Fharmacy was a tiny restaurant that had a large follow for its spicy wings, deli sandwiches, mussels and most of all the burgers. Its closure around this time last year brought howls of dread from the Fharmacy faithful.
Now, though a few items from its menu are making a comeback, at least for a limited time.
Fharmacy founder Nhat Nguyen is now working at his brother's restaurant Pho Parish in Chalmette.
All this week, starting Dec. 18 through Dec. 24, he’ll be cooking two of his most popular burgers (note: Pho Parish is closed on Tuesdays).
The namesake "Fharmacy burger" from Fharmacy restaurant, topped with giardiniera, bacon jam and provolone. (File photo by Todd Price, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
He'll be making the Fharmacy burger with giardiniera, bacon jam and provolone, and the Dr. Tan burger with grilled jalapeños and onions, bacon, pepper jack and slaw.
He'll also have a hot sausage sandwich in the mix.
Nguyen said he plans to cook about 30 burgers a day, so this is a limited run.
After this week, he plans to make the burgers as a special on the first Wednesday of each month, starting in January.
Pho Parish opened over the summer with a traditional Vietnamese menu of soups, vermicelli rice noodle bowls, and bánh mi sandwiches.
Fharmacy occupies an old shotgun house on Banks Street, close to the courthouse and the VA medical complex. (Advocate staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Fharmacy was a much different restaurant. Nguyen blended in some Vietnamese influences, but mostly it was about American comfort food done very well.
It opened in 2016 at the end of Banks Street by the new hospitals, just as those huge complexes were being completed.
Built in an old shotgun house, Fharmacy has the contours of a diner and an eclectic menu. (Advocate staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
In the pandemic though, the stress of trying to keep the small restaurant running was causing health problems that convinced Nguyen he had to step away from the business.
While it’s possible other dishes from the Fharmacy repertoire could make guest appearances at Pho Parish, Nguyen said he has no plans to reopen his former restaurant.
Pho Parish
113 E. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, 504-264-7333
Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wed. through Mon. (closed Tue.)
