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Tag Archives: New Orleans food

Lotus Xpress (Harvey, LA)

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This restaurant recently switched ownership from My Thai and is now either Lotus Xpress or Lotus Cafe (Yelp and their signs differ). I went to My Thai a few months ago in search of really great Thai food. I actually didn’t go inside, because it looked so dead inside! My mistake, because even though Lotus Cafe has switched ownership, the cashier told me that all of the recipes are still the same. My friends mentioned that the restaurant looks different in that it’s more of a fast food/take out AND restaurant setup. The previous restaurant was strictly restaurant only.

 

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Thai tea and Roti. Chili sauce.

 

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Yellow Chicken Curry. 

 

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Green Chicken Curry. 

 

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Chicken Pad Thai. 

 

Now onto the good stuff…I ordered the Thai tea, Roti, Green Chicken Curry, Yellow Chicken Curry, and Spicy (Level 2) Pad Thai. The Thai tea was delicious. The Roti was THE BOMB…so buttery, flaky and delicious. The sauce that comes with it was good, but I wish it was thicker so it’s easier to dip into. The food comes in to go boxes, which make it easy to eat and bring the rest “to-go”! The curries came with a side salad (or wonton chips) and rice. The curries are delicious and have to be the best I’ve found in the area so far! The Pad Thai was the perfect amount of spice, but I found it a little sour (maybe too much tamarind?). Everything definitely exceeded my expectations and this restaurant will have to be one of my top Thai restaurant right now!

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Rating: 4/5 spoons

 

Chipotle (Harahan, Metairie, LA)

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This has to be my favorite Chipotle location in the New Orleans area! I was a little hesitant at first, because I’m so used to the speedy service at other Chipotle locations around the states and this one was pretty slow and inefficient a few months ago. The last few times I’ve been there, I’ve noticed they’re a lot quicker. Good job on improvement!

Secondly, I went to the Veterans location and they weren’t as flavorful and seasoned like this Harahan location. I would actually  drive 10 minutes further to eat at this Harahan location than to eat at the Veterans location again (see Chipotle on Veterans review).

If you’ve never been to Chipotle, it’s a quick service burrito restaurant setup similar to Subway. You pick your medium (burrito, bowl, taco, etc), meat, and toppings. Very easy!

My favorite thing to order: Burrito Bowl, brown rice, no beans, steak, pico, red sauce, green sauce, sour cream, corn, guacamole, and lettuce. Then, top it off with some Chipotle flavored Tabasco. Perfection!

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Ratings: 4/5 spoons
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Shaya (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

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Chef Alon Shaya was awarded a James Beard Award for Best Chef of the South 2015 and deservingly so! I’ve always been a fan of his first restaurant, Pizza Domenica, but now Restaurant Shaya is another top restaurant to add to my list. Restaurant Shaya presents a modern and refined take on Mediterranean food.

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Ambiance. 

 

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Pita. 

 

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Naveh. 

 

IMG_4071e3 for $15: Tzatziki: field peas, sea beans. Watermelon and Bulgarian Feta: Harissa and Walnut vinaigrette. Ikra: paddlefish caviar spread with shallots

 

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Soft Cooked Egg Hummus. Red onion. Pickled cornichons. Harissa.

 

 

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Short Rib Tagine. Fennel. Star anise. Couscous.

 

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Saffron Chicken Salad. Swiss chard. Sunflower seeds. Barberries.

 

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Kibbeh nayah. Two Run Farms beef tartare. Bulgur. Walnuts. Yemenite flatbread.

 

We went on a Monday night and it was surprisingly busy. It was spur of the moment so we didn’t have a reservation. The hostess advised us that the wait would be at least 20 minutes so we left our phone number since we planned on walking down Magazine St. while we wait. Literally, 5-10 minutes later we got our call!

Our server was awesome. She was extremely bubbly and very helpful. First, they brought out pita bread along with an olive oil and herb dip. That pita bread was fresh out of the oven. It was a fluffy cloud of wholesome wheat flavor. From the cocktail menu I ordered the Naveh, which was delicious and lightly fruity. What’s different about their food  menu is that they offer many small plates such as tabouleh, pickles, tzaziki, etc. We ordered Tabouleh, Watermelon & Feta, and Ikra. The Ikra is a caviar with a light yogurt cream, which was creamy and delicious. The hummus with soft cooked egg and harissa was divine. I loved how everything was so dippable. It didn’t hurt that the pita bread is so delicious! We also ordered the Short Rib Tagine, Saffron Chicken Salad, and Kibbeh Nayah.  Each dish was refined, yet had a certain hominess to it. I honestly can’t pick out a favorite, but I’m glad we ordered each one! 

I’ve been craving Shaya again for some time now, but “The Chef” insists we try other new restaurants. Until next time Shaya, I’ll continue dreaming of those fluffy pillowy pitas…

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons

 

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Phoenicia’s Restaurant (Metairie, LA)

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Meat Pie. Minced meat. Onions. Pine nuts. Spices. Phyllo dough.

 

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Lamb Kabob. Marinated lamb. Choice of two sides: hummus, rice.

 

Phoenicia seems to be a very established Mediteranean restaurant in Metairie in the adjacent strip mall where Houston’s of Metairie used to be. I went on a Thursday night and I was the only person there until my friend arrived. That would make anyone feel a little uneasy, but the service was great and the food was good. Maybe Thursdays are just a slow night. I ordered the meat pie as a small appetizer. It’s baked, not fried, which is a plus, but I wished there was more meat and maybe more of a kick in flavor . The tabbouleh was to be expected. For my entree, both my friend and I ordered the lamb kabobs. Surprisingly, they were flavorful and juicy chunks of lamb as opposed to the ground lamb concoction that you usually get at some Mediterranean joints. Legit! I chose hummus as my side, because I love making my own little pita/hummus/lamb sandwiches.

I didn’t order much, but from what I saw, it was a good reflection of the quality that Phoenicia dishes out. My friend and I enjoyed our lamb dishes so much, we both ordered some to-go for our hubbies. Next time I’m in Metairie and have that craving, I’ll know where to go!

 

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Rating: 3.5/5 stars (I debated between 3.5 and 4 stars, but ended up taking down .5 since I just wish the small dishes had a little more umph.)

 

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Bangkok Thai (Carrollton, New Orleans, LA)

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There’s definitely a lack of good Thai food in this city and I feel like I’ve come pretty close to finding something good. We went on a late weekday afternoon and it was surprisingly empty. Initially, not a good sign, but we figured it was later in the afternoon and lots of people had already had their lunch.  Our waitress was sweet and helpful, but there was a slight language barrier.

 

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Thai Tea. 

 

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Level 3 Pad Thai with Chicken and Shrimp. 

 

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Green Curry. Coconut Milk. Bell Peppers. Thai Basil. Eggplant. Onions.

 

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Param Vegetables. Stir fried vegetables topped with Peanut Sauce.

 

We ordered a Pad Thai with spice level 3. We tend to eat a little spicier and that was the perfect amount. We also ordered the green curry with spice level 3 also and it was even spicier since green curries tend to already be spicy. I’ve noticed that Thai restaurants in this area lack a selection of fresh, stir fry vegetables like Ong Choy or Bok Choy. Sometimes, I just want a big plate of veggies to go with my curry and pad thai, but there must be a lack of asian produce so I rarely see anything like that. Instead, we ordered the Param vegetables, which were just a mix of broccoli, carrots, baby corn, and mushrooms topped with a peanut sauce. That was surprisingly pretty good.

Overall, I’ve definitely had more wholesome and authentic Thai food in other states, but this seems to be the best in the city that I’ve tried so far. If you’re craving Thai food, Bangkok Thai will not disappoint. I got my Thai fix and was definitely satisfied!

 

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Rating: 3/5
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Balise (Lafayette Square/Historic District, New Orleans, LA)

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Justin Devillier does it again! His original restaurant, La Petite Grocery, is a more refined restaurant with delicate, rich French flair. The new Balise is more of a communal hangout/bar type of restaurant with the same refined flavors but with more of a bold and masculine flair. There’s more of a bachelor’s hangout kind of feel, but can be laid back and romantic at the same time. The service was great. The waiters are very knowledgeable and make great recommendations!

 

IMG_0696eFancy Rose Lemonade. 

 

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Gulf Shrimp. Uni. Clam Vinaigrette. Fennel. Saffron Mayonnaise.

 

 

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Chilled Roasted Beets. Sheep’s Milk Ricotta. Red Vein Sorrel and Spiced Pecans.

 

 

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Crab & Camembert Gratin. Lemon and Fines Herbes.

 

 

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Cauliflower Soup. Fried oysters. Black Truffle.

 

 

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Cheeseburger. Sharp Cheddar. Caramelized Onions. B&B pickles. Comeback Sauce. Hand Cut Fries.

 

Balise’s menu is very different from La Petite Grocery in that it has more small plates on the menu. First, we ordered the Gulf Shrimp, which attracted us since there was uni, clam vinaigrette, saffron mayonnaise, and fennel. Somehow, every component and flavor profile meshed together so well. It was refreshing and interesting at the same time.

For our veg, we ordered the Chilled Beet Salad with spiced pecans and ricotta. A touch of ricotta for richness and the spiced pecans added a ton of flavor. I wish I could make this stuff at home.

I ordered the Crab & Camembert Gratin, because I can’t turn anything crabmeat down! Camembert is a type of cheese, similar to brie. It was yummy! I took the bread and topped it off with some of the crab au gratin.

Next, was the Cauliflower Soup topped with a crispy, fried oyster showered in black truffles. DE. LISH. I sometimes wonder why they give you such small portions, but due to the law of diminishing returns, small delicious bites are meant to leave you yearning for more. I can still remember those few bites of soup…

Despite our fine dining tasting menu that we created,  I am always craving a burger. So we ordered the burger as our main entree. haha..It definitely hit the spot. What makes this burger is the juiciness and the sauce. They call it the Comeback Sauce. It tastes like a remoulade and a buttery aioli at the same time.

What a great meal! If you’re looking for a laid back bar with fine dining, then Balise is for you. It’s worth trying at least once, but keep it mind, it is fine dining so it may be a little on the pricier end. Our whole meal with alcoholic beverages was around $111, but we left completely satiated.

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Rating: 4.5/5
Balise on Urbanspoon


 

Blaze (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

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Blaze is a new concept that has reached the NOLA scene. You can create your own 11-inch personal pizza and it’s ready in 180 seconds! It’s very similar to Chipotle or Subway. The menu has a few signature pizzas ready to order for $7.95 and you can customize them by adding more toppings  (including meats!) for no additional charge.

 

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Our Pizza Maker crafting our pizzas!

 

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A bunch of cheeses, toppings, and meats. 

 

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Before the Blaze. 

 

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Our friendly pizza maker. 

 

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The finished product: thin, crispy, flash-fired pizzas!

 

Our pizza makers were especially friendly and helpful. I ordered the Meat Lover’s Pizza and added fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, and basil. My fiance ordered the White Top pizza and added chicken, garlic, jalapenos, and spinach. The pizzas were flash-fired quickly and out came two thin, crispy gourmet pizzas. You can top it off with your sauce of choice. We added olive oil to the Meat Lover and Pesto to the White Top pizza. The crust was thin and crispy but still had a nice bite to it. The pizzas are pretty large considering they are a “personal pizza”, but I can probably eat a whole one with no problem if I was hungry enough.  I only ate half of the pizza tonight as a snack.

Next time I’m craving a quick late night bite, I know where I’m going. I love that Blaze opens later than most fast food joints: Monday- Thursday til 11PM and midnight on the weekends. Also, they serve draft beer! Since my fiance often gets home late from work, we’re always looking for late night joints for dinner. Blaze will have to be one of the top on our list now (especially since it’s only a few minutes away from our home!).

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons

 
Blaze Pizza on Urbanspoon

 

Tivoli & Lee (Lee’s Circle, New Orleans, LA)

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On Easter morning, “The Chef” and I had brunch reservations at Tivoli & Lee. It’s located right in the center of Lee’s Circle, a very prime location for an up and coming restaurant. Tivoli & Lee’s menu had a variety of interesting dishes that I couldn’t wait to try…

 

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Bottomless Mimosa. Usually, they place it in a different cup as an identifier for “bottomless” and unlimited refills, but this day was so busy they ran out of the bottomless mimosa cups. This is the cup for a single mimosa.

 

 

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Boudin Dip. Duck cracklin. Seasonal jam. Dijon Mustard.

 

 

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House-made Drop Biscuits. Devil Ham spread (highly recommended by our waitress)

 

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Charlie’s Gumbo. Chicken. Oyster. Andouille Sausage.

 

 

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Quail-N-Waffle. 

 

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Oyster Salad. Arugula. Frisee. Celery. Chopped Egg. Spiced Pecans. Blackberries. Candied Mustard Seed Vinaigrette.

 

I understand that Easter brunch is a very busy time, but we had made reservations around 1:30 PM. Our waitress was sweet and made some decent recommendations. I ordered the bottomless mimosa, because who can eat brunch without bottomless mimosas?! Plus, the single mimosa price was $3, but unlimited was $10. It’s worth it! Unfortunately, it was such a busy day that they ran out of the unlimited mimosa cups and there was a ton of confusion when I did not get refills. To start off my meal, I wasn’t too happy with that…

45 painful and “hangry” minutes later, we received our first wave of appetizers: Boudin Dip with Duck Cracklins, Drop biscuits with devil ham spread, and the Gumbo. The boudin dip was interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen that dish anywhere in the city and it had to be my favorite of these 3 dishes. The Drop biscuits were dense and dry, but the Devil Ham spread was pretty good. If only it had a fluffier and more delicious medium to be spread onto. The Gumbo (see pictures) was obviously sitting for quite a while under a heat lamp. There was a layer of soup skin that had formed on top from sitting for so long. I can’t tell if it was the kitchen’s fault or the wait staff’s fault for the delay in food expediting. As for the gumbo itself, I wouldn’t try it again…

30 minutes after our first wave of appetizers, we received the Quail-N-Waffle and Oyster Salad. The Quail was cold and the waffles were soggy from the sauce. Eating any type of poultry dish that comes out cold is always disappointing. The Oyster Salad had to be the highlight of the meal, since you can’t really go wrong with fried oysters and the salad was refreshing, but easily forgotten.

It’s not often that I do poor reviews, but I feel this was worth sharing because the menu at Tivoli & Lee was very attractive but the execution was lacking. At the same time, I don’t know whether or not to blame the wait staff or the kitchen. Although our waitress was nice, she didn’t address the long wait and didn’t update us on our food progress. It was a long and disappointing brunch…Hopefully, Tivoli & Lee can improve on this, because I see potential for a good restaurant, but service issues need to be addressed.

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Rating: 1/5 spoons
Tivoli & Lee on Urbanspoon