New Orleans food – ChefsGirl

New Orleans’ Hottest Restaurant “Bars”…

Posted on September 12, 2017 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

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

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?

Paladar 511 (Marigny, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on January 9, 2017 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Hidden in the Marigny, Paladar 511 is an American fusion restaurant that was so delicious, I dined with them two meals in a row! On a cold Saturday night, my friends and I arrived for a 4-top reservation. First thing we ordered was a Hot Apple Cider to warm us up. It was delicious and just what we were craving on an atypical 30° F kind of night. (We ordered it again the next morning for brunch!)

Dinner

Hot Apple Cider.

FAVES: Tuna Crudo, House made Raviolo, House made Pappardelle, and the Duck Confit Agnolotti. Panna Cotta for dessert!

LEAST FAVES: The protein dishes (steak) tended to be on the blander and not-so-memorable side, but they weren’t terrible. I would stick to the pastas! Brunch was so-so.

TIPS: Paladar 511 is more of a tapas-style dining experience. Be sure to bring friends to order and share with!

Brunch at Paladar 511

Dinner was so great that we had to return for brunch! We were particularly eyeing the Korean Steak & Eggs, since there’s a lack of Korean cuisine in NOLA. We also ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.

Hot Apple Cider.

Brunch: Korean Steak and Eggs. Braised Short Ribs. Shiitake Mushrooms. Rice. Fried Egg. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. House made Kumquat Marmalade.

We repeated another order of the Tuna Crudo because it was the highlight of our meal from the night before. Aside from that were the mediocre Steak & Eggs, but the Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes were outstanding. I love the balanced tartness from the Kumquat Marmalade. Paladar 511, you’ve done an excellent job and I can’t wait to come back to see what’s new. Please keep the pastas as your mainstay! Loved them all!

Rating (for brunch alone): 3.5/5 spoons

Johnny Sánchez (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on November 3, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Johnny Sánchez is a Chef John Besh and Chef Aaron Sánchez venture for authentic Mexican food. I’ve been a couple times and my most recent dinner was mainly small plates. I ordered the Camida Bay oysters. Those are one of my faves! I loved the mignonette that came already on it.

Beef Barbacoa Flautas. Guacomole. Crema. Valentina. Queso Fresco.

My flautas were great and flavorful, but I will say they are pricey for what they are. Every dish I’ve ordered here including the Plato de Carnitas and Fajitas were all so-so that’s why I highly recommended eating family-style dining here. It’s fun to eat a little bit of everything and due to the deep flavor profiles, it’s easy to get bored of your one dish. I wouldn’t call this authentic Mexican, but more of a modern take. It’s great for large groups and very family friendly. Service was wonderful and accommodating!

What to LOVE: Happy hour is 3-6 PM with $2 tacos and half off drinks!

What NOT to LOVE: $$$ Tacos are definitely pricier when it’s not HH. Small plates and appetizers are more tasty! Sharing entrées or family-style dining is recommended.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Royal Thai (Harahan, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 1, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Another Thai gem! I use to think there was limited good Thai food in the city, but I’ve realized there’s plenty hidden throughout the city. The latest and greatest find is Royal Thai located in Harahan.

Chicken Thai Basil.

Green Curry.

Pad See Ew.

Royal Dip.

Thai Chicken Wings.

Curry Puff.

Nothing failed to please! My friends and I LOVED the Royal Thai dip and ordered a second..maybe even a third??? (Along with maybe 5 rounds of sake…) Everything was great. We ordered the Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Chicken Wings, Curry Puff, and Green Curry. I loved every single dish. The restaurant is not too far from the Elmwood Shopping Center, but it is hidden in a more warehouse-y commercial area. It’s so worth it!

LOVE: Royal Thai Dip. Solid and delicious classic Thai dishes. Affordable drinks.

What NOT to LOVE: nothing?

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Happy Hour at Sac-a-Lait (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 24, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Sac-A-Lait has to be one of my top 5 restaurants in the city right now. I’ve been here a couple of times for dinner and my first time for happy hour just a couple days ago. I LOVED happy hour so much that I had to share with y’all.

When you talk about Happy Hour in New Orleans, you’ll most likely get half off oysters and half off wine. At Sac-a-Lait you get exactly that but be sure to sit at the bar to participate in Happy Hour, otherwise, it’s regular price if you dine at the tables.

1 Dozen oysters.

Pig’s Ear.

Truffle-Honey Fries.

The oysters at Sac-a-Lait were so delicious! They were a good size with a briney finish. Love it. I do, however, I miss the regular saltine crackers that you would usually get, but the fancy Sac-a-Lait crisp does the job. The appetizers and snacks that we ordered were so memorable. The Pig’s Ear was a tease since you literally get one ear (as barbaric as this sounds). That first bite has a crunchy crisp with a deliciously chewy and juicy bite. It paired very well with the accompanied cream sauce topped with black sea caviar. I wish I had a bagful of them. Imagine cracklins, but on steroids! If Pig’s Ear isn’t your thing, I wouldn’t order it but if you’re feeling gutsy, you may just fall in love with it. The truffle-honey fries were my all time favorite fries in the city. There was a truly delicate truffle flavor with a light sweetness, which really set these fries apart.

Sac-a-Lait is hands down my favorite happy hour joint in the city. Happy hour begins at 5:30 til 7:00. I’ve been to Sac-a-Lait for dinner which is also very delicious. Everything I’ve tried is so homey, but with a refined touch. It’s perfect. I’ll post another review very soon on Dinner at Sac-a-Lait!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

The Halal Guys (New Orleans, LA)

Posted on July 10, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

I first heard of Halal Guys in New York and the over an hour wait for their amazing chicken and rice as well as their gyro sandwiches. I didn’t have the pleasure to try the original New York location, but I’ve gotten to try the Houston location and now in NOLA. I’ve gone multiple times since it’s so convenient and on my way home from work.

The Halal Guys.

Indoor Seating.

Beef and Chicken Combo Bowl.

What’s inside the Combo Bowl…

Beef gyro.

Hummus.

Fries…because I can’t say “no” to fries…

I definitely enjoyed the short wait time and delicious food here at the NOLA location. The gyro was delicious and the Combo bowl was good, BUT the chicken is consistently dry here. I would go easy on their HOT sauce. It’s deceivingly HOT but very flavorful!

The Halal Guys purists will say that “Nothing beats The Halal Guys in New York City!”, but until I try it, I’m still enjoying the Halal guys here in New Orleans. The location is quite small, but there’s a good amount of seats considering the location downtown. Service is hit or miss, but I’m usually in and out so no biggie.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Mr. Bubbles (Gretna, LA)

Posted on May 17, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

As we’re approaching hump day/mid-week, I’d like to talk about a great lunch spot! Years ago, there was a bubble tea shop at this location that was easy to overlook and they’ve made quite a few improvements and serve Vietnamese sandwiches are there menu.

Banh Mi Dac Biet. Combination banh mi. Bubble Tea: Jasmine Iced Tea with Tapioca, Taro and Tapioca

From left to right: Jasmine Green Tea with Tapioca x 2, Mocha and Tapioca, Black Milk Tea with Tapioca.

My favorite is the Combination sandwich loaded with delicious Vietnamese cold cuts, pate, aioli and veggies. My go-to drink is the Jasmine Tea with Tapioca…it’s healthy and refreshing! There are more desserty flavors that aren’t as healthy but make a great treat such as the Taro or Cafe Sua Da. Another plus? There’s a loyalty card! With every 10 drinks, you get a free one. Easily done with summer approaching! There are only a few tables since it’s mostly take-out orders, but it’s quite spacious. The restaurant is located right outside of the Hong Kong Market so you if you happen to be in the area, Mr. Bubbles is a great treat!

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Trenasse (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on May 12, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

It was a Monday night and my husband and I decided to celebrate our first month of being married. Cheesy! I know. But why the heck not? My husband and I tried brunch at Trenasse with some friends not too long ago and had a good experience. After brunch my friend continued to rave about the Escargot and Crawfish Pie and neither were available for brunch. We had to try dinner!

Escargot “Trebeache”. Sauteed escargot. Button Mushroom. Charred Tomato. Browned French Wine. Wine. Lemon. Garlic and Butter.

Louisiana Crawfish Pie. Crawfish. Creamy Pepperjack Cheese Filling. House made pie dough.

Pan Roast Cauliflower Steak. St. Andre’s Brie. Rough-cut Pistachio Pesto.

TThe Wedge. Crisp bacon. Crumbled blue cheese. Green Goddess Dressing.

Special of the night: Veal and Lobster Ravioli Duet

I loved it! My favorite dishes were the Escargot and the Crawfish Pie. The escargot is served differently than your traditional Escargots à la Bourguignonne, a garlic herb butter sauce, but it was really refreshing to try it served a different way. The crawfish pie was perfectly crisped on the outside and filled with a perfectly seasoned crawfish and pepperjack filling. We also ordered the cauliflower steak, Wedge Salad, and the Veal and Lobster Ravioli duet. The cauliflower steak was pretty good! The Wedge salad was refreshing. Honestly, we only ordered the extra salad to appear “healthy”. The Veal special had to be the most disappointing. The veal was over-salted that we couldn’t even finish the last piece. On a brighter note, the lobster ravioli were delicious and balanced the over seasoned veal a bit. Overall, everything was great! Service was super friendly and I loved the ambiance.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

ChefsGirl

Tag Archives: New Orleans food

New Orleans’ Hottest Restaurant “Bars”…

Paladar 511 (Marigny, New Orleans, LA)

Dinner

Brunch at Paladar 511

Johnny Sánchez (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Royal Thai (Harahan, New Orleans, LA)

Happy Hour at Sac-a-Lait (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

The Halal Guys (New Orleans, LA)

Mr. Bubbles (Gretna, LA)

Trenasse (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

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