As spring comes to an end, a number of the season’s most highly anticipated restaurants and bakeries have opened, from a chic destination for modern Indian street food (Tava) to a dedicated artisan bagel destination (Flour Moon), among others. This summer, New Orleans diners can look forward to a few holdovers from spring, like Mamou in the French Quarter and Dough Nguyener’s Bakery in Gretna, as well as a modern Japanese izakaya, a top pizza pop-up-turned-restaurant, and a rooftop dining destination for Metairie.
Read on for a look at the six restaurant openings to look forward to in Summer 2022, arranged in order of projected opening.
Opening dates are always a moving target, but now more than ever. Did we miss an upcoming restaurant or bar? Let us know.
Zee’s Pizzeria
3914 Baronne St., Milan
Zander White first gained a following for his “old-school” New England-style pizza at Mid City brewery Zony Mash, which became an integral outdoor destination for beer, live music, and food pop-ups during the pandemic. Nearly two years later White is gearing up to open Zee’s Pizzeria in Uptown, where he’ll expand on the food truck menu with whole pies, slices, and salads, as well as beer and wine. Come late June, loyal fans will be able to enjoy the thin crust, chewy, and charred pies at the permanent shop.
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MaMou
942 N. Rampart St. French Quarter
MaMou is one of Eater’s most anticipated restaurants of 2022, a modern French brasserie from New Orleans chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier. Branighan, who teases the forthcoming food as “simple elegant flavors rooted in French technique,” has worked at top local spots over the years; most recently cooked at the former Longway Tavern, a spot that quickly became known for its small plates despite being billed as a bar. Wismeier has worked as beverage director for French Quarter fine-dining destination Restaurant R’evolution, a restaurant long known for its wine list. After initially hoping to open in spring, Mamou is slated for this summer.
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Sukeban
8126 Oak St., Carrollton/Riverbend
Jacqueline Blanchard has been quietly working away on Sukeban for the past year or two, and is now now preparing to bring the exciting temaki destination to life on Oak Street early this summer. Blanchard’s first venture, culinary shop Coutelier, frequently brought her to Japan, where she gained an education for traditional izakayas in Japan. It helped inspire Sukeban, which means “boss girl” in Japanese, where she plans to serve a succinct menu of rotating handrolls, traditional sides, and Japanese beer, sake, and whiskey. A narrow and sleek sushi bar lined with 22 seats total is meant to ensure immediate delivery of freshly made temaki.
Skeeta Hawk Brewing
455 N. Dorgenois St., Mid City
Set for the address next door to the newly-opened Flour Moon Bagels is one of two new breweries to open this summer. It’s from military veteran Aaron Merrill, who is the managing partner of a group owners and the brewmaster for the small operation, according to NOLA.com, 12 on tap along with ciders, and share patio space with Flour Moon. Miller expects to open at the end of July.
Calliope Beer Works
8801 Oak St., Riverbend
A friendly spot in the former home of the neighborhood-driven Cowbell is good news, particularly since the new restaurant’s owners intend to continue the vibe of the now-closed casual gastropub housed in a former service station. According to NOLA.com, Calliope Beer Works, from Richard Szydlo, will serve its own beer, the flagship of which is a Belgian, and a menu of bar snacks, sandwiches, and entrees from a to-be-named chef. It’s projected to open late this summer.
Parish Line Bistro Bar
601 Metairie Rd.
This upcoming Metairie bar and restaurant, though just announced, is due this summer — apparently that’s possible when a number of wealthy local businessmen are behind the project. Parish Line Bistro Bar, backed by New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and John Georges, the owner of the Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, among others, will open in the former Metry Cafe and Bar. A main draw here will be an open-air rooftop, a rare find outside Orleans Parish lines, as well as food from Chris Wilson, a former Emeril’s restaurant chef who most recently co-founded Metairie’s Larder Market. Extensive renovations are underway to transform the former dive into an upscale bar by late August, according to a press release.