The dynamic indoor-outdoor restaurant, bar, beer garden and live music venue at Echo Street West has welcomed its new head chef. New Orleans native George Lopez joins Westside Motor Lounge after stints with award-winning NOLA restaurants including Michael Gulotta’s Maypop and Mopho, John Besh Steakhouse as well as local favorites Lazy Betty, a mano, Bon Ton and his own pop-up concept, nola goods. Lopez’s first order of business includes enhancements to the current menu, with brand new dishes rolling out soon. 

“It's important that our guests feel the love, respect and passion that goes into the food we serve,” said Kelly Campbell, partner at STHRN Hospitality Co. “George’s diverse background, affinity for flavor and experience working with renowned chefs will help set Westside Motor Lounge apart as the culinary destination we strive to be.”

Lopez credits his cooking style to his Hondurian and African American heritage and his New Orleans roots. He began his culinary career in New Orleans where he worked along prolific teachers such as Besh and Gulotta. He studied modern and classic techniques as well as southeast asian cuisine and classic cajun cooking. After Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans in 2021, Lopez evacuated to Atlanta where he joined the Lazy Betty team, provided consulting to other restaurants and also hosted pop-up dinners around the city. His pop-up, nola goods, will stay alive at Westside Motor Lounge, along with other pop-up concepts from around the city.

“When people think of New Orleans food, they think of crawfish and gumbo but in reality, it's much more complex,” said Lopez. “New Orleans food is a melting pot of cultures, and I plan to bring a variety of new flavors from across the globe to the Westside Motor Lounge menu.”

For more information about Westside Motor Lounge and its happenings, follow @Westside_Motor_Lounge on Instagram or visit www.westsidemotorlounge.com. For the latest news, project updates and more, follow @EchoStreetWest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit www.echostreetwest.com.