Like most entrepreneurs Chef Jeff's accession to business owner, started with a dream long ago and after 35 years in the restaurant and hospitality business. "I took “a leap of faith” on a desire to utilize God’s gifts bestowed on me" says Chef. Through prayer, hard work, and the love and support of his family, Heard Dat Kitchen was launched, on March 1, 2015.
Chef Jeff and family opened Heard Dat Kitchen (HDK) over 6 years ago with meals created at the intersection of home cooking and fine dining. HDK’s concept is serving gourmet food to go.. A dream Jeffery had since his childhood years. Jeffery is the second son out of 6 boys. Warner and Audrey Heard would have been so proud to see him make his dream come true. Chef Jeff’s passion for food developed as an adolescent watching his mother prepare meals for the family. He says, “I would hang out in the kitchen, because I wanted to get my fair share before my brothers!” Featured in the local Times Picayune multiple times, Food and wine magazine, New Orleans Magazine,, NY Times and San Francisco Chronicle, HDK was named “best fried chicken” by Yelp in 2020. Fueled by customer’s reviews on Google, Yelp and Trip Advisor, HDK has been rated “best of the best” in NOLA. Years ago, a customer stated “I came up on the restaurant leery and unimpressed then walked out trying to find the right superlatives to describe my dining experience. I feel like stating it was the best meal I ever had was just not good enough.” As Chef I like to say “I’m in the business of building memories, one delicious bite at a time.” Our establishment has a casual dining atmosphere with outdoor seating. Authentic New Orleans cuisine prepared daily with consistency and precision. Chef Jeff is dedicated to creating culinary classics with a “Heard Dat” twist. HDK strives to exceed expectations as well as making memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Coined phrases that our guests know and love are “Heard Dat”, “gourmet2geaux”, and “take hearddat home”. Future goals and aspirations are to have the pleasure of our number 1 dish “ Dat Superdome” being sold at every Saints home game! We are working on bringing you all your favorite dishes to a new location, with an expanded venue, menu and more of that Heard Dat Kitchen flabor you love!
