NOCHI Café by Gracious
The New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) has finally opened, and there’s a café on the ground floor operated by the folks at Gracious Bakery. Full disclosure: they’re friends and Jay Forman writes for this publication. That said, Gracious has done fantastic things and NOCHI is lucky to have them. Stop by for breakfast, brunch, lunch or their amazing happy hour, 3 p.m. until close. NOCHI Café by Gracious, 725 Howard Ave., 635-0033, 7 to 7 Monday through Friday, Saturday until 4. Nochi.org/cafe/.
Addis Nola
Addis Nola has opened on Broad Street in the space formerly occupied by the Big Cheezy. No offense to grilled cheese lovers, but Ethiopian cuisine is one of the world’s greatest, and this is an upgrade. They’ll serve lunch and dinner to start, but breakfast is planned. Addis Nola, 422 ½ Broad St., 218-5321, 11-9 Monday to Thursday, and until 10 on Friday and Saturday.
Dian Xin
Dian Xin is a restaurant specializing in the Chinese small plates called dim sum, which is not all that common in New Orleans. The restaurant is an offshoot of owner Judy Ceng’s Little Chinatown, which she operated in Kenner until last year. Dian Xin 1218 Decatur St., 266-2828, 3 to 10 Sunday through Thursday, until 11 on Friday and Saturday. Facebook.com/dianxinnola/.
