Megan Wyatt

mbwyatt@theadvertiser.com

A favorite Lafayette restaurant is saying goodbye to its customers forever on Valentine's Day.

Jolie's Louisiana Bistro will close its doors after service Feb. 14 after a seven-year run in Lafayette.

The sister restaurant to Blue Dog Cafe, Jolie's served upscale takes on local favorites in a New Orleans-inspired dining room.

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Chelsie Lovell Doucet, the restaurant's general manager, says the downturn of the local, oil field-reliant economy is the primary reason for the closure.

"It's going to be sad for a lot of people, I'm afraid," Doucet said. "As sad as it is, we want to have a party instead of a funeral."

Instead of focusing on keeping the niche, upscale restaurant alive, the restaurant owners have decided to expand on the Blue Dog Cafe brand. A second location of Blue Dog opened at the end of 2015 in Lake Charles, which is seeing an economic boom.

Jolie's is named for George Rodrigue's 1974 Jolie Blonde -- or pretty blonde -- painting. The restaurant showcased some of the famed New Iberia artist's earlier works. Blue Dog Cafe showcases Rodrigue's blue dog paintings, which he first created in 1984.

The restaurant is known for far more than its elegant, artistic atmosphere. It's also been recognized on a local and national level for the cuisine.

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In 2012, a dining experience at Jolie's is one reason Rand McNally named Lafayette Best for Food. Former executive chef Manny Augello was invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York City the same year.

In 2014, Jolie's was featured on an episode of National Geographic Channel's Eric Greenspan is Hungry and on an episode of Cooking Channel's Chuck's Eat the Street.

"We got to experience things that don't come along very often," Doucet says. "We definitely want to remember the good times we had."

The culinary team is currently led by executive chef Gregory Doucet and the mixologist team by bar manager Chadwick Crawford.

The staff reacted as well as Doucet could have hoped when she delivered the news.

"They're all going to stay with us until the very end," Doucet said. "They were hugging, high-fiving, coming together. We don't have a large staff. They've all been with us for a really long time.

"It is what it is, but we're going to go out with our heads high and show people all the things they've loved about us through the years."

Many who once worked at Jolie's have gone on to make names for themselves at other restaurants, including Manny Augello, who now operates Bread & Circus Provisions; Nick Glenn and Reubin Sandberg, who operate a food trailer called Live Action Deli; and Paul Krato, executive chef of DeGaulle Square Bistro & Bar.

Jolie's will be open a few days more for Mardi Gras revelers and Valentine's Day dates.

"We wanted to give people a little time to come in and enjoy it one last time," Doucet said. "So many people have been coming here for such a long time. We didn't want people to come and the doors be locked. We wanted to give people a little time to enjoy one last martini or whatever."

Doucet started working at the restaurant in October 2008, a month before the doors opened to the public. She told the delivery guys where to put the sink and how the tables should be arranged.

"It's sad to see something you've seen and built for so long go," she said. "I hate to forget about all the great things we did and all the great people we've had through here."

Those who have gift cards to Jolie's can use the gift card before the restaurant closes or redeem the gift card at Blue Dog Cafe after the restaurant closes on Valentine's Day.

Jolie's Louisiana Bistro is located at 507 W. Pinhook Road.

Valentine's Day reservations are now full, but reservations are available other days before the closing. Make a reservation or learn more about the restaurant by visiting jolieslouisianabistro.com or by calling 337-706-8544.

UPDATE: Why is Pete's closed yet again?