Dinner, Drinks, Tales and (Potentially) Spirits
Café Vermillionville, Lafayette, La., Gaines Ridge Dinner Club in Camden, Ala., Pirate's House in Savannah, Ga., Country Squire Restaurant, Inn & Winery in Kenansville, N.C., and Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, Ky., are some of the restaurants where spirits aren't just the bottled type poured into glasses to consume. On occasion, owners, staff, and, at times, guests have recounted shenanigans and mysterious happenings from the departed-but-never-left who want to make their presence known.
Haunted restaurants, much like haunted hotels, are prevalent in the South. While many "spirit-friendly" restaurants are stops along ghost walks, some invite you to dine with their resident ghost(s) and learn more about their history, hauntings and more.
• At the Emily Morgan Hotel, The Official Hotel of The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, Bad Wolf Ghost Tours and Occult Shop host The Haunted Dinner Tours, which include a three-course dinner and tour focusing on the history and hauntings of the property and other nearby locations.
Check in at 6:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday. $75 per person.
• There are stories and upon stories of hauntings in nearly every nook and cranny of New Orleans' French Quarter. One, in particular, is at Muriel's Jackson Square, which hosts a handful of spirits, but there is one apparition to which the restaurant extends its hospitality.
A set table for two, complete with bread and wine, awaits Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, a former owner of the house, now the restaurant, who lost a poker game and subsequently took his own life on the property. With reservations, you can claim the second seat.
And while you are at Muriel, check out the Seance Lounge on the second floor, where it is believed Mr. Jourdan spent most of his time while he was among the living.
Dinner, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 5:00 - 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Bar, 3:00–9:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 3:00-10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. To dine with Mr. Jourdan, contact the restaurant at 504-568-1885 to discuss.
-- "Dinner with the Spirits" at Glenfield in Natchez, Miss., features a three-course meal and eerie tales. Hear stories passed down from generations, while learning about the property's paranormal occurrences and more.
Dinner is every evening at 6:30 p.m.; reservations are preferred; however, same-day bookings are available. $89 per person.
-- In Memphis, Tenn., what becomes of a former church, dry goods store and pharmacy (where the owner happened to create Copperstone suntan lotion), a salon run by two cousins, a cafe, jazz club and brothel?
Obviously, turn it into a dive bar.
Earnestine and Hazel's (named after the two cousins) is said to be one of the country's most haunted bars and remains a popular haunt (pun intended) for celebrities, musicians and those wanting to order the Soul Burger, listen to live music and soak in the overall vibe.
It's also known for unexplained happenings, such as a haunted jukebox that plays songs at random times, reports of a piano playing by itself, faces appearing in photos when taken in certain rooms and more.
5:00 p.m. - 3:00 a .m., Wednesday -Sunday
-- It's the age-old question: what type of wine pairs well with ghost stories? If you find out, let us know. In the meantime, Dahlonega Walking Tours in Georgia offers the "Grapes and Ghosts Wine Tour," a two-hour tour that guides you to tasting rooms where you can sample local wines and hear haunting tales about them.
5:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday; open to ages 21 and older; $32 per participant (does not include alcohol); $27 for designated driver.
-- Monticello, Fla., a little over 20 miles east of Tallahassee, is considered the South's most haunted small town. In addition to year-round tours led by Historic Monticello Ghost Tours, The Daffodale House (ca. 1897) presents "Dinner and Stories," an hour-long, three-course meal accompanied by tales about the property's history and hauntings, which are said to be extremely active.
Call the property at 850-997-1111 for dates and times and to make reservations. $60 per person.
-- A New York Strip and spirits? And no, we aren't talking about two glasses of bourbon at Ruth's Chris Steakhousein Midlothian, Va., either.
Located within the historic Bellgrade Manor House, the restaurant's menu is accompanied by two restless ghosts who can't let go of Bellgrade. There have been reported sightings in the gardens, whispering and more.
Happy Hour, 4 - 6:30 p.m., Tuesday - Friday; Dinner, 5 - 9 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday, 4 - 9 p.m., Friday -Sunday.
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