The Parish (located at the corner of 11th and Everett in northwest Portland's Pearl District)[2] was established in May 2012 by Tobias Hogan and Ethan Powell, who had operated the North Williams Avenue restaurant Eat: An Oyster Bar.

[3][4][5] It held three preview events—a private event with local blues duo Curtis Salgado and Alan Hager on May 18, a multi-course seated dinner on May 19, and "Sunday Jazz Brunch with Pete Krebs" on May 20—before opening to the public on May 22.

[7][8][9] Its name (inspired by Louisiana's administrative divisions) was reflected by the restaurant's "ecclesiastical" interior, which included gray and pewter-colored "cathedral-esque" arches over the bar and a host stand which was a refurbished Prohibition-era Mississippi church pulpit.

[2][5][8] The Cajun, Louisiana Creole,[4][7] and New Orleans-style seafood restaurant served entrees such as andouille, étouffée,[8] frog legs, jambalaya, maque choux, pork belly,[7] and turtle soup,[10] and was best known for its oysters.

[3][4] According to The Portland Mercury's Marjorie Skinner, "Though the cocktail menu is as fancy as the next, the bar staff is unfussy and approachable, and food prices for the most part steer well clear of the $20 mark—downright cheap eats compared to the rest of the neighborhood.