Six Hot New Openings You May Have Missed This Month

Let's face it, May is a super busy month here in New Orleans. With festivals taking up every weekend and NOWFE just coming to a close, it's likely a few new restaurants or bars sneaked by you this month. That's okay. Here are six hot, but quiet openings you may have missed in May.

1.) Marigny: The Franklin
Address: 2600 Dauphine Street
The Sitch: This chic new lounge/restaurant from former Lilette FOH guy Jason Baas features chef Jim Bremer in the kitchen and nightly specials that range from escargot eclairs to tuna crudo. Menu here. A fierce wine list and craft cocktails, seductive lighting, and late night eats make this an elegant addition to the Marigny. This spot is already big with industry folks, who've been keeping it on the hush-hush. (504) 267-0640
Hours: Mon-Tue: 6 to midnight. Closed Wednedays. Thurs-Sun: 6 p.m. to midnight.
[Photo: Brasted]

2.) French Quarter: Meauxbar
Address: 942 N. Rampart Street
The Sitch: Revamped and reopened just last week by the Ste. Marie team, Ian McNulty reports that chef Kristen Essig brings dishes "developed at Ste. Marie, like a crab and quinoa salad, with touchstones from the old Meauxbar, like escargot and pasta Bolognese. Just as important, said manager Natalie Secco, is forging the same kind of personal connections with regulars that distinguished the previous Meauxbar." Menu here. (504) 569-9979.
Hours: Mon-Thu: 5 to 11 p.m. Fri - Sat: 5 p.m. to midnight. Sun: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 11 p.m.
[Photo: Brasted]

3.) CENTRAL CITY: Church Alley Coffee Shop
Address: 1618 O.C. Haley (inside The Zeitgeist)
The Sitch: Renee Blanchard brings her "intense attention to coffee," as Todd Price calls it, to a new location in the Zeitgeist. Blanchard re-opened earlier this month and it's possible the coffee— including Portland's Tandem — tastes even better than before. as she tells Price, "In the last place, it was hard to find good espresso in the morning, because the morning sun came in at just the right angle to heat up the beans in the hopper." (504) 638-0032.
Hours: Mon-Sat, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
[Photo: Facebook]

4.) GERT TOWN: Maple Street Patisserie et Bistro
Address: 8300 Earhart Street
The Sitch: The bistro, featuring chef Scott Maki in the kitchen, has been serving breakfast and lunch since early May, but just celebrated their grand opening yesterday. Todd Price on the food: "Everything at the Bistro, from the pastrami and potato chips to the mustard and ketchup, is made from scratch." Another new location Maple Street Patisserie et Deli is opening in the former Artz Bagelz on June 1, chef Rodney Rillieux doing breakfast sandwiches on bagels.
Hours: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
[Photo: Brasted]

5.) MARIGNY: Horn's
Address: 1940 Dauphine St
The Sitch: Slim Goodies owner Kappa Horn took over the former La Peniche spot and has opened Horn's, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. They also have a full bar and their house drink is a Tequila Sunrise.
Hours: Thurs-Mon 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Wed.
[Photo: Yelp]

6.) CBD: Marcello's Restaurant & Wine Bar
Address: 715 St. Charles Avenue
The Sitch: Lafayette-based Marcello's has opened their expansion in the former Le Chat Noir space, with chef Blake Kymen doing Italian fare plus some French fusion dishes too. Menus here. (504) 581-6333.
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays.
[Photo: Yelp]

· When popular restaurants close, new opportunities quickly open [Advocate]
· For a new breed of New Orleans baristas, it's all about the beans [NOLA.com]
· Maple Street Patisserie makes a sudden leap from one location to three [NOLA.com]
· All Opening Reports [-ENOLA-]