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New Orleans’ Hottest Restaurant “Bars”…

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Whether you’re looking for a place to dine or grab a quick drink, these are the best “bars” to check out this Fall…

 

 

  1. Bar Frances. I’ve been back to Bar Frances twice in the last week! Why? Despite the minimalistic menu, it’s clear that they strive to focus on a few set items and execute them well. I love the brunch options on the weekends…especially the list of bottomless drinks! I’m looking forward to what else Bar Frances has in store. Order the Chicken Biscuit and the Lemon Compari to start your day!

 

2. Nomiya. This HOT and NEW ramen “bar” made its entrance to the New Orleans food scene and it’s here to stay. Nomiya’s authenticity steams from their homey broth to their sweetly balanced braised pork. This ramen bar does not currently serve liquor, but Geki-Kara (“too spicy”) ramen bowl is a great choice to kickstart your night!


 

 

3. Seaworthy. I am absolutely in love with Seaworthy right now. They are truly the “Best Bar” in NOLA this Fall. Why? It’s hard enough to find a great eatery and hangout spot open past 10 PM, but Seaworthy’s kitchen is open until 12 AM Sun-Wed and 1 AM Thurs-Sat! You won’t find your ordinary hot dog and nachos (which I still love from time to time). The menu consists of an array of oysters from coast to coast as well as some sophisticated items such as the Gulf Coast Roll or Blackened Redfish.  Seaworthy is a rare pearl in my book!

 

 

Check them out and let me know what you think! What other NOLA food bars would you recommend?

 

Seaworthy Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato Nomiya Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato Bar Frances Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



My favorite cookbooks at the moment..

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Whoa! It’s been a minute since I last posted anything. Life sure can get crazy…in a good way! During my hiatus, I’ve re-discovered some old cookbooks as well as some new ones. We can’t always dine out and when we eat at home, why not partake in the culinary experience in your own kitchen? Here are some of my faves:

1. Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat by Chrissy Tiegen. Not only am I fan of this spunky lady, but I admire her for her passion for food. If you happen to follow her on SnapChat, you’ll see what I mean. One of my favorites in the book have to be her Creamy Potato Salad with Bacon!

 

2. Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller. Thomas Keller is my Chef hubby’s idol. He’s world-renowned and deserves every bit of notoriety. I’ve been to 3 of his restaurants: 1. The French Laundry 2. Ad Hoc 3. Per Se. I remember every bite from each restaurant. Each restaurant has shared their own cookbook, however, we can’t always prepare a Michelin-rated dinner for the family, so this book shares more family-friendly meals very much like Ad Hoc’s menu.

3. Besh Big Easy: 101 Home Cooked New Orleans Recipes. Besides “The Chef” hubby himself, Chef John Besh is my next chef crush! Not only has he created a restaurants empire in New Orleans, but he’s philanthropic and has a great heart. For refined New Orleans’ homestyle recipes, this is your resource:

  3. I’ve attached the links to check them out for yourself. What are your favorite books at the moment?
  5. Stay tuned for some new, up-and-coming restaurant reviews in New Orleans!
  8. Upcoming posts:
  9. Bar Frances
  10. Nomiya
  11. Restaurant Des Familles

 

Tiger Den (Chinatown, Houston, TX)

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On my most recent trip to Texas I made ramen a priority. Tiger Den is known as one of the top ramen restaurants in Houston so what better place to try than Tiger Den itself. When I lived in Houston, I heard a lot of hype and thought it would cool down, but here it is a few years later and hotter than ever…

 

Yakitori. 

 

Spicy Cucumbers.

 

Spicy Shoyu Ramen. 

 

Fried Doughnuts and Pandan Custard.

 

Tiger Den is located in the hottest strip mall in Chinatown, Houston amongst the some of the best such as ShareTea, Kung Fu Tea, Juicebox, Fu Fu, and many others. There was a clipboard where you could sign your name on a list, but we waited no more than 10 minutes at 9 o’clock on a Sunday night. The restaurant has a darker, bar-like feel that is immediately brightened up by their enthusiastic servers. We were seated on a long community table but there were booth and table options as well. Loved it!

The menu consists of a number of appetizers as well as an extensive Yakitori menu, which makes this a great spot for bar hopping. Yakitori literally means “grilled bird”, but as the menu states, the more modern interpretation of yakitori could be any type of protein grilled on a skewer over a charcoal grill. We ordered the Chicken Wings yakitori with soy marinade. These wings were a treat! You could really taste the chargrilled flavor!

The spicy cucumbers are a must-have. The spices appeared a bit overwhelming, but the cucumbers were light and refreshing, a necessity for a balanced ramen meal.

I can’t enjoy  my ramen without a bit of kick so I opted for the Spicy Shoyu Ramen. The broth was well-balanced with the right about of spice and the perfect amount of richness. I find that ramen restaurants tend to veer towards an overly rich broth, but Tiger Den does it well with the perfect mixture of richness and depth.

I’m not finished yet! The Fried Doughnuts and Pandan Custard were amazing. It’s a simple and fairly “light” end to a great meal. Excellent job Tiger Den!

Regrets: Not trying the Tsukemen, dipping ramen noodles. It was highly recommended but we weren’t in the mood.

 

Rating: 5/5 spoons!
Tiger Den Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Coming soon…

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“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

It’s been quite the few months of being M.I.A. ChefsGirl followers. It’s been quite the year. “The Chef” hubby and I have been working on a few projects, but now we’re back in action in the food scene. I’ve had a few travels in the last few months that I can’t wait to share with you!

Upcoming cities: Houston, Dallas, and Chicago. Stay tuned for more!

Best New Orleans Happy Hour Oysters

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On a recent venture for the best happy hour oysters in town, my hubby and I actually had trouble finding decent places in the Metairie area. Due to costs, many restaurants have cut back on offering happy hour oysters, but here’s a list of the most consistent and delicious oyster happy hours in the city:

1. Lüke

 

I already love Lüke’s for their mainstay must-order items (IMO): Moules et Frites and Fried Oyster Salad. To top it off their oysters are delicious! Happy hour consists of Gulf Oysters only, but they also offer select imported oysters such as Kusshi, Naked Roy’s, Bluepointe, and many others if you’re looking for variety. If you prefer a nicer, sit down environment, Lüke’s is your place. For a sporty, casual oyster bar, read on…

Lüke’s HH hours: 3:00-6:00 PM, Daily

Lüke’s HH menu: 75 cent oysters, no minimum or alcoholic beverage requirements

Lüke Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

 

2. Samuel’s Blind Pelican

Samuel’s Blind Pelican is a small sports bar joint that is very well-known for being the “home of the 25 cent oysters”. I’m positive their HH oysters are there to stay. Parking is fairly easy except over the weekends or big game days. Oysters are quite large and tend to be gritty from time to time. I don’t mind it and will definitely come back! Their charbroiled oysters are awesome and I actually prefer it over Drago’s. They’re lighter in flavor, but still buttery and mouth-watering. They leave you wanting more.

Samuel’s Blind Pelican HH Hours: 4-8 PM, 7 days a week!

Samuel’s Blind Pelican HH menu: $3/dozen raw (or 25 cents each) $8.50/dozen charbroiled oysters WITH an alcohol (beer/wine/cocktail) purchase.

TIP: Just keep in mind that this is a sports bar so you won’t get the same dining experience as you would at Lüke’s Restaurant. Also, they’re known for their HH so it’s definitely a wait on some nights, but well worth it for .25 a pop + a drink!

Blind Pelican Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




 

 

3. Sac-A-Lait

Click here for a full review of Sac-A-Lait Happy Hour!

The problem with a lot of happy hours are the hours themselves! It’s so hard for those with 9-5 jobs, who usually have to rush to get off of work just to attempt to make it for the last hour of HH. Luckily, Sac-A-Lait offers a later HH from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The oysters are always fresh, but Gulf Oysters are the only ones offered on the HH menu. Other items to order: Truffle Honey fries and Pig’s Ear.

Sac-A-Lait HH Hours: 5:30-7:30 PM, 7 days a week

Sac-A-Lait HH menu: 1/2 off selection of wines and beer. Requirement: Be sure to sit at the cocktail bar to qualify for HH specials.

Sac-a-Lait Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Blue Oak BBQ (Mid-City, New Orleans, LA)

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BBQ wings.

 

 

Combo plate. 

 

 

 

Blue Oak BBQ has got to be one of the top BBQ joints in NOLA at the moment! I’ve tried them at a few festivals such as the Blues & BBQ Festival and a few others. I’ve even ordered takeout through Postmates and it was excellent each time! The brisket, ribs, and sausage were perfectly smoked. My favorite side was the potato salad. Unfortunately, dining at the actual brick and mortar location in Uptown New Orleans fell short of my expectations. The BBQ was all lukewarm and mediocre, although it had a good smoke. We ordered potatoes au gratin, which is usually the best comfort food, but left us wanting more…in a not-so-good way. Perhaps it was an “off” night or maybe the BBQ is freshest at live festival events. I’ll definitely give it another try, but I know they have great BBQ potential.

Loves: Great BBQ when it’s fresh! LOVE the potato salad. Excellent BBQ at festivals and events!

What NOT to love: Inconsistency with BBQ quality at the brick and mortar location.

 

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons
Blue Oak BBQ Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Magazine Pizza (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

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It’s Super Bowl Sunday everybody! There’s so many Super Bowl food choices out there and tonight, I decided to order from Magazine Pizza. They’re located at the corner Magazine St and Calliope St and it is super easy to get to if you live in the Lower Garden District. They’re mainly a takeout establishment, but they have a few tables and enough space for dining. What’s great is that they offer online orders directly through their website and they open late…

 

Spinach Dip. 

 

 

Mediterranean Salad. 

 

 

Chicken Pesto Calzone. 

 

 

Magazine Supreme Pizza. 

 

I’ve ordered Magazine Pizza about 3 times and have loved it every single time. Their Spinach Dip is awesome! The garlic bread sticks that accompany it are thicker, but still soft and chewy on the inside. I nearly liked it more than the pizza itself. To be honest, I usually hate calzones due to excessive breading, but Magazine Pizza has found the perfect bread-to-filling ratio. I can now say that I love calzones. As for the pizza, it’s perfect! The pizza was picked up and traveled to the Westbank and despite the wait, it was still crispy and delicious. Excellent job especially for Game Day service!

Loves: Late hours every day of the week. Online orders. Great calzones, dip, and pizzas!

What NOT to Love: Limited parking on busy days or weekends.


Rating: 5/5 spoons
Magazine Pizza Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Meril (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

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Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant group has a new addition: Meril’s. It joins Emeril’s Delmonico, NOLA, and Emeril’s flagship restaurant but Meril’s may be my favorite of them all. The menu consists of many small tapas that are great for sharing so bring friends!

 

Front: LA Cajun Caviar. Market Potato Salad. Crème Fraiche. Parsley. Oil

 

 

Boudin Tamale. Roasted Tomatillo. Red Chile Sauce. Roasted Louisiana Oysters. Marrow. Hogs Head. Salsa Verde.

 

Steamed Mussels. Coconut Milk. Lime. Cilantro.

 

Point Judith Calamari. White Bean Purée. Lemon. Cerignola Olive.

 

 

Yellowfin Tuna Wraps.  Jalapeño. Crunchy Noodles. Citrus.

 

 

Candied Pork Ribs. Five Spice.

 

 

Upside-Down Cornbread. Pineapple. House Bacon Marmalade.

 

Although we set a reservation, there was a bit of a wait. Meril’s is HOT and NEW so that was to be expected. Once you’re seated, you’re good to go! Noise level is a bit high and echo-ey so if you’re looking for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be the restaurant for you. As for the menu, every bite leaves you wanting more (in a good way!). I’m not going to lie, there were a few dishes I really wish I had all to myself.

My friends and I really enjoyed the Steamed Mussels, Caviar, Tuna wraps, and the Spiced Short Ribs. Of all the dishes we ordered these were the table favorites! When there’s that many favorites among so many people, you know it’s good! Sharing the dishes with a table of 7 was such a tease…

What to LOVE: Small plates! My personal fave was the Caviar, but the other dishes were almost just as good. Amazing job in the Meril’s kitchen!

What NOT to love: We had to wait 20-30 minutes even though we set a reservation. Noise level. It’s not rowdy but it was pretty difficult to hold steady conversations without hearing “Excuse me? What did you say?!”.

 

 

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 spoons
Meril Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
Food: 5/5 spoons

Service: 4/5