Call New Orleans the city that never stops eating — and drinking — the way new restaurants and bars have opened over winter break. I’ve been able to try a couple to let you know which you too should be running to.
Chada, Mid-City
Though it’s located in an old shotgun house, walking into the dining room at Chada feels like entering another world. They opened to the public on New Years Day. A chada — a Thai headpiece and the restaurant’s namesake — sits at the centerpiece of the bar. The decor is stunning, with beautiful light fixtures stealing the show against the wood features.
Considering Chada is from the same team behind Dahla, I had high hopes for the food. I love a good papaya salad to start my meal, and theirs was $14 with papayas, carrots, tomatoes and peanuts. It was fresh and bright with the cherry tomato, and the peanut added a nice crunch and nutty flavor.
I also got the Pad Thai with tofu for $17, which was very saucy. This dish delivered on the sweet and sour of the sauce, while the crunch from chives and bean sprouts added to the texture. To me, this was a perfect Pad Thai — and I’ve tried many around New Orleans. The best thing we had was the Khao Soi with tofu for $17, a yellow curry with egg noodles, onion, pickles, cilantro and a fried noodle topping. This was so flavorful, with the rich, thick curry clinging to the noodles, and is perfect for anyone looking for warm soup heading into the New Orleans winter. Chada is my new favorite Thai spot and will be both a takeout and sit-down staple.
Social, Uptown/Carrollton
A new location of Social on Magazine Street opened on Dec. 4. With the original on the North Shore in Madisonville, Social is serving Peruvian fare with modern twists. This interior was also stunning, with earth tones all throughout from the stones that the silverware rested on to the warm terracotta tone of the paint.
I started with plantains for $10 with feta crumbled on top and a sweet sauce. As a plantain fan, I liked how the feta cut the sweetness. I then ordered the Ceviche Clasico for $19, featuring the catch of the day and leche de tigre, sweet potato, chocio, green oil and canchita. The leche de tigre was the sauce for the fish, which is a traditional citrus-based marinade. They poured it on top of the fish, and it packed a punch with acidic, spicy and salty notes. For the main dish, I got arroz con mariscos for $36, which had shrimp, calamari and octopus. This was creamy with rich tomato and chili flavors and felt like a warm hug, with a texture comparable to risotto.
Our food did take nearly 30 minutes to come out, but once the appetizers came, the entrée was quick to follow. The service here stood out otherwise, with options to add lemon and strawberry to your water and complimentary tea to end the meal. The portions are also quite large for their prices. This is great for a nice dinner that’s a twist from the traditional New Orleans restaurant fare while still delivering great vibes.
Soon Enough, Touro Uptown
Advertised as a “high dive bar,” you must ring a doorbell to enter Soon Enough. Formerly the Milan Lounge, this converted dive bar is trying to keep the label which left me a little confused at the price point. They have some classics, like old fashioneds and negronis, for $9.
The Acadian Driftwood, at $13, had Smith & Cross Rum, mulled falernum and ginger yogurt. Advertised as a fancy painkiller, this drink delivered on all the fun flavors and tropical vibes with the nutty notes of warm spices. I also got a mocktail which had some sparkling water, juice and cinnamon. This was not overly sweet like some mocktails are, and the cinnamon brought a fun twist. While the drinks and vibes were good — particularly the music — the price point and advertising as a high dive bar felt confusing. I’m not sure when a $13 drink became a good deal, but the website claiming that they have “popular pricing” adds to my bafflement. If you’re looking for a neighborhood dive bar, this probably won’t fit the bill, but if you are looking for something fancier, this might be your spot.