Fans of Creole and Cajun cuisine don’t have to drive to New Orleans anymore. Now they can get it right here in Atmore.

Patricia Keefer is the owner of The Parish Grill, a new restaurant located at 122 S. Main St. in downtown.

Keefer said she remembers coming to Gerlach’s in the past, when it was operating in that location. When the building became available, she jumped at the opportunity to run her own restaurant there.

“This building is perfect for the atmosphere I’m trying to create,” she said. “A friend and I were visiting Atmore a few months ago and I saw the space was open. I love the quaint small town feel to downtown Atmore, and think it’s a great place for a restaurant like this.”

The Parish Grill is currently open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting Friday, Aug. 22, the restaurant will also be open for dinner on Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Keefer has two culinary degrees and is an on-call chef at the Marriott in Mobile, and has also owned restaurants of her own before. She officially opened Monday, Aug. 11, but plans a more elaborate grand opening and ribbon cutting sometime in September.

She currently has about eight employees, including her two daughters, but plans to increase her staff when the dinner hours begin.

Keefer said she has always enjoyed eating and cooking Creole-style food, and is excited to bring it to Atmore.

“It’s comfort food for me,” she said. “I enjoy cooking it. Everyone has been very gracious and supportive so far. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Some of the items on The Parish Grill’s lunch menu include po boys, muffuletta sandwiches and chicken-and-sausage gumbo.

For more information, call The Parish Grill at (251) 321-0093.