MASAKOWSKI performed with pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. often over the years.
For a time, they had a duo gig at Tyler’s Beer Garden on Magazine Street, and Marsalis was the featured pianist on Masakowski’s 1991 album, “Friends,” with drummer Herlin Riley, saxophonist Rick Margitza, bassist Bill Huntington and pianist Mike Pellera.
When Marsalis retired as chair of the University of New Orleans’ Jazz Studies program, which he founded, Masakowski stepped into that role, a position he held until his own retirement in 2022.
So when Marsalis died in April 2020 — during the early days of the Covid pandemic — the Snug Harbor jazz club turned to Masakowski as well as his daughter, vocalist Sasha Masakowski, and son, bassist Martin Masakowski, for a tribute performance to the influential pianist. Among the songs in the beautiful set was “Sweet Dreams,” a piece Steve wrote for his “Friends” album, with new lyrics written by Sasha.
“I used to play that at Tyler’s with Ellis and just kind of put it on the shelf for many years now until after Ellis passed and I brought it out,” Steve says, “and Sasha did such a great job writing lyrics to it, put it into a whole new dimension.”
A new recording of “Sweet Dreams” now appears on the new Masakowski Family album, “Two Worlds,” which is out Friday, April 3. The meaningful, full-length jazz record features Steve, Sasha and Martin along with exceptional musicians and friends drummer Brian Blade, saxophonist Rex Gregory and pianist Oscar Rossignoli. Ulrike Maria Masakowski, Steve’s wife and Sasha and Martin’s mother, created the artwork for the album.
Those uncertain early days of the pandemic and the tribute to Marsalis left Sasha with a feeling of urgency, she says. Sasha, who also is a composer and electronic musician under the name Tra$h Magnolia, produced “Two Worlds.”
“I felt this kind of urgency of like, I want to document what we’re doing as a family right now,” Sasha says.
“Two Worlds” also gets to the heart of how music and heritage are passed
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
down in New Orleans, from generation to generation, Sasha adds.
Steve, a celebrated guitarist and innovator, was mentored by Marsalis and Danny Barker and performed with James Black, Willie Tee, Earl Turbinton and other New Orleans greats. Sasha and Martin grew up surrounded by music — their mother also is a classical pianist — and became celebrated, innovative professional musicians themselves.
The Masakowskis have recorded together several times before, including the Nola Nova record “Wetland,” the 2017 album “N.O. Escape” and a Christmas record in 2019.
Further driving home the deep ties on “Two Worlds,” Blade, Gregory and Rossignoli each also studied with Steve.
The lyrics to “Sweet Dreams” are “kind of speaking of life after death. And do the ancestors have a way of knowing what the future holds for us?” Sasha says. “Tying it into this evolution of music and how it’s passed from generation to generation, but it still lives on with the elders who are no longer with us.”
“Two Worlds,” though, isn’t a traditional sounding record. The album is forward-looking and made mostly of originals by Steve, Sasha and Martin. The group recorded the album at Marigny Studios with engineer Mac Major, and it was mixed by Mike Marciano.
The album opens with the title track, composed by Steve during the pandemic. The isolation inspired Sasha’s lyrics about “two young hearts” separating and living worlds apart.
Influences from Sasha’s work in electronic music also can be heard, especially in her vocal production and on her originals “Origin of Sin” and “Shine.”
“When I wrote ‘Shine,’ I was listening to a lot of Meshell Ndegeocello, who I
think is one of the most brilliant producers, bassists, composers out there,” she says.
“You kind of hear those undercurrents.”
Similarly, Martin draws on his background playing and studying Eastern European and Middle Eastern styles for his song “Las Sonrisas del Mar.” The rhythm is based on the jurjunah rhythm, an Iranian groove, Martin says, along with influences from Armenian pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan.
“The real benefit of growing up here, and maybe with this household in particular, is the concept of finding your own sound and not having a direct set of rules to follow,” Martin says. It’s “the idea of playing music and developing your own sound and having the creativity drive you forward.”
The sole non-original on “Two Worlds” is a piece written by New Orleans drummer James Black, “A Love Song.” Sasha also wrote new lyrics for the recording.
Steve played with Black quite a bit before he had died in 1988, including in Steve’s experimental, electronic jazz project Mars. That project also featured Lawrence Sieberth on keys and bassist James Singleton.
Black “was an amazing musician. He also played trumpet, piano, [and] he was a great composer. There’s a lot of his compositions that are in the ‘Silverbook’ that Harold Battiste put together,” Steve says. “The only recording of [‘A Love Song’] that I know of is one David Torkanowsky did.”
Sasha and Martin care deeply about their family’s and the city’s musical heritage, but tradition doesn’t mean being stuck in place, says Sasha, who has worked with boundary-pushing artists like Nicholas Payton and Zach Danziger.
“The tradition of New Orleans modern jazz greats is you’re pushing the music forward,” Sasha adds. “You’re constantly innovating. You’re constantly reinventing the wheel. You’re exploring as every artist should.”
The Masakowski Family & Friends will perform Thursday, April 30, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. They play an album release concert at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Find more at steve-masakowski.com.
Jelly Joseph with Nigel Hall
New Orleans vocalist Jelly Joseph is a powerful, versatile performer who can be seen often with the funk band Galactic, guesting on songs by bounce artists HaSizzle and Big Freedia or singing with the legendary Irma Thomas. Her solo sets are also diverse, incorporating a blend of New Orleans funk, R&B, soul and jazz. On Wednesday, April 1, Joseph will be joined by keys player Nigel Hall for the weekly Wednesday at the Square concert at Lafayette Square. Ashton Hines and the Big Easy Brawlers open at 5 p.m. Admission is free. Find more info at ylcwats.com.
New Edition
The boy band New Edition has been an R&B powerhouse since the ’80s, and they’re now staking a claim on 2026 with a major tour with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton. The shows are presented with a 360-degree stage and a joint song together, “We Going Out Tonight.” New Edition, Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton perform at 8 p.m. Friday, April 3, at the Smoothie King Center. Tickets start at $231.15 via smoothiekingcenter.com.
The Gay Easter Parade
Grand Marshals Jeffrey Palmquist and Felicia Phillips lead the Gay Easter Parade’s contingent of convertibles, carriages and costumed walking groups on a trip around the French Quarter. The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5. The event raises funds for Food for Friends, a program that provides meals and other resources to people with HIV. Find information at facebook.com/gayeasterparade.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Martin, left, Steve and Sasha Masakowski PROVIDED PHOTO BY NOÉ CUGNY
OPENING GAMBIT
NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS
The weather gods are smilin’ on New Orleans. Get out and enjoy it while it lasts y’all.
THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN
Hogs for the Cause, the New Orleans barbecue festival and nonprofit supporting families with kids fighting cancer, recently committed $2 million to Children’s Health in Texas to help grow Children’s Medical Center Plano. Those funds will help the Plano, Texas, facility expand its ability to treat cancer and blood disorders as well as increase inpatient and outpatient capacity. Hogs hosts its annual festival April 10-11 at the UNO Lakefront grounds.
Local film and television production has grown significantly in 2026, the city’s Film New Orleans department reported. So far this year, film and television productions have spent about $200 million locally, whereas total spending in 2024 was $342 million and fell to $250 million in 2025. Those productions, like the award-winning “Sinners,” create jobs for creatives and support local businesses working with the film industry.
Abortion bans, like the one in Louisiana, have led to a higher rate of preterm births among Black women living in those states, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health has found. The study found abortion bans prevented some women from accessing timely prenatal care and increased the risk of dangerous preterm births. Across states with bans, the rate of preterm births among Black women was 2.1% higher than expected.
Elon Musk wants to build a tunnel under New Orleans
… because of course.
INFAMOUS TRAFFICKER IN WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA ELON
MUSK must have heard about all the fun Shia LeBeouf is having terrorizing New Orleans, because one of his companies is in “early” talks with Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration to “build” a tunnel under the city. No, really, a tunnel under the city that is famously below sea level. Specifically, Musk’s Boring Co. this week announced it had “awarded” New Orleans, Dallas and Baltimore “free” “loop tunnels,” which is a tech bro way of saying a fancy subway.
To be clear, the word “free” is likely doing a lot of work here, since that’s not a thing Musk (or any capitalist robber baron, for that matter) does, and the long-term costs associated with maintaining and running a subway system in a hurricane prone area could run into the trillions of dollars.
It’s unclear who went looking for this prestigious “award.” According to City Hall sources, it doesn’t appear to have been Moreno. Former Mayor LaToya Cantrell could have courted Boring, as could have Gov. Jeff Landry who, like Musk, is
part of President Donald Trump’s broad circle of known associates.
In a diplomatically worded statement Moreno acknowledged her administration is discussing Musk’s seemingly random decision to try and build a tunnel in New Orleans, noting “any time major corporations or players are interested in New Orleans, it’s a positive.”
“We are in the early stages of exploring this project. Whether it is feasible or not, we’ve opened the door for conversations that could lead to opportunities, even if it’s not this one,” the statement continues before going on to note her other efforts to “think big, create jobs and invest in our future to move our city in a new direction.”
So, not exactly a resounding endorsement of this particular idea. And there’s a LOT that even Boring admits would need to be done before breaking ground, or mud, depending on the day. But let’s say it actually does happen. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot.
COUNT #
304,178
THE NUMBER OF “CUSTOMER INTERRUPTIONS” ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS HAD IN 2025.
That averages out to roughly 1.5 power outages per customer last year, and is a nine-year high for the troubled utility company. Almost half of last year’s outages came after equipment failures. Meanwhile, ENO is seeking to raise fees, and rates more generally, to cover $400 million worth of work to fortify its electrical grid.
C’EST WHAT ?
What is your preferred way to get crawfsh around New Orleans?
26.5%
Protesters outside a Tesla Service Center on Tchoupitoulas Street
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
First and foremost, New Orleans, a majority Black city with deep cultural, historic and familial ties to majority non-white countries through the Caribbean and Latin America, just seems like an odd fit for a Musk project.
There’s the aforementioned problem of building a tunnel in a city that’s below sea level, and sinking, up to two inches in a year — not exactly the sweet spot for building a tunnel.
Then there’s the other obvious problem: the city can’t take care of the Sewerage & Water Board’s underground pipes – which is basically a tunnel for water – we already have. It’s doubtful he’d commit to paying for the long-term upkeep of his Big Hole In Da Bayou Subway System.
Speaking of S&WB, they apparently don’t exactly know where all their tunnels even are, which would make building a big new one without lots of flooding tricky.
Then there’s the logistical problems: how, for example, do you keep a giant underground hole from filling up with water when there’s a hurricane – or one of our regularly scheduled S&WB water main floods? We can barely
pump water out of the city as it is – though in theory, the tunnels could be a convenient place to drain water into. So there’s that.
But there’s more. Huge swaths of the city were built over a hundred years ago — or more — and even more homes are perched atop cement block pillars because of all the flooding (S&WB related or otherwise). Given the structural problems French Quarter buildings saw associated with the Hard Rock collapse, it’s hard to envision a massive drilling and earth-moving project like the Bayou Bootyhole Transit System wouldn’t be a potential disaster for homeowners along its route.
It’s also worth noting that Musk and his company don’t (yet) have much experience in actually building big, giant tunnels. Boring has purportedly begun work on one in Nashville, but that’s a far cry from the expertise one would expect from a company hoping to undertake such a complicated project as this would surely be.
And then there’s the very real question of whether New Orleanians would even want to get into business with Musk. Musk, the world’s richest man, is not particularly popular in the city. So much so that a phalanx of his ominousyet-silly looking cyber trucks were pelted with beads and other throws during a 2025 Mardi Gras parade.
What could possibly go wrong with building a giant tunnel under the city?
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
OPENING GAMBIT
“No goodbye shots or shows ... We never loved you, but we always loved how much you wanted us to!”
For decades, Check Point Charlie was a hangout for the city’s punk scene, and is known for affordable drinks, professionally surly bar staff and general anti-authority vibe. As a music venue, it hosted shows for up and coming local bands and touring bands alike.
Of late, the sidewalk outside the bar has been colonized by a revolving cast of crust punks, a subculture distinctive for its members’ varying degrees of body odor and common uniform made up of moss green, dirt brown and black clothing. They also like to keep dogs.
It’s also been an anchor of the Lower Decatur Street bar and music venue scene that’s long been home to much of the city’s alternative music, ranging from punk and metal to drum and bass.
The multi-block stretch of Decatur has been increasingly under pressure from developers and some city leaders who are uncomfortable with the low-brow vibes and are eager to gentrify it
and profit from its prime location just outside the French Quarter.
In the meantime, staffers with access to the Facebook page (for now) are asking patrons to share their “most insane memories” of the establishment in the comments section.
The closure is hitting close to home for a lot of New Orleanians – and long time visitors to the city.
Patrons took to the Facebook post’s comment section to share memories – or more often fragments of memories lost to the drunken haze the bar inspired. While Checkpoint Charlie may not have seemed like a romantic spot, it spawned several marriages, at least a few of which seemed to have stuck. Heels were broken. Patron’s were cursed out. A mother son duo were thrown out. And lots of musicians got their first chance on the stage in the bar.
“This block has always been locals and lit, but now it’s just going to be Baby Bourbon (Street) and bullshit,” the post reads. “Thank you for the good times and the confusing ones. Thank you forever Lower D Fam. Thank you to the regulars and the irregulars.” — John Stanton
Aint der no more PHOTO BY KEITH SPERA / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake,
What was the name of the Metairie place owned by the Brennan family that sold gourmet meals to go in the 1990s? It was near Dorignac’s on Veterans Boulevard. It got a lot of buzz for a while, but then closed after a few years.
Dear reader,
CAPTURE THE FLAG
WHEN TI ADELAIDE MARTIN, NOW BEST KNOWN AS CO-PROPRIETOR OF COMMANDER’S PALACE, announced the opening of Foodies Kitchen in Metairie in 1999, the Associated Press reported: “the Brennan family of restaurateurs is opening a gourmet takeout.”
The $3.7 million food emporium offered entire meals to go, along with a selection of baked breads, wines, fresh produce and meats, specialty food items, a coffee bar and more than 120 items available daily.
“It’s a [meals] market,” Martin said in a 1999 Times-Picayune article previewing the store’s opening. “You go there to buy meals to eat there or take home. It’s one big kitchen, 8,300 square feet, where you can buy food. Just food. Whatever’s ready to heat, eat or cook.”
BLAKE VIEW
Located at 720 Veterans Memorial Blvd. near Dorignac’s Food Center, Foodies Kitchen employed 40 chefs and 125 workers.
The business quickly gained popularity, even earning a mention in Gourmet magazine. In 2001, a second location opened Uptown at 7547 St. Charles Ave. Two years later, Martin sold her stake in the business to local accountant Robert Champagne. Despite her departure,
The Times-Picayune reported that an agreement allowed the stores to continue offering Commander’s Palace salad and turtle soup.
The Metairie location of Foodies closed in 2004. The Uptown location closed a few years later and then housed an outpost of Willie Mae’s Scotch House. It is now A Gallery for Fine Photography.
APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, THE IDEAL TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE MAPLE LEAF BAR, home to what has been called the longest-running poetry reading series in North America.
The noted music club at 8316 Oak St. in the Riverbend has also been a gathering spot for local poets since 1979. The free Sunday afternoon poetry reading series was founded by painter Franz Heldner and his friends, poets Robert Stock and Everette Maddox.
According to a 1989 Times-Picayune article, it was Heldner who suggested the poetry readings, with Maddox and Stock as the first two readers. Maddox would become the poet most associated with the club.
An Alabama native, Maddox came to New Orleans to teach English at Xavier University and then at the University of New Orleans. Within a few years, according to T.R. Johnson’s book “New Orleans: A Writer’s City,” Maddox’s acute alcoholism meant he was often homeless and made the Maple Leaf Bar his headquarters. “It’s the only place in town,” Maddox was quoted as saying in his 1989 TimesPicayune obituary, “where you can hear poetry, wash your clothes and get drunk at the same time.”
The poetry series which he would help organize and emcee was the first of its kind in New Orleans and welcomed local and visiting poets and poetry lovers. Maddox, whose work appeared in The New Yorker, Paris Review and North American Review, co-edited the “Maple Leaf Rag,” an anthology of poems read at the club. There have been four such volumes published. When he died, the poetry reading series was named the Everette C. Maddox Memorial Prose & Poetry Reading. Some of his ashes were buried on the patio of the Maple Leaf beneath a headstone that reads, “He was a mess.”
Ti Adelaide Martin samples some sauce in 2014.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
BY ANDREA BLUMENSTEIN, JAKE CLAPP, JENNIFER ODELL, LIAM PIERCE AND MADDIE SPINNER
SEAFOOD IS A CORNERSTONE OF NEW ORLEANS MENUS YEAR-ROUND, with Gulf fsh and shrimp the main ingredients in Creole dishes at local institutions or fried up and served dressed on a po-boy at counter-service spots. Spring, though, is when those oferings really shine.
The city is now in peak crawfsh season, and the smell of seafood boils is competing with the pollen in the air. It’s easy to fnd crabs and oysters around town. And the good temperatures are calling people to get together for meals in the sunshine.
Of course, it’s never hard to fnd a good meal around New Orleans, and our spring dining issue includes around 200 restaurants in New Orleans, Jeferson and St. Bernard parishes and on the Northshore. There are spots serving Creole favorites as well as Thai, Greek and Peruvian dishes and more. But in this edition, readers will fnd a highlight on seafood and places with outdoor seating. Listings on the following pages are organized alphabetically and include information about the menu, hours of operation and service options, like delivery. Enjoy! And remember to tip generously.
1000 Figs
3141 Ponce De Leon St., (504) 301-0848; 1000figs.com
The Mediterranean kitchen is known for its falafel sandwich, which includes four falafel pieces with cucumber salad, pickled vegetables, tahini, zhoug and toum in a pita. Small plates include Brussels sprouts tossed in lemon vinaigrette, pickled cauliflower made with turmeric and herbs, and coconut harissa soup. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Abita Brew Pub
72011 Holly St., Abita Springs, (985) 892-5837; abitabrewpub.com
The Northshore restaurant has a menu of creative entrees, burgers, salads, pasta and small plates like boudin egg rolls and fried artichoke hearts. The blackened shrimp and avocado salad also includes tomatoes, red onions, black olives, egg and sprouts and is served with a Turbodog
remoulade. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.Sun, dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Acme serves oysters raw or char-grilled with herb butter and melted cheese. The menu also has po-boys, fried seafood platters, gumbo and other Louisiana staples. There are fried oyster, shrimp, fish, soft-shell crab and crab cake platters served with fries and a choice of coleslaw, hushpuppies or potato salad. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Addis NOLA
2514 Bayou Road, (504) 218-5321; addisnola.com
The family-owned restaurant has a menu of traditional Ethiopian dishes, including vegan options. The Ethio jollof is made with jasmine rice, berbere, red onion, tomato and a choice of chicken, fish or
Perino’s Boiling Pot serves boiled crawfish and shrimp.
5363 Franklin Ave., (504) 302-2090; afrodisiacnola.com
Louisiana meets Jamaica at this Caribbean comfort food joint. Entrees include oxtail, jerk chicken, rasta pasta, curry shrimp, lamb chops and the Jamaican fried fish sandwich, which includes fried Gulf fish, garlic aioli and escovitch sauce on a bun. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun, dinner Wed.-Sat. $$
Aguasanta
8312 Oak St., (504) 381-5625; aguasantanola.com
Aguasanta serves a refined take on Mexican cuisine, integrating a variety of influences from France and Spain to Japan and China. The Cantonese fried rice is made with smoked chili adobo chicken and served with egg fried rice and chipotle aioli. Reservations accepted. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Angelo Brocato
214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream.com
The well-known Mid-City shop serves housemade gelato in traditional and specialty flavors, along with cannoli, tiramisu and Italian pastries. Gelato flavors rotate but have included rum raisin, zuppa inglese, praline, strawberry cheesecake and coconut. Espresso drinks also are available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $
The Warehouse District restaurant serves contemporary Cajun and Creole dishes as well as twists on classic cocktails, like a pecan old fashioned. The entree menu includes soft-shell crab Monica served with crawfish, green onion and garlic over pasta, and the roasted duck comes with a raspberry reduction, sweet potato au gratin, pecans, spinach and bacon. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. $$$
Antoine’s Restaurant
713 St. Louis St., (504) 581-4422; antoines.com
The French Quarter institution’s kitchen created oysters Rockefeller and other classic Creole dishes. The poulet roti Napoleon is herb-roasted chicken, served with crawfish, heirloom tomatoes, blood orange jus, artichoke, mushrooms, basil and a cognac flambe. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon. and Thu.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
This casual waterfront restaurant and bar has New Orleans-style dishes with a Parisian bistro twist. The crawfish and shrimp pasta primavera is made with angel hair, olive oil, zucchini, squash, eggplant, spinach, garlic and sun-dried tomato basil pesto. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Thu.-Sat., dinner Wed.-Sat. $$$
This casual breakfast and lunch spot serves egg dishes, salads, sandwiches and pastries along with coffee and fresh juices. The San
Giovanni sandwich is smoked turkey, ham, Parmesan, grilled halloumi, arugula, hashbrown, greens and an egg served on bread with beet dip. No reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$
The Uptown restaurant serves modern takes on Creole cuisine and Cajun-inspired dishes. The chili-rubbed pork chop is served with hominy, pozole broth, bacon-braised greens, radish, pickled red onion, jalapeno, salsa verde, pepitas and Cotija cheese. Brunch often features live music. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Brunch and dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$
The Bywater wine shop and restaurant centers around its backyard garden, which regularly hosts live music. Grilled Portuguese sardines are made with garlic tomato confit, and the pork chop is served with white anchovy, Parmesan and balsamic vinegar. Buildyour-own cheese plates also are available from the wine shop’s cooler. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner daily. $$
The Backyard
244 W. Harrison Ave., (504) 309-8767; thebackyardnola.com
True to its name, the West End restaurant has a spacious outdoor area, and the menu includes smoked meat sandwiches, burgers, chicken wings and more. There also is an extensive bourbon list, other spirits and rotating beer taps. The Pork sandwich is
Barbecue shrimp, chicken fried quail, swordfish, corner store tuna crudoand parisa steak tartare fill a table at Palm & Pine.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
house-smoked pulled pork with chimmi-slaw on a bun with barbecue sauce on the side. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Baroness on Baronne
339 Baronne St., (504) 522-8664; baronessnola.com
The cocktail lounge has a food menu with shareable plates, pizza, flatbreads, wraps and a burger. The Pizza Baroness is topped with chicken, andouille, peppers, onion, jalapenos, basil and red sauce. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sun., latenight Fri.-Sat. $$
The taco joint’s menu includes chicken, pork, beef, mushroom, fried catfish and broccoli options along with chips and dips, quesadillas, margaritas and cocktails. The beer-battered Louisiana catfish tacos are topped with shredded cabbage, crema, spicy salsa macha and pomegranate. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $
The seafood-focused menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, blue crab beignets, shrimp and andouille gumbo and grilled Gulf fish. Coconut-crusted red snapper is served on a Caribbean-style crawfish etouffee, with popcorn rice and cornbread. Reservations accepted. Lunch Fri.-Mon., dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Bayona
430 Dauphine St., (504) 525-4455; bayona.com
This award-winning restaurant serves Louisiana cuisine that incorporates international flavors and seasonal produce. Braised rabbit comes with tomatoes, leeks, olives, capers and creamy parmigiano polenta. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Mon., Thu.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Bearcat Baked
726 Julia St., (504) 438-8772; bearcatbaked.com
Bearcat Cafe’s Warehouse District bakery has croissants, quiche, creative Danishes, sausage rolls, sourdough and ciabatta bread loaves, specialty coffee and more. The beet Reuben is served on sourdough with a garlic and herb spread, red pepper aioli and slaw and comes with crispy potatoes or salad. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $
Bear’s serves Louisiana staples like po-boys and boudin balls, plus fried appetizers, salads and burgers. The NOLA burger is a 10-ounce patty topped with roast beef debris and Swiss cheese and dressed with lettuce, tomato,
DINING ISSUE Spring
pickles and mayo. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
The family-run bistro from Michael Dilonno serves modern and classic American bistro fare. The pan-seared redfish comes with charred corn maque choux, smoked bacon, lemon-tarragon beurre blanc and blue crab. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
The Bell 3125 Esplanade Ave., (504) 381-4399; thebellnola.com
The British-style pub has classic fare like fish and chips and fishmonger’s pie, and there’s a large patio space. The crispy fish sandwich includes celery root slaw and is served with fries. There also are hushpuppies, smoked trout dip and Scotch eggs on the appetizers menu. Reservations accepted. Lunch Sat.Sun., dinner Wed.-Mon. $$$
Besame
110 S. Rampart St., (504) 308-0880; besame-nola.com
Chef Nanyo Dominguez’s menu highlights Gulf seafood in Latin- and Caribbean-style tapas, ceviches and entrees. Small plates include crawfish and roasted poblano queso, and the cochinita dish is Yucatan-style pork and pineapple-habanero slaw served with tortillas. Reservations accepted. Lunch Thu.Mon., dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
These seafood joints have both Cajun and Vietnamese influences. Boiled seafood options include crawfish, shrimp, lobster tail, crabs and mussels with Viet-Cajun, Cajun citrus and the EZ blend flavor options. Reservations accepted. Gretna: lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat.; Kenner: lunch and dinner daily. $$
The restaurant serves fried, boiled and grilled seafood platters, po-boys, New Orleans favorites and more with a view over Lake Pontchartrain. The Gulf fish can be ordered either grilled, blackened or fried and with a choice of lemon butter, meuniere or amandine sauce. The plate also comes with a choice of side, such as jalapeno hushpuppies, sweet potato fries or grilled vegetables. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
Blue Oak BBQ
900 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 822-2583; blueoakbbq.com
The Mid-City barbecue restaurant serves brisket, pulled pork, chicken, St. Louis-style ribs, boudin balls, spicy green sausage and more. The Pit Viper sandwich is jerk pulled
pork with ginger sesame coleslaw and sliced jalapenos on a sesame bun. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Bobby’s Seafood
9013 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, (504) 738-2104
This seafood spot has boiled options, po-boys and platters. There’s also stuffed crab, stuffed mushrooms and artichokes, muffulettas and gumbo. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat. $
Boil & Barrel
900 Harrison Ave., (504) 332-2645; boilandbarrel.com
The Lakeview restaurant focuses on seafood and spirits, and there is a lengthy whiskey list. The menu includes shrimp and catfish platters, sandwiches, oysters and more. The B&B Fruit de Mer is shrimp, mussels and crawfish tails in a San Marzano tomato sauce with spaghetti and fresh herbs. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
There’s boiled crawfish, shrimp and crabs tossed in buttery sauces along with po-boys, pasta dishes and more. The Cajun Classic
includes a pound of shrimp and a pound of crawfish with andouille sausage, corn and potato with a choice of flavor, such as Caribbean, garlic butter or Cajun. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner daily. $$$
This restaurant follows the crawfish season and is open from January through June, serving boiled shrimp, crawfish and crabs by the pound or cluster. There’s also smoked brisket, smoked pork belly, seafood-stuffed bell peppers and boudin egg rolls. The Bluedaddy Platter comes with two pounds of crawfish, a pound of blue crabs, a half-pound of shrimp and corn, potatoes and sauces. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch daily, early dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Bonafried
3101 Grand Route St. John, (504) 777-6550; Instagram: @bonafriedtruck
The popular food truck known for its fried chicken sandwiches recently opened a brick-and-mortar location. Chicken thighs are marinated overnight, fried and served on a potato bun with pickles and choice of sauces, such as garlic chili oil, sweet heat and honey mustard. No reservations. Lunch Thu.-Sun., dinner Thu.-Sat. $
A platter of whole fried catfish and sides sits on an ice chest outside Williby’s.
Chef Nathaniel Zimet offers a unique twist on Southern classics and uses ingredients from local farmers and producers. A recent menu included Peking duck breast served with black vinaigrette asparagus and plum sauce on sesame bao. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Wed.Sat., brunch Sat. $$$
The restaurant and bar serves a contemporary American menu. Smoked chili-rubbed short ribs are served with refried chickpeas, queso fresco, cherry tomatoes, sesame seeds and cilantro. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily. $$$
Bratz Y’all
617 Piety St., Suite B, (504) 301-3222; bratzyall.com
The Bywater biergarten focuses on German beer and dishes, including bratwurst, schnitzel and pretzels. Grandma’s rindergulash is a German beef stew with dark gravy, red cabbage, onions and apple, and is served with a choice of spatzle, dumpling or mashed potatoes. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
Broadview Seafood
1468 N. Broad St., (504) 944-3001; broadviewseafood.net
This counter-service neighborhood staple serves up crawfish with sides like turkey wings, crawfish boudin and shrimp egg rolls. They also have red beans and rice, gumbo and a variety of sandwiches and po-boys. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and early dinner daily. $
Broussard’s
819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866; broussards.com
The 100-year-old French Quarter restaurant serves a French-Creole menu. The sea scallops grenobloise has lemon caper butter sauce and is served with mushroom conserve, sauteed kale and brioche croutons. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Mon., brunch Fri.-Sun. $$$
Bub’s serves smashburgers, grilled cheese, a hot sausage sandwich, fries, onion rings and more. The Royale includes two patties, American cheese, red onion, Bibb lettuce, tomato, bread and butter pickles and house Bub sauce on a toasted brioche bun. No reservations. Delivery available and outdoor seating at Banks location. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
Budsi’s Authentic Thai
DINING ISSUE Spring
1760 N. Rampart St., (504) 381-4636; budsisthai.com
Chef Budsaba “Budsi” Mason serves classic Thai dishes and specialties from Thailand’s Issan region. The pad kee mao, or drunken noodles, is fried ramen-style noodles with broccoli, bell pepper, carrot, cabbage, kaffir lime leaves, egg, Thai kale and choice of chicken or tofu. The dish can be ordered with pork, beef or shrimp for an upcharge. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
Bullard Seafood
7025 Bullard Ave., (504) 241-8000
The cafeteria-style New Orleans East shop has fried and grilled seafood, po-boys, Chinese food, yakamein and more. There’s also stuffed bell peppers, gumbo, spaghetti casserole and chicken lo mein. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Cafe Amelie
900 Royal St., (504) 412-8065; cafeamelie.com
This bistro serves a creative menu of Louisiana-influenced dishes, like pepper-glazed Gulf shrimp, Cajun poutine and blackened catfish sandwiches. The pan-seared salmon comes with fingerling potatoes, asparagus and a lemon horseradish Tabasco cream sauce. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Brunch Thu.-Sun., dinner Tue. and Thu.-Sun. $$
Cafe Conmigo
2511 Jena St.; cafeconmigonola.com
This new quick-service restaurant serves up Cuban coffee, pastries and sandwiches. The Medianoche sandwich is roast pork, ham, muenster, mustard and pickles on Cuban brioche. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $
The French Quarter restaurant has a Spanish Caribbean-inspired food menu and a rum-focused cocktail bar. The crispy braised pork rib-eye is served with yuca hash, avocado, tomato, cucumber and mojo verde. On the small plates menu, sweet plantains come with crema and salsa macha. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily. $$
Captain Sid’s Seafood
1700 Lake Ave., Metairie, (504) 831-2840; captainsids.com
The seafood market offers to-go boiled seafood including crawfish and crabs as well as a selection of soups, stews and sides. The menu also has boudin, etouffee, shrimp Creole and crab and corn bisque. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$
Since 1919, Casamento’s has specialized in dinners and sandwiches made with Gulf sea-
food and is especially known for its oysters. The seafood platter includes fried oysters, shrimp, crab claws and a choice of trout or catfish along with fries, coleslaw and toast. No reservations. Cash only. Lunch Thu.-Sat., dinner Thu.-Sun. $$
Castnet Seafood
10826 Hayne Blvd., (504) 244-8446
Along with boiled and fried seafood, the New Orleans East restaurant has po-boys and plates. There are shrimp, oyster, catfish, crab, trout, hamburger and more po-boy options, which come dressed with lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickles on Leidenheimer bread. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $
Central City BBQ
1201 S. Rampart St., (504) 558-4276; centralcitybbq.com
The barbecue spot’s menu includes starters like smoked wings, brisket chili cheese fries and chicken thigh cracklin. Meat options include pork ribs, boudin and brisket, which can be ordered as a combo and comes with a choice of two sides, pickles, sliced onion and
bread. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Chais Delachaise
7708 Maple St., (504) 510-4509; chaisdelachaise.com
The bistro’s menu of New American dishes includes veggie risotto, char-grilled octopus and beef carpaccio. Pasta alla Norcina includes house-made tagliatelle with pork, housecured pancetta, mushroom and kale in truffle cream sauce. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sun. $$
Charmant
514 City Park Ave., (504) 381-4573; charmantnola.com
The new Mid-City restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients in contemporary European dishes. Braised romesco chicken is served with a cauliflower-feta puree, kale, lentils and caper agrodulce. Reservations accepted. Brunch, lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. $$$
Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop
2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-2022; gumbostop.com
Steak tartare is topped with horseradish and served with sunchoke chips at Le Moyne Bistro.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
True to its name, gumbo options are frontand-center, and there’s New Orleans classics like shrimp Creole, crawfish etouffee, seafood platters, po-boys and salads. The Mega Gumbo is filé gumbo with chicken, shrimp, crabmeat, crawfish, sausage, okra and tomato and topped with fried catfish, oysters and shrimp. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
This Alabama-born chain serves up a variety of scratch-made chicken salads that can be ordered in combos with crackers, sides and pickles or on sandwiches. The Fancy Nancy is a chicken salad made with Fuji apples, grapes and pecans. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $
Boiled crawfish, blue crab, shrimp and snow crab are available by the pound and served with add-ons including sausage, mushrooms, corn, potatoes and garlic. The menu also includes po-boys, oysters, seafood platters and sides like jambalaya cheese fries. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Cochon King
5321 Franklin Ave., (504) 571-5038; cochonking.com
The Gentilly barbecue spot has smoked brisket, St. Louis cut ribs, sausage, pulled pork and chicken available by the pound, on platters and on sandwiches. There’s also smoked wings, boudin and the Texas Twinkie, which is a jalapeno pepper stuffed with smoked cream cheese and brisket and wrapped in bacon. Crawfish King, their boiled crawfish pop-up, can be found on Fridays at Abita Brewing’s New Orleans taproom on Tchoupitoulas Street. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and early dinner Wed.-Sun. $$
Commander’s Palace
1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-8221; commanderspalace.com
The Brennan family’s fine-dining landmark serves a menu of contemporary Creole dishes. The lemon grass lacquered Gulf fish is cast iron-seared with a splash of lemon grass lime leaf glaze and served over Louisiana soybeans with roasted mushrooms, blistered shishitos, coconut-compressed green tomato and a crushed crawfish saffron frappé. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner daily, jazz brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Copper Vine
1001 Poydras St., (504) 208-9535; coppervine.com
The wine bar and restaurant has shareable plates, charcuterie and a weekend bottomless mimosa brunch. Their specialty grilled cheese sandwich includes Louisiana crawfish, aged cheddar, provolone, smoked tomatoes and mustard remoulade on sourdough bread. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating
The menu at the Bywater restaurant and pool has contemporary Creole and Southern dishes. The seared redfish comes with whipped tahini, house chili crips, kale, toasted chickpeas and sesame seeds. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal St., (504) 522-7261; courtoftwosisters.com
The French Quarter restaurant serves a Creole and Cajun menu and offers a live jazz brunch every day. The brunch buffet includes a carving station, eggs, hashbrowns, andouille and bacon, Southern corn grits, shrimp etouffee and more. On the dinner menu, fried Louisiana catfish is served with shrimp and crab slaw with cayenne and green onion tartar sauce. Reservations recommended for brunch. Outdoor seating available. Brunch and dinner daily. $$$
The menu includes fried seafood platters, raw and char-broiled oysters, po-boys and seasonal boils. Barbecue shrimp are head-on Gulf shrimp sautéed in butter and a blend of seasonings with a French baguette for dipping. The wedge salad is iceberg
Boiled seafood, chilled dishes, a seafood pasta and steamed mussels share the menu at Boil & Barrel.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
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lettuce topped with boiled Gulf shrimp, blue cheese crumbles, bacon bits, chopped egg and remoulade. No reservations. Delivery available. Iberville: lunch Thu.-Mon., dinner daily; Metairie: lunch and dinner daily. $$
Dee’s Xquisite Bar & Grill
8700 Lake Forest Blvd., Suite 104, (504) 388-8367; Instagram: @deesxquisite Demond “Dee” Matthews’ specialty is seafood first boiled then char-grilled with garlic butter. The menu includes crawfish, crabs and shrimp served up with potatoes, corn, turkey necks, sausage or boiled eggs, and there are char-grilled oysters and steak. No reservations. Late lunch and dinner daily. $$
The Delachaise
3442 St. Charles Ave., (504) 895-0858; thedelachaise.com
The Uptown bistro and wine bar serves a refined, regularly changing food menu. Fish and chips are amber beer-battered cod fillets cooked in goose fat and served with an apple and kimchi slaw and pommes frites. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner and late-night daily. $$
The menu includes a range of specialty burgers using locally baked buns and housemade sauces plus regular, specialty and boozy milkshakes. The Who Dat is a Prime beef patty topped with Crystal hot sauce, fried onion rings, applewood-smoked bacon and a hickory barbecue sauce. No reservations. Harrison: lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Harahan: lunch and dinner daily. $$
Desi Vega’s Steakhouse
628 St. Charles Ave., (504) 523-7600; desivegasteaks.com
Chef Muggsy Beals serves USDA Prime beef cuts seared in a Montague broiler. Steak options include filet mignon, New York strip, rib-eye and porterhouse for two. There also are weekend appetizer and entrée specials, such as braised oxtail over smoked Gouda grits, fried Brussels sprout leaves, green onion oil and red pepper oil. Reservations accepted. Lunch Mon.-Fri and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Don’s Seafood
126 Lake Drive, Covington, (985) 327-7111; 4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 899-1550; donsseafoodonline.com
Cajun seafood plates and seasonal boils make up the bulk of the menu, along with oysters, boudin balls and other Louisiana classics. The seafood gumbo is prepared with an Acadian-style roux with shrimp and crabmeat. Jacked Up Oysters from the Gulf are served on the half shell and char-broiled with bacon, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
The French Quarter bar has craft cocktails and a menu of sandwiches, tacos and a burrito with a build-your-own club sandwich option. The K-Town Club is made with marinated brisket, kimchi, house pickles, cilantro mayo and Korean barbecue sauce. No reservations. Delivery available. Late lunch, dinner and late-night Tue.-Sun. $$
El Pavo Real
4401 S. Broad Ave., (504) 266-2022; elpavorealnola.com
The menu of Mexican dishes includes quesadillas, tacos, ceviche, specialty plates and more. Mole poblano is roasted chicken in a house-made mole sauce served with tangy slaw and tortillas. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
The Bywater restaurant is known for its praline bacon and serves up breakfast plates, waffles, French toast, gumbo, po-boys and more for breakfast and lunch. There’s also a weekly rotation of blue-plate lunch specials. Crabby Eggs is a dish of two crab cakes with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on top with a side of hash-browns. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$
The Michelin-starred restaurant serves contemporary Louisiana cuisine on regularly changing tasting menus. A recent menu included duck from Mississippi’s White Sand Homestead farm served with beets, kumquat and fennel. The connected wine bar also has a menu of raw, cold and hot dishes, like duck fried rice, seafood gumbo and barbecue shrimp served with a rosemary biscuit. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Empanola
630 St. Ann St., (504) 766-1236; 3109 Magazine St., (504) 582-9378; 7321 Freret St., (504) 249-5977; empanolaempanadas.com
Empanola serves empanadas with a variety of traditional and unique fillings. The beef Argentina is filled with ground beef, peppers, onions, olives and egg. On the sweet side, the apple pecan empanada is made with brown sugar, cinnamon and spices. No reservations. Delivery available. St. Ann and Freret: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; Magazine: Lunch and dinner daily. $
The menu includes Mexican dishes alongside a mezcal-focused bar program. The fish ceviche is made with Gulf fish in leche de tigre, a combination of coconut milk, lime
and serrano peppers, and is topped with cucumber, cilantro, onion and tortilla chips. Reservations accepted at Capdeville location. Cortez: dinner Tue.-Sat.; Capdeville: lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Felipe’s
301 N. Peters St., (504) 267-4406; 411-1 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 408-2626; 2004 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 676-5574; 6215 S. Miro St., (504) 309-2776; felipestaqueria.com
The fast-casual restaurants serve built-toorder burritos, tacos, quesadillas and platters and some house creations. The spicy taco salad is a crunchy tortilla shell filled with chicken tinga, cabbage, lettuce, black beans, corn, pico, jack cheese, Baja sauce and guacamole served with chipotle ranch dressing. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available at some locations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Fives Bar
529 St. Ann St.; fives.bar
The stylish cocktail and raw bar along Jackson Square has oysters from both the Gulf and East coasts along with caviar and a selection of larger plates. Crab claws are prepared in a Thai green curry with coconut and pickled serrano peppers. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
The neighborhood bistro specializes in Creole and Cajun dishes and has po-boys, red beans and rice, boiled seafood and char-broiled
oysters. A deep-fried, half chicken platter comes with a choice of fries, potato salad or grilled vegetables. Reservations accepted for large parties. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
GW Fins
808 Bienville St., (504) 581-3467; gwfins.com
The menu at the French Quarter restaurant changes daily based on its suppliers’ catches. Past menus have included dishes like lobster dumplings, panko-crusted calamari and wahoo ceviche. The Scalibut is a dish with halibut, sea scallops, Royal red shrimp risotto, snow peas and pea shoot butter. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily. $$$
GAIA Steakhouse
1820 St. Charles Ave., (337) 443-7967; gaiasteakhouse.com
Steaks are grilled to order over charcoal embers and finished in a wood-fired oven. The menu has a variety of premium beef cuts, including filet mignon, New York strip and rib-eye. Asado short ribs are slow-roasted for 12 hours and served with red wine au jus, heirloom carrots and polenta. The menu also has burgers, chicken, seafood and salads. Reservations recommended. Delivery available. Dinner Wed.-Mon. $$$
Galaxie Tacos
3060 St. Claude Ave., (504) 827-1443; galaxietacos.com
The Bywater taqueria uses house-made tortillas for tacos, quesadillas and more dishes inspired by Mexico City and Oaxaca, Mexico.
A thick cut of snapper at Aperitif Spritz & Bites in Old Mandeville
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Quesabirria are two beef brisket tacos with Chihuahua cheese, onions and cilantro served with a side of beef consommé for dipping. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner Tue.Sun. $$
plus an array of sides and desserts. The AllMeat Combo pizza is topped with pepperoni, ham, beef, sausage, Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese with a piece of bacon on each slice. The Kenner location also offers New Orleans-inspired pies like the shrimp po-boy, made with remoulade, breaded shrimp, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mozzarella. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
The Old Metairie establishment serves a range of New American dishes and cocktails with both indoor and patio seating. Crab gnocchi comes with carrots, coconut, celeriac and basil. There also is roasted bone marrow with pickles, herb salad and crostini. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
The Uptown spot has an elevated menu of French and New Orleans cuisine. The Robbins Island wagyu eye of rib-eye steak is served with chestnut mushrooms, roasted chestnuts and a braised beef doughnut. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.Sat. $$$
The casual restaurant and tiki bar serves a blend of Mexican and Caribbean-style dishes such as Baja shrimp tacos and ceviche. Seasonal weekend crawfish boils kick off around 6 p.m. on Fridays and at noon Saturdays. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Godfather’s Pizza
2321 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite J, Kenner, (504) 470-2195; godfathers.com
The Thai restaurant from the owners of Pomelo focuses on seafood. On the starter menu, clams are sauteed with fresh basil, garlic and smoky chili jam. And the glass noodle pad thai is prepared with Gulf shrimp, scallops, egg, bean sprouts and peanuts. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar
3201 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (504) 443-6454; harborseafoodandoysterbar.com
The neighborhood restaurant and oyster bar serves a variety of Gulf seafood for seasonal boils, platters and po-boys. The Swamp Platter comes with fried alligator, fried crawfish tails, fried frog legs, turtle soup, crawfish etouffee and alligator sausage. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Headquarters
445 S. Rampart St., (504) 217-6851; headquartersnola.com
Nice Guys NOLA’s sister restaurant in the CBD has a menu of elevated Southern dishes. Blackened wings are char-grilled and tossed in house seasoning with garlic butter, and there are rosemary-marinated, chargrilled lamb chops with a rustic potato mash and garlic butter. Reservations
Fried chicken sandwiches are the specialty at Bonafried.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
20 26
Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
The music venue’s restaurant serves a Southern menu with Louisiana influences like char-grilled oysters and jambalaya. The Voodoo Shrimp are sauteed shrimp in an Abita Amber beer reduction sauce served with tomatoes and jalapeno-cheese cornbread. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. and on concert days. $$
II Supremo Pizza & Pasta
619 Pink St., Suite B, Metairie; ilsupremopizza.com
The small pizza joint is known for its thincrust pies and house-made pastas. The Spicy Steve is a pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, low-moisture mozzarella, pepperoni, jalapenos and hot honey. Il Supremo also serves slices. Online orders must be made 24 hours in advance. No reservations. Dinner Wed.-Sun. $$
J&J Seafood
632 Franklin St., Gretna, (504) 366-2219
The West Bank seafood joint has served boiled crawfish, shrimp and turkey necks for going on 35 years. The menu also includes fried catfish, boudin, chicken wings and more. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $
Jack Rose
Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St. Charles Ave., (504) 608-7112; jackroserestaurant.com
The art-filled hotel restaurant has a menu with nods to New Orleans’ French, Spanish and Italian heritage. On the starter menu, pork cheeks are served with Parmesan polenta and Creole meuniere. And the radiatore includes spicy Italian sausage, roasted garlic
and onions and ricotta salata. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sat.Sun. $$$
Jamaican Jerk House
4017 St. Claude Ave., (504) 441-8905; 4445 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie; jamaicanjerkhouse.com
Richard Rose pulls from his native Kingston for the menus at these Jamaican restaurants.
In addition to jerked meats, seafood and vegetables, the menu includes stews, patties, coco bread and other Jamaican staples. The Metairie location has a full bar, later hours and outdoor dining. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch Tue.-Sun., dinner Fri.-Sat. $$
Jewel of the South 1026 St. Louis St., (504) 265-8816; jewelnola.com
Beyond its James Beard Award-winning bar program, the French Quarter establishment serves elevated American dishes. A recent menu included roasted wagyu short ribs with Paris mash and bone marrow vinaigrette. There also are caviar options and small plates, like burrata with collard green pesto and focaccia or cushaw squash with coppa and seeds. Reservations recommended.
Along with coffee and doughnuts, the locally owned chain has a big breakfast menu, burgers, po-boys, seafood and more. The Jojo Special comes with shrimp, fish or chicken over pasta with crawfish cream sauce. No reservations. Delivery available. All locations: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; Gretna: late-night daily; Lapalco Blvd.: late-night Wed.-Sun.; Westwego: late-night Wed.-Sat. $$
Brussels sprouts with cardamom yogurt, lima beans and golden raisins at Charmant.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
The Commodore”
ST.
Spring
DINING ISSUE
The Joint
701 Mazant St., (504) 949-3232; alwayssmokin.com
The Bywater barbecue spot has housesmoked ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken and sausage available for combo platters and sandwiches. The W Special comes with pork, brisket and two ribs and a choice of side, such as cornbread muffins, coleslaw or potato salad. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
These local taquerias draw on Tex-Mex, Creole and California influences on their menu of tacos, burritos, nachos and more. Pulledpork banh mi tacos are topped with pickled carrots and daikon, Sriracha sour cream, cucumbers, fresh jalapenos and cilantro in flour tortillas. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Junior’s on Harrison
789 Harrison Ave., Suite B; (504) 766-6902; juniorsonharrison.com
This casual Lakeview restaurant serves a contemporary American menu. Seared salmon comes with fingerling potatoes, wild rice and quinoa and sweet potato sauce. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
JusTinis offers a changing menu of upscale bar food and owner Jessica Robinson’s inventive cocktails. Lamanche Street lamb chops are tender lollipop lamb cuts served with grits and roasted asparagus. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun., latenight Fri.-Sat. $$
Katie’s serves a comforting menu of Creole dishes, po-boys, muffulettas, pizza, pastas and more. The Delta Queen pasta comes with fried shrimp, oysters and crawfish in garlic butter cream sauce. Reservations accepted for parties larger than seven. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Fresh, boiled, grilled and stuffed seafood are available at this neighborhood seafood spot, which also has boudin, deep-fried turkey, seafood pasta and more. Stuffed redfish comes with a choice of sides, such as Cajun potatoes, jalapeno hushpuppies or steamed vegetables. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
King Brasserie & Bar
Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; kingbrasserieandbar.com
The menu at the French brasserie-style bar and restaurant blends Mediterranean coastal cuisine and seasonal ingredients of Louisiana. A combination of braised short rib and scallops is served with whipped potatoes, squash and gremolata. Reservations accepted. Brunch and dinner daily. $$$
La Macarena Pupuseria & Latin Cafe
8120 Hampson St., (504) 862-5252; pupusasnola.com
The Riverbend restaurant serves Salvadoran dishes and specializes in pupusas, or griddle cakes filled with cheese, vegetables or meat. There also are chicken flautas, tamales, chili rellenos, tacos and vegan options. The carne asada comes with house-made tortillas, yellow rice, refried black beans and salad. No reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. $$
La Tia Taqueria & Cantina
4517 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 354-8570; latiacantina.com
La Tia’s large menu of Mexican dishes ranges from aguachile and ceviche to tacos, burritos and Aztec soup. The Bajon tacos include tempura-style fried shrimp or redfish on a cheese-crusted tortilla with cabbage, carrots, pickled radishes and spicy mayo. The Chamorro is a braised pork shank served on pureed black beans with crispy potato wedges and vinaigrette. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Landry’s serves New Orleans-style seafood dishes, broiled or pan-seared fish, bar food appetizers and more. The Gulf Coast Classic features blackened redfish, crawfish etouffee, grilled andouille sausage and red beans and rice. Reservations accepted. Delivery
and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
This Warehouse District spot offers a modern French bistro menu. Starters include pate with cornichons and crackers, bone marrow and escargot, and an endive salad. Gulf fish courtbouillon comes with tomato fumet, fennel and rice fritters. Le Moyne is adjoined to neighboring Maria’s Wine & Oyster Bar. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tues.Sat. $$$
Each of Legacy Kitchen’s restaurants has a different focus, but there is some crossover on the menus. Tacklebox is all about seafood
TAKEOUT and DELIVERY
Freshly made flour tortillas are a hallmark of Barracuda Taco Stand.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
and Southern dishes, and it has an oyster bar. There are flash-fried oysters with different toppings, like the Gris Gris, which come with creamed spinach and Tabasco hollandaise. Reservations accepted. Delivery available at Craft Tavern and Tacklebox. New Orleans: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; Gretna: Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Now marking its 25th anniversary, chef John Harris’ Uptown restaurant serves creative French bistro fare like hanger steak with marrowed bordelaise, and regional fare like Louisiana crab claws served with passionfruit butter. The roasted Muscovy duck breast includes cauliflower polonaise, sauteed spinach and toasted shallot sauce. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Lin’s Poke & Sushi
St. Roch Market, 2381 St. Claude Ave., (504) 267-0388; strochmarket.com
Customizable poke bowls, sushi, rolls and ramen are available at this food stand inside St. Roch Market. Tonkatsu ramen is served with pork, chicken dumplings, noodles, egg, corn, seaweed, green onion and kale. Signature rolls include the Caterpillar, made with tempura fired shrimp, avocado and salmon topped with eel sauce, spicy mayo, masago and green onion. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
The Baquet family’s Creole soul food institution serves gumbo, po-boys, fried chicken, seafood platters and more. Daily specials include red beans and fried catfish Jourdain, which is topped with shrimp, crabmeat and lemon butter sauce. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Mon.-Sat. $$
The cozy wine and cocktail garden in Algiers offers rotating small plate appetizers and daily specials. A recent “Grill Night” special included steak with horseradish served with a shrimp, poblano and caramelized onion sweet potato hash. The venue also hosts live music, trivia and chef pop-ups. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Known for its garlicky tapas, paella and fideuas, Lola’s serves Spanish cuisine in Faubourg St. John. Andalusian dishes include the ajoblanco, a chilled almond soup, and caldereta, a lamb stew made with peppers, carrots, wine and spices. It comes with basmati rice and vegetables. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. $$$
Lucy’s serves tacos, sandwiches, burgers, salads and bar food along with colorful, beach-themed cocktails. The blackened fish tacos come with mango-pineapple salsa and slaw. Appetizers include a panko-crusted fried avocado served with black bean salsa and chipotle ranch dressing. No reservations. Outdoor seating and delivery available. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily, late night Wed.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Luke
333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 378-2840; lukeneworleans.com
This restaurant combines seasonal Creole cuisine with French and German brasserie fare ranging from pate to Flammenkuchen, an Alsatian onion tarte with bacon and Emmenthaler cheese. The raw bar serves Louisiana Gulf and specialty oyster varieties, Maine lobster and citrus-cured Gulf tuna. Speckled trout amandine comes with wild mushrooms, Gulf shrimp, green beans and toasted almonds. Reservations accepted. Breakfast and dinner daily, lunch Mon.-Fri., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Chef Hao Gong’s pan-Asian menu includes creative raw fish and sushi dishes, noodles and dumplings and plenty of nods to the chef’s Shanghai roots. Mala Holla is spicy beef with cilantro and ghost chili oil. The double-fried yellowtail collar comes with sesame, cilantro and soy sauce. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Lyon’s Corner
Hotel Theo New Orleans, 537 Gravier St., (504) 527-0006; lyonscornernola.com
The cafe serves breakfast and small plates, Southern-style entrees, sandwiches and baked goods. Cajun prawns are head-on Gulf shrimp with Cajun seasoning, brown butter and roasted garlic, and lamb lollipops come with chermoula sauce, pickled Fresno and mint. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$$
In addition to pizza, this Warehouse District joint has wraps, salads, calzones, hot sandwiches and a variety of pasta dishes. The Aphrodisiac pie comes with red sauce, mozzarella, basil, cilantro, artichoke, pineapple, chili pepper and roasted garlic. Delivery and outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$
The long-running seafood spot specializes in boiled and fried Louisiana fish, shrimp
and oysters, plus snow and Dungeness crab. The fried catfish basket comes with fries, potato salad, fried okra or coleslaw. Po-boys, burgers, gumbo and meat pies also are available. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Connected to sister restaurant Le Moyne Bistro, Maria’s menu features raw bar items including regional oysters, crudo and ceviche as well as small plates like poached Gulf shrimp and smoked tuna dip. Larger dishes feature Caribbean and New Orleans cuisine. The coconut curry pork is served with fried yuca and pickled cabbage. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Meril
424 Girod St., 504) 526-3745; bemeril.com
This Warehouse District restaurant from Emeril Lagasse puts a spotlight on contemporary American and global cuisine. Fried turkey necks, boudin balls and barbecued shrimp represent Louisiana, while internationally inspired dishes include shrimp and pork dumplings, Italian-inspired flatbreads and spicy paccheri. The grilled rib-eye comes with blistered sweet peppers, A2 sauce and chimichurri. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Messina’s
Runway Cafe
New Orleans Lakefront Airport Terminal, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd., (504) 241-5300; messinasrunwaycafe.com
The restaurant inside the Lakefront Airport’s Art Deco terminal building has a menu of Creole dishes, plate specials and more. The Jimmy Wedell pasta, named for the 1930s pilot, includes shrimp, crabmeat and crawfish
over angel hair pasta with basil cream sauce. Weekday specials include Friday’s fried catfish with fries, coleslaw and jalapeno cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast and lunch Tue.-Fri., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
The seafood shop has shrimp, crawfish and various types of fish and shellfish. Crawfish are available live or boiled, and sides include sausage, corn and potatoes. Crawfish boudin also is available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Middendorf’s serves classic Gulf coast dishes such as fried frog legs and boiled shrimp. It’s longtime signature thin-cut fried catfish comes with fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies. Italian oysters are broiled over spinach and cream cheese and topped with garlic-Parmesan breadcrumbs. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $$
Mikimoto
3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com
The Japanese restaurant has a wide-ranging menu of sushi rolls, ramen, tempura and teriyaki dishes. The Joe Burreaux roll has shrimp tempura, spicy salmon, cream cheese, avocado and cucumber inside soy paper and rice topped with fresh salmon and crunchy garlic. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$
Boiled shrimp at Frankie & Johnny’s Restaurant PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
APRIL23RD –MAY 3RD,2026
Larry Morrow’s Mid-City restaurant has Creole dishes, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, salads and more. Choices range from shrimp and grits to boudin egg rolls and The Bienville, a Creole-style crawfish etouffee served over steamed rice and topped with fried catfish. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Fri.-Mon., late-night Fri.-Sat. $$
N7
1117 Montegut St.; n7nola.com
N7 offers a menu of Japanese-influenced French dishes including garlic nori butter escargot, lobster miso bisque and roasted shishito peppers. Swiss chard gnocchi with black truffles and maitake mushrooms is served in a smoked tomato coulis. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily, brunch Fri.-Sun. $$
Mosca’s has served Italian fare since 1946, and signature dishes include shrimp Mosca, which are baked with Italian seasonings and breadcrumbs. The pineapple fluff dessert is crushed pineapples with whipped cream and melted marshmallow fluff and is topped with graham cracker crumbs. Reservations recommended. Cash only. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
Mother’s has a menu of all-day breakfast, po-boys and Creole staples like jambalaya, shrimp Creole and red beans and rice. The seasonal soft-shell crab sandwich is dressed with shredded cabbage, sliced pickles and mayonnaise. No reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$$
The Munch Factory
4141 Bienville St., Suite 110, (504) 264-7621; themunchfactory.net
Alexis and Jordan Ruiz’s modern Creole restaurant recently moved into its Mid-City location. Along with comforting entrees, the menu includes sandwiches, salads, gumbo, wings and more. Lightly blackened Louisiana fish is served with fried grit cakes and topped with crawfish and pepper sauce. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sun. $$
Neyow’s
3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com
The Creole restaurant serves classics like gumbo, po-boys, stuffed crab and fried oysters. Red beans and rice can be ordered with grilled or fried chicken, a grilled or breaded pork chop, hot sausage, or grilled or fried fish. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch and early dinner Sun. $$
Nice Guys offers a menu of innovative twists on New Orleans cuisine, with seafood dishes, wings, tacos, sandwiches and more. Earhart Attack fries are topped with a fried egg, marinated chicken, smoked sausage, bacon, jalapeño and come drizzled with crawfish cheese sauce. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Thu., dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Fri.-Wed. $$
Nikkei Izakaya
The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St., (504) 224-5657; nikkeiizakaya.com
The tavern at the Broadside serves Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions. Yakizakana is grilled Gulf fish served with grated daikon, aji amarillo peppers, green onion, sesame seeds and ponzu sauce. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily. $$
Spicy ground shrimp with noodles is a standard at Peche Seafood Grill.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
20 26
Origen Bistro
3600 St. Claude Ave., (504) 381-4245; origenbistrono.com
Chef Julio Machado’s restaurant serves Venezuelan cuisine. Tuna tiradito has tuna with lime, orange, ginger, sweet potatoes and crispy cachapa, or corn pancake. There’s also a daily brunch menu with arepas, empanadas and more. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch, dinner and brunch daily. $$
The Original Slap Burger
Marie’s Bar & Kitchen, 2483 Burgundy St., Suite 1, (504) 251-4124; originalslapburger. com
The kitchen in the back of Marie’s slings smashburgers along with grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders and bar snacks. Burgers can be ordered with single or double patties. The Western is made with quarter-pound beef patties, house Slap sauce, barbecue sauce, bacon, pickles or jalapenos, American cheese and fried onions on a toasted brioche bun. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. $$
Orleans
Brothers
5941 Bullard Ave., Suite 6, (504) 415-5817; orleansbrothers.com
The casual, family-owned takeout restaurant specializes in savory crawfish pies and pralines, along with gumbo and yakamein. Their specialty crawfish pies comes in 3-inch, 5-inch and 9-inch sizes and are loaded with crawfish tails in a creamy Creole sauce in a flaky pie crust. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch Thu.-Tue. $$
The restaurant and wine bar has shareable plates like cheese boards and baked brie served with pecans, honey and bread. Stuffed flounder comes filled with Lake
Beef tartare with pecan butter and duck egg at Fives, a bar on Jackson Square
Pontchartrain blue crab meat, topped with crawfish tasso cream sauce, and is served with pecan popcorn rice and baby vegetables. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$
Paladar 511
511 Marigny St., (504) 509-6782; paladar511.com
The menu includes modern Italian dishes alongside innovative plates like braised rabbit with brown butter sweet potato gnocchi and fried Brussels sprouts. Squid ink spaghetti is tossed with Gulf shrimp, Calabrian chili butter and green onions. Reservations accepted. Dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Palm & Pine
308 N. Rampart St., (504) 814-6200; palmandpinenola.com
The creative seasonal menu includes Corner Store Crudo made with yellowfin tuna, daikon, herbs, shrimp chips and pineapple Big Shot nuoc cham sauce. The brunch menu has chilaquiles blancos, which includes sunny-side-up eggs, salsa cremosa de queso, banana peppers, avocado and Cotija cheese. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sat.- Sun. $$$
Pardos serves gourmet Southern bistro cuisine. Beef carpaccio comes with black peppercorn aioli, capers, arugula, lemon, pecorino, radish and crostini. Spicy blackened shrimp rigatoni is tossed in vodka sauce with fine herbs. Reservations recommended.
Lunch Thu.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Parish Grill
4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill.com
The wide-ranging menu has burgers,
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
xonour
sandwiches, pizza, salads and entree specials. The Swamp sandwich is made with alligator sausage, caramelized onions, pickled peppers and jalapeno ranch dressing. Appetizers include boudin balls, boudin egg rolls, crawfish and meat pies and more. No reservations. Outdoor seating and delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
The well-known po-boy shop has Gulf seafood, roast beef, sausage and vegetarian options. The James Brown po-boy has barbecue beef, fried shrimp, pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Wed.-Sun. $$
Pascal’s Manale
1838 Napoleon Ave., (504) 895-4877; pascalsmanale.com
The Creole-Italian restaurant is famous for its signature New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp and stand-up oyster bar. Grilled Fish Orleans is topped with shrimp, artichoke hearts and mushrooms and served with pasta. Reservations accepted. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner daily. $$$
Pat Gallagher’s
Gallagher’s Grill, 509 S. Tyler St., Covington, (985) 892-9992; 527 Restaurant & Bar, 527 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 778-2820; Front Street, 2306 Front St., Slidell, (985) 326-8350; gallaghersgroup.com
Pat Gallagher’s comfortable, fine-dining restaurants serve a selection of steaks and Creole-influenced dishes. The pompano is pan-sauteed and served with jump lump crabmeat and a citrus beurre blanc. Reservations accepted. Covington and Mandeville: lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat.; Slidell: lunch Thu.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$
The restaurant serves seafood, sandwiches and pasta. Cedar-plank Gulf fish has a citrus horseradish crust and is served with lemon butter sauce and sauteed green beans. Reservations accepted for indoor seating only. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner Wed.-Sat. $$$
Paulie’s
8201 Oak St., (504) 412-8326; pauliesneworleans.com
The Uptown restaurant specializes in classic New York deli-style sandwiches. Sandwiches include the Italian Stallion, which has pepperoni, salami, sweet capicolla, prosciutto provolone and mozzarella, arugula, sun-dried Roma tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch daily, dinner Thu.-Sat. $$
Peche serves contemporary seafood dishes inspired by South American, Spanish and
DINING ISSUE Spring
Gulf Coast culinary techniques and flavors.
Small plates include steak tartare with oyster aioli and fried oysters with pickled corn and kimchi aioli. Baked drum is served with leeks, soy, sesame and sweet potato. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Perino’s specializes in boiled and fried seafood and offers po-boys, stuffed artichokes and gumbo. Oysters are available raw or charbroiled with cheesy garlic butter and seafood stuffing. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. $$
This seafood restaurant serves boiled and fried fare along with po-boys and more.
Stuffed Gulf shrimp Alfredo features tail-on shrimp and crabmeat stuffing on a bed of linguine in cream sauce. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$$
The Uptown restaurant has oysters from the East and West coasts and a menu of creative seafood dishes. Small plates include miso blue crab salad with mango jalapeno ketchup and tempura fried nori. Seafood dumplings served with gochujang cream and pepper jelly. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily, late night Fri.-Sat. $$$
Pizza Bella
8115 Oak St., (504) 345-2959; pizzabellanola.com
The casual Italian eatery offers a menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas, pastas and calzones.
The Capricciosa pizza has marinara sauce and mozzarella, topped with artichokes, ham, black olives, sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. Delivery available. Lunch, dinner and latenight daily. $$
The seasonal, tapas-style menu is inspired by New Orleans’ melting pot of cultures. Sample dishes include tuna crudo topped with charred tomato vinaigrette, crushed almonds and chermoula aioli. Red beans and rice arancini comes with Tabasco mash aioli. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner daily, brunch Fri.-Sun. $$$
Porgy’s Seafood Market
236 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 429-3474; porgysseafood.com
The Mid-City combination market and restaurant sells wild-caught raw seafood and also serves it up hot in po-boys, gumbos and more. The crawfish roll has hand-peeled tails tossed in remoulade and served with romaine lettuce, pickled onion and dill on Bunny Bread. No reservations. Lunch daily. Market open Mon.-Sat. $$
Pulcinella!
1300 St. Bernard Ave., (504) 221-1560; dirtydimeproductions.com
Chef Matty Hayes leans into his Sicilian roots on a menu with homestyle Italian dishes such as Sunday gravy meatballs, topped with whipped ricotta and focaccia bread. Eggplant Parmesan is topped with marinara sauce, caciocavallo cheese, capuliato and basil and is served with angel hair pasta. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Ralph’s on the Park
900 City Park Ave., (504) 488-1000; ralphsonthepark.com
With a view of City Park, the Mid-City restaurant serves elevated Creole dishes with global
Jess’s
LobsterOmelette
SeafoodMuffaletta
ChickenStew w/ WhiteRice
Pressed Turkey
PestoSandwich w/ Fries
Cowboy Butter SteakPasta
Citrus and Herb Seabass w/ Balsamic Glaze
Brussels
CrawfishBisque W/ FriedCatfish —DINNER—
LobsterKadobster over Linguinie
SeafoodLasagna
Boiled crawfish at Castnet Seafood
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
rizzutosprime.com
AVAILABLE HappyHour (3pm -6pm Everyday) Meatballs &Martini (3pm -Till EveryThursday)
influences. Pan-seared, herb-coated Gulf tuna is served on a bed of risotto with fried garlic chips, lemon-garlic sauce and asparagus sautéed with shallots. The menu also includes duck crepes made with duck confit, sauteed mushrooms and brie wrapped in an herbed crepe and served with fig gastrique. Reservations accepted. Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Read Seafood
7340 Read Blvd., (504) 246-8380; readseafood.top
The menu at this New Orleans East restaurant is split between classic fried and boiled seafood and Chinese dishes. Sweet and sour shrimp includes deep-fried shrimp, pineapple, bell pepper and onions in sweet and sour sauce. No reservations. Lunch and dinner
Mon.-Sat. $
Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon St., (504) 598-1200; redfishgrill.com
Ralph Brennan’s casual restaurant has an oyster bar and classic New Orleans seafood dishes. Wood-grilled redfish comes with crawfish, Cajun tasso-onion butter, brabant potatoes, pea shoots and lemon-butter sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
This fine-dining restaurant focuses on contemporary Creole cuisine. Oxtail agnolini comes with black trumpet mushrooms and black garlic shoyu, while pan-seared striped bass is served with spiny lobster, hakurei turnips and saffron. Reservations recommended. Lunch Fri., dinner daily. $$$
Rib Room
Omni Royal Orleans, 621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045; ribroomneworleans.com
Along with dry-aged prime rib, the restaurant at the Omni Royal serves steaks, lamb, chicken and some seafood dishes. Rosemary and Tellicherry peppercorn crusted prime rib can be ordered in 12-, 14-, 16- or 18-ounce portions that come with Worcestershire jus, horseradish creme and Yorkshire pudding. Reservations accepted. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily, jazz brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
The Northshore restaurant has a menu of creative seafood dishes and views of Lake Pontchartrain. The Crab on Crab is a fried jumbo soft-shell crab topped with crabmeat bordelaise and served with grilled asparagus and new potatoes. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Sun. $$$
steaks, po-boys, burgers and more. The all-in seafood platter includes shrimp, catfish, crab cakes and onion rings. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Gretna: lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun.; Jefferson: lunch and dinner daily. $$
The upscale steakhouse has a seafood raw bar, pasta and Italian dishes. Appetizers include lump crab stuffed mushrooms and steak tartare. Steak options include filet mignon, New York strip, spinalis cut rib-eye, porterhouse and a tomahawk veal chop. For a la carte sides, there’s creamed spinach, sauteed mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House
6262 Fleur De Lis Drive, (504) 300-1804; rizzutosristorante.com
Rizzuto’s serves steaks and classic Italian items, like veal Parmesan and chicken piccata. Oysters bordelaise is served over house-made linguine with garlic, herbs, butter and green onions. Reservations accepted. Lunch Tue.Fri., Dinner Tue.-Sun. $$$
Chef Susan Spicer’s restaurant in the Navarre neighborhood serves a creative Southern menu. The duck pastrami sandwich comes on multigrain bread with red cabbage, pickled onions and Russian dressing. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Wed.-Sat., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sun. $$
Royal House Oyster Bar
441 Royal St., (504) 528-2601; royalhouserestaurant.com
The restaurant and oyster bar serves seafood, po-boys, Creole dishes and more in a historic French Quarter building. Seafood Pescatore is linguine topped with Gulf shrimp, crawfish and blue crab meat sautéed with garlic and fresh herbs and tossed in marinara. Oysters come either raw or char-grilled with Parmesan butter sauce. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Royal Woodfired Pizza
2483 Royal St., (504) 264-7587; royalswoodfirepizza.com
One of two new restaurants by chefs Kamil el Jaouhari and Wasim Jamhour at the corner of Royal and St. Roch streets, Royal’s Woodfired Pizza serves hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizzas, stromboli, salads and calzones. The Greek Delight pizza has ricotta white sauce and is topped with thinly sliced gyro, green pepper, onion, oregano, olives, feta, shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Ruby Slipper Areawide; rubybrunch.com
The all-day brunch restaurant serves signature Benedicts, omelets, French toast and more. Loaded tots come with apple-braised pork debris, tasso cream sauce and chives. No reservations. Delivery available. Outdoor seating available at some locations. Breakfast and brunch daily. $$
Rumba
5257 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 224-4504; tasterumba.com/metairie-la Rumba has a tropical atmosphere and a menu of tacos, burgers, salads and Caribbean-influenced entrees. There also are some Louisiana dishes, like barbecue shrimp and Zydeco redfish, which is Cajun-seasoned grilled redfish served with paneed shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and Creole reduction sauce. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. $$$
These casual Northshore restaurants focus on seafood but also have burgers, salads and more. The Mahi Gras is a grilled mahi fillet, a thin-cut fried onion ring and remoulade served on a jalapeno cheddar bun. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Tue.-Sat. $
Saint Claire
1300 Richland Road, (504) 766-9316; saintclaire.me
Chef Melissa Martin’s French country-style restaurant in Algiers has a rotating menu of rustic dishes made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. A recent menu included gnocchi with jumbo lump crabmeat tossed in lemon butter sauce. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thur.-Sun. $$$
St. Mary’s Restaurant
4445 W. Metairie Ave., (504) 264-7594; stmarys-restaurant.com
The cafe has an eclectic menu with all-day breakfast, shareable plates and Southern entrees. A portion of each sale also benefits
Boiled crawfish at Today’s Ketch Seafood in Chalmette
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
St. Mary’s Residential Community & Services. The grits and grillades are topped with braised pork medallions, Creole tomato gravy and crispy onion strings. Reservations accepted for groups of 10 or more. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Thu.-Sat. $$
Salvo’s Seafood
dishes, as well as steak, veal and duck. Broiled pecan shrimp has jumbo shrimp with a red bean, sweet corn and spinach succotash, tarragon butter and toasted pecans. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Seaworthy
7742 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, (504) 393-7303; salvosseafood.com
The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, boiled seafood, fried seafood platters and all-you-can-eat and daily specials. The Catch is fried shrimp, catfish, soft-shell crab, stuffed crab, oysters and a crawfish and andouille egg roll, all served with a choice of side and salad. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$
The menu includes domestic wild-caught seafood and raw oysters from the East, West and Gulf coasts. Smoked rainbow trout is served with lentils and a mushroom-shallot conserva. Reservations accepted. Dinner daily. $$$
The Faubourg St. John restaurant has Mexican, Spanish and Southwestern dishes. The Santa Fe seafood combo comes with two enchiladas and a chili relleno with crawfish, shrimp, crabmeat, poblano sauce and cheese. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.Sun., brunch Sun. $$
Schaefer’s Seafood
1726 Lake Ave., Metairie, (504) 833-3973; facebook.com/schaefers.seafood
The family-owned Metairie seafood market sells raw and boiled seafood, and a variety of cooked dishes including seafood gumbo, boudin and stuffed artichokes. No reservations. Takeout only. Lunch Tue.-Sun. $$
Seawitch Restaurant & Oyster Bar
1628 St. Charles Ave., (504) 264-7600; seawitch-nola.com
The Lower Garden District restaurant serves an elevated menu of oyster and seafood
The menu includes seafood, Cajun dishes, po-boys and more. Mrs. Allison’s Crawfish Pie is a baked flaky pastry crust full of Louisiana crawfish stuffing and served with a side of sauteed asparagus. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Wed.-Mon., early dinner Wed.-Thu. and Sun., dinner Fri.-Sat. $$
The Harahan seafood spot is known for its boiled crawfish and crabs, and there’s a menu of po-boys, fried seafood platters, salads and more. The Voodoo fish and chips po-boy is a blackened fish po-boy with tartar sauce and Zapp’s Voodoo chips. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Caviar is scooped onto fried potato scallops with creme fraiche at Jewel of the South.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
26
Chile relleno, sweet potato tacos and Creole queso with crawfish are served at Espiritu, which recently opened a Mid-City location.
around 15 varieties of oysters from the Gulf, East and West coasts along with a menu of shareable plates, burgers, tacos, sandwiches and more. Tuna tartare is made with ahi tuna, sesame-soy vinaigrette, jicama, tobiko and sesame seeds and is served with fried wontons. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Sat.-Sun., dinner daily. $$
Owner Vassiliki Ellwood Yiagazis draws on both her Greek and Jewish heritage at this Mid-City restaurant. There is a day menu with breakfast and lunch dishes, like the breakfast gyro, which is grilled halloumi, scrambled eggs, bacon, tzatziki, red onions, tomatoes and seasoned fries wrapped in a pita. On the night menu, entrees include braised lamb served with mint chimichurri and spelt orzo. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Wed.-Sat. Reservations recommended for dinner. $$
Social has a menu of modern Peruvian and Nikkei (a Japanese influenced style of Peruvian cuisine) dishes, including ceviche, calamari and wonton tacos filled with fish tartare, salsa acevichada, togarashi, nori and quinoa furikake. Norteno short ribs are slow-cooked ribs with candied beans, salsa criolla, carrots, rice and choclo. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
This restaurant from Larry Morrow serves a menu of Caribbean-Creole fusion dishes, like New Orleans-style red beans served with oxtails. The Cuban po-boy includes slow-cooked pork, shaved ham, Swiss cheese and Creole mustard on French bread. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., late-night Fri.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
The casual seafood restaurant serves regional fish and shellfish on an elevated menu. The blackened Gulf fish is served with brabant potatoes and sauce Delery. There also are some “land” options, like the duroc pork chop with bourbon sweet mash and barbecue glaze. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Stingray’s Restaurant & Bar
1303 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner, (504) 443-4040; stingraysseafoodrestaurant.com
The menu at Stingray’s is heavy on seafood and pasta dishes. There’s also chicken, steak, pork chops and po-boys. The Zydeco Fish is a butterflied fish fillet stuffed with crabmeat dressing, deep-fried and topped with spicy shrimp cream sauce. The dish comes with choice of two sides, such as Cajun potatoes, green beans or fries. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. $$
Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar
4338 St. Charles Ave., (504) 293-3474; superiorseafoodnola.com
The Uptown restaurant serves Gulf oysters, Creole staples, seafood dishes and some chicken and beef options. The pasta de la
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
mer includes angel hair pasta, sauteed Louisiana Gulf shrimp, crabmeat, mussels, kalamata olives and spinach in tomato pomodoro sauce with shaved Parmesan. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. $$$
Sylvain
625 Chartres St., (504) 265-8123; sylvainnola.com
The French Quarter bistro has a Southern menu, courtyard seating and a standout bar program. Slow-cooked short ribs are served with Brussels sprouts, pearl onions, sweet potatoes and sherry mustard vinaigrette. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat., brunch Fri.-Sun. $$$
The West Bank restaurant has boiled seafood, including crawfish, crab and shrimp, that can be ordered mild, medium or spicy, as well as a menu of Vietnamese staples. Com chien tom thit is fried rice topped with shrimp and pork. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Mon. $$
Tableau
616 St. Peter St., (504) 934-3463; tableaufrenchquarter.com
Tableau serves a contemporary Creole menu
with balcony seating along Jackson Square. Andouille and crackling-crusted Gulf fish is served with Crystal beurre blanc, grilled asparagus and chive aioli. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Brunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $$$
Tchefuncte’s
407 St. Tammany St., Madisonville, (985) 323-4800; tchefunctes.com
The fine-dining restaurant looks over the Tchefuncte River and has a menu of seafood, steaks and Italian dishes. The cast ironseared redfish is topped with caper brown butter sauce and jumbo lump crabmeat and is served with squash and zucchini ribbons. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sun. $$$
Thai’d Up
1839 Gentilly Blvd., (504) 644-5790; thaidup.co
The Fair Grounds neighborhood favorite serves a Thai street food menu with some contemporary twists. The creamy tom yum soup is a spicy hot soup with coconut milk, lemon grass, lime leaves, carrots, mushrooms, onions and choice of tofu, vegetables, chicken or shrimp. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Mon. $$
Theo’s Pizza Areawide; theospizza.com
Oysters at Porgy’s Seafood Market
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
DINING ISSUE Spring
20 26
The local pizzerias have signature and customizable pies, sandwiches, salads, wings and bread sticks. The Arti-Garlic is a pizza topped with olive oil, mozzarella, minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, purple onions, Anaheim peppers, artichoke hearts and feta. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco
1433 St. Charles Ave., (504) 354-1342; titoscevichepisco.com
The Peruvian restaurant has several ceviche options, tiradito and seafood, poultry and beef entrees. Lomo saltado is a stir-fry dish with seared beef tenderloin, red onions, tomatoes, and potatoes tossed in a savory Peruvian sauce and served with rice. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Toast focuses on breakfast and brunch dishes, like omelets, waffles, crepes and aebelskivers, a Danish puffed pancaked with powdered sugar and sauce. The Toast burger includes a brisket patty, roasted tomato and Dijonnaise on a bun with a side of fries. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$
Today’s Ketch Seafood
2110 E. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, (504) 279-6639; todaysketch-seafood.com
The 40-year-old Chalmette spot has boiled crawfish and shrimp along with seafood dinners, po-boys, salads and more. The crawfish etouffee dinner comes with a side of fried shrimp or fish and salad. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch daily, early dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Toups’ Meatery
845 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 252-4999; toupsmeatery.com
Chef Isaac and Amanda Toups put a contemporary touch on Cajun dishes at their MidCity restaurant. Tea-brined quail is served with mushrooms, wild rice and pecan brown butter. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Vals
4632 Freret St., (504) 666-2397; valsnola.com
The Freret Street spot has tacos, chips with salsa, guac and queso, margaritas, cocktails and plenty of outdoor space. Conchinita pibil tacos are filled with slow-roasted, achiote-marinated pork shoulder and topped with habanero and pickled onions. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
The Garden District cafe has coffee, beignets and breakfast dishes all day, and there is a menu of small plates, charcuterie, flatbreads and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. The chicken BLT flatbread comes with mozzarella, tomatoes, garlic aioli, arugula and ranch. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
The West Bank seafood restaurant has a menu with Cajun, Creole-Italian and some German dishes. Chef-owner David Volion spent more than a decade in the kitchen at K-Paul’s, and the Voleo’s menu includes
Shrimp Creole is served with paneed eggplant at Rosedale.
PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Shrimp Mosca is a made with rosemary, pepper and lots of garlic and served family style at Mosca’s Restaurant.
Yinzer’s Amazing Cheesesteaks
or Alaska
7- Ni gh tFou r- Hawa ii an -I sl an d Va ca ti on from $1,8 65 Hawa i’i’swea lt hofn at ural be au ty is th eb re at htak in gb ac kd ro pfor un fo rg et ta bl eexp erie nces th at rewa rd t hose wh od el ve al it tl ed ee pe r- in to vi bran tcul tu re sf ul lofwel co mi ng al oh a, at hriv in gfoo dsce ne an dt hrilli ng ou td oo ra dven tu re s.
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K-Paul’s original Pasta Diane made with shrimp, crawfish and oysters sauteed in a button mushroom butter sauce and served over angel hair pasta with toast and salad. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Vyoone’s Restaurant
412 Girod St., (504) 518-6007; vyoone.com
Vyoone’s serves a seasonal menu of Frenchand Creole-inspired dishes in the Warehouse District. Shrimp and crawfish are served in a butter cream sauce over pappardelle pasta with garlic, leeks, aged white cheddar and basil. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sun. $$$
Williby’s Catfish
4327 Paris Ave., (504) 354-9371; willibyscatfish.com
With an on-site catfish farm, it’s hard to find fresher fish than Williby’s. The takeout joint serves fried fish, ribs and shrimp plates with sides like fries, potato salad and pork and beans. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch Wed.-Sat. $$
The Metairie restaurant serves a Japanese menu with nigiri, sashimi, handrolls, rice bowls, noodle dishes and more. There’s also a 12-course seasonal tasting menu. The yaki-do sando is a sandwich with chicken, egg salad, cabbage, Kewpie truffle mayo, mustard and katsu sauce. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Yinzer’s focuses on Pittsburgh-style cheesesteaks, along with classic and specialty sandwich options. An Amoroso roll is filled with steak, sauteed onions, mayo and choice of provolone or white American cheese or house-made cheddar whiz sauce. No reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $$
Zea Rotisserie & Bar
Areawide; zearestaurants.com
These casual restaurants serve dishes with Asian, Mediterranean and local influences. The Asian almond shrimp are fried butterflied shrimp with a honey ginger-chili glaze and are served with choice of two sides, such as Thai green beans, red beans and rice, steamed broccoli or roasted corn grits. Reservations accepted. Delivery and outdoor seating available at some locations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Zimmer’s Seafood
4915 St. Anthony Ave., (504) 282-7150; facebook.com/zimmersseafood
This family-owned counter-service spot has boiled seafood, including crawfish, crabs and shrimp, po-boys and seafood plates served with fries, garlic bread and choice of salad or coleslaw. Po-boy options include shrimp, fish, oyster, crab patty, hot sausage, ham, turkey and roast beef. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
YINZER’S AMAZING CHEESESTEAKS CHEESEBURGER CHEESESTEAK with mushrooms, sauteed onions, sliced pickles, double white American cheese, yellow mustard, and mayo, on an Amoroso roll
YINZERSAMAZINGCHEESESTEAKS.COM
Zucchini noodle with tomato & asparagus tossed in Paleo pesto
3RD BLOCK DEPOT FILET MIGNON
Whether meeting friends or a special occasion, our menu has something for every taste. Enjoy a succulent Filet Mignon paired with your choice of side. 3rd Block Depot is located inside of Hotel de la Poste in the French Quarter.
ORLEANS GRAPEVINE WINE BAR AND BISTRO ROASTED DUCK BREAST
Sliced duck breast served with blackberry brandy reduction, seasoned wedge potatoes, and chef’s choice of vegetables
ORLEANSGRAPEVINE.COM
MIKIMOTO WHOLLY ROLL
THE VINTAGE ZOODLE BOWL
SPRING
LEGACY KITCHEN’S STEAK AND CHOP LK CENTER CUT FILET
Today’s neighborhood steakhouse in Gretna capturing polished casual sandwiches, crisps salads and comfort food entrees with a variety of prime steaks and chops cooked to perfection. High emphasis on wine and cocktail service. The Westbank is the best bank, correct?
MOSCA’S RESTAURANT SHRIMP MOSCA
For more than 70 years, customers have enjoyed Italian classics like spaghetti & meatballs in addition to signature specialties like our Shrimp Mosca: a dozen headless peel & eat shrimp sautéed in olive oil, white wine, garlic & Italian seasonings.
LEGACY KITCHEN’S TACKLEBOX CHARBROILED OYSTERS
Craft cocktails & mouthwatering southern dishes served up daily at the TackleBox. Brunch served daily until 2 p.m. Happy Hour daily3-6 p.m. Try a customer favorite: charbroiled oysters made with garlic parmesan herb butter.
BEARCAT CAFE
TRUMPET SCALLOPS
Trumpet mushrooms, hummus, caulifower, asparagus
LEGACY KITCHEN’S CRAFT TAVERN CHICKEN & WAFFLES
Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern ofers refned American fare & crafted cocktails. Their brunch menu ofers fried chicken & wafes with hickory bacon-studded, pepper jelly maple syrup. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
ANNUNCIATION RESTAURANT & BAR CHEF'S FISH SPECIAL
Changes weekly featuring Fresh Fish Caught with seasonal vegetables and accompaniments
Sukiyaki
ACROPOLIS PSARI KALIMNOS
Flounder flet wrapped in flo, topped with a lemon dill sauce and served with grilled veggies
Two pork chops marinated and grilled to perfection topped w/ Bourbon glaze
WILLA JEAN CHICKEN & WAFFLES
Indulge in the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy with Willa Jean’s signature Chicken & Wafes; crispy, golden fried chicken and wafes, drizzled with a rich maple chili glaze and fnished with maple butter, a Southern classic reimagined WILLAJEAN.COM
CHEFDZSTREETEATZLA.COM
RIBROOMNEWORLEANS.COM RIVERSHACK TAVERN RUSTY’S SHRIMP WRAP This wrap is flled with crispy Gulf shrimp, applewood bacon, cheddar, swiss, lettuce, and ranch dressing.
ELIZABETH’S RESTAURANT EGGS FLORENTINE
Creamed spinach and fried oysters over potatoes, topped with poached eggs and hollandaise
PASCAL'S MANALE BY DICKIE BRENNAN & CO. ORIGINAL PASCAL'S BARBEQUE SHRIMP
The specialty of the house, prepared in a spicy and tangy sauce
PASCALSMANALERESTAURANT.COM
ELIZABETHSRESTAURANTNOLA.COM
Nola Bunarchy
The Marigny pub crawl features costumed marchers in everything from cute to horrifying or fetishy bunny costumes. Stops include Pepp’s Pub, Marie’s Bar, St. Roch Tavern and the Friendly Bar. The event raises funds for the Louisiana SPCA. At 6 p.m. Saturday, April 4. Visit noomoon. net for tickets and information.
Across Phoenix
New Orleans art rock trio Across Phoenix releases its new EP, “Dreaming Opaline,” with a show Thursday, April 2, at Siberia. Lisbon Girls, Berlin Taxi and Hey Thanks! also share the bill. Music starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $12.47 via dice.fm.
French Quarter
Easter Parade
Founded by the late Chris Owens, the French Quarter Easter Parade still honors her legacy as an entertainer and local celebrity. Festivities include a hat contest, the parade and a luncheon. The procession includes floats and more. The route starts on St. Louis Street in front of Antoine’s Restaurant and circles the district on Burgundy, St. Ann, Bourbon, St. Philip and Decatur streets before ending at Jackson Square. The parade starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 5. Visit fqeasterparade.com for information.
Strange Roux
New Orleans rock band Strange Roux rolls dark vibes, thick guitars and soaring moments into its sound, and the group recently released a distinctive new EP, “Midnight Dancer.” Strange Roux next plays at 11 p.m. Friday, April 3, at Le Bon Temps Roule. Admission is $10. Find more info at lbtrnola.com.
The Pink Pages
DJs Sean Straynge, NiceRack and SailorHank play an afterparty following the Gay Easter Parade Sunday, April 5, at Saturn Bar. Festivities start up around 7 p.m., and admission is $12.47 via dice.fm.
Ian Lara
New York comedian Ian Lara hashed over sex and dating in his 2022 HBO comedy special “Romantic Comedy.” His most recent special is “Material Boy,” released last fall on YouTube. He performs at 7 & 9 p.m. Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at Sports Drink. Tickets $29.69 via sportsdrink.org.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Wedding Present
British indie rock band The Wedding Present is on a long celebration of the 35th anniversary of its Steve Albiniproduced album “Seamonsters,” and is touring the U.S. this spring. The group stops in New Orleans for a show at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at Gasa Gasa. Mark Robinson opens. Tickets are $30.62 via gasagasanola.com.
April Fools’ Day parade
The Krewe du Fool is marking its 10th anniversary parade. Fools’ gold is an ongoing theme, and gold is a color for costumes, floats and more. The parade features small floats, costumed marchers and more. Little Freddie King is the honorary grand marshal, but will not be in the procession. The parade starts at Royal Street and Franklin Avenue at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Visit krewedufool.com for information.
Bullshit Machine
New Orleans punk band Bullshit Machine headlines an April Fools’ Day show with Painted Hands playing their last show. Neil Young also is on the flyer — and you just never know. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, at No Dice, and tickets are $13.60 via dice.fm.
Crescent City Classic
The 10K is a USA Track & Field sanctioned race, but many locals compete for best costume or run to benefit local charities. The run is the center of a day of festivities including a post-race festival in City Park and there’s a twoday health fair at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans on Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3. The run follows a course from near the Caesars Superdome to the French Quarter, and up Esplanade Avenue to the park. The race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 4. Visit ccc10k. com to register and for information.
Bard at the Batture:
Spring Awakening
Crescent City Stage presents a program with six actors presenting some of Shakespeare’s most popular and inspired monologues, highlighting love stories and spring renewal. The cast includes Mallory Osigian Favaloro, Nia Ragini, Nick DiJulio, Jarrod Smith, Wendy Miklovic and Jason Bayle. The performance is outdoors at The Batture at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2. Find information at crescentcitystage.com.
S For Consumer Community Advocate
TheSewerageand WaterBoard of NewOrleans announcesa Declared Vacancy, efectiveSaturday, May9,2026, of one (1)existingseatonits BoardofDirectors forConsumerCommunity Advocate. Pursuant to La.R.S.33:4071,the Sewerage andWater BoardofNew Orleans hereby givesnoticethatitisaccepting applicationsfrompersons from Consumer CommunityAdvocateinterestedinserving on theBoard of Directors.
TheSewerageand WaterBoard of NewOrleans is comprised of eleven members, sevenofwhich arecitizensappointed by themayor with theadviceand consentofthe City Council from alistofnomineessubmitted by theSewerageand WaterBoard SelectionCommittee. TheSewerageand WaterBoard SelectionCommittee is comprised of representativesfromthe following organizations: DillardUniversity, Loyola University,TulaneUniversity, Xavier University,Delgado Community College, Southern University at NewOrleans,UniversityofNew Orleans, NewOrleans ChamberofCommerce, NewOrleans Regional BlackChamber of Commerce,and theUrban League of GreaterNew Orleans. ELIGIBILIT Y, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ANDEXPERIENCEREQUIREMENTS
Thetermofofice formembers appointedtothe Sewerage andWater BoardofNew Orleansisfouryears. Additionally,amembershall servenomorethantwo consecutiveterms of ofice. Each nomineeshall be aregisteredvoter in OrleansParishand shallhavebeenadomiciliary of OrleansParishfor twoyears prior to his/herappointment.Pleasenotethatnomineesfor theCouncil District vacanciesmustresideinthe City CouncilDistrictfor whichheorshe applied. Consumer/Community Advocacy nomineesmay reside anywhere in OrleansParish.
Each nominee shall have experience in architecture, environmentalquality,finance, accounting,business administration,engineering,law,publichealth, urbanplanning, facilities management,publicadministration,science,construction,businessmanagement, communityorconsumeradvocacy, or otherpertinent disciplines.
Allmembers of theBoard of Directorsofthe Sewerage andWater BoardofNew Orleansmustcomply with allethical requirementsofLouisiana law,including butnot limitedtothe filing of financialstatementspursuanttoLa. R.S. 42,et. seq
APPLICATIONPROCESS
Formoreinformation andtobegin theapplication process, please visitour websiteat: https://www.swbno. org/notices/VacancyConsumerCommunityAdvocate. Thedeadlinetoapply is 5:00 p.m. on April24, 2026. Contact504-585-2190orProspectiveBoardMemberApplications@swbno.orgwithany questions.
FRENCH QUARTER FEST
ISSUE DATE:
APRIL 13 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 3]
JAZZ FEST ISSUE DATES:
APRIL 20 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 10]
APRIL 27 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 17]
To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MAPLE LEAF BAR — BC3 with Rik Fletcher, Doug Belote & Bert Cotton, 8 pm
MUSIC BOX VILLAGE — Sunday Concert ft. Patrick Smith, 12 pm
SATURN BAR — GAY EASTER: Sean Straynge, Nice Rack, & SailorHank, 7 pm
TIPITINA’S — Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes + Marc Paradis Performs Sea of Tranquility, 8 pm
Potter y painting workshop for kids & adults
ADORABLE BUNNY FIGURINES
DECORATE EASTER EGGS
SPRING-THEMED POTTERY CREATIONS
All materials included
SUMMER CAMPS•BIRTHDAY PARTIES POT TERY WHEEL CLASSES•POT TERY HAND BUILDING WALK-IN GRAB & GLAZE •DATE NIGHTS
Krewe anda very special guest.7pdoors/8show
April30
Well Kept Secret presents:KristinDiable, LooseCattle, Andrew DuhonQuartet.6pdoors/7pshow
May1
George Porter Jr.and Runnin’Pardners andJoe Marcinek Band .7pdoors/8show
May2 HelenGillet with Terrence Houston, Aurora Nealand’sMonocle, LyricalCock. 7pm door/ 8pm show
GOING OUT
Return trip
by Will Coviello
SENEGALESE BASSIST
ALUNE WADE RECORDED
HIS 2025 ALBUM “NEW AFRICAN ORLEANS” with a host of New Orleans and African musicians, including his own band members from Nigeria and Benin.
The album explores links between jazz and Africa, but unlike many projects tracing musical roots, he was looking at where the diaspora took African influences.
“Often it’s musicians from the diaspora coming to Africa looking for their roots,” he told Gambit.
“Now maybe it’s time for the roots to go looking for the branches.”
The album was released a year ago, and in November, Wade led an album celebration concert at the Marigny Opera House.
Now he’s returning for a screening of a companion documentary, “Tukki: From the Roots to the Bayou” on Thursday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. at The Broad Theater. It’s part of a series of events in the New African Orleans fest, presented by the Neighborhood Story Project and other partners. There are local documentaries and a free drum workshop, and Wade and a mix of local and traveling musicians will perform at a festival at the Broadside on Saturday, April 4.
“Tukki” means journey in the Senegambian Wolof language. The film begins with a focus on West Africa and scenes from a couple of the most notorious points of departure in the transatlantic slave trade. Both musicians and scholars talk about the music and culture the enslaved took with them.
Soon the focus changes to the rhythms of New Orleans music, and the parading traditions of social aid and pleasure clubs and more. It also touches on food and religious connections. Big Chief Victor Harris of the Mandingo Warriors talks about his suits and their West African style and materials. Later in the film, Harris goes to Senegal and parades with Senegalese bands.
The film also explores how jazz went to Africa, including in the post-World War II era when soldiers returned home after fighting for the French. Bands sprung up across Senegal with the word “jazz” in their name, says professor Ibrahima Wane of Chiekh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal. He says it was easy for West Africans to embrace because so much of it was familiar.
“It’s a modernity that takes us back to our roots,” he says. The film examines how African rhythms related to jazz and music in the Caribbean and Brazil and how those sounds were embraced. Nigerian Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti’s son Femi Kuti talks about the embrace of American music, including funk and soul.
The Neighborhood Story Project screens a slate of short films at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Broad. The films explore New Orleans music through the eyes of musicians. Dirty Dozen saxophonist Roger Lewis and members of the Rebirth Brass Band look back at the weekly brass band throwdowns at the Glass House, and there’s vintage footage from the early 1980s. Drummers Herlin Riley and Joe Lastie talk about the influence of spiritual churches, and other films delve into social aid and pleasure clubs.
The New African Orleans Family Festival is at 4:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Broadside. Wade will perform with New Orleans’ Kirk Joseph, Weedie Braimah and Alfred Jordan, and visiting musicians Babacar Seck, Aly Guisse and Raja Kassis. The entertainment lineup also includes Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet, Leyla McCalla, Afrissippi, DJ Jubilee and members of social aid and pleasure clubs and Culu Traditional African Dance Company. The event also includes a fashion show featuring designer Rama Diaw from Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Alune Wade PROVIDED PHOTO BY WLAD SIMITCH
GOING OUT
Risky business
by Will Coviello
“FAILED FILMS” IS NOT THE MOST SCINTILLATING NAME FOR AN IMMERSIVE EVENT that grew out of a community of sex workers, porn makers and queer artists in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016. The onenight parties include slates of new short films, and they also have performers, peepshows, interactive videos and more.
The first New Orleans edition, Failed Films Season 8, is coming to Fish Pot Studios on April 4, and all of its new films are made by New Orleanians. Local content creator Emma Magnolia is presenting the event, and the host is queer wrestling league Choke Hole’s Sambourcha Clinique. Among the attractions are a peepshow featuring Tongue in Cheeks, an interactive video installation and Trigger Warning Theatre.
The core concept is the same as when the event was founded during a pivotal moment in the porn industry in San Francisco a decade ago, when streaming platforms began to change everything. Christopher Holloway, one of the founders, worked in post-production at kink.com’s studios in an unmarked building known as “The Castle” in the Mission District.
“It’s a place that you passed by as a kinky person, and you knew the best stuff in the world was in this castle,” he says.
But the rise of streaming platforms, like PornHub and OnlyFans, undermined the studio system, eventually leading to the end of the studios at the Castle.
“We were in this inflection moment where everything was shifting, and we didn’t realize how it was going to pan out,” Holloway says. “It felt like we were in this moment of extreme change, and a lot of times that feels like failure.”
That’s part of what inspired the event name. The founders wanted to invite people with industry skills, and anyone else, to make their own films — not marketable films but their own personal or artistic projects.
“It’s an invitation to risk failing,” he says. “Just try. Get with your friends, make something weird, make something of the heart. And we’ll all watch it together in the dark.”
But it also is different than HUMP Film Festival, Dan Savage’s long-running amateur porn festival, because many contributors to Failed Films
have filmmaking skills from industry experience, Holloway says. Some of Failed Films’ founders didn’t work in the adult industry. Jonah Strauss designed lighting for rock concerts and helped transform spaces they used.
The first fest was a massive warehouse party in Oakland. There were films on screens throughout the space, as well as looping on TVs. There were visual and installation art and photography displays, and the crowd moved throughout the immersive event.
The event moved to Los Angeles and added drag performers, though it’s always been queer friendly. Now it’s coming to New Orleans, largely because many of the founders have connections to people here. They wanted it to be of and about New Orleans, so they only accepted local film submissions.
The night will have three slates of short films, screening at 8, 9 and 10:15 p.m. One of them will be all New Orleans films. The other two will mix New Orleans films and some of the greatest hits from the past seven events. They include “Belle Hop,” a lush lesbian bondage fantasy staring local creator Jasmine Sherni. “Wet Dream” involves a strange fetish for tentacled extremities. “If These Walls Could Talk” is a human-scale puppet fantasy from musician and artist Tara Zorthian.
Participating New Orleans artists and filmmakers include Sherni, Lenny Langley, Dan Rule, C.A. Munn, a.r. havel, Gian Smith and more.
Fish Pot is an artist-owned movie production studio. The event will have a small vendor market with leather goods and more, as well as a bar and food vendors.
Failed Films NOLA is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4. Tickets are $28.52 on eventbrite.com. Find information at
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FAILED FILMS
REAL ESTATE EXPERTS
PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
GOING STEADY
By Frank A. Longo
29 Eight: Prefix 33 Small, round, brimless topper 34 Congers, e.g. 35 Rae of “Vengeance” 37 L-Q linkup 38 Bell sounds 39 Foot division 40 Irish Gaelic
Copies a lion
the
Jaguar model
Light haircut
British bar 78 Device for securing a parked bike 80 #1 song, e.g. 82 Riddle, part 4 86 “Who’s there?” reply
Male cat
Response to “Looky there!”
Riddle’s answer
Animated “Princess of Power”
Awful racket
Cow snarer
Sandusky’s lake
Macho guys
Tips over
Contradict
White alternative, for bread
More peeved
Merchandise returner’s receipt
Police dept. alert
Greek cheese
Draw upon
Lily-white
-- Worth, Texas
Pizzazz
56 Crumple into a ball 57 “Nobody is above me!” 58 Former NFLer Tim
“Evita” star LuPone
Actor Claude of “Lobo” 65 No longer working: Abbr.
Golf tap
Brazilian palm berry
Brooklyn amusement park 75 Impersonate
“Dude!”
It circulates in a refrigerator
Flow out
“Gilda” star Hayworth
At the original speed, in music 13 Tend to the matter pronto
Pooch in Oz
Dueler Aaron in “Hamilton”
Prior to, poetically
IRS form fig.
79 -- light (filming lamp)
81 Links org.
83 Millennials, for short 84 Sharif of film
85 Cars such as the Soul and Sorento
86 Radio shock jock Don
87 “Jazz” author Morrison 92 Doesn’t reject
Hyperactivity drug 95 Homer epic
96 Bell sound
98 Resort with snowy slopes
100 Folk tales 101 Skipped over, as a vowel 102 Kansas river or county 103 Meadow
104 Usurer, e.g.
105 Its capital is Palermo 110 All keyed up
Related
Honey drink 113 Give a darn 114 In that case
115 “It’s Gonna --” (#1 song for ‘N Sync) 116 -- -ray Disc 117 Emulate Eminem
