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Where to Eat Brunch in New Orleans, December 2021

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The Updated Eater Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Gwendolyn Knapp
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by Gwendolyn Knapp

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.

After a very impressive run on the Heatmap, the Quarter's crazy good bar food/Pimm's Cup daiquiri destination St. Lawrence departs. Coming onto the map this month: The Hotel Modern's new addition, Tivoli & Lee.

As always, leave your thoughts in the comments or email.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. ANNUNCIATION

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1016 Annunciation St
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 568-0245
(504) 568-0245
Chef Steve Manning left his longtime post running the kitchen at Clancy's to open his own restaurant near Cochon. Located in the old Deanie's Restaurant, which was completely renovated, all reports suggest Manning's food rivals what he was doing at Clancy's.

2. Satsuma Maple

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7901 Maple Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 304-5962
(504) 304-5962
Opened right before Hurricane Isaac, the Uptown location of Satsuma Cafe has great breakfast and lunch fare, including Sugarman's bagels, without the insane lines of the Bywater location (yet, that is)

3. SoBou

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310 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
A drinks-heavy concept from the Commander's Palace team, this beautifully decorated Creole Saloon features Louisiana-inspired fare by chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez and a craft cocktails menu by the iconic bartender Lu Brow.

4. Serendipity

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3800 Orleans Ave.
New Orleans, LA LA
Green-Goddess Chef Chris Debarr and Ed Diaz of Bar Tonique have reunited since their days at the Delachaise, bringing exceptional cocktails, an ample wine selection, and eccentric small plates like Lamb Baklava to the American Can Building in Bayou St. John.

5. Gracious Bakery + Cafe

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1000 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy
New Orleans, LA 70125
Pastry Chef Megan Roen Forman owns and operates this strangely located, but incredibly good bakery and cafe with a great selection of cold and hot sandwiches on housemade breads and a large case of dazzling pastries (Forman worked at Sucre).

Also Featured in:

6. Pizza Delicious

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617 Piety St
New Orleans, La 70117
(504) 676-8482
(504) 676-8482
The beloved New York style pizza pop-up in the Bywater is now a full brick and mortar close to Markey Park. Owners Mike Friedman and Greg Augarten's renovations are totally fresh, and you'll still find them behind the counter hand-tossing dough. Dine-in and take out service available, as are vegan pies.

Also Featured in:

7. Booty's Street Food

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800 Louisa St.
New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 266-2887
(504) 266-2887
Visit Website
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.

8. Maïs Arepas

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1200 Carondelet st.
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-6247
(504) 523-6247
Former Baru partner, David Mantilla, is now the poster boy for Central City hotness with his eye-catching Creole Columbian restaurant, Maiuml;s. The casual, yet refined style carries over to the menu and has everybody saying arepas, arepas, arepas.

Also Featured in:

9. La Fin du Monde

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2917 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70115
The Garden District's new craft cocktail and brunch, lunch, and dinner spot from Justus Jagger boasts a duo of talented bartenders of Tonique fame, Michelle McMahon and Geoffrey Wilson, and a young chef, Jonathan Lestingi, ready to impress with a menu that relies on all local ingredients. Housed in the old Cafe Rani space, outdoor seating abounds for nice weather and they serve French Truck coffee.

10. Mariza

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2900 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70117
The new Italian-Inspired 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.

11. Wayfare

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4510 Freret
New Orleans, LA 70115
The new sandwich shop on Freret is so much more than a lunch time destination. With a full bar, bar food menu, and impressive sandwich selection (Chef Kevin White makes his mozzarella and cures charcuterie in house), Wayfare is sure to please midday or for a late dinner.

12. Dominique's On Magazine

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4213 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-9282
(504) 891-9282
The new incarnation of Dominique Macquet's namesake restaurant is everything that a fine dining experience should be, from a sleek, artsy ambience, impressive French inspired cuisine and creative craft cocktails, and all locally sourced, including the courtyard's herbs and produce.

13. Tivoli & Lee

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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.

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1. ANNUNCIATION

1016 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Chef Steve Manning left his longtime post running the kitchen at Clancy's to open his own restaurant near Cochon. Located in the old Deanie's Restaurant, which was completely renovated, all reports suggest Manning's food rivals what he was doing at Clancy's.
1016 Annunciation St
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 568-0245

2. Satsuma Maple

7901 Maple Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
Opened right before Hurricane Isaac, the Uptown location of Satsuma Cafe has great breakfast and lunch fare, including Sugarman's bagels, without the insane lines of the Bywater location (yet, that is)
7901 Maple Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 304-5962

3. SoBou

310 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
A drinks-heavy concept from the Commander's Palace team, this beautifully decorated Creole Saloon features Louisiana-inspired fare by chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez and a craft cocktails menu by the iconic bartender Lu Brow.
310 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

4. Serendipity

3800 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA LA
Green-Goddess Chef Chris Debarr and Ed Diaz of Bar Tonique have reunited since their days at the Delachaise, bringing exceptional cocktails, an ample wine selection, and eccentric small plates like Lamb Baklava to the American Can Building in Bayou St. John.
3800 Orleans Ave.
New Orleans, LA LA

5. Gracious Bakery + Cafe

1000 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70125
Pastry Chef Megan Roen Forman owns and operates this strangely located, but incredibly good bakery and cafe with a great selection of cold and hot sandwiches on housemade breads and a large case of dazzling pastries (Forman worked at Sucre).
1000 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy
New Orleans, LA 70125

6. Pizza Delicious

617 Piety St, New Orleans, La 70117
The beloved New York style pizza pop-up in the Bywater is now a full brick and mortar close to Markey Park. Owners Mike Friedman and Greg Augarten's renovations are totally fresh, and you'll still find them behind the counter hand-tossing dough. Dine-in and take out service available, as are vegan pies.
617 Piety St
New Orleans, La 70117
(504) 676-8482

7. Booty's Street Food

800 Louisa St., New Orleans, LA 70117
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.
800 Louisa St.
New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 266-2887
Visit Website

8. Maïs Arepas

1200 Carondelet st., New Orleans, LA 70130
Former Baru partner, David Mantilla, is now the poster boy for Central City hotness with his eye-catching Creole Columbian restaurant, Maiuml;s. The casual, yet refined style carries over to the menu and has everybody saying arepas, arepas, arepas.
1200 Carondelet st.
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-6247

9. La Fin du Monde

2917 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
The Garden District's new craft cocktail and brunch, lunch, and dinner spot from Justus Jagger boasts a duo of talented bartenders of Tonique fame, Michelle McMahon and Geoffrey Wilson, and a young chef, Jonathan Lestingi, ready to impress with a menu that relies on all local ingredients. Housed in the old Cafe Rani space, outdoor seating abounds for nice weather and they serve French Truck coffee.
2917 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70115

10. Mariza

2900 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
The new Italian-Inspired 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.
2900 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70117

11. Wayfare

4510 Freret, New Orleans, LA 70115
The new sandwich shop on Freret is so much more than a lunch time destination. With a full bar, bar food menu, and impressive sandwich selection (Chef Kevin White makes his mozzarella and cures charcuterie in house), Wayfare is sure to please midday or for a late dinner.
4510 Freret
New Orleans, LA 70115

12. Dominique's On Magazine

4213 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
The new incarnation of Dominique Macquet's namesake restaurant is everything that a fine dining experience should be, from a sleek, artsy ambience, impressive French inspired cuisine and creative craft cocktails, and all locally sourced, including the courtyard's herbs and produce.
4213 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-9282

13. Tivoli & Lee

New Orleans, LA
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.

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