The much-beloved Warehouse District stalwart Tommy’s Cuisine and its adjacent bar N.O.S.H. (formerly Tommy’s Wine Bar) shuttered in November of 2024, but the spaces didn’t stay vacant long. In January, Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar moved into the old N.O.S.H. digs and Tommy’s will be occupied by the soon-to-open Le Moyne Bistro, a French restaurant. Both are by co-owners Brian Weisnicht (who named the oyster bar after his mother), [AND] Co-Executive Chefs Farrell Harrison and Christian Hurst, the team behind Plates Restaurant & Bar, also in the Warehouse District. The kitchen at Maria’s is commandeered by Harrison and Hurst. Its interior’s nautical color palette and wicker and rattan accents nod to the coastal menu featuring sustainably sourced oysters and Caribbean-inspired dishes. Look for raw bar offerings, such as shrimp escabeche, cooked oyster dishes, and sweet finishes by pastry chef Ryan McDougall, like the Hummingbird Cake (said to be inspired by Harrison’s grandmother’s recipe).
Winning Cuisine
In January, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2025 semi-finalists for the coveted annual awards. (Look for finalists announcements at the beginning of April, while chef and restaurant winners will be revealed at the foundation’s gala in mid-June.) As usual, New Orleans hospitality pros nabbed a slew of nods:
Outstanding Restauranteur
Mason Hereford
Turkey & the Wolf, Molly’s Rise & Shine, Hungry Eyes, Hot Stuff
Outstanding Restaurant
GW Fins
Emerging Chef
Kaitlin Guerin
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Best New Restaurant
Porgy’s Seafood Market
Outstanding Bakery
Bellegarde Bakery
Outstanding Hospitality
Compère Lapin
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Pluck Wine Bar
Outstanding Bar
Chandelier Bar
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Abigail Gullo
Loa Bar
Best Chef: South (Covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico)
Melissa Araujo
Alma Cafe
Ana Castro
Acamaya
Nicole Cabrera Mills
Pêche Seafood Grill
Arvinder Vilkhu and Ashwin Vilkhu
Saffron NOLA
Making Way on Magazine
The aforementioned James Beard Award semi-finalists Arvinder Vilkhu and Ashwin Vilkhu of the upscale Indian restaurant on Magazine Street, Saffron NOLA, are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their family’s new restaurant concept The Kingsway. Located in the space formerly occupied by Magasin Vietnamese Cafe at 4201 Magazine St., the American bistro will celebrate East Asian and French cuisines. For the restaurant’s architecture and design, the Vilkhu family is working with Zangara + Partners and FAROUKI FAROUKI. The opening is scheduled for spring.
Monikers and Menus
The restaurant formerly known as Garrison Kitchen + Cocktails — by Steven Stewart, founder of Garrison Builders construction firm and helmed in the kitchen by Chef John Sinclair — has relaunched with a new name and fresh menu offerings. The Metairie restaurant opened in August 2023 and, as of January, is going by simply Garrison. Expect to be announced new menu items, but the restaurant’s weekly deals, such as Wednesday burger night, happy hour Wednesday through Friday and weekend brunch, are still in the mix.
Gone Fishin’
In May, Spanish Plaza will become home to the latest BRG Hospitality project, Delacroix Fish Camp & Bar. The BRG group, founded by the embattled chef John Besh, announced on the upcoming restaurant’s website that the menu will focus on, you guessed it, seafood, and is inspired by the Delacroix fishing community in St. Bernard Parish.
