How Many Restaurants Does Nina Compton Have?

Nina Compton Restaurants: Key Takeaways

Nina Compton owns and operates 3 restaurants, all located in New Orleans, Louisiana, as of 2025.
Her restaurant portfolio does not currently include Michelin-starred venues, but features acclaimed Caribbean-inspired and Creole concepts.
Key concepts include Compère Lapin (casual fine dining), Bywater American Bistro (BABs) (casual dining), and Nina's Creole Cottage (quick-service).
She has expanded into Miami with a Compère Lapin residency at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, signaling growth beyond New Orleans.

Chef Nina Compton is a renowned culinary figure celebrated for blending Caribbean flavors with French and Italian influences. Her restaurant empire, while modest in size compared to some peers, is deeply rooted in authentic, vibrant cuisine.

This article explores how many restaurants Nina Compton owns, the concepts she operates in New Orleans, the absence of Michelin stars, and her unique ventures such as the Miami residency.

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Nina Compton Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count

Nina Compton owns and operates a total of 3 restaurants, all situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. These reflect her focus on authentic Caribbean and Creole-inspired cuisine in a range of formats from casual fine dining to quick-service.

While her primary presence remains concentrated in New Orleans—a city renowned for its rich culinary heritage—she has initiated expansion through a unique residency partnership in Miami, signaling interest in broader markets.

Region	Approx. Number of Restaurants	Notable Examples
United States (New Orleans)	3	Compère Lapin, Bywater American Bistro (BABs), Nina's Creole Cottage
United States (Miami)	1 (Residency)	Compère Lapin Residency at Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Total (Global)	3 owned + 1 residency	(New Orleans core with growing presence in Miami)

All of Nina Compton’s core restaurants reflect full ownership and operation rather than franchising or licensing arrangements. The residency in Miami is a notable international venture, but Nina retains full creative and operational control of her primary venues.

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Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants

As of 2025, Nina Compton does not have any restaurants awarded Michelin stars.

While recognized widely for her culinary skill and contributions to Caribbean cuisine, none of her establishments currently hold Michelin ratings. Her reputation is built more on authentic, approachable dining experiences rather than formal fine dining accolades.

No Michelin-starred restaurants in Nina Compton’s portfolio at this time.

For further context on Michelin star trends, see our restaurant Michelin stars statistics spotlight.

Notable Nina Compton Restaurant Concepts and Locations

Nina Compton’s restaurant concepts center around diverse expressions of Caribbean and Creole culinary traditions, adapted to different dining formats – from casual fine dining to quick-service.

Compère Lapin Restaurants

Compère Lapin is Nina’s signature restaurant, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Opened in 2014, it offers casual fine dining with a sophisticated take on Caribbean cuisine, fused with French and Italian influences.

The venue has become a beloved spot for elevated Caribbean flavors featuring fresh, local ingredients. The dishes reflect Chef Compton’s Saint Lucian heritage, providing a unique dining experience within the New Orleans culinary scene.

The restaurant’s price range of $30–$60 per person makes it accessible yet upscale. This flagship closely embodies Compton’s cooking philosophy and has earned critical acclaim.

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Bywater American Bistro (BABs)

Located also in New Orleans, Bywater American Bistro (commonly called BABs) serves casual dining with an emphasis on seasonal American ingredients, bridging local flavors with innovative preparations.

The bistro-style menu reflects a lighter, more casual approach compared to Compère Lapin, with price points between $25 and $50 per guest. Opened several years after Compère Lapin, BABs complements Nina Compton’s diversified portfolio and appeals to a different dining occasion.

Nina's Creole Cottage

For quick-service dining, Nina’s Creole Cottage offers a fast-casual take on classic Creole dishes. It caters to guests seeking authentic flavors at modest price points ranging from $15 to $30.

Positioned as an accessible and approachable concept, Nina’s Creole Cottage rounds out Compton’s brand by reaching a broader audience beyond fine dining patrons.

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All three New Orleans restaurants reinforce the chef’s deep connection to local ingredients, culture, and culinary heritage.

Unique International Ventures

In 2023, Nina Compton initiated a residency at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, bringing Compère Lapin’s signature style to a high-profile venue outside Louisiana.

This residency represents her growing footprint outside her home base and introduces her cuisine to a new international audience in Florida’s vibrant dining market.

While not a standalone restaurant, the Miami residency is an important strategic expansion and partnership with Four Seasons Hotel Miami, one of her notable collaborators alongside Harrah's Casino New Orleans.

Nina Compton Restaurant Empire: Conclusion

In summary, Chef Nina Compton owns and operates 3 main restaurants in New Orleans, with no Michelin-starred flagships to date. Her portfolio focuses on authentic Caribbean and Creole-inspired dining, ranging from casual fine dining at Compère Lapin to quick-service Creole at Nina's Creole Cottage.

Her expansion into Miami with a residency at the Four Seasons Hotel marks a strategic new phase, extending her culinary influence beyond Louisiana.

With a modest but well-curated collection of owned venues and key partnerships, Nina Compton’s restaurant empire is defined by quality, authenticity, and a deep connection to regional cuisine rather than large-scale franchising or Michelin recognition.

She remains a distinctive and admired figure in American and Caribbean culinary circles, with steady growth continuing in select markets.

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01. How involved is Nina Compton in day-to-day restaurant operations?

Nina Compton is highly involved in the creative direction and culinary standards of all her restaurants.

She collaborates closely with kitchen teams, designs menus, and guides the guest experience. While she may delegate some day-to-day management tasks to trusted executives, her presence remains integral to maintaining quality and authenticity.

02. Are Nina Compton’s restaurants expensive—and which ones offer the best value?

Nina Compton’s restaurants span price ranges from quick-service to casual fine dining.

Typical price ranges are:

Compère Lapin: $30–$60 per person, casual fine dining
Bywater American Bistro (BABs): $25–$50 per person, casual dining
Nina’s Creole Cottage: $15–$30 per person, quick service

For diners seeking elevated Caribbean cuisine, Compère Lapin offers excellent quality for its price, while Nina's Creole Cottage provides affordable, authentic options for casual meals.

03. How does Nina Compton choose new cities or countries for expansion?

Nina Compton’s expansion strategy emphasizes deep connection to the culinary culture, existing kitchen team, and opportunity for authentic representation.

Her recent move into Miami through a residency was influenced by the city’s vibrant food scene and Caribbean cultural ties.

Overall, choice of new locations balances market demand, partnership opportunities, and maintaining brand integrity.

04. Are Nina Compton restaurants sustainable or locally sourced?

Nina Compton prioritizes locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, particularly in her flagship restaurant Compère Lapin.

While her menus celebrate Caribbean and New Orleans regional produce, there is no formal certification for sustainability across all venues.

Her approach focuses on freshness, minimizing waste, and supporting local suppliers whenever possible.

05. Can you book Nina Compton restaurants online—and are there loyalty programs?

Nina Compton’s restaurants typically accept online reservations through platforms such as OpenTable or their official websites.

There is currently no unified loyalty program across her restaurants, though individual venues may offer occasional promotions or partnerships with hotel loyalty schemes (e.g., Four Seasons in Miami).