate Magazine, a New Orleans Rising Star by StarChefs, a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine and Chef of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. He was a finalist for The James Beard Awards Best Chef South in 2020.
Jeff Bybee is a New Orleans native who, like Gulotta, attended Brother Martin High School and has worked with him for the past 20 years. He has been the operating partner at Mopho and Maypop for the past eight years and also spent time at Tony Angelo’s and Irene’s.
“We are very excited to bring this concept to Old Metairie,” Bybee says. “TANA will be one of the better restaurants in this area and similar to something you’d find in Miami, Chicago or New York, but with Old Metairie ambiance. It will truly be a dining experience to remember.”
Other features will include a rolling pasta station visible from Metairie Road, a glass dining area that allows guests to peer into the kitchen and seating for 30 on the outdoor patio.
TANA ownership includes Gulotta and Bybee, as well as businessmen Gabe Corchiani and Christopher Keene. Construction is underway and the restaurant is slated to open at 2929 Metairie Road in the first quarter of 2023.
