There is a house in New Orleans . . . Okay, it's not that kind of house—in fact, it's a brand new breakfast/lunch spot called Rising Sun located inside the Margaret Place Hotel. Featuring "health-conscious American dishes" and specialty coffee drinks using beans sourced from a rotating menu of local roasters such as
@prettycoffeeroasters and Mammoth. Several dishes may pique your interest, including the beer-braised pork shoulder hash with gremolata and romesco, the ginger "chew" cookie made with molasses, and their breakfast sandwich made with eggs, pimento cheese, and andouille on toasted brioche. 1133 Margaret Pl., (504)-264-6045, margaretplacehotel.com/restaurant
Going down the bayou . . . Addis NOLA has pulled up stakes and moved just off Broad to the point of a triangular spit of land between Bayou Road and Desoto Street. The folks at Addis have taken the building which once housed Cajun King, and made it their own with bright beautiful décor both inside and out. Fans will enjoy the same great menu featuring savory dishes of doro wot, veggie sambusas, and Addis' stellar mar mitmita shrimp. 2514 Bayou Rd., (504)218-5321, addisnola.com
From the burbs . . . Wife and husband team Shirley and Tang Lee sold their longtime digs Royal China in Metairie and have moved Uptown. Now open on Magazine Street in the former Jung's Golden Dragon II, Miss Shirley's Chinese Restaurant is just what the surrounding neighborhood was looking for. Featuring Chinese-American and Cantonese cuisine, Shirley's menu mostly offers what is always a huge draw—tons of dim sum. The list ranges from crabmeat wontons and dumplings to seared pork buns and fried shrimp toast, and that's only scratching the surface. 3009 Magazine St., (504)354-2530, missshirleyschineserestaurant.com
Maw-who? MaMou . . . Chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier launched their long-awaited, modern French brasserie MaMou a few months ago. Located on Rampart Street, in the space formerly occupied by LeBlanc + Smith's Meauxbar, MaMou is the French Quarter's newest Creole French spot competing, or complementing, the neighborhood's grand dames. Serving dinner Thursday through Sunday, the corner restaurant offers dishes such as braised celery hearts with smoked beef tongue, red bean cassoulet, gulf fish court-bouillon, and lemon madeleines with crème anglaise. 924 N. Rampart St., (504) 381-4557, mamounola.com
Get a new taste . . . Known both locally and nationally for his West African food pop-up, Beard-nominated "Best Emerging" Chef Seringe Mbaye has finally settled down with his recently opened Dakar NOLA on Magazine Street. Located in the space that formerly houses Pho Cam Ly, the Senegalese restaurant is now serving a seven-course tasting menu weekly. Though he was born in the U.S., Mbaye lived in Senegal for most of his youth to attend boarding school while learning to cook at his mother's side. "Tradition is at the core of everything we do at Dakar NOLA," said Chef Serigne. "And it's a place where every dish tells a story and nurtures the soul." Following graduation from culinary school, he gained experience from the three Michelin Star Atelier Crenn in San Francisco and the two Michelin Star L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in New York. 3814 Magazine St., dakarnola.com
As sure as eggs . . . Uptown residents were bummed when the ever popular Toast (by Cara & Evan Benson) closed its Laurel Street doors, but breakfast is back, baby. Though some might deem it odd to close a great breakfast spot only to open another in its place, only time and taste-buds will tell if Scrambled will see the same level of success. The menu is a mashup of healthy eats and, well, not so healthy eats from a scrambled tofu bowl with veggie sausage and avocado to the breakfast burger—a "scrambled" patty (are we talking ground beef and eggs?) with bacon, arugula, pickles, and Swiss, served on a glazed donut. 5433 Laurel St., (504) 427-2277, scramblednola.com
Get to the point . . . Industry vets A.J. McAlear (GM and sommelier from Antoine's) and Freddy Augustin (former chef of Atchafalaya) have come together to open Tonti's Hand, a brand new French bistro across the river in historic Algiers Point. The quaint neighborhood restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating and serves French favorites such as salad niçoise, escargots de Bourgogne, roasted rosemary chicken with haricot verts, and croque monsier (or madame). Tonti's Hand is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday. 323 Verret St., (504)264-7973, tontishand.com
Aye, aye Captain! . . . Ahoy, me mateys. There's a new captain aboard, so all hands on deck to raise a clap of thunder. All yo ho-ho-ing aside, the Warehouse District restaurant Seaworthy has tapped James Whitehead as its new executive chef. Whitehead brings an international slant with dishes including whole lobster with crispy noodles, while maintaining the restaurant's roots in the American South. So weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen. There be golden fried fish to be found. 630 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3071, seaworthynola.com
'Que the devil? . . . Chef Shannon Bingham, founder of Emmylou's BBQ and Buttermilk, is now leading the kitchen at the new Devil Moon BBQ (launched three days after Mardi Gras), featuring "Cajun dishes in tandem with iconic barbecue meats and sides." Located in The Odeon, a mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Loyola and Girod, this South Market District 'que joint offers everything from pork spare ribs and sausages, to boudin—and there's an adjoining brewery to boot. Well, there will be a brewery as Brewery Saint X is slated to open this month. 1100 Girod St., devilmoonbbq.com
