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News for Restaurants in New Orleans
November 2012 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

By the end of the year, Dat Dog will open its second location on Magazine Street. The wildly popular hot dog restaurant reportedly plans to expand to other parts of the city, after the runaway success and expansion of its Freret Street location. Dat Dog, 3336 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115, no phone.
 
Anyone who wants to see the living definition of entrepreneurship and diligence need look no further than Mike Friedman and Greg Augarten, the owners of Pizza Delicious. These two young guys moved from New York to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, and to make ends meet while studying, they operated a makeshift take-out window in a small Bywater hole in-the-wall. You could pick up an order or have it delivered, but everyone in town agreed it was about the best pizza to be found. It was so popular that people waited up to three hours for a delivery without complaining. Now Friedman and Augarten have opened up a full-service restaurant located in the Bywater neighborhood. The menu is limtied to just a few pizzas, several selections of beer and wine, and a few desserts (try the mascarpone mint and raspberry sandwich). Daily special pizzas are highly creative, such as the occasional margherita with anchovies, or the broccoli rabe with pancetta. Lunch & Dinner Tues.-Sun. Pizza Delicious, 617 Piety St., New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-676-8482.
 
In a town that has seen more than its share of burger joints open in the past couple of years, it is a surprise that national chain Smashburger has chosen to debut its first New Orleans location. Situated on a high-profile corner on the restaurant row in the Garden District, Smashburger offers burgers the company says are "smashed, seared and seasoned on the grill." The menu includes a number of options; our favorite is the truffle mushroom Swiss burger with sautéed garlic mushrooms. Other menu items include a variety of chicken sandwiches, salads and veggie burgers, and "smash fries" tossed with garlic, olive oil and rosemary. Lunch & Dinner daily. Smashburger, 3300 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-342-2653.
 

News Bytes

Brennan's Restaurant Scheduled for the Auction Block?
Details are still sketchy, but reportedly the historic Brennan’s restaurant on Royal Street in the French Quarter is scheduled to go up for auction December 13. What is known is that a petition was filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court by a company called Leggo/4, which bought up Brennan's three unpaid mortgages from First NBC Bank in April, and is now suing the restaurant for the $4.1 million debt it's failed to pay. The Brennan family members who own the restaurant are not speaking publicly about the issue, and local residents are concerned that Brennan’s will cease operations. Brennan’s, which has survived fire and hurricanes, has operated continually in New Orleans for 65 years, and is the site of the internationally acclaimed “Breakfast at Brennan’s,” so popular with tourists. Brennan's, 417 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-525-9711.
 

Chef Shuffle

Donald Link, one of New Orleans' busiest restaurant owner/chefs, has unveiled plans to open a new Warehouse District seafood restaurant, on the corner of Julia and Magazine Streets. Link, whose major claim to fame is Cochon, also has a new cookbook (his second) coming out in Spring 2014. The new restaurant is still being developed, but Link revealed it will feature a raw bar, and the menu will be heavy on fish, grilled and baked over oak and pecan wood. All of the fish will be locally and regionally supplied. Link is partnering with Ryan Prewitt, the executive chef of the Link Restaurant Group, and Stephen Stryjewski, chef and co-owner of Cochon. So far unnamed, the restaurant will be located in a 19th-century building that was originally a livery stable, later a funeral home, and more recently the home of a coffee roasting company. While a definite opening date has not been announced, Link would like to have the place up and running by Jazz Fest, April 2013. Cochon, 930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-588-2123.
 

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for New Orleans to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Dominique's, R.I.P.

Huey's 24/7 Diner in Metairie has closed its doors. Huey's 24/7 Diner, 612 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70005, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook
? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in New Orleans

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