800 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005, USA
For generations of Louisiana residents, especially those in Metairie and the greater New Orleans area, Dorignac's Food Center isn't just a grocery store; it's an institution. This family-owned and operated establishment has been serving the community for over 75 years, building a reputation as a place where you can find virtually anything on your grocery list, from everyday staples to hard-to-find specialty items and beloved local flavors. It embodies a unique blend of traditional grocery store charm and a vast, modern selection, making it a true culinary hub for the region.
What sets Dorignac's apart is its commitment to offering an extensive product line, ensuring that if it's offered in a grocery store, you're likely to find it here. This includes a wide array of fresh produce, quality meats, and a bakery that's become a local favorite. Beyond the everyday, Dorignac's is particularly celebrated for its prepared food sections, which offer convenient and delicious options for busy families, as well as its impressive selection of spirits, beer, and wine.
The longevity of Dorignac's speaks volumes about its place in the community. It has adapted and evolved while maintaining its core values of quality, variety, and personalized service. For many Louisiana locals, a trip to Dorignac's is more than just grocery shopping; it's a cherished experience, often reminding them of family traditions and the unique culinary heritage of the region. As one long-time customer noted, it’s a store that truly understands its brand and consistent quality products and service.
Dorignac's Food Center is ideally situated in Metairie, making it a convenient and easily accessible destination for residents across the New Orleans metropolitan area and surrounding parts of Louisiana. You can find this iconic grocery store at 710 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70005, USA.
Veterans Memorial Boulevard is a major and highly trafficked road, ensuring that the store is straightforward to reach from various neighborhoods. Its location within Metairie's bustling commercial corridor means that ample parking is typically available, a crucial convenience for a grocery store where shoppers often make large purchases. Whether you're coming from New Orleans proper, Kenner, or other nearby communities, reaching Dorignac's is a relatively simple drive, allowing for efficient shopping trips. This ease of access contributes significantly to its status as a beloved local institution.
Dorignac's Food Center offers a comprehensive range of products and services, going beyond a typical grocery store to cater to diverse culinary and household needs. Their extensive offerings include:
- Full-Service Grocery: A vast selection of fresh produce, quality meats (including a notable meat selection), dairy products, frozen foods, and pantry staples.
- Extensive Prepared Foods Section: A highly regarded department offering a wide variety of freshly prepared meals, deli items, salads, and ready-to-eat options, perfect for quick lunches or family dinners.
- In-House Bakery: A prominent bakery at the front of the store, renowned for its fresh bread (including French bread), pastries, custom cakes (including wedding cakes), doughnuts, and traditional Louisiana King Cakes, especially during Carnival season. They even have a Kosher bakery section.
- Large Wine, Beer, and Spirits Selection: An extensive liquor department featuring a wide array of wines, local and international beers, and spirits, often at competitive prices compared to specialized liquor stores.
- Specialty & Local Items: A unique highlight is their focus on regional specialties and hard-to-find local Louisiana items, such as Creole cream cheese, crawfish pie, frog legs, gumbo, catfish, olive salad for muffulettas, Cajun Crawtator potato chips, local yogurts, hot pickled okra, Louisiana pecans, Camellia brand red beans, Union coffee and chicory, and turduckens during Thanksgiving. They pride themselves on offering products for various cultures and holidays.
- Deli & Cheese Shop: A well-stocked deli with a variety of sliced meats, cheeses (including special orders for hard-to-find cheeses), and cold cuts.
- Catering Services: A full-service catering department offering a variety of platters made to order, suitable for business meetings, tailgates, holiday celebrations, and gatherings of all sizes. This includes mini muffulettas, fruit & cheese platters, finger sandwiches, and French pastry platters.
- Floral Department: Offering fresh flowers and arrangements for various occasions.
- Gift Cards: Available for purchase, making it a convenient gift option for fellow food enthusiasts.
- Breakfast Cafe: A diner-style breakfast cafe offering meals at very reasonable prices, noted as a "hidden gem" by customers.
- Customer Service: Known for friendly and helpful staff across departments, assisting with specific product searches and orders, as highlighted by a customer who ordered graded cheese ahead of time.
Dorignac's Food Center in Metairie stands out with several distinctive features and highlights that solidify its position as a beloved local grocery store in Louisiana:
- Family-Owned Tradition (75+ Years): The fact that Dorignac's has been a family-owned grocery store for over 75 years (now operated by 4th generation family members) is a significant highlight, fostering a sense of community trust and continuity that is rare in today's retail landscape. This deep history contributes to its status as a local institution.
- Extensive and Diverse Product Line: Customers consistently praise the sheer volume and variety of items available. "If there is anything offered in a grocery store you are likely to find it here. There seems to be an extensive product line on the shelves," notes one reviewer. This includes both everyday groceries and a remarkable selection of specialty and international items.
- Exceptional Prepared Foods and Bakery: The "quite good" prepared food sections and the renowned in-house bakery are major draws. From fresh French bread and custom cakes to ready-made meals, these departments offer convenience and quality that many locals rely on. The King Cake selection during Carnival is particularly popular.
- Large and Diverse Spirits, Beer, and Wine Selection: Their extensive liquor department is a standout feature, offering a wide range of options from everyday choices to specialty European wines and champagnes, as well as a good selection of local and craft beers. Prices are often comparable or cheaper than dedicated liquor stores.
- Focus on Local and Regional Specialties: Dorignac's takes pride in stocking unique Louisiana items, including specific local produce, Cajun and Creole ingredients, and products from local dairies and coffee companies. This commitment to local flavor resonates strongly with Louisiana residents.
- High-Quality Customer Service: Despite its size, Dorignac's maintains a reputation for excellent customer service. Reviewers highlight the "friendly and helpful staff," who are willing to go "the extra mile" to assist customers, from special orders (like graded cheese) to recommendations in the bakery.
- Clean and Well-Stocked Environment: Multiple reviews commend the store for being "clean inside and outside" and "well stocked," contributing to a pleasant and efficient shopping experience.
- Community Engagement: As evidenced by their 70th-anniversary celebration, which featured a "huge wine tasting and sampling of their freshly prepared items," Dorignac's engages with its community, creating memorable experiences for its patrons.
Dorignac's Food Center, while known for its everyday selection and quality, also regularly features promotions and special offers to provide additional value to its Louisiana customers. These promotions typically include:
- Weekly Specials: Dorignac's publishes weekly circulars or ads highlighting discounted items across various departments, including groceries, meats, produce, and sometimes specialty items. These can often be found in-store or through online platforms like Flipp.
- Seasonal Promotions: The store offers special deals tied to holidays and seasons, such as sales on turkeys and hams around Thanksgiving and Christmas, or specific ingredients for seasonal Louisiana dishes.
- Catering Menu Deals: While not always "promotions" in the discount sense, their catering menus offer pre-designed platters and meal solutions that often provide cost-effectiveness for feeding groups for parties or events. They also release special holiday catering menus.
- In-Store Sampling and Events: As highlighted by a customer's experience at their 70th anniversary, Dorignac's occasionally hosts in-store tasting events, wine samplings, and product demonstrations, offering customers opportunities to try new items or enjoy special experiences.
- Gift Cards: While not a discount, the availability of gift cards provides a convenient way to share the Dorignac's experience with others, allowing recipients to choose their preferred items or services.
For the most current promotions and weekly specials, Louisiana residents are encouraged to check the "Weekly Specials" section on Dorignac's official website or browse their flyers on digital platforms like Flipp. Visiting the store in person also allows shoppers to discover in-store deals and new product arrivals.
For those looking to connect with Dorignac's Food Center in Metairie, Louisiana, for inquiries, store hours, catering orders, or to confirm specific product availability, here is the essential contact information:
Address: 710 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70005, USA
Phone: (504) 834-8216
Their mobile phone number, +1 504-834-8216, is the same direct line to the store. For catering inquiries, specifically, you can also reach them via email at catering@dorignacs.com or visit their catering desk located next to the Floral Department.
For Louisiana residents, particularly those in Metairie and the wider New Orleans metropolitan area, Dorignac's Food Center is not just a suitable grocery store; it is an invaluable local treasure. Its over 75 years of family-owned operation have ingrained it deeply into the community's fabric, offering a sense of tradition and reliability that larger chains often lack.
The store's remarkable breadth of inventory, which ranges from everyday groceries to an extensive selection of local Louisiana specialties and hard-to-find items, makes it a true one-stop shop for diverse culinary needs. The highly praised prepared foods, the beloved in-house bakery (especially for King Cakes), and the comprehensive wine and spirits department further enhance its appeal, providing convenience and quality that resonate with the local palate.
Furthermore, Dorignac's commitment to exceptional customer service, where staff members are genuinely helpful and willing to go the extra mile for special requests, fosters a pleasant and welcoming shopping environment. This personalized touch, combined with a consistently clean and well-stocked store, ensures that every visit is efficient and enjoyable. For any Louisiana local seeking a grocery store that combines tradition with extensive selection and top-tier service, Dorignac's Food Center stands as a truly indispensable culinary destination.