OUT to EAT PAGE 49
Specialty Italian Bistro (2330 Belle Chasse Highway, Gretna, 504-391-1090; www.specialtyitalianbistro. com) serves pizza, pasta and other Italian favorites. P H O TO BY C HERY L G ERBER
GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 3 > 2013
Pyramids Cafe — 3151 Calhoun St., (504) 861-9602 — Diners will find Mediterranean cuisine featuring such favorites as sharwarma prepared on a rotisserie. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
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MEXICAN & SOUTHWESTERN Casa Borrega — 1719 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 427-0654; www. facebook.com/casaborrega — The barroom and cantina is decorated with folk art, and there’s seating in the back courtyard. Chicken enchiladas are served with mole, rice and beans. Pozole de puerco is Mexican hominy soup featuring pork in spicy red broth with radish, cabbage and avocado and tostadas on the side. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Lucy’s Retired Surfers’ Bar & Restaurant — 701 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 523-8995; www.lucysretiredsurders.com — This surf shack serves California-Mexican cuisine and the bar has a menu of tropical cocktails. Todo Santos fish tacos feature grilled or fried mahi mahi in corn or flour tortillas topped with shredded cabbage and shrimp sauce, and are served with rice and beans. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late night Thu.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
MUSIC AND FOOD Bombay Club — 830 Conti St., (504) 586-0972; www.thebombayclub. com — This elegant French Quarter hideaway is styled like an English manor and is known for its martini menu. Louisiana crab and roasted Creole tomato
fondue is finished with manchego cheese, scallions and grilled crostini. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$ The Columns — 3811 St. Charles Ave., (504) 899-9308; www.thecolumns.com — There’s live music in the Victorian Lounge at the Columns. The menu offers such Creole favorites as gumbo and crab cakes and there are cheese plates as well. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily, lunch Fri.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Thu., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Gazebo Cafe — 1018 Decatur St., (504) 525-8899; www.gazebocafenola.com — The Gazebo features a mix of Cajun and Creole dishes and ice cream daquiris. The New Orleans sampler rounds up jambalaya, red beans and rice and gumbo. Other options include salads, seafood po-boys and burgers. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner daily. Credit cards. $$ House of Blues — 225 Decatur St., 310-4999; www.hob.com/neworleans — Try the pan-seared Voodoo Shrimp with rosemary cornbread. The buffet-style gospel brunch features local and regional groups. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Little Gem Saloon — 445 S. Rampart St., (504) 267-4863; www. littlegemsaloon.com — Little Gem offers creative contemporary and Creole dishes and live jazz. Louisiana black drum is topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and served with spinach, black-eyed peas and sherry cream. Rabbit and cauliflower gratin is served with apple-cabbage preserves.
Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ The Market Cafe — 1000 Decatur St., (504) 527-5000; www.marketcafenola.com — Dine indoors or out on seafood either fried for platters or po-boys or highlighted in dishes such as crawfish pie, crawfish etouffee or shrimp Creole. Sandwich options include muffulettas, Philly steaks on poboy bread and gyros in pita bread. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$ Siberia — 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 265-8855; www.siberianola. com — The Russki Reuben features corned beef, Swiss cheese, kapusta (spicy cabbage) and Russian dressing on grilled rye bread. Potato and cheese pierogies are served with fried onions and sour cream. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $
NEIGHBORHOOD Cafe B — 2700 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 934-4700; www. cafeb.com — This cafe serves an elevated take on the dishes commonly found in neighborhood restaurants. Grilled redfish is served with confit of wild mushrooms, spaghetti squash, charred Vidalia onion and aged balsamic vinegar. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Joey K’s — 3001 Magazine St., (504) 891-0997; www.joeyksrestaurant. com — This casual eatery serves fried seafood platters, salads, sandwiches and Creole favorites such as red beans and rice. Daily specials include braised lamb shank, lima beans with a ham hock and chicken fried steak served with macaroni and cheese. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; www.katiesinmidcity.com — Favorites at this