As sure as eggs on Sunday … Dynamic drag duo Lou Henry Hoover and Kitten LaRue have officially opened permanent digs for their mom and pop sweet stand Chance in Hell Snowballs. The popular snowball stand began as a side-project out of the married couple’s home until they got sidelined by pesky city permitting. Chance in Hell has been popping up in Bywater Brew Pub until recently as it just opened the doors of the stand’s new home on Louisa Street right across from Alma Cafe. They’re slinging “artisanal AF” icy treats for people (and their pets) featuring flavors such as lemon ice box pie, ube cream, sour cherry, sweet corn & basil, banana puddin’, root beer and more.
805 Louisa St., @chanceinhell_snowballs
Stuffed legends . . . A new Chinese restaurant dubbed Legend Dumplings opened under the radar, hidden by various other hooplas around the GNO lately. Located on Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey, this shiny spot took over the space previously occupied by Bud’s Broiler serving assorted dumplings, buns and ramen. Most of the offerings are traditional in fillings and flavors — from pork and celery, and shrimp bamboo – but they also have more creative, pan-fried options like Philly cheesesteak and chargrilled oyster dumplings. Anything’s worth a try, even mac ‘n’ cheese dim sum, right?
1831 Manhattan Blvd., 504-264-7666, legenddumplingsus.com
Better late than never . . . Several months ago I announced the opening of Brown Butter Depot was open in Gretna, a reboot of the great Mid-City restaurant owned by Simon Beck and Chef Dayne Womax that closed back in May 2023. Turns out I was wrong! They actually opened (for real this time, I double checked) just last month! Fans can now cross the river for a taste of their crisp, bubbly pork rinds, pimento cheese and deviled ham, and last, but certainly not least, their absolutely friggin’ amazeballs Brown Butter Burger with aged cheddar, bread and butter pickles and roasted garlic mayo.
326 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, brownbutterrestaurant.com
Even more majestic … As if their house made Turkish delight and huge assortment of roasted nuts, coffees, teas, dried spices and imported treats were not enough, Royal Roastery in Terrytown is offering Westbank denizens a whole lot more. They’ve just expanded the space in their Terrytown digs to offer seating and regal-level sweets, serving coffee, crepes, waffles, kunafa, Arabic ice cream, gelato, “ash al bulbul” or shredded pastry bird nest sweets and Dubai chocolate cakes (among others). We’re not worthy!
1180 Terry Parkway, (504) 800-8555, royalroastery.com
Lounging around Uptown . . . The new owners of Gautreau’s, a local investment group led by Bill Kearney and Jay Adams, decided to expand the restaurant’s libation-oriented offerings and have now done so with the launch of Avegno, an upscale lounge located right next door. A massive rehaul of the former pet store Wings and Things is now an Italian-themed cocktail and wine lounge with its own menu wholly separate from Gautreau’s. Executive chef Rob Mistry is serving dishes like munchable cheese straws, black truffle dip, fondue, macaroni au gratin, and French onion soup.
1726 Soniat Street, @avegnoneworleans
Sophisticated sushi . . . Former Shogun sushi chef Tommy Mei recently opened Kuro NOLA, a new sushi bar on the corner of Magazine and Thalia streets in the Lower Garden District. The restaurant took over the space that once housed the uber-popular, American Chinese joint Blue Giant that closed after three, too-short years in business. It’s all sushi – especially nigiri – at Kuro NOLA with everything coming in fresh from salmon belly and tai snapper to aji, sea urchin and yellowtail. Order from the board or go omakase and let the chef wow you until you can no longer breathe. Just be sure to have plenty of ducats saved up before you go, because the bill will get thick quick!
1300 Magazine St.
Marigold blooms again . . . The French Quarter has another elegant courtyard cafe in which to while away the day dubbed Patula. Located on Royal Street right next to Krewe, the local luxury eyewear company, Patula is the brainchild of Chef Rob Tabone, Link Restaurant Group alum and Wood Duck pop-up purveyor. Along with sophisticated cocktails and pastries from Ayu Bakehouse, the intimate courtyard spot is serving up dishes such as poached LA shrimp with peanut chili crunch and satsuma, a gorgeous roast beef sandwich served on housemade, toasted focaccia with horseradish aioli.
619 Royal St., @patulanola
Cornerside cuisine … Self-taught chef Jaryd Kase cashed in on a broken foot to launch Bodega, a new casual lunch spot located in the space once home to Barcia’s Grocery on Annunciation Street. With a menu that veers all over the map, Bodega is serving up breakfast and lunch featuring the King’s Eggs with ratatouille and chevre atop a potato pancake, grilled banana bread with a dollop of Greek yogurt and chimichurri steak sandwich served on Bellegarde Bakery sourdough bread.3633 Annunciation St., bodega-nola.com
Hope it won’t be gone tomorrow . . . Wild South’s former home has transformed into Here Today Rotisserie, a new concept from Chef Michael Stoltzfus, chef and owner of Garden District restaurant Coquette. The corner spot on Constance Street is now offering a fresh, affordable menu focusing on approachable eats like gumbo made with their rotisserie chicken and drippings and Best Stop andouille, rigatoni alla vodka, a chicken schnitzel sandwich and chicken fat rice.
1245 Constance St., @heretodaynola
*Article originally published in the May 2025 issue of Where Y’at Magazine
