Now that Ivy has replaced one of our favorite restaurants, we had to try it and see if it was worthy of the location…

There wasn’t much to revamp on the outside, but they put a trendy touch on the inside. It’s a very small restaurant and we felt it was a bit too modern feeling on the inside so we opted for outdoor seating.

Swiss Chard, Beet, and Feta Empanadas. Mint Crème fraiche.

Warm Snow Crab claws. Truffle Butter.

Parker House rolls. Fleur de Sel.

Apple and Endive Salad. Candied Walnuts. Buttermilk Herb dressing.

Panéed Rabbit. Buttermilk biscuits. Pickles. Spicy Honey Butter.

Oxtail gratin. Gruyere. Carmelized onion. Grilled Ciabatta.

Wedding Cake for two. Ice cream.

With the weather cooling down South, dining outside was perfect! I felt the inside was a bit stuffy and that night they had some too-cool-for-me type elevator music. The food? DE. LISH. The menu is divided into small plate portions, which are perfect for sharing. Of course, each small plate is good to share between two, so order accordingly.

One notable dish was the Warm Crab Claws in truffle butter. I mean, how can you say “no” to truffle butter. There were actual chunks of the truffle in the butter. This wasn’t your ordinary truffle-infused oil. It had real truffle! If you get the Crab Claws, I HIGHLY recommend that you order the Parker House rolls. Yes, you do have to order them, but it’s SO worth it. I spread some butter on the roll and dipped it in the truffle butter…What a memorable bite!

Next, I loved the Oxtail gratin. It was perfectly crisped Ciabatta with the most epic combination of cheese and moist Oxtail.

The Paneed Rabbit was a great protein dish as well. The flavors were well-balanced and the pickles just added to the dish. Against our waiters recommendation, we ordered the wedding cake. It was good, but the icing was a bit sweet just like he warned us. His actual recommendation was the Apple-Pear Crisp and Ginger Ice Cream so I would recommend that over the cake.

With so much to the live up to, Ivy did really well! I love the French/New Orleans tapas-style menu. It’s a taste of everything as opposed to the boredom one large entrée. It’s a small restaurant so small groups are recommended, however, if reservations are made in advance, I’m sure they can accompany larger groups too.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

The Bar. 

Magarita! 

Empanadas Caleñas. Colombian-style yellow cornmeal pies. Shredded beef. Sofrito & Papa criolla. Aji Valluno.

Open Sesame!

Arepa Sampler. Trio of mini Arepas: Shredded skirt steak with Hogao valluno/Pulled pork with Aji & cotija cheese/Shredded Chicken with avocado & green peppers

Maiz de la Rueda. Grilled maïs on the cob. Spicy butter. Aioli. Cotija Cheese.

Marinera Arepas. Grilled jumbo shrimp. Citrus Creole slaw. Avocado. Pink Sauce.

I am trying to find words to describe the delight in each bite I had that day and I’m at a loss for words. Honestly, the pictures say it for me…But in case it hasn’t caught your eye yet, the arepas (pronounced: a-ray-pahs) are cornmeal-based pita-like bread that is stuffed with flavorful Columbian seasoned meats like braised pork, juicy beef, or even shrimp. There’s a variety to choose from! The corn was probably THE best corn I’ve had…seasoned so well. So buttery…And lastly, the empanadas were cornmeal-crusted, which was refreshing and very similar to the arepas.

What I love about Maïs Arepas is the attention to plating, that you don’t typically see in more rustic-style foods. Normally, the food speaks for itself, but here, everything from the plating, the smells, and the flavors spoke to you. 

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

It’s a small restaurant with outdoor seating on Magazine St. Perfect on a “cool” evening in New Orleans…

Margarita. Tequila Reposado. Grand Marnier. Agave. Lime Juice. Guiajillo Salt.

Tequenos. Phyllo Stuffed Mozzarella Fingers. Sucro Sauce.

Guacabello. Grilled Portobello. Avocado. Tortilla.

Empanadas de Caraota. Cornmeal Pies. Black beans. Kale. Chihuahua Cheese. Cabbage. Aji.

Ostras Fritas. Cornmeal Crusted Oysters. Cilantro Aioli. Carmelized Onions.

Chuzoes de Entrana. Grilled Skirt Steak. Chimichurri. Bollo.

What a great meal! The meal started off with probably the best margarita I’ve ever had. I am no alchie, at least I don’t think I am, but I can handle my liquor, and this margarita had great flavor and a great kick. I thought I’d at least get an opportunity to try the Sangria, but didn’t get that chance…

Tapas are perfect for meals when you just want a little bit of everything and that’s just what Baru did and they did it so well! My favorites had to be the Tequeños (cheese sticks), Empanadas, and the Steak. My only disappointment would be the Guacobellos, which were lacking a bit of salt and may have been a bit too lime-y for my taste. But considering how delicious all the other dishes were, I can’t wait to come back! Wonderfully crafted cocktails and delicious tapas!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

It takes two to Salu!

Mussels: Pesto. 

Can’t eat mussels without frites!

Two Run Farms Skirt Steak. Asparagus. Spicy Onion Crisps. Wild Mushroom Cream.

Crab Cakes. 

Calamari. Jalapeno. Spicy Tomato Sauce. Roasted Peppers.

Wild Mushroom Empanadas. Goat Cheese. Roasted Pepper Vinaigrette. Parmesan.

I love small plates. It allows you to have a little bit of everything without overwhelming your palate and Salu offers that and executes well! The mussels are a must! Classic is always delicious, but my cousin and I ordered the Pesto for something a little different. My favorite dish had to be the empanadas…It’s my weakness. If I see it on the menu, I’ll most likely order it. These empanadas were the perfect texture…crispy outside with a chewy dough bite. Some places tend to have a thick and dry dough, but these were perfect, inside and out!

Salu is a great place to meet up with friends. It’s not as family friendly and I would recommend eating outdoors on a busy day. It tends to echo indoors and can get really loud.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Bywater Bomber. 

Drink: Manamana. Food: Empanada. Chicken thighs. Corn. Egg. Quesillo. Cilantro. Smoked tomato aioli.

Fish & Chips. Beer-battered local whitefish. Fries. Tartar Sauce. Curry Ketchup.

Ramen. Japanese noodles. Soft-poached egg. Pork Belly. Pork Broth.

I was pleasantly surprised! The chef and I came at an off hour..somewhere right in between lunch and dinner. The weather was nice and the atmosphere was comfortable. Our bartender was really helpful!  The menu was broad, yet simple with their own interpretation of a dish from each country. I would say that the ramen isn’t your classic ramen noodle dish in that the broth is deeper and is soy-based, but it’s a good change up. My favorite would have to be the empanadas. I’ve had an obsession with empanadas since my first taste not too long ago and these were perfectly flaky on the outside and filled with well-seasoned chicken on the inside. Oh, and the Bywater Bomber…it was DEElicious! Cold and refreshing with the perfect amount of “juice”.

Booty’s is a little hidden in the Bywater…a little bit away from the French Quarter, but it’s worth the visit for good bar bites and great drinks!