New Orleans

10 New Orleans Restaurant Openings You Might Have Missed

From sleek hotel additions to food truck favorites.

Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington

The pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for New Orleans restaurants, shutting down the city just as we were about to host graduations and a busy festival season. But that era is (mostly) behind us, thankfully, and local restaurants are able to once again open their doors wide to fully-vaccinated visitors and indoor seating is again the norm. 

While some local institutions didn’t make it through the past year’s tragic ordeal, others have quickly launched plans for new ventures. A busy summer of rescheduled events and a return to business-as-usual has all of us feeling optimistic-and hungry. 

Make a reservation, dust off your evening wear, and hit up one of these New Orleans’ top culinary debuts, each primed and ready to win your heart and fill your plate.

Leo's Bakery & Deli
Leo’s Bakery & Deli
Leo’s Bakery & Deli

Leo’s Bread

Bayou St. John
This longtime farmers’ market favorite survived the pandemic by offering at-home delivery of its famous bagels and breads. Now, however, there’s no more running around all over town-you can find Leo’s Bread in its brick-and-mortar location slinging breakfast and lunch five days a week. Stop by for bagels topped with smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, or avocado, and be sure to bring home a loaf of bread or a half-dozen strawberry jam croissants for the rest of your week (if they last that long).  
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via Toast.

The Bower
The Bower
The Bower

The Bower

Lower Garden District
Part of the same development and restaurant team as Birdy’s and Claret Wine Bar, The Bower partnered with Sugar Roots Farm, a non-profit regenerative endeavor that provides the kitchen with a steady stream of locally sourced ingredients. Dinner options include housemade pastas like shrimp rigatoni and entrees like a whole branzino dressed with local citrus. 
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.

Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington

Elizabeth Street Cafe 

Lower Garden District
The Austin, Texas-born Vietnamese cafe and French bakery makes its second home inside New Orleans’ swank Hotel Saint Vincent. The cafe’s menu includes a host of spring roll options (it’s all about the Spicy Chicken Crunch), banh mi sandwiches, and bún noodle bowls. Make sure to check out the cocktails and natural wine list, too. 
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington
Photo by Matt Harrington

San Lorenzo

Lower Garden District
Also found inside the Hotel Saint Vincent is San Lorenzo, which marries coastal Italian cuisine with New Orleans pizzazz. And if the kitchen serves up dishes as lush and eye-catching as its design-forward surrounds, the city could very well have a new favorite. Menu highlights include grilled oysters, beef carpaccio, summer truffle risotto, and flounder piccata.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.

Seafood Sally's
Seafood Sally’s
Seafood Sally’s

Seafood Sally’s

Leonidas
From the folks behind Marjie’s Grill comes a new neighborhood seafood joint perched on bustling Oak Street. Serving oysters, beer battered onion rings, boiled shrimp and crawfish, fried seafood plates, and sandwiches served atop nostalgia-inducing Bunny Bread, Seafood Sally’s is shaping up to be approachable, comfortable-and, no doubt, delicious. 
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

Bub's Nola
Bub’s Nola
Bub’s Nola

Bub’s NOLA

Mid-City
Soon after the pandemic shuttered restaurants across the city, Bub’s started slinging burgers out of a food truck parked at almost every brewery in town. It didn’t take long for Bub’s NOLA to get a pretty sizable following, and they recently landed in their own brick-and-mortar location as a result. Bite into a Bub’s burger, and you quickly see how this pop-up became a full-blown neighborhood standout in what was otherwise a disastrous year for the hospitality industry.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant
14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant
14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant

14 Parishes

Leonidas
Also new to Oak Street is 14 Parishes, a Jamaican outpost from Charles and Lauren Blake. Though the married couple started the restaurant with a location in Central City, they spent the last few years focusing their attention on their stand inside the Pythian. Don’t worry, they’ll keep that going-but they’re also stretching their legs inside an expanded space in Uptown, which means more coconut shrimp, jerk chicken, and meat pies for the grateful masses. 
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

Photo by Cris Molina
Photo by Cris Molina
Photo by Cris Molina

The Peacock Room

Warehouse District
The newly opened Hotel Fontenot features its own take on a classic New Orleans bar, here led by supervisor Paula Echevarria. Expect classic cocktails like Sazeracs alongside newer concepts like the Right Place/Wrong Time, which the menu assures us is not an espresso martini. As for bites, look for crave-worthy shareables like blue crab pimento cheese Cheewee fries.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.

Photo courtesy of Paprika Studios
Photo courtesy of Paprika Studios
Photo courtesy of Paprika Studios

Mister Mao

Uptown
This late July addition comes from chef-owner Sophina Uong and her husband and partner, William Greenwell. Though the bar and lounge only seat 25, the new restaurant promises “inauthentic” dishes from Laos, Cambodia, and other Asian Pacific islands whipped up with Southern flare. Keep an eye out for the interactive chef’s counter-it’s bound to be a date night hit. 
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

Photo courtesy of Virgin Hotels
Photo courtesy of Virgin Hotels
Photo courtesy of Virgin Hotels

Commons Club

Warehouse District
Virgin Hotels recently opened its first New Orleans location, complete with the Funny Library Coffee Shop on the first floor and a rooftop pool and bar. Its anchor restaurant, the Commons Club, accessed via the hotel’s Baronne Street entrance, is due to open later this summer under the guidance of local veteran chef Alex Harrell. Menu details are still scant, but the hotel promises unexpected ingredients and bold flavors. 
How to book: Stay tuned to the website for upcoming reservations.

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Chelsea Brasted is a contributor for Thrillist.

New Orleans

Where to Go on a Perfect Date in New Orleans This Spring

Woo that special someone with sultry live music and inviting outdoor date ideas.

Photo courtesy of Louisiana Travel
Photo courtesy of Louisiana Travel
Photo courtesy of Louisiana Travel

Whether you’re searching for the perfect spot for a first date or looking to spend some time with your longtime love, you should have no problem planning a romantic outing in New Orleans. Our amazing restaurants and bars are classic settings for some quality time, but think outside the date night box and literally get outside. Spring is the most gorgeous time of year here, so you can score some serious romance points. From strolls in the park and outdoor music to cozy wine bars and sultry jazz nights, here are some can’t-miss ideas for the perfect date in New Orleans.

Spend an afternoon in City Park

Mid-City
One could spend hours strolling beneath City Park’s moss-drenched oaks, but combine this beautiful setting with the park’s other offerings and you’ve got yourself a date. Start with coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde to ease into things. Explore the collections at the New Orleans Museum of Art or stroll through the sculpture garden. Continue your romantic walk around the Big Lake, or rent a boat and paddle your way around. If things are going well, finish up with a well-earned drink and a bite at Ralph’s on the Park.

Grab bagels and bike on the Greenway

Mid-City
Bike the Lafitte Greenway and you’ll get moving while having plenty of time to connect. Fuel up at Flour Moon Bagels with coffee and stellar carbs before you hit the pavement. The Greenway’s linear path is 2.7 miles, but you can make it a longer ride by linking up with the Wisner Trail or the Norman C. Francis bike path. The Greenway goes all the way to the Quarter, but you can save that for another date. End up back where you started and cool down with a pint or two at Skeeta Hawk Brewing.

Create some Magazine Street magic

Uptown/Garden District
Magazine Street boasts six miles of unique, locally owned businesses. There are plenty of one-off date options along the street (like grabbing coffee and chocolate at Piety and Desire, having a romantic dinner at Coquette or Saffron, or ordering wine and small plates at Saba). But for a longer get-to-know-you date, the street is perfect for an all-day stroll. Browse esteemed art galleries and shops, have a well-made cocktail at Bouligny Tavern, stop for fresh oysters at Basin, taste a few wines at Spirit Wine, and admire the mix of architecture along the street. Why stop there? Shop for some vinyl at Peaches, grab a casual dinner at Picnic Provisions & Whiskey or Tito’s, then see who’s playing at Le Bon Temps.

Take in the West Bank nature and noodles

Marrero
Take the Crescent City Connection and head down to the Barataria Preserve to explore acres of secluded wetlands that’ll confirm you’re really in south Louisiana. A boardwalk winds through swampy land packed with all the best regional flora and fauna, including alligators. April is typically peak iris season, so check the bloom forecast. Before you head back across the river, stop by Tan Dinh or 9 Roses for excellent pho and other Vietnamese faves.

Nevbrown/Flickr
Nevbrown/Flickr
Nevbrown/Flickr

Go on a wine bar crawl

Various locations
A wine bar presents a perfect middle ground between grabbing casual beers and sipping superior cocktails. You’ve got chill environs, curated selections, and just enough nibbles to sustain your conversation. Second Vine Wines and Faubourg Wines are thoughtfully curated shops that serve wines by the glass, so you can start off with a couple of glasses then buy a bottle if the date moves to another location. Tell Me Bar and Pluck offer rotating selections of intriguing wines you’ll want to learn more about. And of course there’s Bacchanal, where you can enjoy wine, good vibes, and live music under the stars.

Cross the river by boat

Algiers Point
There’s something undeniably romantic about standing at the bow of a boat with wind blowing through your lover’s hair, so take the Algiers Ferry to behold the mighty Mississippi and gorgeous views of the city. Stroll charming Algiers Point, grab a drink with the locals at the Old Point Bar or Crown and Anchor, and then enjoy dinner at Tavolino, Tonti’s Hand, or Plume.

Saunter down St. Charles Ave

Uptown/French Quarter
The streetcar is an underrated date option-get to know each other while rolling past the majestic St. Charles Avenue mansions. Start with a late afternoon drink at The Chloe before hopping aboard. Once you’re in the Quarter, take a spin around the bar with a cocktail at Hotel Monteleone, take a stroll through Jackson Square, then pick from swoon-worthy dining options like St. John, Jewel of the South, Cane & Table, Doris Metropolitan, or MaMou.

Explore Lake Pontchartrain

Lakefront
Take a trip out to Lake Pontchartrain for some sun, fresh air, and seafood. Cruise Lakeshore Drive, check out the Mardi Gras Fountain, maybe take a roll down the levee to connect with your inner child, then sit and watch as the boats and birds go by. As the sun sets, head over to The Blue Crab for fresh seafood or JB’s Fuel Dock at West End Park for pizza and beers.

Photo courtesy of Three Keys NOLA
Photo courtesy of Three Keys NOLA
Photo courtesy of Three Keys NOLA

Let music and lounge vibes set the mood

Various locations
Let someone special know just how you feel by taking them out for a classy evening of fine cocktails and world-class jazz. Grab a prime spot to watch Jeremy Davenport do his thing at his namesake lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, listen to the smooth sounds of solo artists at the intimate Bayou Bar at the Pontchartrain Hotel, or pop into the Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta next time you do a French Quarter outing. For a new-school option, check out a performance at the Ace Hotel’s Three Keys.

Go the extra mile with a day trip

Covington/Abita Springs
Driving the Causeway’s 24 miles will give you plenty of time to go beyond small talk, making a nearby road trip the ideal activity for upping the ante on your relationship. Head to Covington to enjoy the boutiques and galleries of the quaint historic downtown before grabbing a bite at Lola or Tavi, or rent bikes and ride the Tammany Trace to the Abita Brewery where you can take a tour and sample some of the finest local beers. Even better, head over when the brewery is hosting one of its food truck roundups or live music.

Photo courtesy of Urban South Brewery
Photo courtesy of Urban South Brewery
Photo courtesy of Urban South Brewery

Peel crawfish and sip local beer

Various locations
Spring means crawfish boils, and the city is loaded with experts bringing their boil skills to some of the top local breweries. Crawfish and beer make a perfect pair, and what better way to gauge relationship potential than by observing peel technique and spice tolerance? Check their calendars, but breweries including Faubourg Brewing, Urban South, NOLA Brewing, Miel, and Parleaux usually host boils on weekends throughout the season.

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Gerrish Lopez is a Thrillist contributor.

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