NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The owners of Mona Lisa restaurant on Royal Street in the French Quarter tell WGNO that an enormous outpouring of support has led the new landlord to reconsider the decision to end the restaurant's lease.

On Aug. 7, the owners, Tom Moore and Farrow Stephenson, were told that their building had been sold and they had 60 days to clear out of the Royal Street spot they've leased for 20 years.

Loved by customers for its elegant Italian dishes (Tom does the cooking) and its irreverent vibe (Farrow can be sassy), Mona Lisa is not a restaurant for tourists—although tourists who discover it are lucky. It’s a restaurant for locals, who began lighting up social media in despair.

Two long-time customers had even planned a block party and rally for the restaurant that they adve

See Full Page