Segunda parte . . . Any savvy Westbanker knows a delicious deal on Honduran food when they see one, which makes visiting hole-in-the-wall Nany’s Antojitos on Van Trump Street in Gretna a no-brainer, but now there are two! Under the same ownership, Nany’s Bar & Grill recently opened a hop and a skip away on Kepler Street in the space that formerly housed Caribbean spot Island Paradise Restaurant & Grill. With more space and a bigger kitchen, Nany’s II is offering their hand made baleadas, ginormous breakfast plates (eggs, refried beans, fried plantains and proteins like fried chicken, steak, or ham), plus weekly specials on chicken wings and Margaritas. Not to miss items include their sopa de gallina asada (chicken soup) and organic coffee.
635 Kepler St., Gretna, @nanysla2
Hip, hip! . . . We’re tipping our hats to local chef Neil McClure who recently landed a new gig at the High Hat Cafe. McClure is known for past ventures such as his eponymous BBQ spot on Magazine, a stint bringing his que to NOLA Brewing and more recently grilling up steaks at Charlie’s. While he’ll mostly be sticking to the established menu at the Freret Street casual, Carolina-inspired eatery (can’t let go of their fried catfish and drool-worthy BBQ shrimp), McClure plans on adding a few of his own creative dishes in the near future. Congratulations!
4500 Freret St., highhatcafe.com
Hell yeah, it’s Tuesday! . . . CDMX-inspired Tacos Awiwis recently opened in Covington. A product of Northshore hospitality company Habs Group, the new taco shop took over the former Lee’s Hamburgers to offer up tacos a-plenty! Along with the usual suspects like chicken, al pastor and top sirloin carne asada, Taco Awiwis (slang for an enthusiastic yes) also features tacos with pork loin cooked “trompo-style,” braised beef cheek barbacoa, and longaniza (sausage). The menu also offers crispy chicharron, quesadillas and “volcanes,” a popular Mexico City street food featuring a crispy corn tortilla topped with bubbling hot cheese and your choice of meat.
104 Lake Dr., Covington, @tacosawiwis_
“I’m sorry, I was thinking about cake.” . . . Gentilly food stand 2Potnas launched by Jared Thomas has moved to bigger digs on Banks Street. Located in a two-story yellow building once home to Echo Pizza and Domenica Pizza, 2Potnas is serving up the ever-popular (and tasty) smash burger with decor inspired by animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers. In addition to lacy smash burgers and crispy fries, the menu features boiled crawfish (during the season), popcorn, snowballs and more? Open everyday but Tuesday (but, I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday . . . ), 2Potnas is late-night for a burger shop, closing at 10pm. If their social media antics don’t pull you in the door, their burgers will keep you coming back for more.
3200 Banks St. @2Potnas
Gonna take you all the way . . . On the edge of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Crown Point, popular bayou spot Restaurant des Familles recently re-opened with new management. Featuring tall windows looking out onto the wilds of the bayou replete with visiting gators, the restaurant is a local landmark that originally opened in 1993 and after changing hands early this year, they finally announced their official grand re-opening under new management a few months ago. Fans will note that all of their favorites are back on the “all-day” menu including duck and andouille gumbo, fried soft shell crab, Shrimp Diane with Louisiana shrimp atop angel hair pasta and boudin-stuffed chicken.
7163 Barataria Blvd., Jean Lafitte, restaurantdesfamilles.com
Sushi is always a good time . . . People were pretty bummed out when Gentilly favorite Good Time Sushi shuttered during the pandemic, but they’re back! A brand new building went up in the same location on Elysian Fields Avenue, replacing the “shed-like” structure that once housed the restaurant. In its new, contemporary environment, Good Time Sushi & Hibachi offers twice the space with all of the rolls and hibachi lunch specials that made their restaurant a neighborhood favorite.
5315 Elysian Fields Ave.
Another bonus for the Best Bank . . . Popular Mid-City restaurant Hibachi Grill has opened a second location on the Westbank. Owned by Nigel Pais and Kenny Truong, Hibachi Grill offers pop-up favorites like crab and tuna wonton nachos, Bang Bang shrimp sushi tacos (wrapped in tempura fried nori), and steak and shrimp hibachi-style served atop crispy French fries.
Marrero, @hibachigrillnola
New stars on the Northshore . . . BRG Hospitality recently launched Feliciana and Paradise, a restaurant and lounge respectively, in Covington. The brand new, two-story mixed-use building replaced the 80+ year-old Star Theater on N. New Hampshire Street. Feliciana is a contemporary style French bistro with longtime BRG chef Patrick Teagle heading the kitchen. The menu includes Moules Frites with blue mussels and Chablis, Salade niçoise with fingerling potatoes and extravagant scallops on the half shell served with a satsuma chili crunch. After dinner, guests can repair upstairs to sip on Moviegoers Martini (Nolet’s gin. Bordiga Bianco vermouth. Giffard Abricot du Roussillon, bitters) at the “spirited refuge” Paradise, a boozy homage to former resident and writer Walker Percy.
405 & 411 E. Gibson St., Covington, felicianarestaurant.com, paradisecovington.com
*Article originally published in the July 2026 issue of Where Y’at Magazine
