Finger lickin’ chicken . . . Adolfo “Fito” Garcia and Sophia Petrou, a couple of new, New Orleans restaurateurs from old New Orleans restaurant families recently launched Chi Chi’s Chicken & Beer on Freret Street. Working out of the tiny space once home to (the much-missed) Windowsill Pies, the duo offers Korean fried chicken and beer, called “chimaek,” a lip-smacking accompaniment to any Saints game. Flavors include the classic sweet-sour-spicy yangnyeom, soy garlic and more. Pair it with a shot of Makgeolli (sparkling rice wine) or one of many premium brews on tap, just don’t forget to the kakigori (Japanese sno-ball) for dessert.
4714 Freret St., @eatchichis
Speakin’ of chicken . . . When the original location of world famous fried chicken spot Willie Mae’s Scotch House suffered from a fire in April 2023, folks were thinking of hopping a plane to the West Coast to sate their cravings. Though the historic Tremé restaurant is still undergoing repairs and renovations, the owners have decided to open a second New Orleans locale in the Warehouse District on Baronne Street, in the spot once occupied by NOLA Caye. Diners can expect the same, soul food menu – wet-battered fried chicken, sweet potato fries, cornbread muffins, and red beans and rice – but in a whole new environment. In the end it doesn’t matter where you get it, it’s still Willie Mae’s!
898 Baronne St., @williemaesnola
The chicken has landed . . . Popular fusion-fried-chicken food truck Southerns recently threw open the doors of their first brick and mortar in Kenner (brah). Located at 2401 Veterans Boulevard, Southerns is taking over the space which formerly housed Korean restaurant Gogi. The food truck launched by Anthony Cruz and Gene Colley is well-known for their crispy, pickle-laden, fried chicken sandwiches, but specials with everything from smoked oxtails to pastrami boudin and beyond are always a possibility.
2401 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner, @southernsfood
Not so common . . . Common House, a self-touted community-focused, modern social club recently opened in the Warehouse District, taking over the old Louisiana Children’s Museum on Julia Street. Their mission? “To create connection amongst members through curated programming, thoughtful design, and intentionally sourced food and beverage, while immersing members into the communities they call home.” This is the fourth social club concept launched co-founded by Derek Sieg and Ben Pfinsgraff who noticed a decline in social activities like “bridge clubs” and sought to reverse that trend.
In addition to common spaces, event venues, a pool, and other amenities, Common House offers an on-site restaurant to members and their guests. The kitchen is led by Metairie-born Sean Rajo, a chef who got his chops working in local kitchens like La Petite Grocery, Coquette, and Commander’s Palace. His menu often infuses locally-sourced ingredients with Honduran and South Asian flavors, particularly evident in his Pork Schnitzel Sandwich with cashew mole verde, and tuna lettuce cups drizzled in coconut basil vinaigrette. One caveat, unless you’re invited by a member, dinner at Common House’s restaurant will cost you $665 before you can even walk in the door, that is, if you’re allowed a membership.
420 Julia St., (504) 315-2030, commonhouse.com
Sisters in seafood . . . Beard-nominated chef Ana Castro and her sister Lydia opened Acamaya, a Mexican seafood joint in Bywater, a move the whole city (country?) has been anxiously awaiting since she departed Lengua Madre late last year. The new restaurant on Dauphine Street celebrates the sisters’ Oaxxan heritage, offering hot and cold “mariscos” – seafood or shellfish dishes such as bass ceviche with chamoy and jicama, masa dumplings with crab and Chantrelle mushrooms, and crab sope with chiltepín pepper mayo and fresh avocado.
3070 Dauphine St., (504) 299-3477, acamayanola.com
Crossing the river . . . Fans of the beloved Mid-City restaurant Brown Butter Southern Kitchen + Bar which shuttered last May should be pleased to know it’s back, but this time in Gretna, re-dubbed as Brown Butter Depot in recognition of the historic train depot nearby on Huey P Long Avenue. Chef/owner Simon Beck is excited to once again be serving their killer brunch burger, crab mac ‘n’ cheese and other familiar goodies that so enthralled the denizens of Mid-City for nearly a decade, but now the Westbank benefits.
326 Huey P Long Ave., @brownbutterdepot
Heaven sent a food hall . . . Late this past June, Nga Vu, Shawn Tran and their family opened New Orleans’ newest food hall City Market. Once a Beauty Plus store, the bright building has been transformed into a sleek, modern food hall wrapped in colorful murals on the corner of St. Claude and Elysian Fields avenues. Only a few blocks away from St. Roch Market (New Orleans last food hall), City Market touts an emphasis on Asian vendors with ramen from Kim Son Express, Suga’s bubble tea, and sushi bar Kikosushi, but they also offer burgers from Bywater Burgers & Wings and baked goods from Zoe’s. City Market is open daily.
1101 Elysian Fields Ave., (504) 354-8803, citymarketnola.com
Bakery bonus . . . Pastry chef Kaitlin Guerin’s boutique, cottage bakery business has garnered so much attention since she began selling pastry boxes during the pandemic, she was at last able to get a handle on her own digs in Central City. Located on Euterpe Street, Lagniappe Bakehouse & Coffee’s pastries offer the sweet elegance fans have come to expect from Guerin’s boxed repertoire such as banana cake with olive oil buttercream, miso caramel apple galette, and pickled peach thumbprint cookies.
1825 Euterpe St., lagniappebaking.com
*Article originally published in the October 2024 issue of Where Y’at Magazine
