Rollin', rollin', rollin' … A Thai-inspired hand-rolled ice cream joint dubbed Freezy Street rolled into the Bywater not too long ago. Created by owners Frances LaMagna and Adam Enterkin, the new ice cream shop features 10 signature flavors, including vegan and gluten-free options. Try the Funky Monkey with Nutella and fresh banana, a Sweet & Salty with pretzels and caramel, or an Excite-Mint with mint Oreo and marshmallow. Freezy Street is open daily.
2633 St. Claude Ave., 504-228-4149, freezystreetnola.com
More at the market … Love empanadas? Now you can get your fix at St. Roch Market! Husband and wife team Marcelo Garcia and Jimena Urrutia recently launched Empanola, the latest vendor at the market, featuring piping hot empanadas with both traditional and New Orleans-inspired fillings. See how many you can eat, with a variety of flavors like ham and cheese or shrimp and cheese, gumbo, ratatouille, or beef bourguignon. They also offer delicate fruit danishes and fresh green salads.
2381 St. Claude Ave., facebook.com/EmpanolaEmpanadas
Where there's smoke … Chef and restaurateur Edgar Caro of Baru Bistro & Tapas and Basin Seafood & Spirits recently threw open the doors to his third restaurant, Brasa Churrasceria in Old Metairie. Located in the space that formerly housed the popular French bistro Château du Lac, the new Brazilian-style steakhouse offers South American-inspired fare and a few distinctly New Orleans dishes. Explore a menu that includes items like shrimp remoulade, chorizo, watermelon gazpacho, "ojo de bife," a 16-ounce Black Angus ribeye, or a wood-roasted half-chicken. Brasa Churrasceria is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
2037 Metairie Rd., 504-570-6338, brasachurrasqueria.com
Location, location … The Big Cheezy that opened only two years ago on Broad Street is closing its Mid-City location. Though the first location launched an expansion to locales in Uptown and Kenner, the flagship restaurant is forced to close its doors. Unfortunately, Mid-City will no longer have The Big Cheezy's grilled greatness, but another branch is projected to open Downtown.
422 ½ S. Broad St., 504-302-2598, thebigcheezy.com
How may we help you? … Located inside the highly anticipated, newly-opened NOPSI Hotel on Baronne Street, Public Service is a restaurant featuring elevated comfort food created by Chef de Cuisine Dustin Brien, formerly of the now shuttered Salú Restaurant. Menu items include dishes like black bean hummus, tasso hush puppies, crawfish mac 'n' cheese, a shrimp roll with lemon Cajun mayo, and chicken-fried soft-shell crab with watermelon and blistered Serrano peppers. The restaurant also features a whiskey-centric bar and plenty of local brews on tap. Public Service is open for lunch Monday through Friday, and breakfast and dinner daily.
311 Baronne St., 504-962-6527, publicservicenola.com
In with the new … Rizzuto's Ristorante & Chop House opened recently in the spot that once housed the famous Tony Angello's in Lakeview. Knowing they can't replace local love for Tony Angello's, Rizzuto's is determined to launch a new era serving exquisite Italian cuisine in an upscale atmosphere. Jason Caronna, who formerly helmed Amici on Magazine Street, has been tapped to lead the kitchen, offering a menu of Sicilian and Creole-Italian dishes. Feast on Eggplant Valentina baked with marinara and pecorina romano, house-made meatballs and ricotta cheese, a 14-ounce aged ribeye, or veal Parmesan.
6262 Fleur de Lis Dr., 504-300-1804, rizzutosristorante.com
Roundabout lunchtime … Pressed NOLA recently opened inside the new Greater New Orleans Foundation building on Lee Circle. It was launched by Artis and Lesley Turner, the husband and wife team behind Dirty Dishes food truck and (formerly) a vendor at St. Roch Market. Unlike Dirty Dishes, Pressed NOLA is focused on healthier, more affordable fare like fresh salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Stop in for lunch and taste The Mimi with Cajun turkey and spinach, The Harper with brie and apricot jam, or The Mary-Ellen, a salad with cranberries, pecans, Granny Smith apples, and spinach with strawberry vinaigrette. Pressed NOLA is open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch.
919 St. Charles Ave., 504-900-4566, pressednola.com
One can never have too many shoes … Late last month, The Ruby Slipper Café opened its eighth location on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge. The celebration included a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony with a traditional New Orleans second line and brass band, and 10 percent of the day's proceeds were donated to McMains Children's Development Center, a nonprofit that offers financial aid to children with disabilities and their families. Known for its creative, New Orleans-inspired breakfast fare, the Baton Rouge location offers all The Ruby Slipper's familiar favorites like stuffed French toast, BBQ shrimp and grits, banana pecan pancakes, and award-winning Bloody Marys.
3535 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge, 225-502-8070, therubyslippercafe.net
There's always a cure … Chef Jason Cureton has been recruited to run the kitchen at Atchafalaya, easily one of the most jumping brunch spots in town. After Chris Lynch left to work at Commander's Palace earlier this year, Atchafalaya needed a new star to take the helm, and they selected Cureton who formerly worked in the kitchens at Annunciation and La Cote Brasserie. Hailing originally from Alabama, Cureton is adding his own flair to the menu at Atchafalaya, offering dishes like Black Drum Jubilee with lots of Gulf seafood, Two Run Farms wild boar and crawfish meatballs, and short rib crépinette with a miso-dashi broth, rutabaga brabants, and shaved bonito.
901 Louisiana Ave., 504-891-9626, atchafalayarestaurant.com
