Canary in Spanish Plaza . . . They say forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, so instead of swallowing that oh-so bitter pill, allow your taste buds some grace for Chef John Besh’s new restaurant on the Riverfront. Inspired by the Isleños fishing and hunting communities in St. Bernard Parish, Delacroix Restaurant’s menu features Caldo Isleño soup with corn, lima, green beans, sweet potatoes, and pork or Creole crab and shrimp stuffed pistolettes. Besh’s elevated fish camp cuisine could be the boon the Riverwalk needs, that is, if we’re willing to let it go.
1 Poydras St., Spc. 1005, (504) 655-9002, delacroixrestaurant.com
Southern spice . . . Because there can never be enough fried chicken sandwiches in the city, Blazin’ Hot Chicken recently opened in the former Chicken & Sides building on Canal Street. This is the fifth location for the Lake Charles-born franchise with a sixth opening soon in Shreveport. Offering Nashville-style hot fried chicken sandwiches, Blazin’ Hot also features mac ‘n’ cheese crunchwraps, loaded waffle fries topped with chicken tenders and creamy shakes. Diners can customize their spice with six different levels ranging from their signature “Blazin’ Hot” all the way to “Country,” which is just another way of saying “Cane’s.”
2323 Canal St., (504) 393-2595, blazinhotchicken.com
Crossing the pond . . . The Northshore now boasts a brand new restaurant located in Covington’s Historic District. The Hampshire launched at the tail-end of summer with a debut wine dinner and Chef Ryan Gall, formerly at Tchefuncte Restaurant and the now defunct Salú Bistro and Bar, leads the kitchen offering steak and lots of Louisiana seafood. Menu items include grilled swordfish, tuna sashimi, and a classic Steak Diane.
401 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 234-9339, 401thehampshire.com
Suburban spice . . . Viral Bywater sensation Jamaican Jerk House has expanded its sticky finger goodness into the burbs opening a second location in Metairie on Veterans Memorial Blvd. Kingston-native Richard Rose and his wife Jackie Diaz launched their flagship location in 2021 on St. Claude Avenue and the neighborhood hungrily embraced their arrival devouring jerk chicken, shrimp, ribs, oxtail, fish and curry by the boxful. Opened only a short while ago in the former Out of Bounds Sports Bar & Grill, Jamaican Jerk House has quickly become a Metairie hot-spot for authentic and delicious Jamaican cuisine.
4445 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, @bestjerkhouse
A sea of beauties . . . Nanami is a brand new sushi joint which recently opened up on Magazine Street. Located in the former building that housed Lemon Shark Poke, Nanami Sushi Diner & Onigiri is rounding out the offerings at the Magazine Commons courtyard. In addition to fresh sushi, featured items include Japanese Karaage (ie. soy marinated and fried) chicken, those conbini snack favorites, onigiri, and omakase or chef-curated tasting menu.
2901 Magazine St., @nanamiuptown
Final frontier . . . It’s not outer space, it’s only the Westbank! The old K&G Fashion Superstore on Manhattan Boulevard has been transformed into Space 5 Korean BBQ, Sushi & Hot Pot, an all-you-can-eat, buffet-style Korean smorgasbord. Sporting an astronomical theme and low-g atmosphere, the restaurant offers sushi, Korean BBQ and hot pot, but be forewarned, everyone at your table has to stay in the same theme. Eat, explore and may you have like-minded friends.
1723 Manhattan Blvd., Ste. C, space5koreanbbqandhotpot.toast.site
Is it getting hot in here? . . . Irvine, California-based franchise 85°C Bakery Cafe founded by Cheng-Hseuh Wu in 2003 with over 1000 locations across the globe has finally made its way down to New Orleans. Recently opened inside an old T-Mobile store on Veterans Boulevard, the bakery chain offers a wide array of Chinese and French-inspired baked goods from choco buns with Oreo cookie crumbs and custard buns to Danishes, croissants and cruffins.
4025 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 85cbakerycafe.com
The Point is hoppin’ . . . Chef Aaron Miller has found permanent digs for his Okay Bar pop-up @rabbitholesupperclub in the tiny, but popular neighborhood of Algiers Point. Launched in the space on Verret Street which formerly held French restaurant Tonti’s Hand, the furry, formerly-named supper club is now the Drift Inn Diner. Chef Miller has all kinds of diner-esque delicacies at the Inn, from burgers and fries and full greasy breakfasts to fountain sodas and shakes. Put your poodle skirt on and cross the river, why don’t ya?
323 Verret St., @driftinndiner
Honorably French? . . . A brand new place to brunch called Izzat NOLA recently opened up on the edge of the French Quarter. Located in the space which formerly housed Papa’s Pizza & Subs, the new breakfast and lunch spot is open all day long offering French-inspired foodstuffs with dishes of Pain Perdu and Eggs Sardou for breakfast, Monte Cristos and Croque Madames for lunch, and steak frites or lamb chops for dinner.
403 Iberville St., @izzatnola
C is for cool . . . There’s a new snowball stand in town, well, just outside of town way over in Westwego. Dubbed Subzero Snoballs, it’s well-worth a trip across the river to check out this family-owned stand serving icy flavors from Bahama Mama and birthday cake to lime, melon berry and sour watermelon. Subzero is also slinging nachos, soft serve ice cream and shakes, gourmet cookies, and rolled ice cream. Even more interesting, the stand offers a slew of lemonades from peach and strawberry to blue raspberry and what they refer to as “loaded” teas in flavors like gummi bear and fruit roll-up to Captain America and Dole Whip.
974 Avenue C, Westwego, @subzerosnowballs
*Article originally published in the November 2025 issue of Where Y’at Magazine
