Food News

THAT'S SLAPPIN' … Michigan-born newcomer Chad Barlow has just recently begun sizzling beef at Marie's Bar in the Marigny, launching a pop-up or kitchen installment dubbed Slap Burger. Barlow is offering his version of the all-popular smash-style burger with a crisply-seared ground beef patty, thick-cut dill pickles, sauteed onions, American cheese, and his secret “slap sauce” on a buttered and toasted brioche bun. Burgers and sandwiches (he also offers a killer grilled cheese) come with a side of potato chips and Barlow's late grandfather's fire cream cheese dip.

2483 Burgundy St., @originalslapburger

DOUBLING DOWN … Chef/owner Than “Lin” Regules and her husband Alex, the masterminds behind the Burmese and Malaysian-food stall Laksa NOLA, are now doubling your dining pleasure with the launch of Lin Sushi & Poke at St. Roch Market. Not only does the new spot offer sushi, sashimi, and poke (obviously), you can also score Tonkatsu Ramen and “Sushirritos,” or sushi burritos—a sheet of nori stuffed with rice, cucumber, avocado, fried onion, and a choice of salmon, crab, tuna, or shrimp—perfect for a grabn-go lunch. 2381 St. Claude Ave., @linsushiandpoke @

st.rochmarket

MI OH MY! … A new Vietnamese restaurant recently opened up inside University Medical Center dubbed Bao Mi. Though pho is not on the menu, almost everything else is, from spring rolls and banh mi to vermicelli bowls and bao. They also feature street food items such as bulgogi fries and something they call “C-Asian Street Corn”—crab-boil corn-on-the-cob with lime mayo, Chinese sausage, and Thai chilies. Bao Mi is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 2000 Tulane Ave., @baomi_nola

SPEAKIN’ OF BANH MI … New Orleans native Chef Peter Nguyen is spreading the banh mi love with the launch of Banh Mi Boys’ second location on Magazine Street in Uptown. He's also apparently spreading it all the way to the West Coast with another opening on the way in Portland, Oregon. All of your favorites from Metairie are available at the Uptown locale with banh mi, or Vietnamese po-boys, made with ham, pork belly, lemongrass Gulf shrimp, honey sriracha shrimp, chicken katsu, and an amazing steak and egg combo with caramelized onions and pork pâté. 3244

Magazine St., @banh.mi.boys.uptown

FEELIN' FRUITY? … Coming all the way from the Jersey Shore, super-food concept Playa Bowls just opened a location in Metairie. With over 120 locations nationwide, this acai and pitaya bowl restaurant has finally made its way to the GNO (there's even one in Baton Rouge). Along with smoothies, coffees, and even poke, Playa Bowls feature healthful bowls loaded with fruits, nuts, and coconut flakes atop pure acai purees, oatmeal, and pitaya, a.k.a. dragon fruit. While they will likely never beat out the need for a po-boy, it's certainly a healthier option and one that could be a real winner, especially when the weather heats up this spring. 730 Veterans Memorial Blvd., @

playabowlsmetairie

MAKING MIDNIGHT COOL AGAIN … Just recently, a new craft cocktail bar Midnight Revival blossomed inside the renovated and re-imagined Frenchmen Hotel. The bar menu features both classic and tropical libations and live, local music. “The spirit of this city makes you feel like the night is always young, and we want everyone—from first-time visitors to seasoned revelers—to manifest that magic each time they raise a glass in Midnight Revival,” said Robert Thompson, founder and CEO of Angevin & Co., which purchased The Frenchmen Hotel in June 2021. 417

Frenchmen St., @midnightrevivalnola

SIPPIN' IN THE SHADE … Mark Latter, founder of Latter Hospitality Group, has recently transformed the space that

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: ST. ROCH MARKET ; KIM RAMNJBAR; COURTESY LE CHAT NOIR

formerly housed the Claret Wine & Cocktail Bar into—wait for it—another bar. Appropriately dubbed the Bower Bar, the space has the same “lush look and feel of the Bower with living green walls and plants from locally-owned landscape architects Luna Botanicals.” Under the direction of Beverage Director Mickey Mullins, the cocktail program features “field-to-glass” cocktails like the “Bower Sour” with bourbon, hibiscus syrup, and aquafaba or the “51 Problems,” a beet infused mezcal combined with passion fruit, lime, demarara sugar, and smoked salt. Guests of the Bower Bar can also enjoy dining from The Bower's menu, created by talented chef Marcus Woodham.

1320 Magazine St., @bowerbarnola

MARKET TO MARKET … Talented chef Manish Patel has left Auction House Market to open Tava NOLA inside his own brick and mortar in the South Market District. Located in the space that formerly housed Aglio on O'Keefe Avenue, fans of Patel's cuisine cannot get enough of his killer kati rolls, flavorful dosa, and that incredible Bombay Sandwich made with masala potatoes, cheese, and tamarind and mint chutney. 611 O'Keefe Ave., @tavanola

CROSSING YOUR PATH … Le Chat Noir was once a super cool, cabaret theater. Only a few doors down from Herbsaint, the theater was converted into Marcello’s Wine Bar & Restaurant in 2013, but closed after the recent shutdowns and relocated to the Northshore. Just recently, Le Chat Noir came to life once again, but this time the black cat is a Bearcat. James Reuter, the founder of the incredibly stellar Bearcat restaurants, has launched what will likely be another winner with Lake Charles-born chef Seth Temple at the helm. Though veggiefocused, farm-to-table dishes like roasted carrots with ricotta and Hakurei turnips with candied Meyerquats have us rubbing our hands together with glee, we're equally excited about the Crabfat Agnolotti and Seth’s Secret Pudding with fernet caramel and fresh-baked madeleine. 715 St. Charles Ave.,

@lechatnoirnola

BAR AND GRILL