Perfect po’ boy
The po’ boy sandwich was invented in 1929 by Clovis and Benjamin Martin, brothers and former streetcar drivers, at their Martin Brothers’ Coffee Stand & Restaurant. / Courtesy of whatscookingamerica.net
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The best of New Orleans’ iconic sandwich
As iconic as gumbo or crawfish etouffee, New Orleans po’ boys have made their indelible mark on the city and its denizens since 1929 -- that is, if one believes the local lore surrounding its origins.
Locals tell the story of Bennie and Clovis Martin, who left their home in Raceland, moved to New Orleans and worked as streetcar conductors until 1922, when they opened Martin Brothers’ Coffee Stand & Restaurant in the still-standing French Market. Their restaurant catered mainly to fellow, blue-collar workers in the transit system.