No. 129
Robert LeBlanc:
Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future of New Orleans
The Banter
The Guys talk about an unusual cooking appliance and how long is too long to keep snails in your pantry.
The Conversation
The Restaurant Guys finally catch up with Robert LeBlanc, hotelier and restaurateur. They talk about camaraderie within the restaurant community and how that enhances the experience for all involved. The love of hospitality often goes back to their roots of family and experienced restaurateurs before them and that’s how they navigate the inevitable challenges of the industry.
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THIS EPISODE IS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
WITHUM IS A NATIONALLY RANKED ADVISORY AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM PROVIDING TO BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS ON A LOCAL-TO-GLOBAL SCALE
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ESCAPE TO THE HELDRICH HOTEL, A LUXURIOUS HOTEL IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN NEW BRUNSWICK. A PLACE WITH INDEPENDENT SPIRIT THAT GIVES YOU A GREAT STORY TO TELL WHEN YOU RETURN HOME.
Robert LeBlanc
Robert LeBlanc has built some of New Orleans’ most talked-about spots. His hospitality group, LeBlanc+Smith, is behind Sylvain, the French Quarter bistro that helped redefine cool dining in the city; Barrel Proof, a whiskey bar; and The Chloe, an Uptown boutique hotel where the poolside cocktails are as photogenic as the architecture.
He’s also opened The Celestine, a French Quarter stunner with the cocktail bar Peychaud’s, plus neighborhood hangouts like Anna’s and The Will & The Way—each with its own personality.
THE INSIDE TRACK
The Guys and Robert find common ground in how they lead their teams—training staff to share their own enthusiasm and create genuine connections with guests.
"Mark: As I said to the team yesterday, pick something that you are just absolutely passionate about and talk to the customers about that and tell it from your heart and tell it from who you are and tell it from your perspective of why you like it.
Nothing's more powerful than that.
Robert: We have a value built on that. It’s called, “Do cool shit and stay humble.”
Robert LeBlanc on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025
Kim Haasarud & Jeanne Kelley: Sangria and Blue Eggs
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