Winter has come and gone with an onslaught of killer restaurant openings including the incredible Shaya, Balise and Angeline.  Now it's time to look ahead to Spring's biggest openings and beyond. These are the hottest restaurant openings shaping up for the remainder of 2015.  Put on some sunglasses because this scorching heat is about to singe the eyebrows off of your face, New Orleans.

ST. ROCH

ST. ROCH MARKET

Location: 2381 St. Claude Avenue

Key Players: Will Donaldson, Barre Tanguis

Projected Opening: April 10

The opening will mark an important milestone for St. Claude Avenue, the return of an iconic neighborhood market on a street that will only benefit from this cultural anchor. Twelve vendors, including an oyster and cocktail bar, crepes, juice, African, Korean and Creole fusion, a butcher, fresh produce, wine, and more at affordable prices with off street parking as well. Expect the mayor to even turn out on April 10 for the grand opening.

Barre Tanguis and Will Donaldson of St. Roch Market [Photo: Brasted]

FRENCH QUARTER

SALON BY SUCRE

Location: 622 Conti

Key Players: Joel Dondis, Tariq Hanna

Projected Opening: Storefront: likely next week. Tea Room/Lounge: April 2015.

One of New Orleans' most anticipated Spring, with the aim to revolutionize the pastry dining experience. The bottom floor will operate as a normal Sucre shop with a ballin' coffee program to boot. The upstairs lounge/restaurant will feature high tea, a 150+ wine list and killer cocktail program from Danny Meyer group/Union Square vets Braithe Tidwell and Beth McCaskey, and Tariq Hannah slinging radical savory and sweet pastry for dinner.

Also anticipated in the Quarter: Habana Outpost

[Photos:Facebook/Instagram]

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

NINA COMPTON'S UNNAMED PROJECT

Location: 535 Tchoup, inside the upcoming No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery

Key Players: Nina Compton, Provenance Hotels

Projected Opening: Summer 2015

Top Chef: New Orleans runner up Nina Compton gave up Miami life for a stab at her first solo restaurant in New Orleans. The Scarpetto alum will bring island flavors (she hails from St. Lucia), along with Italian and New Orleans influences, to an eclectic  gastropub-style restaurant in a swanky new hotel.

ST. JAMES CHEESE CO.

Location: Tchoupitoulas

Key Players: Richard Sutton, Danielle Sutton

Projected Opening: mid to late Summer 2015

Hot on the heels of their French Market collab Continental Provisions, NOLA cheese nobility Richard and Danielle Sutton have begun construction on their St. James Cheese Co. expansion in the Warehouse District.  Expect a barrage of CBD office folk hoarding the counter at lunchtime, and the same great sandwiches, salads, and specials as you'll find at the Uptown location.

Chef Nina Compton[Photo:Elsa Hahne]

SOUTH MARKET DISTRICT

WILLA JEAN

Location: 611 O'Keefe, inside The Paramount

Key Players: Kelly Fields, Lisa White, Besh Group

Projected Opening: Summer 2015

Besh Group pastry chef dream team Kelly Fields and Lisa White bring their decadent little deadlies to the masses with the opening of this sure-to-please Southern bakery and cafe. A strong coffee and cocktail game are both part of the plan, and if you honestly need convincing for how awesome this place will be, check out some menu-testing porn here.

URSA MAJOR

Location: 611 O'Keefe inside The Paramount

Key Players: Nick Vivion, Kevin Farrell, Octavio Ycaza

Projected Opening: Summer 2015

The masterminds behind Booty's Street Food bring a new cocktail and small plates concept to the emerging South Market District.  Chef Octavio Ycaza is creating the menu, and poolside service will be available for tenants. Expect a gorgeous interior, as the theme centers around stargazing and constellations.

Also anticipated in the South Market District: Company Burger, Magasin Kitchen, Blaze Pizza.

[Photo: Brasted]

UPTOWN

AVO

Location:

Key Players: Nick Lama, Melissa Lama, Brooks Graham Architecture

Projected Opening: Late Spring 2015

Sue Zemanick's former sous/chef du cuisine of Gautreau's Nick Lama is a fourth-generation Sicilian, whose family owned and operated Lama's St. Roch Market, ya heard.  His Uptown restaurant will no doubt dazzle with a menu of family recipes made new again—think Burrata and grilled peaches, short rib lasagna and more.  Expect a 'vintage-Industrial' atmosphere in the former Martinique space, with one of the most romantic outdoor dining areas in town.

MAYSVILLE

Location: Magazine and Nashville

Key Players: Mani Dawes, Sean Josephs, Kyle Knall

Projected Opening: Summer/Fall 2015

This unnamed expansion from the restaurateurs behind NYC's Maysville (and more restaurants) Mani Dawes and Sean Josephs, will be housed in new construction at Magazine and Nashville.  The menu from chef Kyle Knall is rumored to focus on bourbon and oysters as well as smoky American foods, but the 89-seater will likely serve pastries and coffee in the morning and casual lunch items before rolling over into a more fine dining affair at night.

Also anticipated Uptown: Altamura, Cavan Co., El Pavo Real (Broadmoor), Bourre(Carrollton)

Maysville will head to Magazine & Nashville this year. [Photo: Brasted]

CENTRAL CITY

PRIMITIVO

Location: 1800 O.C. Haley Blvd

Key Players: Adolfo Garcia, Nick Martin Jared Ralls

Projected Opening: Fall 2015

Meat master Adolfo Garcia sets his sites on making OCH the next Freret, as new concept Primitivo joins a slew of hot Central City openings in 2015. The restaurant will center around a custom built oven—a fire pit, basically—that will torch meats and bring diners back to the days of primordial carnal indulgence in a 3,000 square foot space. A Mano alum/ Chef Nick Martin will man the kitchen.

ROUX CARRE

Location: 2000 O.C. Haley

Key Players: Good Work Network

Projected Opening: Spring 2015

Splendid Pig, Miss Linda, Estralita Soniat, Johnny's Jamaican Grill and more vendors will join this upcoming food port on the bustling OCH this spring, including Adolfo Garcia alum Mirian Rodriguez, who will do papusas.

[Photo: Brasted]

IRISH CHANNEL & LGD

MCCLURE'S BARBECUE, NOLA BREWING TAPROOM

Location: 3001 Tchoup

Key Players: Neil McClure, Kirk Coco

Projected Opening: Spring 2015 (likely around Jazz Fest)

Pitmaster extraordinaire Neil McClure brings a new location of McClure's as well as a proper smokehouse to NOLA Brewing's sweet taproom expansion this Spring.  The new taproom features a rooftop bar, and McClure has plans to add bar bites too.

LULA

Location: 1532 St. Charles Avenue, LGD

Key Players: Jess Bourgeois

Projected Opening: Late 2015

The microdistillery and rustic Southern restaurant from chef Jess Bourgeois (a Superior Restaurant Group and Commander's alum) will distill small-batch vodka, rum and gin operation with custom-made copper stills, with a view from the dining area. Expect rustic Southern cuisine, 175+ seats and a bar coming to this former Halpern's location. The project is regarded as the first phase of development for the block, which will include the Avenue Oaks Hotel.

The rooftop bar at Nola Brewing is coming along. [Photo: NOLA Brewing/Facebook]

BYWATER

ASAP (A SOFT AWESOME PRETZEL)

Location: 617 B Piety Street (behind Pizza Delicious)

Key Players: Thomas Rakocy, Wayne J. Weidig

Projected Opening: April 2015

This brainchild of 'pretzel belt' (Pennsylvania) native Thomas Rakocy and Nola native Wayne J. Weidig brings Bavarian-style pretzels and a slew of dipping sauces to this new snack zone near Crescent Park. The bakery will offer indoor and outdoor seating and a late night walk up window.

[Photo: Brasted]

MID CITY

MELT

Location: 2549 Banks Street

Key Players: Miles Tully, Casey Biehl

Projected Opening: Fall 2015

Former Barcadia managers Miles Tully and Casey Biehl are on track to open their fast casual restaurant with counter service, a menu of specialty grilled cheese sandwiches and a bar this fall in the heart of Mid City. Expect the place to have a revamped industrial feel.

Also trending in Mid City: Side Bar, Urban South Brewery