Weekend Cheat Sheet: Enjoy Each Other!
Why not devote the entire weekend to that special someone in your life?
Friday
Lunch at: Secret your love away from work and have a cozy lunch at Kin, a unique ramen house owned by Chef Hieu Than. Located on Washington Avenue in Gert Town, this petite, yellow restaurant offers communal seating and a simple menu of ramen and appetizers. Try General Meow’s chicken wings (in whatever fabulous flavors are offered that day), the tonkatsu ramen with fried pork belly and bok choy or a brisket ramen with wood ear mushrooms and a poached egg. Kin is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. 4600 Washington Ave., (504) 304-8557, facebook.com/kinfordindin
Get pampered together at: Go for a couples massage at NOLA Bliss on Lafayette Street. Focused solely on massage, this downtown spa offers an elegant, relaxed environment where you and your loved one can experience unique body treatments by skilled professionals. Couples can choose what type of massage they desire from deep tissue to Ashiatsu BarefootBar Therapy (using the therapists feet). Massages are by appointment only so be sure to plan ahead. 322 Lafayette St., (504) 615-9414, nolablissmassage.com
Sip at: Called a New Orleans speakeasy, Whiskey & Sticks on Bayou Road is one of the newest bars in town. Opened by Kelder Summers and her husband Ken Jones, this 7th Ward bar near the Pagoda Cafe offers a selection of rare spirits (with a focus on straight spirits instead of cocktails) and more than 50 different types of cigars. The chic bar also features karaoke and drink specials, plus jazzy, Afro-Caribbean type music. Whiskey & Sticks is open Wednesday through Sunday. 2513 Bayou Rd., (504) 444-8454, whiskeyandsticks.com
Saturday
Revive at: Break your fast with doughnuts, croissants, eclairs and so much more at Gracious Bakery on Prytania Street. Owned by seasoned pastry chef Megan Forman and her husband Jay, Gracious has become the biggest name in pastry around the city now with five different locations. For your caffeine fix they serve specialty coffee drinks brewed from beans by local small-batch roaster French Truck and an iced coffee from Cafe du Monde. The breads and pastries are made fresh daily, plus they feature a small brunch menu with build-a-breakfast egg sandwiches, French toast, and a house-cured salmon and lemon-caper cream cheese bagel. 4930 Prytania St., (504) 301-3709, graciousbakery.com
Stroll hand-in-hand at: Featuring more than 2,000 plants from around the world, New Orleans Botanical Gardens in City Park is a gorgeous place to while away the afternoon with that special someone. From the 1930s to today, these gardens have been meticulously cultivated, and flowers are blooming year round both outdoors and in. In February, there are spectacular orchids showing all of their finery inside the Conservatory of the Two Sisters from jewel and vanilla to the delicate phalaenopsis. The gardens are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1 Palm Dr., (504) 482-4888, neworleanscitypark.com/botanical-garden
Dine at: Emeril Lagasse’s latest concept Meril in the Warehouse District is the perfect place for romance where you can share small plates and well-crafted cocktails to your heart’s content. Chef de cuisine Will Avelar will tantalize with dishes like his Upside-Down Cornbread (you may want two orders) with pineapple and bacon marmalade; jumbo Gulf shrimp with coconut milk and cilantro; saffron pappardelle with braised lamb leg; or crispy turkey necks with Wilfredo’s Crystal mojo. Meril is open daily for lunch and dinner. 425 Girod St., (504) 526-3745, emerilsrestaurants.com/meril
Sunday
Brunch at: From Mason Hereford, the man who brought us Turkey & the Wolf, comes Molly’s Rise & Shine, a new breakfast joint on the corner of Magazine and First streets. Decorated by tons of 1980s childhood kitsch and a wildly colorful mural by local artist Ken Cox, Molly’s is a playful approach to breakfast and it shows in their dishes. Try the whirled peas on toast (feel free to add some smoked salmon) with whipped feta, toasted almonds and fresh dill; a Grand Slam McMuffin with hash browns, sausage and American cheese on an English muffin; or the Dan Stein Breakfast (named after the infamous owner of Stein’s Deli), which consists of a toasted bagel with caper, olive and pepper cream cheese, soppressata and mortadella. 2368 Magazine St., (504) 302-1896, mollysriseandshine.com
Relax at: Business is booming for college friends Michael Friedman and Greg Augarten at Pizza Delicious, and we’re not surprised. The duo came here from New York, and, since they desperately missed their Big Apple pies, they decided to make them here. What started out as a Sunday-only pop-up became a real bricks and mortar location in 2013, and they’ve been going strong ever since with excellent pies, delicate pastas and a couple of sumptuous sides like their spinach-feta pizza rolls. Kick back, share a pepperoni pie and reflect on a romantic weekend well-spent. 617 Piety St., (504) 676-8482, pizzadelicious.com
Munch popcorn to a classic at: Spend the evening enjoying a classic flick at the Prytania Theatre. Open for more than a century, this single-screen movie house offers old movies every Sunday night like Citizen Kane with Orson Welles, The Seven-Year Itch starring Marilyn Monroe and 12 Angry Men with Henry Ford. Go snuggle up to the silver screen and don’t forget the Jujubes. 5339 Prytania St., (504) 891-2787, theprytania.com