Issue Articles — OffBeat Eats
Dining Out: Tujague’s Restaurant
Founded in 1856, Tujague’s stands as a testament to resilience, having weathered hurricanes, wars, fire, pandemics, and two relocations. As the third-oldest restaurant in the United States and the second oldest in New Orleans, Tujague’s has maintained its status as one of the city’s top fine-dining establishments. Now, a new chapter is set to be written as a fresh culinary voice, Chef Meg Gray steps in to add her mark to Tujague’s storied history.
Dining Out: Gabrielle Restaurant
Since 1992, Gabrielle Restaurant has served Cajun cuisine meticulously crafted by Chef Greg Sonnier. Chef Sonnier, along with his wife, Chef Mary Sonnier, and their daughter Gabrielle Sonnier Prudhomme, the restaurant’s namesake, have positioned Gabrielle as one of the quintessential New Orleans eateries that tops every local and visitor’s dining list.
Dining Out: Smoke & Honey
Vassiliki Ellwood Yiagazis has merged two of her family cultures to create her restaurant in Mid City. Smoke & Honey offers a menu uniquely inspired by Ellwood Yiagazis’ Greek and Jewish heritage. Ellwood Yiagazis and her business partners Lauren Lynch and Chad Vigneulle opened the spot in January.
Dining Out: Tacos del Cartel
The husband-and-wife team of Danny Cruz and Vilexys Salas are expanding their Mexican restaurant brand, Tacos del Cartel. The pair at the helm of the Metairie restaurant recently opened a New Orleans location, the original location of Tacos del Cartel opened in Metairie in 2020.
Dining Out: Good Catch / Thai Urban Bistro
In November 2021, on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic, chef Aom Srisuk and her husband and business partner Frankie Weinberg ambitiously opened their Thai restaurant, Pomelo, at 4113 Magazine Street. Now, the couple is expanding their venture with Good Catch, an upscale Thai urban bistro that offers more seating, more ambitious dishes, and serves Thai-inspired cocktails.
Dining Out: Copper Vine
Since 2018, Copper Vine, the gastropub and wine bar has been serving a menu packed with New Orleans fare with a bit of a twist. Now, the restaurant has exciting plans to serves lunch and dinner and brunch on weekends.
OffBeat EATS: Jazz Fest Guide
It’s Jazz Fest again, and we all know how delicious the food is on the Fairgrounds. However, when the shows are over, you will be looking for a delectable bite to eat from one of the many incredible restaurants New Orleans has to offer. To set you in the right direction, here are OffBeat’s suggestions for the tastiest spots you won’t want to miss!
Dining Out: Wild South
Wild South is the latest restaurant from Here Today Hospitality and helmed by Michael Stoltzfus, a seven-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee for “Best Chef: South” at his flagship, Coquette, as well as Jason Kaplan, Ryan Plas, and Becky Brooks-Macris alongside Bret Macris. Wild South will offer a five-course tasting menu, a three-course prix-fixe menu, and an à la carte bar menu that highlights seasonal ingredients from across the South’s fertile landscape.
Dining Out: BABs
Chef Nina Compton, the Saint Lucian-born chef behind Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro, has reworked the latter into BABs, an Italian-inspired restaurant that captures the same spirit as Bywater American Bistro but boasts a new menu and updated décor.
Dining Out: Bywater Bakery
Bywater Bakery has been serving tasty treats and a savory breakfast since 2017. Owners Chaya Conrad and Alton Osborne are cranking out king cakes for a short but busy season.
