More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater ask us: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What haven't I heard of? What's everyone talking about? And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continuously to always highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment.
Mais Arepas and La Fin Du Monde leave the map this month, as McClure's Barbecue makes it's hot debut Uptown.
Been to any of these restaurants and had a great or a terrible experience? Let us know in the comments or by email.
January 2013, Added: La Fin Du Monde February 2013, Added: Mariza March 2013, Added: Wayfare, Dominique's on Magazine April 2013, Added: Tivoli & Lee May 2013, Added: Peche, Tableau, Kingfish June 2013, Added: Lucky Rooster, Ba Chi Canteen July 2013: Casa Borrega
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.
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Chef Greg Fonseca serves up global-inspired street food for lunch and dinner along with inspired cocktails from barman Jeremy JF Thompson at this Bywater hot spot. In the mornings, Booty's takes on more of a coffee shop vibe with local pastries and Stumptown grinds.
The Italian-Inspired swanky-casual restaurant from Iris' husband and wife team Ian Schoebelen and Laurie Casebonne, brings a raw bar to the Bywater. Located in the Rice Mill Lofts (nextdoor to NOCCA), a menu of housemade charcuterie, pastas, and pizza comprise the menu cranked out of the open kitchen.
This sandwich shop on Freret is so much more than a lunch time destination. With a full bar, plump little bar food menu, and impressively unusual sandwich selection (Chef Kevin White makes his mozzarella and cures charcuterie in house, btw), not to mention a crazy delicious mac n cheese with lardons, Wayfare is sure to please midday or for a late dinner.
The newest incarnation of Dominique Macquet's namesake restaurant is everything that a fine dining experience should be, from a sleek, artsy ambience, impeccable service, and the impressive worldly approach to mainly French-inspired cuisine and creative craft cocktails, all locally sourced. Hydroponic towers about in the restaurant's courtyard, which has a unique urban oasis vibe, and the restaurant also has a private room on the second story including a beautiful wine room.
Tivoli & Lee is the Hotel Modern's new restaurant, located in the former Tamarind space. Chef Mike Nirenberg, who got his start at Delachaise, Patois, and Oak, does modern Southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced produce and meats (FYI, he knows how to cook some vegetables, people). Kimberly Patton Bragg's innovative cocktail program is one of the best in the city, and the proximity to Bellocq ensures a promising, albeit tipsy, experience.
Peche is a pitmaster dreamland and seafood mecca from the can-do-no-wrong Link Group. Chefs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski, and Ryan Prewitt's trips to Uruguay and Spain inspired the restaurant, which focuses on asado cooking. Located in the Warehouse District in a historic building where Jefferson Davis was embalmed, Peche features a giant hearth/wood fire grill (handbuilt by Link's cousin), a raw bar, and the sort of casual fine dining vibe perfected by sister restaurant Cochon with a menu of comparable merit. Peche is to fish as Cochon is to pig.
Dickie Brennan's newly opened Tableau, attached to Le Petit Theatre, serves French Creole overlooking Jackson Square. Long time Palace Cafe chef Ben Thibodeaux mans the kitchen, and the building underwent a huge and beautiful renovation to arrive at its plantation/Spanish manor feel with three stories of dining (300+ seats), including balconies,private rooms, and a sweeping staircase. The restaurant has a wine carafe program, and is working to build a large repertoire of cognacs.
Kingfish is home to Louisiana comfort food with a surprising global twist in the Quarter. Located on Chartres and Conti, the restaurant (from the owners of Broussard's) features two of New Orleans' culinary heavyweights, including legendary barkeep Chris McMillian, who turns out impeccable classic libations and service. And former Gabrielle owner/chef Greg Sonnier, whose menu is packed with Cajun and Creole classics on crack and cracklins— from a 'pirogue' of barbecue shrimp to a Cajun-injected "junky chick." The dining area has sort of a dark man-cave feel (and a few nods to Huey P. Long), a nice contrast to an afternoon spent roaming the Quarter.
Operated by Phat Vu and Quinn Nguyen of Westbank favorite Tan Dinh and located in the old Figaro's space across from Satsuma Maple Uptown, Ba Chi Canteen is kind of like Tan Dinh's punkrock younger sibling. Amidst traditional Vietnamese fare like bahn mi and pho, the wilder side of the menu shines with Bacos (steam bun tacos), Kim Chi Fries, pork belly galore and tons of cray specials that make this a culinary destination for broke college kids, star chefs like John Besh and Aaron Sanchez, and everyone in between.
Lucky Rooster is a casual noodle house/Asian snack attack charmer in the CBD from the Juan's and Slice team. Chef Neil Swidler, a Delmonico alum, boasts a wickedly tasty menu of Asian street food at price points that won't break the bank or morale. His obsession with the housemade extends all the way to the sauces and dessert, so don't skip the sriracha or fortune cookie. Christine Jeanine Nielsen is the mastermind behind the exotic cocktails and housemade sodas. And GM/wine guru Joe Briand (Herbsaint alum) has a slew of interesting whites, and is also busy starting a sherry revolution among a younger, amply tattooed crowd.
Hugo Montero and Linda Stone's salvaged 19th Century house on OCH is already a cultural hub, featuring food truck nights, live music, fundraisers, and now a Mexican street food and cocktail menu available Thursday-Saturday nights, with the likes of tostadas, gorditas, and more. By fall, the restaurant should expand to have breakfast and lunch as well.
Finally Uptown has a delicious barbecue joint thanks to Neil McClure's smokin' hot pop-up turned brick-and-mortar. Brisket, ribs, barbecue sandwiches on Dong Phuong French bread, and sauces that cover all good regions of the Southern barbecue paradigm are causing lines out the door. BBQ BFF sides likes coleslaw and mac n cheese abound, and it won't set you back too much either.
Chef Greg Fonseca serves up global-inspired street food for lunch and dinner along with inspired cocktails from barman Jeremy JF Thompson at this Bywater hot spot. In the mornings, Booty's takes on more of a coffee shop vibe with local pastries and Stumptown grinds.
The Italian-Inspired swanky-casual restaurant from Iris' husband and wife team Ian Schoebelen and Laurie Casebonne, brings a raw bar to the Bywater. Located in the Rice Mill Lofts (nextdoor to NOCCA), a menu of housemade charcuterie, pastas, and pizza comprise the menu cranked out of the open kitchen.
This sandwich shop on Freret is so much more than a lunch time destination. With a full bar, plump little bar food menu, and impressively unusual sandwich selection (Chef Kevin White makes his mozzarella and cures charcuterie in house, btw), not to mention a crazy delicious mac n cheese with lardons, Wayfare is sure to please midday or for a late dinner.
The newest incarnation of Dominique Macquet's namesake restaurant is everything that a fine dining experience should be, from a sleek, artsy ambience, impeccable service, and the impressive worldly approach to mainly French-inspired cuisine and creative craft cocktails, all locally sourced. Hydroponic towers about in the restaurant's courtyard, which has a unique urban oasis vibe, and the restaurant also has a private room on the second story including a beautiful wine room.
Tivoli & Lee is the Hotel Modern's new restaurant, located in the former Tamarind space. Chef Mike Nirenberg, who got his start at Delachaise, Patois, and Oak, does modern Southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced produce and meats (FYI, he knows how to cook some vegetables, people). Kimberly Patton Bragg's innovative cocktail program is one of the best in the city, and the proximity to Bellocq ensures a promising, albeit tipsy, experience.
Peche is a pitmaster dreamland and seafood mecca from the can-do-no-wrong Link Group. Chefs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski, and Ryan Prewitt's trips to Uruguay and Spain inspired the restaurant, which focuses on asado cooking. Located in the Warehouse District in a historic building where Jefferson Davis was embalmed, Peche features a giant hearth/wood fire grill (handbuilt by Link's cousin), a raw bar, and the sort of casual fine dining vibe perfected by sister restaurant Cochon with a menu of comparable merit. Peche is to fish as Cochon is to pig.
Dickie Brennan's newly opened Tableau, attached to Le Petit Theatre, serves French Creole overlooking Jackson Square. Long time Palace Cafe chef Ben Thibodeaux mans the kitchen, and the building underwent a huge and beautiful renovation to arrive at its plantation/Spanish manor feel with three stories of dining (300+ seats), including balconies,private rooms, and a sweeping staircase. The restaurant has a wine carafe program, and is working to build a large repertoire of cognacs.
Kingfish is home to Louisiana comfort food with a surprising global twist in the Quarter. Located on Chartres and Conti, the restaurant (from the owners of Broussard's) features two of New Orleans' culinary heavyweights, including legendary barkeep Chris McMillian, who turns out impeccable classic libations and service. And former Gabrielle owner/chef Greg Sonnier, whose menu is packed with Cajun and Creole classics on crack and cracklins— from a 'pirogue' of barbecue shrimp to a Cajun-injected "junky chick." The dining area has sort of a dark man-cave feel (and a few nods to Huey P. Long), a nice contrast to an afternoon spent roaming the Quarter.
Operated by Phat Vu and Quinn Nguyen of Westbank favorite Tan Dinh and located in the old Figaro's space across from Satsuma Maple Uptown, Ba Chi Canteen is kind of like Tan Dinh's punkrock younger sibling. Amidst traditional Vietnamese fare like bahn mi and pho, the wilder side of the menu shines with Bacos (steam bun tacos), Kim Chi Fries, pork belly galore and tons of cray specials that make this a culinary destination for broke college kids, star chefs like John Besh and Aaron Sanchez, and everyone in between.
Lucky Rooster is a casual noodle house/Asian snack attack charmer in the CBD from the Juan's and Slice team. Chef Neil Swidler, a Delmonico alum, boasts a wickedly tasty menu of Asian street food at price points that won't break the bank or morale. His obsession with the housemade extends all the way to the sauces and dessert, so don't skip the sriracha or fortune cookie. Christine Jeanine Nielsen is the mastermind behind the exotic cocktails and housemade sodas. And GM/wine guru Joe Briand (Herbsaint alum) has a slew of interesting whites, and is also busy starting a sherry revolution among a younger, amply tattooed crowd.
Hugo Montero and Linda Stone's salvaged 19th Century house on OCH is already a cultural hub, featuring food truck nights, live music, fundraisers, and now a Mexican street food and cocktail menu available Thursday-Saturday nights, with the likes of tostadas, gorditas, and more. By fall, the restaurant should expand to have breakfast and lunch as well.
Finally Uptown has a delicious barbecue joint thanks to Neil McClure's smokin' hot pop-up turned brick-and-mortar. Brisket, ribs, barbecue sandwiches on Dong Phuong French bread, and sauces that cover all good regions of the Southern barbecue paradigm are causing lines out the door. BBQ BFF sides likes coleslaw and mac n cheese abound, and it won't set you back too much either.
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