In these post-Carnival times, abandon your Lenten promises and get on out this weekend to check out these new restaurants (and one bar).
While you were all throwing elbows for beads and deciding on your Mardi Gras costume, six new places have opened. Since they may have gotten lost in the shuffle, here are the six new (and/or improved) places you should check out this weekend.
Shaya
Alon Shaya, the man who brought regional Italian cooking to New Orleans with Domenica and Pizza Domenica (restaurants opened in partnership with John Besh) has created a restaurant concept close to his heart and executed with the same focus and precision of all his previous endeavors. Shaya is an Israeli restaurant which combines classic dishes and flavor combinations with Chef Alon's contemporary and creative spin. Note: the pita, usually just a hummus delivery device, is handmade in a specialty wood burning oven and is excellent on its own. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm, Fri/Sat, 11am-11pm. Website here.
[Photo: Brasted]
Balise
La Petite Grocery team Justin and Mia Devillier have brought a new game downtown with their new concept, a sophisticated "bar and parlour" which features a cold garde manger menu as well as dishes like rabbit roulade and roasted grouper for lunch and dinner. The original cocktail menu is impressive, along with the selection of beer and wine. Hours: Monday through Friday, 11am-11pm, open for dinner only on the weekends, 5-11pm Saturday and 5-10pm on Sunday. Website here.
[Photo: Facebook]
Press Street Station
This cafe, which supports the New Orleans Center of Creative Arts, mixes the culinary and visual arts to create a homey, intimate, stimulating environment in which food from SoBou alum Jonathan Schmidt. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, and entrees like the intriguingly named "Darn Good Chicken Tostones." Hours: Daily, 8am-8pm. BYOB. Website here.
[Photo: Facebook]
Boucherie
Not new, but moved and improved. The Boucherie crew has moved to bigger digs around the corner on S. Carrollton Ave, in order to make way for its new daiq & wing concept at the old Creole cottage on Jeanette. Enjoy more elbow room, light, and a whole new vibe. Hours: Open for lunch: 11am - 3pm and dinner: 5:30 - 9:30 Tues. - Sat. Website here.
[Photo: Brasted]
Pulp & Grind
The CBD/Warehouse District has a new coffee shop and juice bar from the minds behind Satsuma with everything fresh and house made pastries to boot. They just opened yesterday, so it's now a weekend (or Monday morning) downtown destination for fueling up in the morning. Hours: opens at 6:30am. Website here.
[Photo: Facebook]
Black Penny
Erin Rose alum Bert West and Bar Tonique owner Ed Diaz opened this place on N. Rampart to be a casual. neighborhood, hangout spot. They have cocktails and craft beer cans, but other than that it's a bit of a mystery (thus the old timey photo above). Check it out and report back! Hours: 4pm-till. Website here.
[Photo: Facebook]
Make sure to check out the February Heatmap and Eater 38 for more dining suggestions.