Dining at the Hyatt
601 Loyola Ave., 561-1234, NewOrleans.Hyatt.com
It is hard to be different in a city filled with famous chefs and legendary cuisine. However, John Besh and Brian Landry (formerly of Galatoire’s) have done just that with Borgne. A new restaurant in the Hyatt, it showcases Isleños cuisine, a cooking style of the Canary Islands that highlights the best of coastal Louisiana seafood. Even within the revitalized Hyatt it has stiff competition: the Whole Hog Café, with “top secret” cooking techniques to ensure barbecue perfection; Vitascope, a flat-screen-filled raw bar and burger joint; and 8 Block Restaurant and Bar where, on the weekends, you can hear the inimitable sounds of jazz goddess Anais St. John.
Sammy’s Going Strong on Veterans
901 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 835-0916, SammysPoBoys.com
When Sammy McNeil moved Sammy’s Po-Boys and Catering to Veterans Boulevard two and a half years ago, she bet that her homemade-from-scratch food, which used only the freshest ingredients, would draw a crowd. By extending the range of fully loaded poor boys to include salads, wraps and seafood, as well as homemade desserts, the audience keeps getting bigger. The extensive catering options can also take care of culinary needs when entertaining. If there’s one thing McNeil wants people to know, it’s that no one can make a poor boy taste like a Sammy’s Po-Boy.
Audubon Clubhouse Café – A New Hot-Spot
6500 Magazine St., 212-5282, AudubonInstitute.org/visit/clubhouse-cafe
As the city continues to grow, more people are looking for the perfect spot, whether for business or pleasure; the Audubon Clubhouse Café is proving to be just the thing. Located off busy Magazine Street in Audubon Park, the Clubhouse replicates an Acadian-style home set in centuries-old oak trees. With a wide veranda and golf course views, it provides respite from the day in a casual, comfortable way, accommodating two to 10 people, from early breakfast through late lunch. With a new senior hire, there are also some exciting culinary enhancements expected soon.