Family brings Louisiana Creole traditions to Columbus’ King-Lincoln district
Chef Henry Butcher Sr. and his family have brought Louisiana Creole traditions to Columbus since 2006. Now based on East Long Street, Creole Kitchen continues to serve classic dishes while contributing to the King-Lincoln Bronzeville community.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For nearly two decades, Chef Henry Butcher Sr. and his family have served Louisiana-inspired Creole cooking in Columbus, building a restaurant around recipes, skills and traditions passed through generations.
Chef Butcher was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and moved to Columbus as a teenager. He spent more than 40 years cooking in central Ohio, including at Ollie’s Grandview Inn and Tony’s Ristorante and as executive chef at the Delaware Hotel. In 2006, he opened Creole Kitchen with his children. His daughter Antoinette Parks became the company’s CEO, while Tonya Butcher took a leading role in the kitchen and Henry Butcher Jr., known as “June,” learned from his father.
The family’s menu draws on Creole and Cajun cooking, with dishes such as jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish étouffée, po’ boys and beignets. The restaurant also sells Chef Butcher’s Creole seasoning, a blend he says he developed in 1994.
Creole Kitchen opened on Mount Vernon Avenue and later added a dining room to its carryout operation. After closing that location in April 2024, the family moved the restaurant about a half-mile to 795 E. Long St., in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville district. The move took years of planning; restaurant officials told Columbus Underground that higher construction and supply costs delayed the project. The restaurant’s website now lists the Long Street address and offers dine-in, takeout and delivery.
The relocation also carries significance for the historic district, where Creole Kitchen is among the family-run businesses continuing a legacy of Black-owned businesses. The restaurant was selected for Fifth Third Bank’s Empowering Black Futures Capital Readiness Program and received $5,300 in grant funding, according to ABC 6.
The restaurant has received local media attention and tourism recognition. Experience Columbus has described Creole Kitchen as the city’s longest-running Creole and Cajun restaurant, and local outlets including Columbus Underground and 614NOW have profiled the family and its food. The restaurant’s press page highlights media coverage and customer reviews; it does not list a specific culinary award.
Customer testimonials posted on the restaurant’s website praise the food and service. One reviewer, identified as Ish, called the restaurant “absolutely phenomenal” and praised the jambalaya and staff. Other posted reviews single out the beignets, breakfast and gumbo.
The family also says it gives back through meal service for people experiencing homelessness, church events and partnerships with central Ohio nonprofits.
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