Curio

Curio Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: This French Quarter restaurant is called Curio because in the late 1800s the space it occupies was a curio shop. That accounts for its long, narrow housing, complete with a drugstore-tiled floor, bistro chairs and bright lighting.

Food & Drinks: Chef Hayley Vanvleet labels her offerings “Contemporary American.” That plays out with such items as a “bistro board” starter of artisanal cheeses and cured meats as well as straightforward entrées like grilled salmon or grilled rib-eye. Cane syrup braised beef short ribs are a specialty, and vegans will not go hungry with Vanvleet’s vegetable curry main. Wines have been carefully selected to complement, but not overpower, the food. Desserts are especially creative, particularly the rum-glazed pound cake with coconut semifreddo and caramelized pineapple.