Where to Eat in October: Lilette, Almasgoof, Gris-Gris, and More

There’s a something for most everyone—and every mood—at this cafe near Washington Square. On the breakfast front: cochon or crawfish hash; soft scrambled eggs with bacon and Creole tomato on a breakfast sandwich; yogurt parfait with housemade granola and berries. On the lunch tip: a muffuletta salad; a chicken salad sandwich; red beans and rice. The booze runs the gamut, too, from a take on an espresso martini to the Smoke and Mirrors, with mezcal, pineapple, and matcha.

Crepes and boba tea! In Belle Chasse! The crepes come in both sweet (Nutella + strawberry + banana) and savory (like the Pookie Spicy with chili paste, bologna, and crab stick) options, and there’s even been a sighting of an Instagram-friendly rainbow crepe. Tea Bar’s Huy Coffee is already a hit, its combination of Vietnamese coffee with brown-sugar syrup a nuanced sugar assault. Should you want to embrace summer’s last hurrahs, go for an icy slush. They’re available in such flavors as lychee, pineapple, and pomegranate.

Somehow, Lilette is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The corner Magazine Street jewel always felt a bit timeless, what with its honoring of classic cooking from France, Italy, and elsewhere. At what other restaurant in town can you reliably find such fine boudin noir, for example? Now John Harris’s restaurant feels timeless because it still exists decades on — and is as good as ever. Have some king crab with passionfruit butter or grilled hanger steak with Bordelaise and fries. Know that whatever you order will be sublime, and the dining room will enchant. As it always has at Lilette.

Seems everyone maybe already knows about this new hand-rolled bagel shop on the Greenway. Or at least the regular lines to snag the superb bagels would suggest that possibility. But, oh, what bagels! They are made properly, starting with a long fermentation then boiling followed by baking. They come in seven different flavors, with six cream cheese options and a seemingly endless array of toppings. Owner Breanne Kostyk also happens to be a mean pastry chef, so watch for surprise sweet offerings.

Contact Flour Moon Bagels at 504.354.1617.

When the weather begins its shift, so, too, does the menu at the Vilkhu family’s flagship. Goat masala made a recent return; the tandoori butternut squash has as well. Staples like the oyster roast with curry leaf and garlic and the chicken lasooni kebabs are always available, as is the Vilkhu’s legendary hospitality. Anytime is the right time to visit Saffron.

Oof, that Oyster BLT. If you’ve yet to try it, the dish is likely not quite what you imagine. Well, yes, it stars beautifully fried oysters. But they’re set alongside each other in a long queue, interspersed with slabs of smoked pork belly and complemented by tomato jam and sugarcane vinegar. That’s how the cooking goes at Gris-Gris: It is wildly satisfying while also keeping you on your toes. That same approach applies to the whole redfish court bouillon and the flambeaux shrimp with Crystal honey butter.

The best diverse eating is centered just outside Orleans Parish lines, as a general rule. And the most diverse of the most diverse tends to be the western end of Metairie and into Kenner. There, Ian McNulty of the Picayune unearthed another prize: this Iraqi restaurant on Esplanade that showcases open-fire cooking. Zero in on the “Smoked Firewood” section of the menu to see that style of cooking at work. Weekends bring homey specials, such as mandi (spiced beef or chicken with rice) and tashreeb (stews over soaked bread).

Contact Almasgoof at 504.308.3600. 

This Quarter steakhouse’s online menu showcases its wine list prominently, so let’s begin there. It is legendary for both its breadth and its prices. But if you’re going to ball out for a good steak dinner you want assurance that the accompanying wine will be good—and at Doris it is. (Btw the reds are on-point but don’t ignore the white Burgundy selection.) Another highlight is the kitchen’s Levantine touches. There is tahini and sumac with the Baladi Eggplant and a flaky kadayif twist on the green salad. Just different enough from your average steakhouse to ensure your taste buds stay alert.

We sure do love an everyday lunch special, especially when it’s gumbo and a po boy. But let’s be real: You’re here for the boiled seafood, yeah? There is shrimp and blue crabs, as expected in south Louisiana. But also snow crab and Dungeness crab and lobster tails, all slicked with your choice of flavor. This is a Viet-Cajun joint, so we recommend going with the, yes, Viet-Cajun garlic butter. Throw in a turkey neck or two while you’re at it.

Contact Crawlins at 504.533.9051.

Where once there was the downtown location of Company Burger, now lives this new(ish) concept from the group behind District Donuts. As the name suggests, the menu runs through the morning’s needs to lunchtime ones. So there are lemon-ricotta pancakes and a steak sandwich with fries. The endless over-the-top donut options came along for the ride downriver, and an array of cocktails are available as well. We can bet there are many a Saints pre-game opp coming this way in the coming months.