Home FOOD & DINING Weekend Cheat Sheet: July 2017

Weekend Cheat Sheet: July 2017

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Whether you’re a recent transplant or a longtime resident, it’s always a good time to discover cozy cafes, stunning views, and local watering holes and dining destinations all right here in the Crescent City.

 

Friday

Lunch at: Open for three years now, Del Fuego Taqueria offers a south of the border-style oasis on Magazine Street where you can sip margaritas (with more than 100 different types of tequila and mescal), while munching crisp tortilla chips dipped in fresh salsas. Chef and owner David Wright shares his passion for Mexican cuisine and culture through dishes like queso fundido served with soft corn tortillas, elotes (roasted corn on the cob), chipotle-braised chicken enchiladas with roasted poblano cream and fresh Gulf fish with green mole. Diners can lounge outside on the restaurant’s shady front patio replete with fans and easy access to the bar, or stay inside and enjoy the air conditioning. 4518 Magazine St., (504) 309-5797, delfuegotaqueria.com

Quaff at: The beer business has been hopping lately in New Orleans, and Port Orleans Brewing Co. is one of the latest breweries to open. “Brewed below sea level,” the brewery features drinkable lagers and ales, like the fruity Riverfront Lager, medium-bodied Slack Water Brown Ale and crispy John Law Pilsner. Guzzle a few cold brews on the patio overlooking Tchoupitoulas Street, and pair them with tasty dishes from the brewery’s own restaurant. Opened inside Port Orleans Brewing Co. by chefs Jeremy Wolgamott, Phillip Mariano and Tim Bordes, Stokehold offers dishes like wood-grilled shrimp with chili butter; fish and chips with smashed fingerling potatoes; and chicken curry with cauliflower and labneh. 4124 Tchoupitoulas St., portorleansbrewingco.com

Meet new people at: Located near the I-10 overpass on the border of the Warehouse District and the Lower Garden District, The Rusty Nail attracts folks from both neighborhoods with its laid back vibe and welcoming patio. Sports aficionados can watch the game inside on one of many flat-screen TVs or cheer on their team outside on the patio in bleacher seats in front of a 65-inch TV. The Rusty Nail also features live music from local performers like Jenn Howard Glass, DJ Tony Skratchere, and Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue. The best part? Beer, wine and cocktails are so reasonably priced that hanging out till closing is both fun and financially feasible for anyone. 1100 Constance St., (504) 525-5515, rustynailnola.com
Saturday

Sip a cuppa at: Exercise your pinky finger and practice your best “Cheerio!” for a Saturday morning breakfast at The English Tea Room in Covington. With more than 165 different loose leaf teas and authentic English food, you’ll feel like you’ve crossed a pond much larger than Lake Pontchartrain after experiencing what The English Tea Room has to offer. Enjoy a pot of expertly brewed tea — from Baroness Grey and Scottish Breakfast to Snow Dragon and Royal Velvet — with scones and crumpets or something more filling like the Buckingham Bake (a baked egg and hash brown casserole). 734 E. Rutland St., Covington, (985) 898-3988, englishtearoom.com

Embrace the past at: Located on North Columbia Street, H.J. Smith’s Son General Store and Museum not only contains historic artifacts, but the shop is an artifact in and of itself. Opened by H.J. Smith in 1876, it is the oldest family run business in its original location in Covington. In fact, it is still owned and operated by Larry Smith, who runs the store with his siblings, and displays museum-worthy items collected over the past century by his grandfather and great grandfather. Explore a wealth of antique items like a cast iron casket, a hand-operated washing machine, a 20-foot-long cypress dugout boat, old farming tools and more. 308 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-0460

Dine at: For spectacular Tuscan-inspired cuisine in Covington, both locals and visitors alike opt for Ristorante Del Porto. Since 2002, husband and wife team David and Torre Solazzo have offered a menu highlighting seasonal ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. Delight in dishes like beef carpaccio with truffled crème fraîche; house made cavatelli with prosciutto cotto and spring peas; pan-seared duck breast in a peach marsala sauce; or sweet corn and ricotta raviolo with Gulf shrimp and baby vegetables. Ristorante Del Porto is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. 501 E. Boston St., Covington, (985) 875-1006, delportoristorante.com
Sunday

Revive at: Opened only a few months ago, Congregation Coffee Roasters is the Westbank’s new source for a stellar caffeine fix. Co-owners Eliot Guthrie and Ian Barrilleaux offer small-batch, locally roasted blends brewed in to the usual suspects: i.e. espressos, macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattes and more. The coffee shop also offers lots of tasty goodies like pastries from Levee Bakery and sandwiches on La Boulangerie breads. You might also want to keep an eye out for the house-made boudin that’s available while supplies last Friday through Sunday. 240 Pelican Ave., (504) 265-0194, congregationcoffee.com

Roll with the river on: There’s nothing quite like stepping outside to get a big picture view. A perfect case in point would be feasting your eyes on the New Orleans skyline, while strolling along the levee in historic Algiers Point. See the Crescent City like you’ve never seen it before with stunning views of the twin spans, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Quarter, Riverwalk, JAX Brewery and downtown. Add in a self-guided walking tour to explore enchanting architecture or the former homes of famous jazz musicians; just be sure to return to the levee in time for sunset when the city’s silhouette is backlit by a red and gold glow. algierspoint.org

Relax at: In operation as a restaurant and bar in historic Algiers Point since the early 1900s, The Dry Dock Cafe formerly came into being in 1986 and is still going strong today. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., this neighborhood joint is the perfect place to kick back, relax and enjoy traditional New Orleans cuisine from barbecue shrimp and catfish fingers to gumbo, po-boys, seafood platters and red beans. Don’t miss out on the Seafood Delaronde with shrimp and oysters topped with lump crab meat and cheesy pesto — it goes down perfectly with an ice cold beer. 133 Delaronde St., (504) 361-8240, thedrydockcafe.com