I loved Castro’s Lengua Madre.
Acamaya wasn’t really on my radar this last trip.
Okay, well the results seem to be in, and far from what McNulty expected.
https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/11/03/emerils-michelin-stars-american-south
Only Emerils, St. Germain, and Zasu got stars.
Bib Gourmand:
Acamaya, Cochon/Cochon Butcher, Domilise’s, Dooky Chase, Hungry Eyes, Lufu NOLA, Mister Mao, Parkway Bakery, Saba, and Turkey and the Wolf
Other honorable mentions excluded all of the old line restaurants except Galatoire’s. Which doesn’t surprise me really.
Mentions:
34, Addis NOLA, Atchafalaya, August, Clancy’s, Compére Lapin, Galatoire’s, Herbsaint, Killer Poboys, Dakar NOLA, La Petite Grocery, Molly’s Rise and Shine, Osteria Lupo, Patois, Pêche, Saffron NOLA, the Kingsway and Willie Mae’s NOLA
It’s a weird list honestly, many omissions. 34 is Emerils new ‘Portuguese’ place which i’m not familiar with yet. The only one I really disagree with is Killer Poboys. I’m not a fan, but it is popular. Personally I think Guy’s, Parasol’s, and Frady’s are all better.
I was in town solo a couple weeks ago to visit friends and catch portions of 2 of the 3 days of Funkfest.
Dined solo at the bar at La Petite Grocery, The Kingsway, Peche. I was staying nearby and considered Hungry Eyes, but chose a 2nd night at Petite Grocery instead. All were excellent. I considered the Wine Bar at Emerils, but it didn’t work out schedule-wise. It’s still pretty new, but I think Kingsway (Saffron NOLA owners) could earn a star someday depending on sustaining popularity, and where they go with the cuisine.
Had a good lunch with friends over on the west bank at Chubbies. This is drive-thru, fast food fried chicken just so no one gets the wrong idea.
We ate here last Jazz Fest, and really enjoyed it. Great G&Ts.
Glad to see Zasu get recognition. We love it there. And Mister Mao.
Love how detailed your recap is. One thing I’d add is that walking around the French Quarter early in the morning can be really peaceful before the crowds hit. Also, trying some lesser-known bars and coffee shops can give a totally different side of the city experience.
Spent the past few days in New Orleans with friends. Great casual lunches at Porgy’s and Turkey and the Wolf.
Dinners at Galaxie for tacos, then a new spot in the Marigny called Evviva which was superb. ($30 corkage). Last night was Compere Lapin, which was good but lacked the charm and vibes of Evviva ($30 corkage).
Bacchanal remains a great spot to unwind and share a bottle.
Wonderful city for a tourist to eat and drink well in.
1 Like
Love Porgy’s! I went twice for lunch when I was there last month. As good food as anywhere I ate in town.
1 Like
Heading to NOLA next week.
Currently have reservations at Bayona (it’s been a few yrs since we’ve been), Evviva, newer restaurant in Bywater (has anyone been yet?) and Zasu. We will probably hit Jacque-Imo’s on Wednesday, since we will be in that area that day. So excited for some great music and great food!
Evviva is casual, italian-ish and very good, we had dinner there before a show on Frenchman a couple weeks ago. It’s in the old The Franklin space, I think of it as more Marigny than Bywater but it’s on the border.
Zasu was very good a month plus back. My wife wanted more radicchio in the endive/radiccio salad, but that was a nit. For us, It’s a very good local restaurant. I don’t know about the Michelin star. The service is informal, and it’s a little loud - all good for a great local spot, but doesn’t say Michelin to me, but really, who cares?
Had dinner at MaMou last night before the Butcher Brown show at Cafe Istanbul. Definitely recommend.
Have a great time. I’ll get to the fest a couple days next week, this week has been busy. FQF last weekend was good.
We love Zasu. We’ve been there a few times.
Haven’t been to MaMou in years. We had many good dinners there. We may have to revisit.
Nice, I’m headed there in two weeks. We have Cochon, La Petite Grocery, Jewel of the South, and Dooky Chase reserved, and I am certain we will hit Liuzza’s, Napoleon House, etc. Looking forward to your impressions.
1 Like
Awesome. We usually stop at Liuzza’s for a Bloody before heading into jazzfest. We were hoping to revisit Jewel of the South on Tuesday for dinner before a show we are attending, but they aren’t open on Tuesdays. 
So many great restaurants, so little time. Mr Mao (near Tipitina’s) is fantastic, as well. Hoping we can squeeze in a visit. Enjoy!
1 Like
Mister Mao doesn’t seem to book up that much anymore, but was still good on a visit a couple months ago. But yes, open 7 nights and very convenient before a show at Tips. We’re seeing Dumpstaphunk there next Sunday and will probably pop in.
Up by La Petite Grocery is The Kingsway, which for me should earn a Mich star this year. The chef is Ashwin Vilkhu, son of the Saffron NOLA family and his team is executing at a high level. It’s a bit pricey, like $95 for a 5 course menu, but has been exceptional on 2 recent visits. Good wine pairings available too.
Uptown on Freret there is a new place spanish influenced place called Dolfy’s with interesting drinks and Pintxos, and a crazy good basque cheesecake. Going there for the second time tomorrow before Jon Cleary at the Jazz and Blues Market.
Mr Mao on a Sunday is a steal and flies under the radar. Once again I have missed a dinner reservation at Dookie Chase. It booked up on what seemed like 15 minutes. We’re technically going over on the 10th for a week. But the final decision hasn’t been made by my wife. She can attend a conference and get the hotel and some portion of dinner covered and I can pretend to work.
Has Dooky become really insta famous lately or just because of JF? I always would do lunch there (or Willie Mae’s when around) and a couple of times I felt like Dooky was really getting slighted. I’m happy to hear that it’s packed…
Lil’ Dizzy’s became insta and you can’t walk in anymore for lunch. Sad for me but was happy for them, although they always did good business just wasn’t on tourists radar.
Yes I’ve heard great things about their dimsum-ish brunch, now Saturday and Sunday. Trouble is I rarely eat lunch. Which means I haven’t been to Lil Dizzy’s either I’m afraid. Have never been to Dooky Chase, which now that we live here we’ll have to correct.
Harder to book restaurants I have actually managed to plan for - early May wedding anniversary at Melissa Martin’s Saint Claire over in Algiers. Birthday later in May for a long delayed returned visit to Saint Germain.
We had to reschedule from my wife’s birthday (excellent dinner at Seattle’s Atoma instead), but we finally did get to the new Emeril’s in late Feb. ‘New Emeril’s’ as this is the 2 Michelin star place conceived by his son EJ, and other than a couple deconstructions of old dishes bears no resemblance to the former Emeril’s.
This is a 3 1/2 - 4 hour, 7 course meal. You are brought into the kitchen first to talk through the menu, then served, I think it was 9 amuse bouche before the 1st course. There are some 13-14 highly trained, young chefs working in a multi million dollar kitchen, behind a huge glass wall. Front of house staff in the dozens and the service is exemplary. Dinner is $295, wine pairings $225 (there is a $500 option - maybe next time). With drinks (recommended) and an upsell or two the bill easily hits $1600 for two. An overwhelming experience, and yes special occasion for us anyway.
Had a great meal at Evviva end of 2025. One of my favorite bars, Anna’s, is one block down and has a great vibe and happy hour.
1 Like
Was there a week ago too for French Qtr Fest - another endorsement of Mamou, second visit there, that’s a really talented kitchen and great vibes. Pretty good and interesting wine list, too. N7? Love the outdoor space, food quite mediocre, decently interesting wine list.
Been a couple years since we’ve been to N7. Wasn’t raving about the food - a soy crème brûlée stands out in my mind. But I do remember the wine list being pretty interesting.
On disappointments, a recent visit to Coquette fell a bit short. Tuna crudo overly sweet with hibiscus, a real waste of expensive ahi. There was never a big wine list but very minimal now. Hopefully they will find their footing, but for me it has never reached the heights of when Kristen Essig was there. Owner Michael Stoltzfus does have a very good roasted chicken takeout place now where Lengua Madre and later Wild South used to be.
Speaking of Ana Castro, have not had a chance to get to Acamaya yet, hopefully before we leave for the summer. She also just opened a breakfast and lunch place where Alma was on Louisa St.
That Lilette or Mamou are not somewhere in the Michelin guide is an absolute joke, but hey, that’s Michelin these days. Good to see Mason Hereford’s publicist is still gainfully employed as well.