The May Hit List: Afrodisiac, Gianna, Bar Marilou, and More

Leighann Smith and Daniel Jackson’s was, until recently, a butcher shop first and a meat-centered restaurant second. Then as the months ticked on and the accolades rolled in, the dining aspect began to be a centerpiece. So the pair embraced the shift, shuttering the venue for a bit and reopening recently with the addition of dinner service and, with it, reservations. The steaks and other carnivorous endeavors are still a star. Already, the candles are, too. Because each meal at dinner now starts with a beef tallow candle served with toast points. Yes, you dip and crunch as the tallow melts.

Chef-owner Aom Srisuk has brought with her from Thailand the flavors of her home country. Pomelo’s menu is tight, with familiar dishes (chicken satay, tom kha) alongside ones less common in American Thai restaurants. The mii kiew, for example, comes with known-quantity shrimp-pork wontons but they’re served with egg noodles, bok choy, and peanuts. Good, real-deal Thai cuisine is always welcome in the Crescent City.

See the whole menu here at Pomelo’s website.

The world needs another Neapolitan-style pizza and natural wine restaurant like it needs another burger joint. Which is to say: Despite there being oodles, bring it on. The pies here are charred just right and the cavoletti with brussels sprouts and ricotta cream is already an early hit. And the crew here is serious and smart about their wine affections: They’ll open most any reasonably priced bottle to serve by the glass — an embracing, egalitarian move to get diners excited about wines that might be new to them.

View the menu here at Margot’s website.

Each visit to this jewel in the Maison de la Luz hotel feels like a discovery. First, there’s the alfresco entryway, under a long trellised arch. Inside, the word is “moody.” Animal-print bar stools, oodles of gold, and soft-pink flourishes. The cocktails, like the Here to Eternity with cachaça, Calvados, and chamomile honey, are balanced and sprightly. The eats, including the Pommes Marilou, a flaky potato cube with crème fraîche and caviar, are sophisticated but accessible. All together, this is an optimal venue for a pop-in or a long, extended repast.

What this city has needed that we didn’t even know it needed — until now — is Cajun-Creole and Jamaican fusion. Boudin balls with jerk mustard sauce; goat fries loaded with Monterey jack and gravy; curry shrimp stew accompanied by planks of fried catfish. Owners Caron and Shaka Garel have a welcome point of view and on those rare May days when the weather is yet to be swampy, Afrodisiac’s patio is where you want to be.

See the menu, including beer and cocktails, here.

Gianna has always been a great place to dine. People in-the-know, though, have said it’s even better now with chef de cuisine Jared Heider at the helm. His food is gutsy and it suits the sprawling room well. There’s grilled octopus served with smoked ‘nduja at dinner, and lobster malfadini with Calabrian chile and lemon breadcrumbs at brunch. And the restaurant has embraced that beauteous New Orleans tradition of Friday lunch. Maybe you have strawberries with burrata and veal saltimbocca in your Friday-afternoon future.

Trilly takes its commitment to vegan cheesesteak options seriously. There are as many vegan sandwiches offered as there are meat-based ones. You could have a vegan chicken Philly with chicken seitan, sauteed peppers and onions, and vegan cheddar sauce. The carnivorous could have a Buffalo chicken sandwich, with Buffalo toum sauce and finished with blue cheese dressing. Props for the equal-opportunity sandwiching, Trilly.

See the menu here.

In a city swimming with catfish, the salt-and-pepper catfish at Blue Giant is one of the city’s best dishes. It’s simple and sublime. As is the rest of the menu, a greatest hits set of regional Chinese dishes that are popular in the United States. Pot stickers; hot and sour soup; egg foo young; beef chow fun: Sound familiar? If you’re dining with a crew and are the type to plan ahead, spring for the $65 order-ahead Peking duck.

This tiki-tropical oasis on Decatur Street has, deservedly, become quite the destination over the years. That has made it more challenging to pop in during the busiest days. A wise move, then, is to make a reservation. That way you’re guaranteed easy access to that frozen paloma and virgin hurricane, and those crab croquetas and tostones. Remember: The bar itself is a stunner and even on steamy days and evenings, the patio out back tends to stay (comparatively) breezy.

This corner spot feels, in many ways, like the ideal neighborhood restaurant. It’s easygoing, the drinks are classics like an El Presidente, Negroni, and five martini variations, and the food is an American take on a French bistro. That means Parmesan fries, duck liver mousse, meatballs, and a burger with cheddar. At the Franklin, it’s low-key vibes in a gently swank room, all the time.