Dishing It: Restaurant and dining news, July 2026
New Orleans chefs Sophina Uong, Aom Srisuk and Charly Pierre
Dishing It
By Beth d'Addono
We are officially at the halfway point of a long, hot summer. Yes, there are closings to report, but there are openings too, and Coolinary is always a bright spot for snagging coveted dining reservations at a discount (August 1st-31st). Last year, more than 80 restaurants signed up for the prix fixe, two-course lunches for $28 or less, and three-course dinners and brunches for $58 or less. Places like Commander’s, Arnaud’s and Jewel of the South fill up fast, so reserve soonest.
Five for five
Happy 5th birthday to these restaurants that opened during the pandemic. No kidding, it took balls to open a restaurant in the middle of a global shutdown. Congratulations to these brave owners and chefs, who have managed to defy all odds - go and support them over the slow summer!
In the spirit of bad news first, here are a few recent heartbreakers closed for reasons from construction nightmares and the still real aftershocks from hurricane Ida and the pandemic to skyrocketing costs and intractable landlords.
Have you eaten here yet?
Beth D'Addono is a food journalist and author based in New Orleans. Her latest book, City Eats: New Orleans ($22.99, published by Harper Collins Focus), is out now.
City Eats: New Orleans - interview with author Beth D'Addono
Five for five
Happy 5th birthday to these restaurants that opened during the pandemic. No kidding, it took balls to open a restaurant in the middle of a global shutdown. Congratulations to these brave owners and chefs, who have managed to defy all odds - go and support them over the slow summer!
- Mister Mao - chef/owner Sophina Uong doesn’t scare easily. The wildly creative chef is crazy about bold, unexpected flavors and textures that show up in all kinds of cuisine, from Thai and Chinese to Cambodian, Mexican and Laotian. She’s a beacon of originality Uptown on Tchoup,
- The Will and the Way - LeBlanc & Smith owner Robert LeBlanc is a can-do guy. He faced necessary pandemic closings with grace and still managed to see potential with the opening of The Will and the Way, an extended living room/pub/wine bar/café in the French Quarter. Talk about a good hang. And his business continues to thrive.
- Pomelo - It was chef Aom Srisuk’s dream to open Pomelo Uptown on Magazine Street, a pocket-sized showcase for her authentic Thai cuisine and innate hospitality. Not one to rest on her laurels, Srisuk followed with Good Catch, a showcase for local seafood, served Thai style, in the CBD since 2024.
- Fritai - chef Charly Pierre mindfully opened his Haitian street food restaurant on the edge of the Treme, the oldest Black neighborhood in America. A semi-finalist for the James Beard Awards and a Top Chef contender, Pierre created an ode to his roots with a strong sense of community, bold flavors and a kick ass bar. I'm so glad he chose New Orleans.
- Bésame - When chef Nanyo Dominguez opened his Latin tapas restaurant on the edge of the CBD, steps from the Saenger, the pandemic was only one challenge. He was a half-block from the site of the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel and Canal Street was still closed. Didn’t stop him. Get every ceviche on the menu - it’s that good.
In the spirit of bad news first, here are a few recent heartbreakers closed for reasons from construction nightmares and the still real aftershocks from hurricane Ida and the pandemic to skyrocketing costs and intractable landlords.
- Gris-Gris, chef Eric Cook’s love letter to homestyle Creole cuisine, is calling it quits at the end of July.
- Etoile, the gorgeous farm to table restaurant in an historic townhouse Uptown, closed after two years.
- Lufu French Quarter, the second location for the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded original Indian restaurant in the CBD, couldn’t survive the Decatur SWB debacle.
- Bratz Y’all closed May 31, ending nine years of German food, beer and live music on Piety Street. Bywater is bereft.
Have you eaten here yet?
- Gaijin Sando from chef Zac Hill spotlights Southern cuisine meets traditional Japanese sandos. The double fried chicken on his homemade milk bread is a no brainer, but it’s all good. Check their Instagram for more details.
- Respite lives up to its name. The new Bayou Road café from chef Haley Vaughan (Mosquito Supper Club) and partner Sage Ellis offers a comforting and compact menu (Eggplant Milanese! Steak frites!), a thoughtfully sourced wine list and an understated vibe that offers at least temporary relief from the world’s madness.
- Diva Bar & Grill Mexican Cuisine took over the former 337 at 2633 St. Claude July 1, swapping a popular taco truck for a bricks and mortar that slings fab tacos and stays open late.
Beth D'Addono is a food journalist and author based in New Orleans. Her latest book, City Eats: New Orleans ($22.99, published by Harper Collins Focus), is out now.
City Eats: New Orleans - interview with author Beth D'Addono