Catahoula Brings Cajun Crawfish Boils and Sazeracs to Navy Yard

Catahoula, a Cajun and Creole restaurant from owners Thomas Malz and Rachel Sergi, is opening at 79 Potomac Ave SE in the Navy Yard neighborhood in May 2026. The new restaurant will bring crawfish boils and classic New Orleans cocktails such as the Sazerac to a space that overlooks the Anacostia River.

The proprietors chose the site after noticing five bald cypress trees planted outside the property, a detail they say echoed bayou landscapes and fit the restaurant's concept. The venue's water views and riverside location are part of the pitch to neighbors and workers in the rapidly changing Navy Yard corridor.

Menu and concept

Catahoula positions itself as a neighborhood-focused Cajun and Creole kitchen. The owners have highlighted crawfish boils and Sazeracs among the offerings, signaling a menu built on Louisiana-style communal meals and New Orleans-style cocktails. Menu specifics including full dishes, pricing, and service hours were not detailed in the reporting.

Space and neighborhood fit

The restaurant occupies a ground-floor space on Potomac Avenue SE with views toward the Anacostia River. The choice of Navy Yard situates Catahoula amid a stretch of waterfront dining and mixed-use development that has reshaped foot traffic and nightlife patterns in recent years. Owners have emphasized the site's landscaping features—the planted bald cypress trees—as part of the restaurant's ambiance.

Catahoula adds to a wave of new openings along the waterfront and in nearby blocks that target both local residents and daytime office populations. The location and concept aim to attract diners seeking communal seafood service and cocktail-driven evenings.

Ownership and background

Thomas Malz and Rachel Sergi are named as the founders behind Catahoula. The pair selected the Potomac Avenue space for its river outlook and the exterior cypress plantings that complemented their Louisiana-influenced design concept. Further operational details, including capacity, staffing, and exact opening events, were not available in the initial coverage.

Watch for menu rollouts, opening-week events, and final service details as the restaurant finalizes its schedule. The team has framed Catahoula as a neighborhood addition that leans into communal dining traditions and waterfront ambiance.