The Dish: Tacos, Anyone?

Barracuda, the Crescent City’s newest taco stand and margarita garden, is offering expanded menu options and an upgraded outdoor space as part of its continued socially distanced safety measures. The restaurant has permanently added Taco Family Meals and Party Packs to its takeout menu, a DIY – Build Your Own Meal option for larger groups and a Deluxe Nacho Hour.

Guests can choose from the Breakfast Taco Kit ($75, feeds 10-12), the Nacho Party Pack ($68, feeds 10-15) or the Taco Party Pack ($125, feeds 12-15). Each option comes with tons of extras. For example, the Taco Party Pack includes 36 flour tortillas; the choice of two proteins or vegetables; toppings, including onion, cilantro, shredded chihuahua cheese, and lime; and dips, including guacamole, queso, creamy salsa verde and roasted red salsa.

Meanwhile, the DIY – Build Your Own Meal option is perfect for picnic-in-place needs. The DIY Meals can be purchased online, and guests can choose larger format menu items like dozen tortilla packs and 12-24 ounces of protein, toppings, chips and sides.

The Deluxe Nacho Hour has also returned Tuesday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. with taco and nacho specials, beer and margarita deals and a make-your-own michelada kit.

The newly upgraded patio features roll-down, transparent curtain barriers and additional covered space akin to an open-air greenhouse. Infrared heaters also have been distributed throughout the margarita garden for the winter months.

3984 Tchoupitoulas St., 266-2961, eatbarracuda.com.

Taqueria Meets High Design

Recently, three best friends—Julio Machado, Danny Cruz and Vilexys Salas—decided to open a new taqueria and mezcaleria in Metairie called Tacos del Cartel. The name came about when Machado had the idea of using signs and billboards around the restaurant to show different taco flavors (in Spanish, a sign is called a cartel). The gorgeous restaurant, designed by JL Studio with inspiration from Day of the Dead celebrations, features California-style, authentic Mexican street food made with fresh and organic ingredients. Some of the most popular items include the carnitas taco topped with pork crackling salsa, the carne asada fries and the shrimp taco. When it comes to cocktails, expect the best with a menu designed by master mezcalier Ismael Martinez. Tacos del Cartel offers seating for 28, a drive through and a Happy Hour from Monday through Thursday with half-priced beers.

2901 David Drive, Metairie, 381-5063, tacosdelcartel.com.

Must-Have Mediterranean 

Misa, a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant from Tal Sharon (the owner of Tal’s Hummus) has opened in a corner spot on Magazine Street previously occupied by Bordeaux. Named after his grandmother from Libya, the restaurant features appetizers like tuna crudo, white fish ceviche, and crispy calamari and onion rings; main dishes like cauliflower curry, a grilled red tuna burger, pappardelle Bolognese and Indian lamb shank stew; and desserts like panna cotta and apple pie with almonds.

4734 Magazine St., 510-2791, misanola.com.

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Sunday Supper

Sunday nights are a great time to bring the family together for a nice meal, while catching up on the week and making future plans. Gianna, the newest restaurant from Chef Donald Link, had this idea in mind with the introduction of Sunday Supper. Every Sunday evening, Gianna offers a three-course meal of rustic Italian antipasti, a main course and dessert—with an option for a wine pairing—available for dine-in, take-out or delivery. The Sunday Supper menu changes weekly, and past menu items have included antipasti misti with focaccia, baked sausage rigatoni and arborio rice pudding.

700 Magazine St., 399-0816, giannarestaurant.com.

 

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