Ian McNulty Goes Southern at Garcia's High Hat Café

In this week's Gambit, Ian McNulty reviewed High Hat Café, the casual Southern eatery opened this summer by chef Adolfo Garcia and Memphis native Chip Apperson. Given Apperson's role in really "running the ship," McNulty writes that "High Hat is a bit of a hybrid — part Deep South diner and part casual New Orleans cafe." Further:

While the menu is short and straightforward, there are more options thanks to specials, the abundant use of local produce and the clear evidence of creative hands in the kitchen, namely those of chef Jeremy Wolgamott.

And in his Haute Plates blog for MyNewOrleans.com, Robert Peyton tried the German food at Jägerhaus, a restaurant that filled a Bavaria-sized hole in the New Orleans dining scene when it opened in 2008. He compared it to the long-lost German restaurant Kolb's, writing: "It's nice to be able to eat German food in New Orleans, given the significant cultural contribution Germans have played in the city's culture. While Jägerhaus may not have the same ambiance that Kolb's did, it's a welcome addition to the dining scene."

Peter Thriffiley, Jr and Rene Louapre (they of the Blackened Out blog, which we'll get to in a moment) reviewed Velvet Cactus in the current issue of Offbeat. The review is decidedly mixed: A "much too rough" Margarita, salsa with a "fiery smokiness" and fast service, plus a handful of entrees, some of which they liked, others they didn't.

And now for the blogs: Those same guys continued their "Burger Bonanza" thing, giving a "par/birdie" to Tru Burger. (So, somewhere between average and a little better than average?) And Emily Smith at Fleurdelicous wrote that Lola's is now her "go-to place" for Spanish food.

· All Weeks in Reviews on Eater NOLA [-ENOLA-]

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