New Orleans' Most Anticipated Fall Openings 2014

While summer in New Orleans has ushered in the beginning of the taqueria craze with the openings of Del Fuego and Arana, offered new thoughtful additions to drunk food--Kebab--and the cocktail scene--CellarDoor, Barrel Proof and the Tiki Tolteca revamp--it's time to look ahead to fall, when restaurant debuts really kick in to high gear.

While there's even more promises of tacos to come, this fall also introduces a Chinese trend, a return of fine dining, more tiki, craft beer galore, authentic Italian, wings and new wave daiqs, and so much more. Here now are the most anticipated openings in New Orleans this fall. Do check back later this week for fall's anticipated brewery and beer preview too.

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Quarter: Brennan's
Address: 417 Royal Street
Major Players: Ralph Brennan, Terry White, Slade Rushing
The Situation: After over a year of intense legal battles and a forced shutter, the doors at iconic New Orleans restaurant Brennan's will once again be open this Fall under the leadership of proprietors Terry White and Ralph Brennan. Heading up the kitchen is Slade Rushing, one half of the chef duo at MiLa. Reps from the restaurant say the menu will offer "a selection of traditional New Orleans favorites as well as distinct seasonal daily offerings." Front of house is getting some attention too with a multi-million dollar renovation and a redesign by Richard Keith Langham.
Projected Opening: October

CBD: Johnny Sanchez
Address: 930 Poydras
Major Players: John Besh, Aaron Sanchez
The Situation: These celeb chef bffs will take over the former Ste. Marie space with the second location of their taqueria, featuring a menu of tacos, ceviches and more, plus intriguing high-quality ingredients for true ballers.
Projected Opening: Late September/Early October

CBD: Justin Devillier's upcoming restaurant
Address: 640 Carondelet St.
Major Players: Justin and Mia Devillier
The Situation: Cheftestapants and local fave Justin Devillier opens a more casual restaurant than La Petite in the former Ditcharo's, sure to be a pre-game hub for the Who Dat Nation with a raw bar and 'cold station' to boot. Construction is already underway.
Projected Opening: Late November/Early December

Quarter: Latitude 29
Address: 321 N. Peters
Major Players: Jeff Beachbum Berry
The Situation: Berry will bring legit tiki culture to the Quarter in a refined bar (the former Iris space) from interior designer Bosko Hrnjak. Expect some of the best service around with Steve Yamada and Rhiannon Enlil already enlisted to tend bar, and Chris Shortall (of Shortall's Barbecue in 12 Mile Limite) creating an Asian inspired food menu.
Projected Opening: Late September/Early October

Bywater: Junction
Address: 3021 St. Claude
Major Players: Jim Monaghan, J. Lloyd Miller
The Situation: The Molly's at the Market/13 crew is about ready to open their new Bywater tavern, Junction, featuring classic cocktails, 40+ draft beers, gourmet burgers, wings, and salads on St. Claude. The tavern will have an art deco train station aesthetic, and the food has already been tested/pleased a number of fans via a recent pop up.
Projected Opening: September/October

Uptown: Altamura
Address: 5119 Magazine
Major Players: Jack Petronella, Coleman Jernigan
The Situation: The masterminds behind pastry powerhouse ManhattanJack turn their attention to Italian food, a trattoria to be exact, named after the region Petronella's family comes from, Altamura will showcase authentic recipes from his grandmother and other family members.
Projected Opening: November

Central City: Purloo
Address: 1504 OC Haley Blvd.
Major Players: Ryan Hughes
The Situation: Chef Ryan Hughes brings his popular pop up/Southern charmer to the much-awaited location of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum.
Projected Opening: Late September

Bywater: Red's Chinese
Address: 3048 St. Claude Avenue
Major Players: Amy Mosberger, Tobias Womack
The Situation: Womack, A Mission Chinese Food alum and partner Mosberger (NYC's Martha's alum) get creative with Chinese in the Bywater-- pulling influence from the likes of The Picayune's Creole Cook Book, Mastering the Art of Chinese Cooking, and David Chang's Momofuku. Promises of fried chicken and booze, and a dining room looking out onto a backyard garden. Womack says, "We're still hopeful for a mid-September opening, however we are really at the mercy of the fire marshal at this point."
Projected Opening: mid-September or later

Carrollton: Boucherie's Expansion/Wing & Daiq Shop
Address: 1506 S Carrollton, 8115 Jeanette
Major Players: Nathaniel Zimet, James Denio
The Situation: Zimet moves his beloved (and rather tiny) Boucherie into the former Cafe Granada space for extra seating. Meanwhile the Boucherie space will become a second restaurant--focusing on craft daiqs, chicken wings, and tapas inspired by the Caribbean, South Pacific and Southern India.
Projected Opening: October

Lower Garden District: Courtyard Brewing
Address: 1020 Erato Street
Major Players: Scott Wood, Lindsay Hellwig
The Situation: Scott Wood and Lindsay Hellwig will add to New Orleans growing craft beer scene with their long-awaited and highly anticipated nano-brewery and taproom.
Projected Opening: Fall, date not announced yet

Marigny: Bao & Noodle
Address: 2700 Chartres
Major Players: Doug Crowell
The Situation: Crowell, an Herbsaint alum, takes over the Sound Cafe with inexpensive Chinese cuisine (Crowell's wife is Chinese-American) serving the Bywater/Marigny neighbhorhood, with house specialty steam buns and handmade noodles.
Projected Opening: September

Warehouse District: Chateau du Lac
Address: 857 Fulton Street
Major Players: Jacques Saleun
The Situation: The Old-Metairie bistro fave expands to the Warehouse District, in the former La Boca space to be exact, with a menu much like the original.
Projected Opening: Late August

Quarter: Salon by Sucre
Address: 622 Conti Street
Major Players: Joel Dondis, Tariq Hannah
The Situation: Sucré expands their empire in the Quarter with a new concept, the Sucre Salon. The bottom-floor shop to have a coffee program of pour overs/espresso only. The upstairs salon will serve savory and sweet dishes, from foie gras to cheese cart, with an emphasis on tableside preparations, in a lounge-worthy "living room and dining room setting," but likely much swankier.
Projected Opening: late 2014/early 2015

Warehouse District/Marigny: RioMar team's taqueria & nuevo centro
Address: 800 S. Peters
Major Players: Miles Prescott, Nick Bazan
The Situation: RioMar is now shuttered, with owners Bazan and Prescott (also the chef) planning to open a taqueria in the space, featuring well-stocked with tequila, mezcal and rum, plus tacos, burritos, and more. The duo will also open a ceviche restaurnat in the Marigny called Nuevo Centro.
Projected Opening: Early 2015

More exciting late 2014/early 2015 openings: Bywater bakery gem Shake Sugary is moving to a new location. Adolfo Garcia moves in on the OCH boom. The Central City Food Port of New Orleans (food truck lot) is still planned for OCH. Manor on Magazine will start their transformation of former Duke Morgan spa. St. James Cheese Company expands to the CBD in 2015. Fat Falafel still plans to open in former Maple Street Books in Faubourg St. John.

All Fall Tracking [-ENOLA-]
All photos by Josh Brasted, unless otherwise notes