Tavolino Pizza & Lounge
If you’ve never visited Algiers Point, Tavolino Pizza & Lounge is a good reason to do so. The short menu includes addictive fried Castelvano olives stuffed with Gorgonzola, or ground pork and beef served with aioli or marinara sauce. Pizzas feature wafer-thin crusts, with toppings such as prosciutto, brie and arugula. The inviting dining room has seats inside, on a small patio to the rear, and in a lounge partially separated from the rest of the restaurant. 141 Delaronde St., 605-3365, Hours 3-10 p.m., daily (lunch service planned).
SmokeHouse Grill
Smoke House Grill opened recently in Bucktown with a diverse menu of grilled, smoked and fried comfort food. Look for barbecued chicken, pork and beef, burgers and sandwiches, and local favorites like crawfish bread and blackened redfish with crawfish cream sauce on the family-friendly restaurant’s menu. The grill also produces reasonably-priced strip, ribeye and fillets; each item on the kid’s menu comes with a drink, fries or yogurt and a scoop of ice cream for $6.95. 200 Metairie Hammond Hwy., Metairie, 252-4797. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon. through Sat.
Curio
By the time you read this, Curio will have joined the mushrooming number of restaurants by Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts. The restaurant will open at the corner of Royal and Bienville streets, and will feature an eclectic menu from chef Hayley Vanvleet, formerly of Pêche and Cochon Butcher. The location is choice, and a wrap-around balcony on the second floor should be a great place to people watch during pleasant weather. 301 Royal St., 717-4198,
Mon. – Thurs. 11-11 p.m., Fri. 11-12 a.m., Sat. 10-12 a.m., Sun. 10-11 p.m.
