Four New Orleans Restaurant Openings to Know Right Now, February 2025

Honduran tamales in Mid-City, oxtail hand pies in the Warehouse District, and schiacciata sandwiches in Uptown

This is Eater New Orleans’s periodic compilation spotlighting under-the-radar restaurants, bars, and bakeries opening across New Orleans. For Eater’s guide to the hottest new restaurants in New Orleans this month, see here, and if we’ve missed something, send us an email.

Alma Cafe Mid-City

301 North Carrolton Avenue, Mid-City

Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Alma Cafe has been a consistent hit for brunch since opening in New Orleans’s Bywater neighborhood in 2022. Now chef Melissa Araujo, a two-time James Beard: Best Chef South semifinalist, hopes to recreate that magic in Mid-City. Araujo opened a second location of Alma at 301 North Carrollton Avenue in early February, adding an oyster bar, happy hour, and dinner to its repertoire. All-day brunch focusing on Honduran specialties is served daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., while dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. — dishes like aguachile negro, Honduran tamales, whole fried fish, and confit duck. Happy hour offers $1 raw and $1.50 chargrilled oysters.

Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar

752 Tchoupitoulas Street, Warehouse District

Randy Schmidt/Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar

Chalmette-born chef Farrell Harrison and his general manager partner Brian Weisnicht found success serving small plates in a big space in the Warehouse District with their restaurant Plates, and now they’ve expanded their neighborhood footprint with Maria’s Oyster and Wine Bar. The seafood-centric menu brings in subtle Caribbean influences with a menu of raw, fried, and roasted oysters; crudo, ceviche, and raw bar platters; and comfort food like gumbo, an oxtail hand pie, and pork cheeks. Open in the space formerly home to N.O.S.H., the duo is also opening a sister restaurant, Le Moyne Bistro, next door later this year.

Lunch Uptown

1039 Broadway Street, Uptown

Merrill Stewart/Eater NOLA

It’s been a whirlwind year for mother-son duo Lisa and Jack Greenleaf, who first debuted their schiacciata sandwich pop-up outside of Pepp’s Pub in the Marigny one year ago. After a stint at St. Roch Market, they have opened a takeout location of Lunch in Uptown New Orleans, right next door to The Boot. Their menu of hit sandwiches includes the Roma, with prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella, fire-roasted red peppers, pistachio pesto, basil, and balsamic glaze; the Firenze, with chicken cutlet, spicy broccoli rabe, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and lemon aioli; and the Positano, made with pistachio mortadella, burrata, arugula, pistachio cream, and fig spread, among others. The restaurant serves lunch daily and early dinner Thursday through Saturday, and a full-service Marigny location on Franklin Avenue is still in the plans for the future.

Forbidden Pizza

604 Baronne Street, CBD

Forbidden Pizza

A New Orleans-born couple in the real estate development business has branched out to fulfill their wildest pizza dreams with Forbidden Pizza, now open in the CBD. Beau and Nicole Baudier serve a Brooklyn-style thin-crust pie at Forbidden Pizza, informed by years of research, and a huge one at that — 20 inches. There are classic toppings, as well as some with a trendy twist, like the Some Like It Hot with mozzarella, pepperoni, jalapeno, and hot honey. For now, Forbidden Pizza is counter-service, but the couple plans to expand next door to open a full-service restaurant with a full bar. It’s currently open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.